Say, Candy and Ronnie, have you seen them yet
But they're so spaced out, Bennie and the Jets
Oh but they're weird and they're wonderful
Oh Bennie she's really keen
She's got electric boots a mohair suit
You know I read it in a magazine
Bennie and the Jets
Today is my wife's birthday. She's not big on celebrating birthdays. It's just another day to her. But this blog is still dedicated to her.
I chose Benny and The Jets because it always makes me smile when I remember her singing it. She first heard it in 27 Dresses and I love when she just sings "Be Be Be Benny and The Jets." I think those might be the only words she knows in the song but she sings the words who such affection and enthusiasm that makes me love her even more.
I received a text just last week from Nessa. She had informed me that she now liked rock music and listened to it while she studied. This was a new development. Previously she liked select rock songs/bands but never really committed to liking Rock Music. She grew up in Ontario where apparently kids were more into Hip Hop then Grunge.
That on it's own isn't totally surprising but when combined with her new liking for Country music and it's like a whole new Nessa.
Anyways here are ten bands that she has recent;y expressed interest in from listening to local radio or the Galaxy Rock station on cable.
I'm gonna start a new blog topic comparing a book to it's film version. I'm gonna start this with "The Help" which I just finished reading and then found the movie and watched it.
I truly enjoyed the book. The characters were well thought out and seemed honest. I personally loved the character of Minny and absolutely hated Hilly, which was the point of the story. I've always been inspired by those who stood up for civil rights. From Martin Luther King Jr. to John and Bobby Kennedy. I grew up in a home where everyone was equal regardless of race and it bothers me that we still see racism today in some places. I enjoyed reading a story where people stood up for what they believed in and you see the friendship that can grow between people of different races.
A friend of mine also reviewed the book recently (see her review here: Absolutely Amy) and she commented on how the book had a bitter sweet ending. Personally I thought it was a great ending. It wasn't entirely happy but it was filled with hope and faith which was all they had in those days. Hope and faith that someday people would change and the world would become a better place. A truly happy ending would have seemed fake to me.
What the movie did right was the casting. The got every character right. My only qualm was with the fact that Emma Stone could never really be considered ugly but she is such an amazing actress who was a great choice as Skeeter.
The movie flowed well but felt rushed. This opinion is only because I read the book first and knew they had made changes to both the story and the characters to fit it into a two hour movie. Even with these changes I loved the movie. It was funny in the right moments and sad in the right moments.
I didn't like some of the changes to the Minny character. I felt they made her less critical of what was happening. Her character was more fierce in the novel but it's a small complaint since the actress was since able to deliver some of the best lines of the film.
The character changes I did like were the changes to Skeeter's and Hilly's mothers. I liked that Hilly's mother had a few extra scenes to show her disapproval of Hilly. I loved that Skeeter's mother got to redeem herself in the film. I wanted it to happen in the book and it didn't.
The movie also nailed the ending perfectly. It was filled with just as much sadness at the end as the novel but was also able to display the lasting image of hope and faith.
On it's own The Help is a great emotional film that I will gladly add to my movie collection when it is released. When compared to the novel it holds up much better then most other book adaptations.
I think both must be experienced. If you haven't read the book yet I recommend reading the book before watching the film because like in most instances the book offers more story to enjoy that is left out of the novel.
Great songs last the test of time. Some songs come in and out of fashion but quickly die. For instance I enjoy some songs by Katy Perry and Lady Gaga but within a few months they are removed from my iPod for newer songs. Then there are songs that will stay on my iPod until it dies out and then those songs will be moved to the next piece of technology that I use to listen to music.
This week I'm gonna share a few songs that were used as Theme songs for TV shows that I still listen too.
The Rembrandts - I'll Be There For You
Friends
I'll be there for you
(When the rain starts to pour)
I'll be there for you
(Like I've been there before)
I'll be there for you
('Cause you're there for me too)
Gavin DeGraw - I Don't Want To Be
One Tree Hill
I don't want to be
Anything other than what I've been trying to be lately
All I have to do
Is think of me and I have peace of mind
I'm tired of looking 'round rooms
Wondering what I've got to do
Or who I'm supposed to be
I don't want to be anything other than me
Lazlo Bane - Superman
Scrubs
Well
I know what I've been told,
You got to work to feed the soul
But I can't do this all on my own
No, I know, I'm no Superman
I'm no Superman
Phantom Planet - California
The OC
On the stereo
Listen as we go
Nothing's gonna stop me now
California here we come
Right back where we started from
Remy Zero - Save Me
Smallville
When they pull you under
And I would give you anything you want
Well all I wanted
All my dreams have fallen down
Crawling around somebody save me
And two warm hands break right through me
Somebody save me
I don't care how you do it
Just stay
Stay
Come on
I've been waiting for you
Carole King & Louise Goffin - Where You Lead I Will Follow
Gilmore Girls
Where You Lead I will follow Anywhere that you tell me to If you need-(If)you need me to be with you I will follow Where you lead
Anyone who knows me knows I love watching movies. I am not overly picky and there are lots of movies I love even when others disagree. For instance I love Grease 2.
I was watching That Thing You Do the other day and while watching Tom Hanks on the screen I was trying to think of a movie with him that I hated. I could only think of one (See List) but it then got me thinking of other movies I hated that featured actors or actresses I usually love.
I then thought about why I didn't like these movies. In most causes it's not the fault of the actor. They do just fine. It's usually a story I don't care about or I can't identify with. In some cases it's because it features another actor or actress that I don't enjoy. And sometimes it's just a really bad movie.
With each film something just didn't click for me.
10. Vanilla Sky (Cameron Diaz)
The movie had a good case and the story was ok. I just didn't enjoy how the movie played out at all. The concept of the film had been done before and since and it has been done much better.
9. Cast Away (Tom Hanks)
A movie about a guy stuck on an island just didn't appeal to me. I loved Gilligan's Island because it had various characters to work with. As great of an actor as Tom Hanks is I just could not but into this film. 8. Stuck on You (Matt Damon)
I love stupid comedy movies as much as the next guy but sometimes the movie is just too stupid.
7. Bewitched (Will Ferrel)
The first mistake was anyone thinking this was a good idea for a movie. The second mistake was casting Nicole Kidman.
6. Eyes Wide Shut (Tom Cruise)
The first mistake was anyone thinking this was a good idea for a movie. The second mistake was casting Nicole Kidman.
5. I Am Legend (Will Smith)
They should not have killed the dog. That instantly makes me hate the film.
4. Mr. and Mrs. Smith (Brad Pitt)
I may be the only guy who cannot stand Angelina Jolie as a actress. I watched the film because I enjoy Brad Pitt movies but she seriously irritates me.
3. Little Nicky (Adam Sandler)
I love Adam Sandler movies so I should like this movie but I don't. I did enjoy Harvey Keitel as Satan though.
2. Gigli (Ben Affleck)
Do I really need to say what was wrong with this film?
1. Battlefield Earth (John Travolta)
I went to see this movie with Rory and Jen. While waiting for the movie to start the previews were on and after watching one preview I commented on how I did not want to see that movie. Rory and Jen agreed it looked bad. Then the words "Battlefield Earth" flashed on the screen and we realized that preview was really the opening for the film we were about to watch.
If an angel came down to me
Ask what I would do differently
I would say nothing you see
I love someone truly And If I do not see tomorrow
You know it's gonna be alright
'Cause I got my Baby
Right by my side
This song always makes me think of how lucky I am. In a world were so many people feel like they have no one I get to sleep next to a wonderful wife who makes me a better person. Since we've been together I have discovered so much. The best things I've discovered is Harry Potter and sushi. Also I've learned how amazing it is to love someone and have them love you back no matter how much you annoy them.
The song makes me realize I need to be grateful for what I have. It can all be gone at any time and I don't want to look back and feel like I wasted or didn't appreciate what I had.
When it is all over I want to be happy and ready.
Three new shows started in October and each of them intrigued me in different ways.
Once Upon A Time
I have always been a big fan of fairy tales and Walt Disney animated films so as soon as a read the pilot description last winter I was interested. I got even more interested when I watched the trailer.
The first two episodes did not disappoint. They did an amazing job casting the show. Jennifer Morrison is a great lead even if she is overshadowed by other cast members. Lana Parrilla as the Evil Queen is brilliant in her scenes as both the mayor and as the Evil Queen. She does enough to make you wonder how much she remembers. The same can be said about Robert Carlyle as Rumpelstilskin. He steals any scene he is in and I hope they choose to use him more in the future.
The actor who really owns the show is Jared Gilmore as Henry. He does such a great job beside all the older experienced actors and delivers his lines so well that you want to believe everything he says.
The show does a great job of splitting episodes between reality and the fairy tale world. While they have introduced some iconic characters like Grumpy and Little Red Riding Hood in small doses you want to see how they continue to use them while also bringing in other favorites like Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty. I like how they have also introduced characters without showing us who their fairy tale counter part is. This opens up lots of speculation which doesn't surprise me since it is from some of the writers of Lost. I promised myself I would not let myself speculate to much like I did with Lost but they make it so hard. I got hooked early and now all I can do is watch every little thing and wonder if it has greater meaning.
They better not introduce numbers.
Grimm
Like the above show this also revolves around fairy tales. These ones are primarily Brothers Grimm stories.
The show almost feels like a cop show with a twist that the main character can see some people's true self. The show revolves around the idea that the Grimm stories were real and that they fought to destroy these monsters. This trait was passed down to the next living descendant as they aged finally reaching the main character.
I love the concept but I didn't love the pilot. It did have some great moments. Silas Weir Mitchell was great as a good Big Bad Wolf. He offered great comic relief and I was glad to learn he would be in more episodes. I was not overly impressed with the main actor but am willing to give the show the chance to grow the character and give the actor more to work with. I did also enjoy the twist at the end of the pilot.
My only real problem is that I don't see the show lasting. In the battle of Fairy Tale shows I think Once Upon a Time is the safer bet in the long run as it is more family friendly. But Grimm is on NBC so average ratings would get it a second season.
American Horror Story
Honestly the show only interested me because Connie Britton was cast. I loved her as Tami Taylor on Friday Night Lights and thought I'd give the show a chance.
My major reason for not watching was the creators. I have not liked how they ran their other shows I've watched. Especially Glee which has become unwatchable in my opinion. But its the new cool show to watch. I may not have smoked a ciggarette but I bow to peer pressure when it comes to TV shows.
With that said I really did not like this show. I forced myself to watch the pilot twice. I gave it a second chance because people seem to love it and it was on the dvr.
It wasn't that the acting was bad. It's more that they show absolutely makes no sense. If someone tells me their was a Murder/Suicide in the house I want to buy I am not buying the house. I'm walking back out the door as quickly as possible. Also in this age of everything being on the internet someone would have posted something about that house online. Obviously more then two people have died there so I would have done some research before buying.
I did like the concept of the maid looking different to each character. I wanted the wife to find the husband with the maid just to see the reaction. Most of the time the pilot simply bored me. With that and the fact that I have little faith in the creators making the show more interesting, there is no good reason for me to keep watching.
