Some Kind of Wonderful

It's still a classic.

I have lost count of how many times I have seen this movie over the years. I am yet to tire of it. Currently, I am basking in high heaven after having stumbled upon it again on cable TV.

Absolute cheese fest. Memories. Siiigh. Join me.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094006/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Some_Kind_of_Wonderful_(film)

I Like George Clooney Again. Michael Clayton Saved Him.

The movie Michael Clayton is a must see.


Why?

This movie convinced me that George Clooney was again likable. And that took a whole lot of convincing. Post his ER-days, George came across as an extremely arrogant, pretty boy actor, always trying too hard to appear serious. Post-Michael Clayton, I now think that Clooney is in fact a terrific actor and that even more, he should receive an Oscar for his performance. The movie was that good and George was amazing. He said goodbye to smarminess and posing and was just pure talent.


Wow - I wonder what the world will be like now that I like George Clooney again.



Note: Michael Clayton, directed by Tony Gilroy, has received 7 Oscar nominations including: Best Achievement in Directing, Best Motion Picture of the Year, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role, Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role, Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen and Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score.

http://michaelclayton.warnerbros.com/#

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0465538/

Still Loving Shia

Caliente!

http://kerijam.blogspot.com/2007/12/loving-shia.html

Bee S!

If you are living in North America and have not heard about Jerry Seinfeld's Bee Movie then I encourage you to get out from under that rock where you apparently live.

Jerry has blitzed us from every corner with promotions about this movie, and hey, I have no problem with that. I was a big Seinfeld fan back in the day, and despite the ridiculous racist behavior from the dude who played Kramer (sadly, I can't look at Kramer the same anymore - Michael, why did you have to ruin it for me?!), I still rank the sitcom as one of the top comedic shows of all time. But, I digress...back to Jerry and the Bees.

The premise of the movie seems unique. The main character, the bee Barry B. Benson, goes to war against humans for exploiting his species - we eat their honey, have created a lucrative industry based on their output, but they get no benefits from the sales. Also, the film boasts well known names, Jerry Seinfeld as Barry, Renee Zellweger as a florist that Barry falls in love with, and other greats such as Chris Rock, Matthew Broderick and John Goodman. So, given the huge investment in marketing, the unique premise and the talented cast, did this movie live up to expectations?

If your expectations were very low, then this movie passed with flying colours. I haven't seen the movie yet, and given the scathing - but funny - review by Joe Morgenstern in the Wall Street Journal, I probably won't - well at least I will wait for the DVD.

Here are excerpts from Joe's review in the 11/02/07 WSJ :

• 'Bee Movie' isn't a B movie, it's a Z movie, as in dizmal


• This animated feature might have been tolerable, though for what demographic I'm not sure, if it's hyper vocal star, Jerry Seinfeld, had chosen to drone. Instead, he delivers every line - every stupid bee joke that he and his cronies could cook up - with a pounding, punishing triumphalism that recalls not the Seinfeld of "Seinfeld" but Milton Berle on a really bad night


• As you may have gleaned from a publicity campaign that's been slightly less invasive than the influenza pandemic of 1918...


• It's just that the movie aims so low, and still manages to miss all distinction


• At one point in Barry's honey trial, an exasperated defense lawyer asks, "How do we know this talking bee isn't some kind of Hollywood wizardry?" Would that wizards had left their mark. This is Hollywood hackery

One of my colleagues recently mentioned to me that he took his 8-year old son to see the movie and that his son then had another opportunity to see the film as part of a play date. His son refused to watch the film again. From the mouth of babes...

Better luck next time, Jerry! Seinfeld still rocks (except for Michael Richards).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bee_Movie

http://www.beemovie.com/

Losing My Lunch

Ephialtes (Movie: 300)

Gollum (Movie: Lord of the Rings)

Question: What other stomach-churning movie characters can you think of?

Can You Lose Your Funny?

I loved him in Dead Poet's Society. Good Will Hunting. Granted these weren't comedies. But hey, he was great in Mrs. Doubtfire. Robin Williams is most noted as a comedian, but I have found him to be painfully unfunny of late.

Folks, is it possible to lose your funny?

The Professional

I have probably seen this movie at least 20 times over the last decade or so. It is a classic.

I fell in love with Gary Oldman for the first time in this movie. Who can forget the scene where he screams "EVERYONE" to a minion who dared question him?

Loved it!!

Good Smoke

Another must see movie. Aaron Eckhart is great. Also, you get to see Katie Holmes in her pre-zombie days.

Ooops, he did it again

Go, Mattie, Go!

We are loving the franchise!

Try 300

Oh Yeah!!!

Will it be as good as the first?

I hope so! See you at the premiere...

The Color Purple - A must see!

Saturday June 2nd was Novelette's birthday and to celebrate we (Novelette, Stacey, Brian, Sejal & I) went to see The Color Purple - The Musical about Love. Oprah Winfrey has outdone herself (again). I strongly recommend that you see the show. It was entertaining and impressive from start to finish. The music, story, and cast were all stellar. Sejal said it was the best play she had ever seen. Special kudos to former American Idol winner, Fantasia. She put on an Oscar-worthy performance.

The show ended with a multi-minute standing ovation - it was that good. So good in fact that I volunteered for high-way robbery and bought the $25 soundtrack. It was a great night.

Happy birthday, Novelette!

Music, Twins & The Sophisticate

Way back in the days of VHS & VCRs, before reasonably priced Cable or Satellite TV, a family of 5 owned a few videos. (Out-of-scope: The father's library of cricket, football and boxing cassettes and the really long History of the Bible tape). On weekends or holidays, when the 3 children felt 'bored' and/or wanted to have some 'fun', and los padres had not rented any new videos, the kids would watch and re-watch the few in-scope videos.

Mum and Dad were always surprised at how their 3 would never tire of watching the same content. Lines would be recited in sync with characters ("For once I put my foot down in this house. Let! Them! Alone!"*). Jokes were still hilarious during the 30th viewing ("So, you're the one they call peanut [pronounced peaaaaanuhhht] face???"**). Pretending that suspense even existed after the 50th viewing made watching more entertaining (Will Fraulein get caught by the Captain?***). Singing at the top of your lungs was required when you heard your favourite song (...The rain in Spain****... I'm getting married in the morning**** ...I am 16 going on 17***...). The fun was non-stop.

Today, in the time of Cable TV, Satellite TV, DVDs, etc. , those yesteryear videos are still favourites of the 3. Some of the videos have been upgraded to the new! X-year anniversary extended editions - with bonus! deleted scenes & interviews with the original cast. Showings on Cable TV are watched and re-watched - sans loud singing and pretended suspense, but with the occasional line recital and laughter.

If ever you are 'bored' or want a bit of 'fun', the 3 highly recommend that you watch the following videos:

- The Sound of Music

- The Parent Trap*****

- My Fair Lady

Feel free to borrow any of the 3's accompanying actions during your own viewing.

--------------


*The twins' grandfather in The Parent Trap. He said these words to his wife who constantly meddled in her daughter's affairs
**The twins' prospective step-grandmother in The Parent Trap. She said these words to one of the twins - Susan
***The Sound of Music
****My Fair Lady
*****Hayley Mills' version tops Lindsay Lohan's - but both are approved by the 3

Way to go Martin on your first Oscar!!

Warm congratulations to the very talented Martin Scorsese for his first Oscar! Martin won the Oscar for Best Director for 'The Departed'.

If you haven't seen that film, go see it. Wonderful! Graphic, but gripping.

Congrats again, Martin. You more than deserve it.

Congrats to the '06 Best Actor: Forest Whitaker!

How touching to see such humility! Very refreshing.

Congrats, Forest!! Well done. *Sob*

Congrats to the '06 Best Supporting Actress: Jennifer Hudson!

Jennifer Hudson just won Best Supporting Actress for 'Dreamgirls'!!!!

I am so excited! What an inspiration. She's definitely a breakthrough artist.

Jen, thanks for your example of persistence, faith and excellence...and the results these can bring in your life.

Stay grounded, chica. God bless!!