So Much Hiatus, So Little Rhyme

Hello dear blog-followers!

I apologize for my consistent lack of ability to post regularly. I realize that I haven't posted since about December. To me, it feels like Christmas was last week, and Spring still seems far off. However, I am wrong. It's April, and I'm just lousy at keeping track of time. The weather is about the same as it was in December though, and maybe that's why I'm having trouble believeing that it's really "spring."

I've gotten into obsessively organizing my music lately, and it's been eating my life. I have over 7 days worth of music, and that's not even counting all of the music that I want to add from my parents' collection (2 full CD books' worth). However, I have decided that every Wednesday, I AM GOING TO POST SOMETHING! If I fail to post, and didn't say I was going to be unable to ahead of time, please send me hate-mail. How often do you get to do that, eh?

Now, on to business. I haven't actually watched that many movies lately. I did watch some, though (how could I not?) Among the goodies were RED, Stardust, Paranormal Activity, and Megamind.

RED was everything that The Expendables wanted to be. They had a star-studded cast that featured everyone and didn't just have cameos of people who you thought were going to be leads (*cough* Arnold *cough*). Not only was it well-casted, but it was well-performed (nobody was just calling it in), well-produced (with copious amounts of explosions, and a lighting style that I just love), but it was also remarkably tasteful, which is something we rarely see in action movies anymore. It's based on a comic book series, and knows it. There's nothing too serious here, and the laws of physics are definitely bent a little bit sometimes. So long as you're not uncomfortable with a little blood and some awesome shoot-em-up/beat-em-up scenes, this is a great movie!

Stardust isn't actually that good, I admit. But I like it, and that counts for something. It's cheesy and extremely predictable, but has an innocent air and playful quality that I adore. How this is managed when the sub-plot involves brothers trying to kill each other off for the crown, I'm not really sure, but it is! And Robert DeNiro will make anyone laugh at his bit-part. I love this movie, and I now own it.

I'm not going to say much about Paranormal Activity other than if you let yourself be drawn into the story and just stop being a critic, it'll scare your pants off. I was genuinely impressed, even though my family heckled it the entire time I was watching it.

Finally, we come to Megamind. Will Ferrell, why couldn't you just let me hate you?! The strategy of using a famous comic actor as a cartoon's focal point began back with Jack Black and Kung Fu Panda. I'm not saying it never happened before this movie, I'm just saying that it never happened spectacularly well before this movie. I love Jack Black, so I knew that "Panda" was gonna be awesome. When I heard about Despicable Me, I was a little wary, because I'm not a big fan of Steve Carell. Correction, I wasn't a fan of Steve Carell. Now I think he's great! While I still don't really like Mr. Ferrell, I do respect him a little more now. The music is also awesome. Megamind was unique, lovable, and uplifting. I highly recommend it.

Cinema now aside, I was reading my Bible today and came across the end of Proverbs, and the literal Proverbial Woman. I struggled with the part where it says "she gets up before dawn to make breakfast for her family." I like my sleep.... A LOT. But this woman puts her comfort aside, and tends to her family foremost. Would I be willing to do this for my own husband and children someday? I hope so, I just might need to invest in some dtronger coffee. I start Ecclesiastes today, and from what I read in the foreword, it's going to be intense! And just what I've needed...

I hope that y'all are doing well, and I mean it about the hate-mail! Have a wonderful week!

Cordially Yours,
Caty

P.S. "You know the drill." "OH NO! NOT THE DRILL!!!"

All Quiet On The North-Western Front

Hello, all. Boy, December just snuck up on me. Anyway, I would like to say that the heavy snowfall was better than the combination of wind and below-freezing temperatures. Yes, I realize that it snows at below-freezing temperatures, but it's so cold now that it CAN'T SNOW. That's excessive, in my personal opinion. My feet have not been comfortably warm in weeks, because the rubber in my shoes keeps freezing and staying frozen throughout the day. It's kind of lame.
Anyway, moving on from personal problems to the topics for the day. "Tangled" is a very cute movie that  recommend. I can't say much about it other than it was charming and is something that everyone can enjoy.
I did not get to see "Burlesque" but a trusted movie-critic friend of mine said that the acting was lame. They did say that the singing and dancing were good, and that it's a great movie to make fun of. I'll rent it in six months and give you my take on it.
A movie I have owned for over a year,and just watched again recently was "Christmas With The Kranks." If you have ever been stressed out about Christmas, this is a wonderful movie to watch. From botoxed Tim Allen, to overbearing boss-man Dan Aykroyd, this movie is a hoot. If you're going into it expecting "theatre" though, you might be disappointed. It's meant to entertain, and from what I can tell from both cinematography and general set-layout had a really low budget. It's just fun. I enjoyed it.
Now, I'm going to be late for rehearsal if I jabber any longer. I bid you adieu, and Happy Holidays!
Caty

P.S. I watched the last episode of Monty Python. I need another series, right NOW.

Stars, Destroyed Cars, And Even Some Bruises & Scars!

Pretty good Thanksgiving break, methinks. I'm glad it stopped raining. As much as I like rain, it's really no good in the winter. At all. Learning up on winter driving is easier than I thought it would be, but still a little hard, especially when there are so many big trucks that insist on driving right behind your much smaller vehicle (namely, a 2000 Ford Taurus SE (yes, I'm in love with my car, just like Queen)), and it has basically the same effect as some dork sitting there with his brights on in your face. Yeah...
Anyway, the film to highlight this time is "The Expendables." The only reason I didn't like it as much as I thought I would is a pretty common phenomenon for me; people talked it up too much. I've found that the best way to get someone to say "that movie was AWESOME!" is by not saying as much yourself. Anyway, I was mainly disappointed with the really short amount of time that Willis and the Governator (yes, I'm intimidated by his name, so I'm not going to type it) were on screen. In trailers and such you are led to believe that they are major characters. This is NOT true. That being said, it was a fun little movie with plot optional. Everyone did a good job on the performing front (especially when you take into account what they're famous for (which is action, not acting)), especially Mickey Rourke. Sylvester Stallone did a nice job with this film, but I just want to say a few things about him that have very little to do with the movie. Sly, why do you want to look like Robert Downey Jr.? It looks like he is! I'm serious!!! Also, eat a donut, man. I can see your ribs.
I also watched "The Last Airbender." M. Night Shymalan... YOU'RE KILLIN' ME! The visuals were great, the effects weren't overpowering or distracting, the cinematography was good, and you were a great little actor yourself... but you shouldn't be a director. Why don't you produce movies instead?! Additionally, most of the actors, with the exception of a few, were terrible at emoting with any kind of smooth transition, and said their lines like they were speaking a foreign language and not something that the character would say. And the script made me want to cry. When I say that these things were awful, I really mean that they were painfully mediochre. Either be good or bad; nobody likes that nasty lukewarm stuff. Especially when compared to some his other movies (e.g. "Signs", "The Lady In The Water") it's very sad to see such a blase' piece of film. If you liked this movie, sorry for slamming it. I'm a critic, can't help it.
I'm hoping to see some really good movies in the near future (hopefully "Burlesque"). I'll let you know how they turn out.
Until Next Time,
A Critic

P.S. I just got a profile on IMDb, so that may be exacerbating the whole "critic" thing. But now I can look up any movie/actor/TV series anywhere! :)

cREICHtical fail (Nazis Suck)

So, I thought I would humor my brother today and watch a movie about Nazi Zombies. I assumed that the good guys (I use the word "good" with the loosest of interpretations as they were merciless mercenaries that happened to be the protagonists) would kill the undead horde. Well, we all know what happens when you assume, eh? WORST MOVIE EVER. The good guys lose, in the most excessively gory and unrealistic ways possible, and it ends with not hope for an end to the madness, but rather a confirmation of the superiority of the disgusting corpses from Hitler-land. In other words: LAMENESS!!! I HATE THAT STUPID FLIPPING MOVIE!!!
In other news (that are sure to be less violent and more uplifting), Leap Year is a cute little Irish romance movie. It's technically not that great (to be honest about what my inner-critic says). However, it is a lot of fun, and it's IRISH for peat's sake! What more could you ask for? How about that adorable actress Amy Adams? Oh, right, she's IN it! I'm just sayin'....
Monty Python's Flying Circus continues to make my day. However, Terry Gilliam could stop with the whole "I'm gonna draw nekkid people all over the place" thing. That'd be nice. John Cleese and Eric Idle are my heroes. As well as Michael Palin (no realtion to the former governor I'm told) and Terry Jones and Graham Chapman. I truly enjoy the sophisticated but silly humor.
Ta-Ta For Now!
Caty

P.S. I fink we shud pu' uh tax on awl peopol stan'in' in wa'a! AUGH!!!

Ah, The Cheese Is So Good (Especially With Pasta)

Hello, All!
Let me tell you, there are some cheesy things in thsi world. Probably the best of the cheese I've been exposed to recently was a movie by the name of "Return To Me." David Duchovny and Minnie Driver. Now, for those of you who know these two as "Mulder?" and "La Carlotta!", you may be thinking that they don't really sound like the best match. YOU ARE SO WRONG!!! The acting was phenomenal, on Duchovny's part, and Minnie did an excellent job as well. Granted the old men who bicker about whether or not Ireland is better than Italy are definitely the best part. Oh romantic comedy, how you make my days better! :) I would also like to mentin the film "The Men Who Stare At Goats." Brilliant movie, I actually like George Clooney again. It's a lot of fun, if you're able to not take things seriously.
On a slightly different note, SNOW IS EVIL!!! (Just in case you didn't get that opinion from my last post). A movie that was okay, but not fantastic, was "Iron Man 2," which was not all about the nasty, I promise. Definitely the best part: Samuel L. Jackson yelling "Sir, I'm gonna have to ask you to leave the donut!"
I'll just leave ya with that bit of happiness,
Caty

P.S. Joe, after seeing that, I don't know if another man can ever satisy her...

Snow, Snow, Go Away

I HATE snow. This makes me opposite of most Alaskans. Most Alaskans hate rain (because it's dreary/turns to ice), and love snow. I LOVE rain (because it makes me feel artsy-fartsy and all that good stuff) and hate snow because it makes everything so... bright. And let's not forget cold! There's nothing more upsetting than having snow fall down your boot and soak your socks. It's awful, trust me. Movies I have watched recently that you might consider would be Boondock Saints (but only if you like vigilantes who kill bad guys, and can deal with bad guy realism), and The Legen of 1900. Granted, I watched the second movie a while ago, but I neglected to comment on its genius. The acting, story, cinematography...beautiful. And the music is BRILLIANT!!! There's not only the dominant ragtime that flows through the film, but there's also quite a bit of JAZZ! It's a truly terrific movie, in every aspect. I love it. Maybe a little artsy sometimes, but it's something that everyone over the age of 12 can enjoy (the main character may or may not use some colorful diction at times). I highly recomend it.
With Regards To Broadway,
Caty

P.S. This is an EX-Parrot!!!

It's Been So Long

I have taken quite the break this last month. Many movies were watched, many jokes told, and many walks taken. Among the best of the cinema I viewed was: "Holliday Inn", "Just Like Heaven", and some of Monty Python's Flying Circus. It ends up that the silly and ridiculous things are what make life so fantastic. Very little compares to Fred Astaire and Bing Crosby being in the same movie, I'll tell you flat out. "Holliday Inn" is a MUST SEE for any theatre-lovers out there. Or any dance or music appreciators, as it were. It was fun, heartwarming, and busting at the seams with perfectly-developed talent. Good stuff. "Just Like Heaven" is probably not actually that good of a movie, technically, but it's cute.... and romantic.... need I say more? And Monty Python is Monty Python. John Cleese is one of my idols.
Now you have something to do with your spare time!
Back To Cinema For Me,
Caty

P.S. Not that Terry Gilliam isn't good too...