I know a good time when I see one / And when I'm in the mood I can even be one / I can lead the parade or I can stop it / Sometimes I dance in the boat just to rock it
*from The Kinleys' Just Between You and Me album.
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Fashion Victim
Today, you can tell I got dressed in the dark. I'm wearing an olive green long sleeve shirt, dark denim jeans, and purple flip-flops. It's not a pretty sight.
Monday, August 29, 2005
My Apologies To My Parent's Generation
Let me just start saying that I love movies. And not just the newbies that are coming out. One of my favorites is the musical Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.
However, movies from the seventies suck. They are dry, boring, and morbid. My examples you ask? Deliverance and The Stepford Wives.
I loved Without A Paddle (Matthew Lillard, Dax Shepard, Seth Green). It was funny, exciting, relatable, and still explored themes like friendship, death, and self-discovery. While reading reviews of it, critics kept referencing Deliverance (Jon Voit, Burt Reynolds), so I thought, "Hey, sounds interesting."
Big Mistake!
Deliverance starts in a similar vein, a bunch of friends taking a last minute thrill trip where things go wrong. There ends the similarities.
The characters don't have too much depth, the dialogue is plain, and there's too much drag time between events. The main characters kill somebody, then spend half an hour hashing out what to do with the body. Even my thirteen year old sister stared at the television, then shouted in exasperation, "get on with it already."
No wonder Hollywood is currently into doing remakes of 70's movies. They sucked. The critics that are slamming them however must be relying on their nostalgia, because when I go to the movies I want to be entertained, not put to sleep.
However, movies from the seventies suck. They are dry, boring, and morbid. My examples you ask? Deliverance and The Stepford Wives.
I loved Without A Paddle (Matthew Lillard, Dax Shepard, Seth Green). It was funny, exciting, relatable, and still explored themes like friendship, death, and self-discovery. While reading reviews of it, critics kept referencing Deliverance (Jon Voit, Burt Reynolds), so I thought, "Hey, sounds interesting."
Big Mistake!
Deliverance starts in a similar vein, a bunch of friends taking a last minute thrill trip where things go wrong. There ends the similarities.
The characters don't have too much depth, the dialogue is plain, and there's too much drag time between events. The main characters kill somebody, then spend half an hour hashing out what to do with the body. Even my thirteen year old sister stared at the television, then shouted in exasperation, "get on with it already."
No wonder Hollywood is currently into doing remakes of 70's movies. They sucked. The critics that are slamming them however must be relying on their nostalgia, because when I go to the movies I want to be entertained, not put to sleep.
Looking For The "All-In-One" Model
Last week after my shopping spree, Tosh helped me haul my swag into the house. Once inside, I thrust a couple of books at her.
Grandma asked what I handed her and I said, "I'm giving her some brains."
To which Tosh replied, "because I sure didn't get my looks from you." and hightailed it out of the house.
It's just too bad the two don't come together.
Grandma asked what I handed her and I said, "I'm giving her some brains."
To which Tosh replied, "because I sure didn't get my looks from you." and hightailed it out of the house.
It's just too bad the two don't come together.
Mission Accomplished
I have all of my school shopping done.
I have Izzy back (although she's really dirty and will be my second car cleaning in as many weeks).
I have a week of work left.
Ah, the countdown till school starts.
I have Izzy back (although she's really dirty and will be my second car cleaning in as many weeks).
I have a week of work left.
Ah, the countdown till school starts.
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
This Is A Macedonian Accent, Not An Irish One! (Movie Review)
Last night Me, Erin, and Kit congregated in the living room after stuffing ourselves with pizza to take in Oliver Stone's box office disaster, Alexander starring the bodacious Angelina Jolie, Iceman Val Kilmer, and the Lusty leprechaun himself, Colin Farrell.
I don't know if many have noticed, but I hate saying mean stuff about anything (except of course mushy peas. Can't stand 'em). This movie is definitely an exception. It was horrible. It started with boring dialogue by Anthony Hopkins who continually tempts you to nod off to his droning narration. The cast has a mix of accents, especially young Alexander's liting Irish brogue. Although Colin does a fair job, only slipping on occasional lines. The fight scenes are cool even if they're over run with either dust, rain, or that obnoxious red tinge. What the hell was up with that?
The only thing that saved it (at least in my mind) was girly alchoholic drinks, our biting commentary, Ange's sexy bitch mother schtick, and Jared Leto (Panic Room, Girl, Interupted, Fight Club)'s beach babe self (I loved the long hair and eyeliner with the bronzed skin. Very sexy).
That's not to say the movie didn't bring up important things like Greek culture and, as uncomfortable as it is to many hetro males and Greek nationalists, its historic complexities of homosexuality. (I'm not sure about Erin or Kit, but I did notice the "fringe viewers" getting kinda squirmy when Colin macked one on Jared.) This movie however, did not address sexuality and gender roles nearly as well as Stage Beauty, but I think that's because Stone was going for epic and, perhaps with a different story, really could have made another Gladiator.
I only hope the extra's are worth the price of the DVD.
0 of 4 Lightning Bolts - In fact, the sky is crystal clear blue it was so bad.
I don't know if many have noticed, but I hate saying mean stuff about anything (except of course mushy peas. Can't stand 'em). This movie is definitely an exception. It was horrible. It started with boring dialogue by Anthony Hopkins who continually tempts you to nod off to his droning narration. The cast has a mix of accents, especially young Alexander's liting Irish brogue. Although Colin does a fair job, only slipping on occasional lines. The fight scenes are cool even if they're over run with either dust, rain, or that obnoxious red tinge. What the hell was up with that?
The only thing that saved it (at least in my mind) was girly alchoholic drinks, our biting commentary, Ange's sexy bitch mother schtick, and Jared Leto (Panic Room, Girl, Interupted, Fight Club)'s beach babe self (I loved the long hair and eyeliner with the bronzed skin. Very sexy).
That's not to say the movie didn't bring up important things like Greek culture and, as uncomfortable as it is to many hetro males and Greek nationalists, its historic complexities of homosexuality. (I'm not sure about Erin or Kit, but I did notice the "fringe viewers" getting kinda squirmy when Colin macked one on Jared.) This movie however, did not address sexuality and gender roles nearly as well as Stage Beauty, but I think that's because Stone was going for epic and, perhaps with a different story, really could have made another Gladiator.
I only hope the extra's are worth the price of the DVD.
0 of 4 Lightning Bolts - In fact, the sky is crystal clear blue it was so bad.
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
Out To Lunch
Today, the burner is still possessed. The printer hates me. I got a paper cut. The water cooler gulged at me (on purpose I'm sure), and my mouse is being finicky all of a sudden. I think they know I'm going for Chinese food on my break.
Monday, August 22, 2005
Fall Favorites
I know everyone is sick of me and my quest to get my hands on Keith's Gap promotion stuff, but here's a link to the commercial clip of it.
Friday, August 19, 2005
Escape Is Coming!
Ah-Ha! Plans have been made. I am going out for the first time in two weeks really. Sounds like we're doing some informal getting together up St. Cloud way. Outta be interesting. And fun. And hopefully cheap because I balanced my checkbook and paid my bills over lunch. My Budget is NOT friendly.
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Shout Out To Mel
My little sister is moving into the dorms today to begin her freshman year of college. This post is all for you babe! Good Luck!
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
Crack Me Up Quote
"If the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, you can bet the water bill is higher!"
"The Sun Is Shining..."
Last night I made a quick trip to the library and on the way home, I had the radio cranked, the windows down, comfy clothes on, barefoot going 80mph down the backroads wailing Gretchen Wilson lyrics at the top of my lungs. After all the crazyness (which I'm still trying to ignore) this moment of pure happiness was unexpected, but amazing.
Monday, August 15, 2005
Yee-Haw! (Movie Review)
On Friday, I played the third wheel/chaperone to my little sister and one of her best friends as we all took in The Dukes of Hazzard starring Johnny Knoxville, Seann William Scott (Mmm), Willie Nelson, Burt Reynolds, and everyone's favorite blonde, Jessica Simpson.
This movie has had lots of controversy (Ben Jones aka original Cooter slamming the script/Willie as Uncle Jesse/Blonde Daisy/Nylons vs. No Nylons/ Confederate Flag or not?) surrounding it and plenty of bad reviews both by movie critics, "loyal" Duke fans, and other movie goers. I have found all of this stuff preposterous and stupid. The casting was masterful, except perhaps M. C. Gainey as Sheriff Roscoe P. Coltrane. Characterization is fun, with each actor making the role their own, and not trying to emulate the role defined by the show.
The movie plays out like a long episode of the show set in current times, which incidentally includes some cussing. Tragedy strikes when Boss Hogg decides to strip mine Hazzard. The road to stopping him includes bar fights, car chases, a trip to the big city, racing, and Daisy "doin' her thang" by saving the boys from jail. The dialogue is funny, and hits exactly what you'd expect: cheap jokes (and bad ones told by Uncle Jesse), caricatures of the south, Appalachia, country living, and hicktowns in general.
Don't go expecting philosophical discussion or deep thinking (It's a movie titled The Dukes of Hazzard NOT a book like War and Peace!). It's pure entertainment and low ball humor. What else are you expecting.
This movie has had lots of controversy (Ben Jones aka original Cooter slamming the script/Willie as Uncle Jesse/Blonde Daisy/Nylons vs. No Nylons/ Confederate Flag or not?) surrounding it and plenty of bad reviews both by movie critics, "loyal" Duke fans, and other movie goers. I have found all of this stuff preposterous and stupid. The casting was masterful, except perhaps M. C. Gainey as Sheriff Roscoe P. Coltrane. Characterization is fun, with each actor making the role their own, and not trying to emulate the role defined by the show.
The movie plays out like a long episode of the show set in current times, which incidentally includes some cussing. Tragedy strikes when Boss Hogg decides to strip mine Hazzard. The road to stopping him includes bar fights, car chases, a trip to the big city, racing, and Daisy "doin' her thang" by saving the boys from jail. The dialogue is funny, and hits exactly what you'd expect: cheap jokes (and bad ones told by Uncle Jesse), caricatures of the south, Appalachia, country living, and hicktowns in general.
Don't go expecting philosophical discussion or deep thinking (It's a movie titled The Dukes of Hazzard NOT a book like War and Peace!). It's pure entertainment and low ball humor. What else are you expecting.
News About Poor Blue Sick Izzy
The timing belt is off in my car, so she's supposed to go in today and get her all straightened out. Until that time, I'm stuck with Curtis, so if anyone wants to come over and help me clean out Mel's garbage receptacle, I'll accept all volunteers.
Friday, August 12, 2005
Good Morning!
Keith was on Good Morning America today for their Summer Concert series. I, of course, forgot. So, here's GMA's version of an interview transcript and links (just click on free concert video) to his performance of Days Go By and Better Life.
Monday, August 08, 2005
Back From Hiatus
Life is Hell. I have caught Toshia's non-bloggeritis. Please tell me today is almost over.