"Feel Good" Movies: An Animated Debate

I saw this meme the other day and thought, "Wow, I totally understand the person who came up with that". Because once upon a time I watched this horrible, terrible, depression-inducing film and sustained long-lasting trauma still prevalent today. I can't imagine who could ever watch this movie and actually classify it as "feel good".

The same could be said for a number of other "children's" movies. Bambi. Old Yeller. And don't think for one second I've ever got over the Baby Mine scene from Dumbo. Seriously, who comes up with this stuff? After Disney burned me in 1988 with the delightfully depressing Oliver and Company and then moved on to the killing shot -- otherwise known as that horrific Land Before Time scene where Littlefoot sees his shadow and thinks he's found his dead mother -- my parents wisely decided to stop taking me to kids' movies featuring animals.

Now, with impending motherhood barrelling toward me, I have my own decision to make. Every parent is faced with this same dilemma. Will they let their children start watching PG-13 movies before the age of thirteen? Rated R movies . . . when is too soon? How much do we shield our beloved offspring from film and TV horrors?

My parents have often been teased or criticized for allowing me to watch The Terminator when I was seven years old. And okay, I may have gotten a few nightmares from that one. And sure, Aliens is perhaps not the most appropriate film for a nine-year-old (I think their regretted that decision in retrospect).

But the truth is when I look back at my childhood cinematic education, I've come to terms with my fear of robot uprisings and alien invasions, but the first strains of Baby Mine can reduce me to tears faster than the time it takes for Walt "Trauma Inducing" Disney to kill off an animated mother. So I ask you -- what can we really consider a "feel good", kid-friendly movie? 

Spectacular Movie Speeches

Ahhh, The Fourth of July. One of my favorite holidays, just chalk full of wonderful traditions: food, fireworks, and best of all, watching a little human/alien interaction going down in the creme de la creme of July 4th movies, Independence Day! It's a tradition I've upheld since 1996, and one I'll continue to uphold until my dying days. 

You've just gotta love that dialogue. "Welcome to Earth" (or if you prefer the phonetic version, "Welcome to Earf"). Pretty much all of Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum's interchanges. And of course, the famous presidential speech. Every time I watch Bill Pullman give that presidential address to the pilots facing down the invading alien forces, I have to fight the urge to stand up and salute. It's no small feat. 

Which makes me wonder . . . what are some other great movie speeches? I thought long and hard about this, and after some serious debate I think I've narrowed it down to my top ten favorites. Here's the movies that made my list.

Top Ten Spectacular Movie Speeches:

#10 - Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End

I know my cousin absolutely hates this scene from the third Pirates of the Caribbean movie, but I always liked it. A band of pirates, coming together to face down an angry pagan god and the British Navy. A female Pirate King leading them. And an epic raising of the pirate flags in a united front proclaiming freedom. All ingredients for cinematic excellence.

Favorite line: "Gentlemen . . . hoist the colors."

#9 - V for Vendetta

I cannot say that I love the film adaptation of V for Vendetta; in fact, I think it's a gross raping of the source text, stripping it of it's original context and repackaged it for American audiences. However, the speech that V broadcasts to London does stick out in my mind as wonderfully inspirational. A voice breaking the silence, asking for others to stand with him. To no longer remain silent and turn a blind eye to the injustice of the government in return for an oppressive "peace".  It may not be my favorite film, but I cannot help but love V's speech nonetheless. 

Favorite line: "But again, truth be told, if you're looking for the guilty you need only look into a mirror."

#8 - Goonies 

In deference to my childhood, I have to make room for the great Sean Astin speech from Goonies. With one puff of his inhaler and a few well delivered lines, he rallies his troops and remind us all that even children can make a difference. That every child deserves their moment to be a hero. Sniffle.  

Favorite line: "Goonies never say die."

#7 - 300 

I have often wondered what the casting call was like for this movie. I have a sneaking suspicion that it was spearheaded by a group of women who rounded up the prospective actors and asked them to remove their shirts. And let me just say . . . effective. Now, eye candy aside, this movie offers one of the more impressive film speeches I've seen. A legion of Spartans on the eve of great battle, facing superior numbers and, ultimately, their death. Offering their lives in the name of freedom. A scene worthy of this list, would you not agree? 

Favorite line: "No retreat, no surrender."

[I also particularly love the line later delivered by Michael Fassbender: "Our arrows will blot out the sun." "Then we will fight in the shade." Delicious.]

#6 - Dead Poets Society

It still hurts to know that Robin Williams is gone. But he lives on in so many great films, not the least of which is a movie that reminds us seize the day. To live life to it's very fullest. And to make every day extraordinary. And Captain, my Captain, you will never be forgotten. 

Favorite line: "Thoreau said most men lead lives of quiet desperation. Don't be resigned to that. Break out!"

#5 - Remember the Titans

A great movie, with many powerful speeches. But none more so than the Gettysburg speech given by Denzel Washington. A speech asking for everyone to put aside their hatred and come together as one unit. A speech worth hearing once again in light of all the racial violence in today's news. 

Favorite line #1: "Fifty thousand men died right here on this field. Fighting the same fight that we're still fighting amongst ourselves today." 

Favorite line #2: "Take a lesson from the dead. If we don't come together right here in this hallowed ground, we too will be destroyed."

#4 - Lord of the Rings: Return of the King

If I were surrounded by an army of Sauron's forces and facing down death itself, I'd be tempted to crumble with fear. I'd be on the first train or horse or giant flying bird outta there. That is until Viggo Mortensen rode by in a vision of armor clad splendor, reigniting the courage of men and inspiring a last, if possibly doomed, stand in the name of fellowship. Man that guy gives good speech. 

Favorite line: "But it is not this day!"

#3 - Gladiator

Still one of the greatest battle films of all time, I never get tired of watching Russell Crowe take on hordes of angry foe. But by far the best scene in the film is his spectacular speech delivered on the knife's edge of obliteration, rallying the gladiatorial forces into a deadly unit reminiscent of the Roman legion he once commanded. Is it any surprise that this made #3 on my list? 

Favorite line: "Whatever comes out of these gates, we've got a better chance of survival if we work together. Do you understand? If we stay together we survive." 

#2 - Braveheart

Well, Mel Gibson may have become something of a controversial figure in the film world, but no one can deny that he played an excellent William Wallace. And his speech . . . well, it goes down as perhaps the best film speech in cinematic history. It reminds us that some things are worth dying for. And to this day, every time I heart that speech, it makes me want to run out to buy a kilt, slater some blue pain on my face, and head to Scotland. 

Favorite line: "They may take our lives, but they may never take our freedom!"

#1 - Independence Day

As I mentioned before, this speech was the inspiration for my blog post. It is therefore fitting that it should make my list of Top 5. It's the speech that turns an American holiday into a celebration of a world united, joined together in their fight to survive extinction. Annihilation.

Favorite line: "We can't be consumed by our petty difference anymore. We will be united in our common interests." 

And there you have it. My list of the Top 10 spectacular movie speeches. I'm sure there are plenty who might argue against my choices, but hey, that's what the comment section is for. So what about you guys? Any favorite movie speeches? 

Tomorrowland's Borrowed Plot

My friends and I went to see Tomorrowland the other night, and while I'll admit my expectations were fairly low to begin with, I found it better than anticipated. Not a movie I'd run back to a second time, but certainly a decent Wednesday night break.  

However, something became startlingly clear as the movie progressed; every aspect of the plot I found interesting was essentially borrowed from preexisting stories. 

Warning: SPOILERS AHEAD

I'll begin with the most obvious -- the futuristic world of Tomorrowland. A place where thinkers, inventors, and dreamers are free to immerse themselves in creativity without restriction or hinderance. Sound familiar to anyone else? For anyone intimate with the work of writer/philosopher Ayn Rand, it will definitely ring some bells. Tomorrowland is reminiscent of Atlas Shrugged's Galt's Gulch, a safe haven for the great minds of the world away from the oppressive majority. And apparently I'm not alone in making this connection. Brad Bird, the movie's director, has been cited numerous times for his objectivist tendencies (links to a few of these articles here and here). Still, borrowed or not, you can't discount that it made for some interesting visuals. 

Moving on from some decidedly Rand-ian concepts, I'd next like to point out the film's technological device that shows the future. Afraid of the doomsday images he sees there, Tomorrowland's Governor David Nix broadcasts these images to the people on Earth, hoping to frighten them into enacting change. Instead it acts as a self-fulfilling prophecy and world rushes toward it's own destruction. Again, you might recognize this plot device from other stories, most notably Philip K. Dick's "Paycheck" and it's 2003 movie adaptation. It's your basic "seeing the future creates that future" concept, and far from original. 

Last but not least, the Audio-Animatronic robot, Athena. A scout in search of new Tomorrowland recruits, she befriends a younger Frank Miller (aka. George Clooney) and forms complicated feelings toward him which she attributes to a glitch in her empathy matrix. Okay, now come on. That's just a Disneyfied repackaging of the "I know now why you cry" scene from Terminator 2: Judgement Day. And no one can tell me any different. 

Like I said in the beginning of this post, it wasn't a terrible movie. I just couldn't help but feel that 90% of it came from other stories. But hey if you're going to commandeer concepts from other books and movies, at least Brad Bird chose some of the greats, right? 

Blood, Boobs and Carnage Blogfest

Alex J. Cavanaugh and Heather Gardner are hosting a blogfest today, yay! And it's possibly the best title I've ever heard of . . . the Blood, Boobs and Carnage Blogfest. So if you haven't already signed up to participate, just click here and share your favorite movie, TV show and/or book that falls into the blood, boobs and carnage category.

Call me crazy, but some of my all time favorite books, shows and movies fit perfectly into this genre. It's going to be a challenge for me to pick just one of each, but I think I've narrowed it down to the best of the best.

Starting with one of the best shows on TV, Strike Back. A co-collaboration between the British Sky1 channel and America's Cinemax, it's an action-packed series following Section 20 agent Michael Stonebridge and ex-Delta force member Damian Scott as they hunt down the world's most dangerous terrorists. Between the many bombings, gunfights, and hand-to-hand combat scenes, the show does not lack for blood and carnage. And I doubt there's a single episode where you don't see Damian Scott (aka. actor Sullivan Stapelton) and his many conquests going at it in various states of undress. In fact, we see Stapleton's ass so many times I read he banned his mother from watching the show. If you haven't seen it, I recommend you get started NOW. You will not be disappointed.

For my movie entrant, I had a terribly hard time whittling my list down. I mean, just about any vampire movie would have worked (Underworld 2 immediately springs to mind), and of course there's the very blood and boob-a-licious Sucker Punch, Catwoman, Species . . . the list goes on and on. But in the end I decided to go with movies based on the work of Frank Miller, most notably Sin City and The 300. Lots of carnage and sex appeal in those films!

And last but not least, books. I thought long and hard about which book to post about, and briefly considered mentioning the Game of Thrones series. But since just about everyone has at least heard of them (and I suspect many of you will mention them during today's blogfest), I decided to go for something a little different. Instead I want to feature a book I fell in love with when I was probably much too young to read it, Anne Rice's The Witching Hour. Most people are familiar with her Vampire Chronicles, but I think her witch series is actually much more interesting. It chronicles the lives of the Mayfairs, a family of witches with a dark past, a penchant for incest, and a spirit with malevolent intent haunting their bloodline. This series definitely gets checks in the blood, boobs and carnage categories!

And there you have it, my favorite examples of blood, boobs and carnage. I can't wait to check out what books, movies and TV shows everyone else picks for today's fantastic blogfest! 

Top 14 of 2014

I can't believe that another year has come and gone, and we're already into the fifteenth year of the new millennium. It was just one hundred years ago that World War I was still going on. Crazy, right?

I'll admit this year gave me some big disappointments. Movies I expected to love and didn't (X-Men: Days of Future Past). TV shows I've been waiting for but instantly fell flat (I still can't even talk about how much I hated the How I Met Your Mother series finale). However, there were some serious high notes as well, and I wanted to take a moment to highlight what I considered some of the best this year had to offer. (Side note: some of these are not new to 2014, just new to me.) So without further ado, I give you . . .

The Top 14 of '14:

1. Guardians of the Galaxy

This one surprised me perhaps more than any other this year. The Marvel bar was set high with The Avengers (2012), but Guardians had no trouble keeping up. In fact, this movie set off quite the argument in my friend group as we tried to pick a favorite between these two superhero ensembles. All I can say is, game on Avengers 2. 

2. Awesome Mix - Vol. 1 (aka. Guardians of the Galaxy Soundtrack)

In some cases a soundtrack can enhance the film. In this case, the the soundtrack was the film. Amazing.

3. Captain America: The Winter Soldier

I wasn't a huge fan of the first Captain America film (probably more to do with my aversion to movie portrayals of WWII and Nazis than anything else), so I didn't know what to expect from The Winter Soldier. But it really blew me away. Perhaps one of my favorite Marvel movies to date.  

4. Big Hero 6

I can say little more to describe this movie than it was simply heartwarming and fun. 

5. Edge of Tomorrow

As I understand it, this movie received mediocre reviews. I struggle to understand that, as it was my second favorite movie of the year after Guardians. The end was perhaps a little muddled, but I found it entertaining beyond measure. 

6. Heroes of Olympus: Blood of Olympus

My heart hurts a little to see this series come to a close, but it ended with a bang. Au revoir Percy Jackson and company. 

7. Selfie

Poorly named, but a fun concept. It didn't do well enough to make it past the first season (darn you ABC), but my husband and I got a real kick out of this Pygmalion/My Fair Lady adaptation. And a big thank you to Hulu for airing the entire season. 

8. All About That Bass

I don't know whether I love this song or hate it, but one thing's for sure. It's catchy as hell.

9. Hunger Games: Mockingjay (Part 1)

I never know what to expect of these YA novel film adaptations (you could't pay me to sit through another one of the Divergent movies). But the third installment of the Hunger Games series was really great. And I'm looking foward to next winter's Mockingjay (Part 2). 

10. Friday Night Lights

This show aired it's final season in 2011, but it wasn't recently that I gave it a try (and by "gave it a try" I mean binge watching all five seasons via Netflix). Stay tuned for my review later this month, but it's one of the best series I've come across in a long time. 

11. Uptown Funk 

This goes down as my favorite song of the year. 

12. Serenity: Leaves on the Wind

I'm always hungry for more Firefly, and was thrilled to hear a new comic miniseries was on the way. I felt a bit skeptical when I hear it was being written by Zack Whedon rather than Joss, but it scored well in my book. It didn't quite meet the same level of perfection as the previous works, but was a good read nevertheless.   

13. Twelve Days of Pottermore 

More backstory into Harry Potter. Enough said. 

14. Godzilla 

Maybe it's the child within me, but I'll just never stop loving a good monster movie. And this new addition to the Godzilla franchise was a great throwback to some of the original movies. Definitely a crowd pleaser. 

Well, that completes my list of 2014 favorite. Are there any other TV shows, movies, books or songs you think should have made the list?

Into the Woods

Many years ago I watched the American Playhouse version of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Into the Woods for an elective college course. An avid fan of fairy tale adaptations and Sondheim's work, I remember enjoying the experience and to this day I have a hazy sort of love for the story I wish I remembered better. So when I saw the preview for the new Disney adaptation, I felt nothing but excitement to once more see this story come to life. 

And now having seen the film, I can honestly say it was . . . nice. Which left something of a bitter aftertaste in my mouth, for I'm fairly well versed in Sondheim and Lapine's work and it usually feels a lot more than . . . nice. 

Something about the movie just felt off. The characters were likable. Emily Blunt in particularly impressed me with her comical and endearing version of the Baker's Wife. And while I'm getting a little bored watching Johnny Depp play a never-ending supply of quirky and strange characters (which he continues to do brilliantly, if monotonously), I'm always a fan of Meryl Streep's work. Though even that felt somehow just . . . nice. 

Note: Spoilers Ahead

As we left the theater, my husband and I both commented that we would have been fine if the movie had ended a half-hour earlier with the wedding of Cinderella and her Prince, when all good characters were happy and all the bad characters were punished. Maybe a little bland, but that ending would have a least fit the story they presented us with. Instead, the last half hour felt messy and out of place. 

But thinking about it later, something about that statement felt wrong. I'm rarely a fan of cookie-cutter endings, and if there's one thing I never expect of Sondheim's work, it's banality. So I went to the internet for some answers and a little refresher course on the real Into the Woods. 

For those of you who know the original story, is it any wonder it felt like something was off about the movie? They cut out most of the content. The Little Red Riding Hood pedophelia. Rapunzel's death. And of course they axed the role of the narrator all together (who I recall being my favorite part of the play). They kept the general plot and many of the songs, but they stripped the film of it's meaning. Granted, the actual content is much too mature for a PG rating, but then why in God's name did they make the movie PG to begin with? 

It seems to me that they had two options: A) make the movie a PG, Disney-fied version and have everyone end up happily ever after, or B) give it a more mature rating and film it as Sondheim and Lapine originally intended. Instead the movie winds up somewhere in between, and just doesn't quite jibe. 

It's a story that doesn't lend itself well to the feel-good family romp they were aiming for. Though they did their best to white-wash the songs and substituted younger actors for traditionally older ones, the suggestive lyrics don't go unnoticed. It winds up a muddled mess in which the character's motives are unclear and the audience is left wondering if they're missing part of the story. Which in fact, they are. 

Like I said, the film is . . . nice. And the songs are terrific. But in the future I'll be sticking to Into the Woods on Broadway. 

12 Movies of Christmas

It's Christmas time, the most wonderful time of the whole year! And with the metaphorical Jack Frost biting at my nose (metaphorical because it's only about 68 degrees where I live - much too warm for snow), I am feeling the Yuletide spirit. So in preparation of my favorite holiday, I've got my TV queued up to some of the very best films this season has to offer. And what are they you might ask? Without further ado, I give you . . . 

The 12 Movies of Christmas:

1. The Grinch Who Stole Christmas
2. Die Hard
3. Elf
4. Home Alone
5. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
6. Love Actually
7. Rise of the Guardians
8. All I Want for Christmas
9. Fred Claus
10. The Santa Clause
11. A Charlie Brown Christmas
12. Muppets Christmas Carol

What about you guys? Any Christmas movies you like to watch every year? 

A New Monster Universe

Last weekend my friends and I went to see the new Dracula movie, Dracula Untold. It was a decent movie, about what you'd expect for this type of genre (which, considering my love of cheesy vampire flicks, I enjoyed immensely). 

But when doing a little research on the ending (and the potential it left open for a sequel), I stumbled across some news that made me very excited. Apparently Universal has begun a relaunch of the Universal Monsters franchise that made a splash from the 1920's to the 60's with big names such as Boris Karloff and Lon Chaney. Some of the truly classic monster films come from this series, films like Dracula, The Creature from the Black Lagoon, Wolf Man . . . the list goes on and on. 

And now these films that shaped the horror/monster film industry are back! And sure, we can question for the thousandth time if Hollywood really has run out of new creative ideas (the answer is an obvious yes). But as long as they're going to steal from past genius, I'm more than thrilled to hear that monster universe is getting another moment in the sun. 

But better yet, Universal has borrowed from their Marvel counterparts and decided to launch a Cinematic Universe for their creepy classics (it's really all about franchising these days). With Spider-Man's Alex Kurtzman and Fast and Furious's Chris Morgan at the helm, this shared universe will feature big names in the monster world -- Dracula, Frankenstein, Wolf Man, the Invisible Man, the Bride of Frankenstein, Creature from the Black Lagoon -- in a cohesive cinematic world. 

Granted, Dracula Untold was written and filmed before Universal's plans came together, but last minute reshoots of the final scene made for a quick fix, stitching the famous vampire into the fabric of their new monster universe. And I for one can't wait to see what they have in store for us . . . 

My Fair Selfie

The other day my friends and I gathered together for a afternoon of fun, frivolity, and musicals. As two members of our ranks had never seen My Fair Lady before, we decided to start with the Audrey Hepburn classic that answers the question 'where does the rain in Spain mainly stay'? 

I'll admit that while I know nearly every word to the film's soundtrack, it had been years since I'd actually sat down and watched the movie from start to finish. And I have to say, watching it through the eyes of adulthood made me see the movie I'd always thought a bit of lighthearted fun in an entirely new light. 

The ever so cheerful "Get Me to the Church on Time" is in fact not a song about a man anxious for his wedding day, but rather a man enjoying his last night of freedom before being dragged into matrimony [complete with him being carted off to the church in a simulation of a funeral procession]. And the "love story" between Eliza and Henry was a far cry from the romantic dream I remembered and something more akin to a feminist nightmare -- for what else would call a story where the fiercely strong female protagonist who admonished her admirers to not speak of love but show her ends up with a man who, upon her return, lounges back in his chair, places a newspaper over his face and asks where his slippers are. 

As beloved as the songs from My Fair Lady have always been, I really struggled to enjoy the movie. It infuriated me that Eliza would end up with a man who showed her so little regard upon growing into a strong, self-possessed woman with all the necessary tools to start a more satisfactory life. I much prefer the ending of George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion, the play from which My Fair Lady draws its inspiration. For those of you unfamiliar with the original story, Shaw's version rejects the idea of a romanticized finale and shows Eliza leaving Henry in the end. Despite overwhelming criticism, Shaw avidly fought audience's desire for a "happy ending", staying true to his vision in which Eliza emancipates herself and starts a new life on her own terms. An ending which I respect and admire as much for Shaw's defense of it as for Eliza's triumph. 

And as long as I'm discussing adaptations, there's one other I'd like to mention. Despite its loathsome title, I actually liked the reinvention of My Fair Lady in the new ABC sitcom, Selfie. Sure, its use of texting vernacular grates on my nerves and it tries to fit three hours of content into one half hour show. But despite its flaws, I think the series' portrayal of Henry and Eliza gets something right. Eliza remains a course, class-less girl in desperate need of elocution lessons [with modern substitutions of "lol" and "hashtag" for a Cockney accent]. But rather than depicting Henry as a cold, unlikable gentleman with little regard for people's feelings, he acts instead as a means for social commentary. Henry critiques the common practice of using sexual innuendo when communicating with our opposite-sex friends/acquaintances and the excessive presence of cell phones in our daily interractions, while generally encouraging us to devote our attention to the people around us rather than turning to electronic sources for human contact. 

Together, Selfie's Henry and Eliza act as a reminder that social media is a far cry from real relationships. And while the show may soon disappear in the sea of mediocre sitcoms, I think its core ideas do greater credit to Shaw's Pygmalion than its predecessor, My Fair Lady. 

Underrated Treasures Blogfest

Have you ever watched a movie or read a book that you simply loved, but no one else has ever heard of? Well, today Alex J. Cavanaugh is hosting a the Underrated Treasures Bloghop to help get the word out! So if you haven't already, sign up and tell us about your favorite book, movie, TV show or band that no one has ever heard of.

Gosford Park

With all the fans of Downton Abbey out there, I would assume that Gosford Park would have reached greater notoriety. After all, it shares a similar premise, time period, and even the phenomenal Maggie Smith. But for all my love of this spectacular movie, few of my friends and acquaintances have ever heard of it, let alone seen it. If you like whodunnit films starring British all-star casts, this is a must not miss.

The Man in the High Castle

My second book entrant (I couldn't limit myself to just one) is by a similarly well known author, Philip K. Dick. Most often associated with Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep (aka. Blade Runner), Minority Report and Total Recall, people rarely read the lesser known The Man in the High Castle. However, it's definitely a work worth reading. In fact, it was recently optioned by Amazon Studios and a TV series is currently in the works. If your a sci fi or alternative history fan, check this read out. 

Taken

This may not count as a TV show, but I've been a big fan of the Sci-Fi Channel mini series Taken since it first aired in 2002. It takes place over the span of five decades with interwoven plots all surrounding alien encounters. It's phenomenally well written and features a terrific cast, including a very young Dakota Fanning and Anton Yelchin. 

Well, those are just a few of my underrated treasures. What about you? Any books, movies, or TV shows I've never heard of that you'd recommend? 

Guardians of the Galaxy

I FINALLY got to see Guardians of the Galaxy (twice as a matter of fact), and It. Was. Amazing. The cast was absolutely superb (who would have ever thought Chris Pratt would be so phenomenal in this roll?), the musical choices, spot on. And the one liners, wow!

But more importantly, this film shows us, as so many have before, that the geniuses at Marvel know exactly what they're doing. Where DC Comics scrambles around making one blunder after another (with, of course, the notable exception of Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight series), Marvel learned from their 2003 Hulk flop and recognized that the key to cinematic success was collaboration and cohesion.

For it's a cohesive Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) we're seeing now. No longer does each series stand alone . . . Thor blends together with Iron Man, ABC's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. reacts to the events of Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and so on. All these films and TV shows are part of a intricate and complex world that Marvel execs have determined to bring together in one cinematic cosmos. And how fortuitous, they already had a vehicle in place that could blend the many different threads together into one complex fabric -- the Avengers team. 

The use of the Avengers allows MCU to delve into a vast array of different comic book superheroes while still maintaining an overarching storyline. Iron Man, Captain America . . . all roads lead to the ultimate endgame, Avengers 3. And that's where Guardians of the Galaxy takes it's place, giving us the first (non-post credit) glimpse of the final film's antagonist. 

Basically, Marvel is a genius. And with their Disney merger in 2009, they've become even stronger. If only they could get Fox and Sony on board, MCU could take over the world!

Transformers 4: Or Why Too Much is as Bad as Too Little

Every author has at some point or other experienced the curse of the writer, otherwise known as writer's block. That soul sucking phenomenon when the literary well runs dry. As a writer, I've always feared this dreaded curse, considering it the worst possible scenario. However, after finally getting the chance to watch Transformers: Age of Extinction last night, I realized there is something perhaps even worse. 

Too many ideas. 

I've always been a little critical of Michael Bay movies. For all his excellent taste in franchises, the man simply cannot get past his love of overwrought action sequences and short shorts. But after watching the latest Transformers flick, I have officially lost all respect. There were certainly aspect of the movie I enjoyed (namely Stanley Tucci), and I thought the first half was at least decent. But then came the fatal case of too many ideas. 

[Spoilers Ahead:] The story was all over the place. There were unnecessary characters who simply disappeared. Superfluous explanations for statutory romances. Dinobots, which despite being aesthetically interesting, felt out of place and would perhaps have been utilized in the next movie. And far too many villains (Tucci, Kelsey Grammer, Megatron/Galvatron, bounty hunter Lockdown, and the somewhat confusing "Creators"). 

All in all, I counted four different plot lines in a movie which, if edited, could have had real potential. It just goes to show that sometimes having too many ideas can be far more detrimental to a story than too few. 

Movies, Movies, Movies...

For someone as devoted to movies as I usually am, I found myself in the strange position of having not seen a single of the recent releases. Shocking really considering how long I've been waiting for the new X-Men movie to come out. But I'm happy to say my friends and I went on a movie binge over the weekend and managed to (at least partially) catch up. I can now check Godzilla (monster-licious), Maleficent (a little bit disappointing), and X-Men: Days of Future Past (terrific) off my list. 

But I have to admit, I have yet to see the movie of the summer. Each movie has been fun, but I haven't yet walked out of one and though, "let's do that again!". Fortunately it's still early and we have plenty of opportunities to find the "it" movie of the summer. Let's take a look at few of the top contenders . . . 

Is anyone else excited about this upcoming movies? I was a bit skeptical about another Transformers film, but an all new cast means all new potential (yay for no Megan Fox). Guardians of the Galaxy looks hilarious and I loved the first How to Train Your Dragon, so I'm hopeful for both of them. 

We'll have to just wait and see!

K is for Kingdoms

I'm so excited that we've finally made it to the letter "K", because today I'm going to talk about two of my absolute favorite fairy tale adaptations (I say the word "favorite" a lot, but today I seriously mean it). And it all starts once upon a time, in a kingdom far far away . . . 

Which is where today's post begins. With Kingdoms. Because every story needs a good setting, and the setting of nearly every fairy tale starts in an enchanted kingdom somewhere. And while all our favorite fairy tales probably don't exist in the same one, wouldn't it be interesting if they did? Certainly someone thought so, and thus began the creation of two absolutely terrific stories. 

The first is the Hallmark Entertainment mini-series, The 10th Kingdom. It's the story of Virginia Lewis and her father Tony who are transported through a magic mirror from New York City to the fairy tale world, known as the Nine Kingdoms. There Tony and Virginia have to help a Prince thwart the Evil Queen after she turns him into a dog and places an impostor on the throne. 

But the most interesting part about the mini-series it the introduction to all the Nine Kingdoms. They are as follows:

1. The kingdom ruled by Cinderella
2. The second is known as the Wolf Kingdom, and is run by Queen Riding Hood the III in the North, and Gretel the Great in the South. 
3. The third is called the Troll Kingdom and is, predictably, ruled by the troll king. 
4. The fourth kingdom is ruled by the House of White (the descendants of Snow White). 
5. The fifth is ruled by the Naked Emperor, who has yet to wear actual clothing. 
6. The sixth is ruled by Queen Rapunzel, and the entire land remains in a state of slumber. 
7. The seventh is run by Olaf the Elf King. 
8. The eighth kingdom is ruled by the Ice Queen, and is filled with ice and snow. 
9. The ninth is ruled by Dwarves and is in alliance with the Forth Kingdom. 
10. Last but not least, the Tenth Kingdom (for which the series is named), is New York City itself.

Cool, right? It's a great set up, and an even greater story. One which I highly recommend to any fairy tale lovers out there. Especially those who also like adaptations like Shrek. And speaking of Shrek, the next kingdom I'd like to talk about is the . . .  

The Kingdom of Far Far Away. It is definitely one of the most clever kingdoms I've ever seen. Based on Beverly Hills, KoFFA is full of puns and parodies. As you walk up the main street (modeled after Hollywood Blvd.) you see stores such as Abercombie and Witch and Ye Olde Foot Locker. You can also check out the homes of the creme de la creme, like Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty. One look at it makes me think, screw California. I want to go hang out with Shrek, Donkey and Gingy at Baskin Robinhood or Farbucks Coffee!

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This post is part of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. My theme (in case you didn't already guess) is Fairy Tales. Stay tuned for the rest of the alphabet, and if you'd like to check out the other participants, simply click here.

Peter Jackson . . . the New George Lucas?

As I mentioned in my previous post, my fiance's recent surgery has resulted in many, many, many hours of movie viewing. We started with Star Wars episodes I through VI, followed that up with a little Pacific Rim, and then moved on to the Lord of the Rings trilogy. He'd never seen the extended edition, which made for a great time on my part, getting to introduce him to all the extra hours of footage I find so phenomenal. Of course, as with any book to film adaptation there are going to be some liberties taken that hardcore fans are going to take exception too; but the truth is the Lord of the Rings film trilogy is a masterpiece, one which manages to pick and choose which scenes to take from the novels, which scenes to alter for the sake of pacing, all the while still honoring the original source.

Which got me thinking about Peter Jackson's latest project. I still find it somewhat hard to believe that the man who was so respectful of Tolkien's vision for The Lord of the Rings, could then go and create the travesty that is The Hobbit "trilogy". I just don't understand. From the moment they start talking about the growing evil in Middle Earth (something blatantly ripped out of the LOTR series and shoved unnecessarily into The Hobbit), to the introduction of the Tauriel (the redheaded elf Peter Jackson created with absolutely no literary basis), I knew the series was going to be awful. 

And boy was I right. He has become one of the biggest disappointments in cinematic history. 

Which makes me wonder, is Peter Jackson the new George Lucas? It is my personal opition that both Jackson and Lucas sold-out, tarnishing the reputations they earned honestly in the name of money. )Or maybe it was prestige they were after, but I'm inclined to think it was money.) 

One of the few things I can say in favor of George Lucas was at least the series he destroyed was his own. He created Star Wars from start to finish, and if he made the decision to ruin that with a prequel trilogy, that is his right. Disappointing to fans everywhere. But his right none the less. Peter Jackson on the other hand did NOT create The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings, or anything associated with Middle Earth. As a filmmaker, he is allowed a certain amount of creative license, which he used to great effect in The Lord of the Rings. 

But when he adds new and unnecessary characters, creates romance between and elf and a dwarf (seriously, are you kidding me?), and in general ignores the very essence of the story in an effort to make it tie in with his previous series and thus draw in the fans he'd accumulated along the way . . . THAT is unacceptable. And heartbreaking. 

So is Peter Jackson the new George Lucas? It's hard to say. He certainly followed Lucas's footsteps, ruining an amazing trilogy with an obscenely horrible prequel trilogy. And I might even argue that all the new advancements in CGI actually hindered the story in both cases (they filming tricks they used in their original trilogies felt infinitely more realistic than the gross overuse of visual graphics in the prequels). 

All I know if these two filmmakers I once had such faith in have disappointed me to the extreme and I no longer trust them or their visions. 

A Second Look at the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy

When my fiance under went surgery last week, we knew that we'd have to come up with a long list of movies to watch to keep him busy during his recovery. Against my protest, he insisted that we watch Star Wars from start to finish. Now, as I already said, I vehemently protested this for one very particular reason . . . that being that I loath the prequel trilogy to my very core. I think George Lucas is a sell-out and a traitor (Han Solo friggin shot first!), I think the prequel trilogy in no way lived up to the beloved originals, and I think the CGI they used to replace pretty much everything is horrendous and distracting.

But I digress.

So while I did protest, when someone you love has surgery and is in pain, you arguments to the contrary kinda fall flat. And so it was that I found myself watching Star Wars episode I, II and III, something which I'd refused to do since seeing them in theaters the first time (to my great regret). And upon watching them for a second time, I have to admit . . .

They suck. Hard. 

Now, that being said, there are a few points in which I am willing to admit that the prequel trilogy has some merit, something which I had previously believed impossible. They are as follows:

1. Watching Palpatine's complete and utter manipulation of the empire is both ominous and fascinating. His strategic power plays earning him emergency powers are reminiscent of Hilter and his subtle wooing of Anakin Skywalker to the dark side feel wholly realistic. He definitely stole the movie for me. 
2. Watching the Republic slowly crumble and the rise of the Galactic Empire is (at least mildly) interesting. We spent so many years with the image of the Republic in shambles, it's strange to see it whole (if somewhat cracked). I appreciate Lucas giving us a picture of the Republic as it once was. 
3. And of course, R2-D2. He'd just as sarcastic and genius as ever. I'd watch an entire movie chronicling R2's adventures if I could (as long as George Lucas stayed away from it). 

The truth is, they plot isn't completely terrible. It's the filming that ruins the saga for me. And Jar Jar Binks. And bouncing, CGI-Yoda. And Natalie Portman's terrible action sequences. And Hayden Christiansen. 

Now, this in no way means that I like or approve of the prequel trilogy. However, I am willing to concede that they are not complete wastes of time and money. I fear for the coming sequels, and pray to the Star Wars gods that they limit George Lucas's input before he ruins this series even more than he already has -- or god forbid, we have an Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull on our hands. 

Can't Waits of 2014

It's always excited when one year passes and a new one begins. A fresh start, New Years resolutions that you really intend (but rarely do) to keep, and a whole host of new books, movies, tv shows and life events to anticipate. My 2014 looks to be a big one, and there are so many things I simply can't wait for. Here's a look at my . . .

'Can't Waits' of 2014

TV Series: 

Sherlock - Season 3 (finally!)

Game of Thrones - Season 4 (the recently released preview looks incredible)

True Blood - Season 7 (I'm pretty worried about this one as the past few seasons have been so-so)

Believe (a great concept . . .)

Penny Dreadful (looks terrifyingly awesome)

Movies:

- I, Frankenstein (this looks so bad it's just got to be awesome)

- Vampire Academy

- 300: Rise of an Empire

- Veronica Mars (finally! I've been waiting on this one since the kickstarted campaign).

- Captain America: The Winter Soldier (super excited)

- The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (super, super excited)

- X-Men: Days of Future Past (I can't wait to see how they plan to combine two casts from different versions of the X-Men films into one movie!)

- Maleficent
- Godzilla (thanks for reminding me Alex!)

- Guardians of the Galaxy

- Resident Evil: Afterbirth (they keep making them, I'll keep going)

- Interstellar

- Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1

- The Hobbit: There and Back Again (these just can't compare to Lord of the Rings, but I feel I have to go anyways to support Tolkien)

- Into the Woods

Books:

The Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan - there are a bunch of other books I'm waiting for, but this one takes the absolute cake. I cannot wait to see what the fifth and final book in the Heroes of Olympus series has in store for us.

Personal:

I'M GETTING MARRIED IN 129 DAYS!!! This is, obviously, the most exciting event of my 2014. Let's just hope the 129 days go by quickly.

Top 13 of 2013

It's hard to believe that it's New Years Eve again. Another year has passed, and a new year is about to begin, full of new books, TV shows and movies that I just can't wait to get my hands on. But I couldn't let 2013 slip by without an ode to some of the best the year had to offer. So without further ado, here are the . . . 

Top 13 of '13:

In no particular order (and some of them aren't actually 2013 releases, just new to me this year) . . .

1. Iron Man 3 

After Iron Man 2 (and the preview which hinted at a much darker tone) I was skeptical, but this one far surpassed my expectations. Definitely hilarious. 

2. Pacific Rim

Yes, this one had mixed reviews. But my fiance and I loved it. Monsters vs. Aliens -- WIN!

3. Thor 2 (aka. Loki stole the movie)

I think I may have liked this one even better than the first Thor. Loki -- please never leave the Marvel franchise. 

4. Almost Human 

One of my new favorite TV shows, it's iRobot meets Blade Runner. A definite win. 

5. Silver Linings Playlist  

It came out in December 2012 but I didn't see it until February. One of my favorite movies of the year, hands down. 

6. Now You See Me 

A real dark horse, this one was just a good time. Heists, funny characters, interesting plot. Fun. 

7. Much Ado About Nothing 

Joss Whedon. WHY HAVE YOU NOT MADE MORE SHAKESPEARE FILMS??? And a special shout out to Nathan Fillion and Alexis Denisof. Job well done. 

8. Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters 

This movie is ridiculous. And please god make a sequel. 

9. Heroes of Olympus: The House of Hades 

I have loved every book in the Percy Jackson/Heroes of Olympus series, and this one did NOT disappoint me. 

10. Warm Bodies 

The book, not the movie. It was obviously NOT published in 2013, but I read it this year before going to see the movie (which was decent) and thought it was stunning. 

11. Frozen

This was simply terrific. Loved the story. Loved the songs. Loved the characters (particularly Olaf and Sven). Great job Disney. Thanks for sticking with this new theme of strong female characters. 

12. Tera Nova 

I missed the series when it aired two years ago, but I caught up with it on Netflix this summer. I really wish it weren't cancelled. 

13. Sleepy Hollow 

Hilarious. An excellent, excellent new series. Which probably means that Fox will cancel it soon. Damn you Fox. 

And there they are, what I consider the BEST of 2013. Of course I don't expect many to agree with my (my taste is eclectic and perhaps even a little bizarre). There are a few of you out there I know have already disagreed with some of my best and called them worst, but I stand by my choices. 

And speaking of the worst, here are a few books, movies and TV shows I consider The Biggest Flops of 2013 . . . 

- A Good Day to Die Hard (This one REALLY disappointed me)
- The Wolverine (I should have known)
- Allegiant (What the hell were you thinking Veronica Roth? I'm glad I skipped this one.)
- Oz the Great and Powerful (Just bad. Sorry I paid money to see this.)
- The Great Gatsby (awesome book, terrible adaptation)
- Enders Game (see above ^^^)
- The Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (It pains me to see Joss Whedon's name connected with this series)
- Once Upon a Time in Wonderland (It just did NOT hold up to Once Upon a Time)
- Percy Jackson: The Sea of Monsters (Not even Nathan Fillion could save it)

And before anyone objects that I missed some key movies, let me say that there are a bunch that I just didn't get to. Which just means more fuel for my Netflix queue. Here are a few of the Movies I Wish I'd Seen . . .

- Gangster Squad
- Epic
- World War Z
- Paranoia
- About Time
- The Book Thief
- American Hustle
- The Wolf of Wall Street
- Kill Your Darlings
- Zero Dark Thirty
And the list goes on . . .