Friday Film: Ladies Night!

Because it's ladies night, we're seeing "Magic Mike," oh yes it's ladies' night, oh what a (oh what a) night!

I am pretty excited for this weekend. This week has been extremely long and exhausting, so I am really looking forward to relaxing and sleeping in. Then, tomorrow night, I'm going with some lovely lady friends to see "the Citizen Kane of stripper movies," the much-anticipated "Magic Mike."
I was at CVS a few days ago, and saw movie boxes of candy on sale for $1.00. I like candy at a movie, because I'm an awesome American, and figured that between seven women a few boxes would be good. This was at 7:15 in the morning. I walked up to the checkout with my nail polish and 3 boxes of candy, prompting this conversation with the 60-year old, grizzled cashier:

Cashier: "Going to see a movie?"

Me: "Yes, this weekend I'm going with a few girlfriends"

Cashier: "Oh, what are you going to see?"

Me: "Magic Mike"

Cashier: "Ah, Channing Tatum. That should be pretty good."

Me: "Yes, we're all pretty pumped."

Cashier: "That Channing Tatum, he's underrated. He's a really good actor!"

Me: "Uhh..."

Cashier: "I mean, have you seen 21 Jump Street?!"

Me: "No, I missed that one"

Cashier: "Oh no! You gotta see it! You got Netflix?"

Me: "I..."

Cashier: "You gotta Netflix it! He's a born comedian."

Me: "OK."

Cashier: "But that's not all. He's a triple-threat"

Me: "Is he. You know, I don't need a bag, I can put this all in my purse." 

Cashier: (Grabbing a bag) "Well, we know he can dance, from Step Up, of course."
Me: "Of course." [Blogger's note - I have never seen Step Up]
Cashier: "And now he's proven himself in comedy, but he's also an action star!"
Me: "Is he now? Actually, I don't need the bag."
Cashier: (Continuing to bag the candy) "Oh! Don't tell me you haven't seen GI Joe?!"
Me: "Can't say that I have. Do you need my CVS card?"
Cashier: "You gotta see it!"
Me: "Or do I just swipe it here?"
Cashier: "Especially with the sequel coming out!"
Me: "I'll do that."
Cashier: "Netflix!"
Me: "Sure. It's going to be credit."
Cashier: "Ooh, boy! That Channing, he's going places! Just you watch! Keep your eye on him. Did you see "The Vow?" He's working on his dramatic skills, too."
Me: "May I have my receipt, please?"
Cashier: (Ignoring my outstretched hand and stuffing the receipt into the bag I didn't want) "He has just had so many movies out these past two years, and more coming! He keeps 'em coming!"
Me: "Thank you. Have a nice day."
Cashier: "I will, and you have a good weekend!"
Me: "Thanks, I will."
Cashier: "Oh I know you will! You're seeing Channing!"

This kind of thing happens to me all the time. 

Anyway, most of us going have husbands or boyfriends who have spent the past few weeks sighing, rolling their eyes, and generally giving us a hard time for wanting to see it. Which is why they aren't invited. 

I won't pretend my desire to see this movie is based in any interest in film. It want to see abs. Man abs. Lots of them. 

I don't care if there is a plot. In fact, I would prefer they not take away too much from the stage scenes. I will admit to feeling disappointment upon reading a review declaring that the movie is actually a thoughtful character study, and that the performances are more spaced out than the trailers would suggest. Boo. I don't want character development. That's not why anyone is going to see this. 

Why am I going to see it, then? Well, here are a few reasons:

 

and

 

and

 

and

 

and

and

Now how can you not be excited for this movie?

Happy Friday, all!

New for You! Cinema Variety

I’m introducing a Friday feature, Cinema Variety, to discuss one of my passions, movies. Each Friday, this space will be devoted to discussing upcoming movies, old movies, favorite films from different genres, directors and actors, and basically anything movie-related. I love movies, and I enjoy discussing films with other people. I invite comments!

For the first entry, let's look at "Prometheus," which, although I'm not expecting it to be great, I'll be seeing this weekend. Now, a word about the trailers that have been playing incessantly on TV and radio for the past few weeks. They are terrible. I understand that Ridley Scott and the studio are very concerned with keeping pretty much every last detail of the movie secret to avoid spoilers, but I'd rather have a silent trailer, or one with just music, than to hear, over and over, the one line they have chosen to use in all of the marketing because it doesn't give anything away. I really don't like when trailers rely heavily on one line of dialogue--it 's lazy, obnoxious, and starts to annoy me so much that even if I want to see it, I get a little bitter and count it against the film. I think during the movie, when it gets to the the line "Prometheus, are you seeing this?" the audience should simultaneously take a shot. Or shotgun a beer. We've earned it.
So if the marketing is so bad, and I don't even think the movie will be all that good, why am I seeing it? Three reasons--the director, association with the Alien movies, and the cast.

Ridley Scott always gets a pass from me.  Sure, he has made some awful-looking films (I haven't seen the Russell Crowe "Robin Hood" from a few years ago, largely due to a similarly bad marketing campaign, a cast that did nothing for me, terrible reviews, and the fact that it just seemed boring, and while I can't call it awful without having actually seen it, it sure didn't look very good.) In any case, overall he has a solid directing resume, and is pretty reliable as it goes, despite the fact that I don't care for the direction he gave the actor playing Lucius in "Gladiator." ("There, there, there, there...I got you!") Mostly, he has my eternal respect for directing, back-to-back, two of my favorite movies of all time: "Blade Runner" and "Alien." The man created Future Noir. Now, each of those really deserves a post of their own on how important they were in influencing not just to science fiction to cinema, but all cinema, television, and video games, so I won't go too far in to detail on that here, but suffice it say that those two movies go a long way in earning Ridley Scott the benefit of the doubt, especially when it comes to a sci-fi film.

"Alien" is incredible. It is, in my opinion, a perfect movie. There isn't one change that I can think of that would make it better. I don't care if you don't like science fiction, it's just a good movie, so if you have never seen it, watch it. It's so tense, it's so well-acted, it's just one of the best movies ever made. The sequel, "Aliens", has a completely different scale (big-budget blockbuster-more special effects and explosions...and Bill Paxton!) and tone, which is not surprising since it was directed not by Scott but by James Cameron. It's a solid action movie, and it's incredibly re-watchable. It never gets old. The third film, "Alien3", has it's problems, (poor David Fincher almost quit movies after the awful experience he had directing it) and it almost feels like it doesn't totally belong in the same series, but Sigourney Weaver and Charles Dance are really good in it. I won't discuss the abomination that is the fourth film"Alien: Resurrection." It's enough to make you never want to hear the word "alien" again in your life. It's actually why I can't let myself get my hopes for "Prometheus" being too good. Adding Winona Ryder to anything made after 1990 is not usually a good idea. (Don't believe me? Try watching "The Age of Innocence," "The Crucible," "Little Women," or "Mr. Deeds.")

Still, over the past few years we've been watching the Alien movies quite a bit, most recently to make sure my cousin had seen at least the first two. We had gotten the new collectors set with all of the bonus features, and watching the documentaries and extras developed a stronger appreciation for all of the movies. When I heard that Ridley Scott was making this movie, I was excited, and that excitement waned a bit as he went back and forth between saying it was an "Alien" prequel, to saying it had nothing to do with it at all, to "well it's kind of related but not really directly but it is yes." However, as more and more of the cast was announced, I was pretty much set on seeing it. 

• Charlize Theron is a good actress, and has my love forever for her outstanding work as an MR F. 
• Sean Harris is a complete and total badass as the henchman/ assassin/ Cesare's BFF on "The Borgias."
• Rafe Spall was in in both "Shaun of the Dead" AND "Hot Fuzz" so I automatically like him based on that alone. 
• Michael Fassbender was great in "Inglorious Basterds," and despite his ever-changing accent, was decent in "X-Men." (Plus, he had a bit part in "Band of Brothers," and anyone from that series gets bonus points with me. Except Jimmy Fallon.) 
• Guy Pearce can do no wrong and is fantastic in everything, from working it as a drag queen showgirl in "The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert" (Watch this movie--Hugo Weaving is his fellow drag performer and it is amazing) to his more intense roles in "L.A. Confidential," "Momento," and dramatic roles in "Mildred Pierce" and "The King's Speech."
• Patrick Wilson, in addition to playing my second-favorite character, Nite-Owl, in "Watchmen," is a beautiful, beautiful man with a beautiful body, and even though "Little Children" was dark and depressing, it's still worth watching just to keep seeing him get naked. Yes.
• And Idris Elba, oh Idris.  The incomparably gorgeous Idris Elba makes Patrick Wilson looks like a leper who was run over by an 18-wheeler. The man is perfection. He even has an accent. He sounds like he's from London! Sigh. He's just so...ahem. Back to his filmography: he is a talented and diverse actor who is so good at disappearing into a role that some people don't even realize he's the same actor they've seen before, from his roles on "The Wire," and "The Office," to "The Losers," "Thor," "28 Weeks Later," and of course the so-bad-it's-hilarious-and-therefore-worth-watching-at-least-once Beyonce suspense movie, "Obsessed."

So, all in all, the movie has a lot of good things going for it: Ridley Scott, original director of the original Alien film returning, an awesome cast, and the knowledge that, no matter what, it can't be as bad as "Alien: Resurrection."

Who’s Excited for Summer?!!

People, this is big: This is my first free summer in several  years.

No more wedding planning. No grad school classes to take.

Free time.

Free. Mother-fucking. Time.

Words cannot express my extreme anticipation for all the awesome time this summer is sure to bring, now that I am more available than ever to participate in said awesomeness. There are so many things I want to do, but I know it's not practical to do all of them, but here are things I'd love to do this summer:

Pig Roast: This is actually already scheduled. My best friend Scott and his various college friends/former roommates and co. throw a pig roast each summer. If you have never been to a pig roast, you are missing out. It's like an awesome cookout, with lots of drinking, music, playing games, and a roasting pig producing the most wonderful scents. I went to one in high school out on a farm where 2 pigs were roasted--it was almost a religious experience. Now, some people have told me they find the notion disturbing, but I find it reassuring. I am picky about eating meat (I have seen too much evidence of terrible practices in producing, packaging, and distributing meat in the US), so for me, it's nice to know where the meat is coming from. It's from that pig. Right there. Mmmm, pig. Plus, for a fan of all things pork like me, there are few things better than being able to go up to the actual pig and choose the meat that looks most delectable.

Go to a wedding: Ok, this one is also already planned. Our wedding was the first of 3 this year from our group of college friends. The second one is this July, at a nice park with the promise of barbecue. I love living in the South. It will be the first wedding we attend as a married couple, too, which is pretty cool.

Expand my culinary skills: I love cooking and baking, but I want to learn to make a wider variety of dishes. I want to build up a solid repertoire of healthy foods I am so comfortable making that I don't need to refer to the recipe, and that are convenient enough to make on work nights. I want to cook things I've never made before, that I've been too intimidated to try making, or too busy to devote a day to. I want to master a tres leches. I also want to try to replicate some of the insanely good food we had in Puerto Rico on our honeymoon, such as pastelon de dalva, the best gazpacho ever, the avocado pizza, and maybe even the ossobucco in guava broth I had on our last night there. Luckily, we got a few new kitchen wares for our wedding. I have already started my culinary adventures this week, so I'll be posting on that along the way.

Gain bar tending abilities: I love booze. I know what goes into a variety of drinks, but mostly basic, classic cocktails. And I am not really comfortable making a lot of drinks, especially when they start to involve more then 3 ingredients (including the garnish). I want to learn how to make more cocktails (again, well enough that I can do them from memory). Also, as with food, there are certain cocktails I want to recreate from our honeymoon, such as tamarind rum punch and an elderflower cosmo.

Travel: I am addicted to traveling. I crave it. I get strong urges to go places. Travel makes me feel renewed and refreshed. I get a vicarious travel high looking at pictures other people have taken on their trips, or watching the Travel Channel. Even watching movies. I don't need to go far away--I love exploring new places in the DC area. I just want to see and experience new places and things. I also want to go to Gettysburg, just because it's one of my favorite places to visit and I haven't been this year. And, I really, really, really want to go to the beach. I already got a week of beach time during our honeymoon, but I'd really like to go somewhere like Rehoboth for a few days, especially since last year when we went we spent most of our time indoors due to a combination of bad weather and marathon sessions at the Dogfish brew pub. (Lesson learned: Beach first, then brew pub--otherwise we'll never leave to go back to the beach)

Go to museums: I haven't been to any museums since I went to New York earlier this year, and it's making me itchy for an exhibit. I get antsy when I haven't been to a museum for a while. I don't have anything specific in mind, but maybe a day trip to Richmond, Baltimore, or Philly. There are also some DC museums I haven't been to in ages.

Go to an Orioles game: I don't like the Orioles (I'm a Rangers fan), but I do love their stadium so very much. If you have never been to Camden Yards, you should make it a point to go. Even if you don't like baseball all that much. Go for the experience. The atmosphere of the stadium absolutely transports you --the stadium just feels like it's from a different time. Also, the food is fantastic. Plus, if you go to a night game, you can make a day of it by going to the Baltimore Aquarium in the afternoon, and who doesn't love getting a little quality shark time?

See movies in the theatre: There's just something I love about a cool theatre on a hot day and watching a movie, especially while drinking an icee. I have been informed that there is some movie about a mutant half man half flying beast called "Batman" that arrives in theatres this summer, and that I am obligated to see it. So be it.

Be outdoors: I want to go to the mountains, and since I am lucky enough to live so close to the Blue Ridge mountains this shouldn't be a problem. I want to camp, go tubing, canoeing or kayaking, and I want to go horseback riding, which I used to do all the time when I was younger and haven't done in years. I just want to be in the sun.

Spend lots of time at and in the pool at our apartment: I love the smell of chlorine in the summer. When I was younger, most of my summer days were spent in Dallas in my grandparents' backyard swimming pool. We have a small, but decent, pool at our apartment, which also has plenty of chairs for poolside reading. There are few things finer than drinking a bottle of booze poolside while enjoying a good book. We are probably going to buy a house next year, which will mean no more pool time fun for this girl, so I need to get my kicks while I can.

Musicals! I want to see The Book of Mormon while it is in town. Tickets haven't gone on sale yet, and I am pretty sure they're going to sell out immediately, so I'll need to be very on top of this to make it happen. (As is turns out, it's not coming until next summer. Damn. I still want to see it.) 


Anyway, I want to see Newsies! (Which requires a New York trip-woohoo!) My dear cousin and I used to watch Newsies on VHS when it first came out, and both fell in love with Christian Bale's mediocre accent and singing ability. ("So that's what they call a fam-lee, muddah, fadduh, dawtuh, son.") After a lifetime of singing songs about the plight of paper boys who just want to seize the day (and also form a union) I am thrilled that this is now a Broadway musical extravaganza that I can enjoy in person. And luckily, I know other people who want to go, too, since here's no way my husband would ever agree to see it. (I tried to force him to watch the film once, and learned two things: Bill Pullman is not a draw for anyone, and native New Yorkers like my husband do NOT enjoy little kids butchering New York accents. Also, he did not accept that there was a character on crutches named Crutchy.) And, I still want to see Anything Goes, also in NYC, but that one is also going on tour and stopping in DC next year, so no rush there.

Write: I have things in my head I need to get out. Lots of stories and poems that are only half-formed and won't be complete until I start actually writing them out. I love writing, and once I start I have a hard time stopping, often leading to marathon sessions where my hands can't keep up with my brain in trying to get words on paper or screen. This sometimes prevents me from starting to write, as I know I won't be able to finish other important things if I get caught up in my writing and don't want to stop, but now, it won't be such a big deal if I do.

Read: I’ve got some books I’m excited to read. I’m also contemplating reading A Game of Thrones and A Clash of Kings now that the second season has ended. I have decided I don’t want to read ahead, so that I’ll still be surprised when I watch the show, but I think I’ll have a richer understanding of some of the minor characters and oblique references if I read the books the first two seasons were based on.

Art! I have a some paintings in mind. Some acrylics and gauche. I also want to set up an etsy account and try to sell off the massive amount of work I have that currently resides in a serious of large portfolios under my bed. I mean, it's not like anyone is seeing it now anyway, and I don't have room to hang even a portion of it, so I might as well make money off it, yes? Yes. 


So yes, as I said, I may not be able to make all of these things happen, but in any case, I'm sure this summer is going to be fantastic anyway. Because it's summer.

Where have I been?

Doing stuff. Traveling. Getting married. Being busy. Not blogging. 

Doesn’t matter, because I’m back. I may even write about some of the aforementioned non-blog related activities.