The Bluth side of life...

There are many shows that had a short run time, and some of these shows might be considered some of the best shows ever created ( at least by my point of view, and hey this is my blog so I can say what I want). In this category of brilliant TV entertainment would be Arrested Development. This is one of the wittiest shows in the history books today ( and I think it was probably schluffed off because the living population could not fully understand the humor.. it does require brain cells after all). The show revolved around the Bluth family, who are all incredibly incompetent, with the exception of the middle son, Michael Bluth. The plot involves the family trying to deal with real life after their father is sent to prisoner using the company as his personal piggy bank. Everyone needs to get jobs, and (gasp) save money. They bumble around trying to impress each other and be successful, while Michael covers up their mistakes. The characters are all so well developed and the writing is fantastic. There were only three seasons ever made, but the shows clung on for dear life. It was first aired on HBO, then after the ratings weren't up to par, switched over to Showtime. After another season of not enough viewers FOX actually picked it up. It still didn't make it, but producers knew it was winner. If you are looking for a new addicition, look no further than Arrested Development. It is narrated and directed by Ron Howard ( and Henry Winkler plays an incompetent lawyer who occasionally makes Fonzi type movements). Michael Sera actually got his first role in this show playing Michael's son ( and everyone always says " I didn't know he was in this!"). You'll fall in love, promise.

and we'll all go down together...

I will go to my grave trying to convince this world that Billy Joel is better than Elton John. For some reason, people don't want to accept this because Elton John just happens to be more popular, but his songs are NOT better! Billy Joel has that jazzy, bluesy, soul that Elton makes up for in poppy electro-beats. I personally think Billy Joel has better music, and a better style. I have loved that man for years, and the best night of my life was seeing him live two years ago. We got the FRONT ROW after one of his roadies gave us these tickets instead of our nosebleed seats. Apparently Mr. Joel himself buys the front row so that they don't get sold to scalpers. It was the most insane moment of my life. I was there with great company, a great piano man, and a whole lotta screaming fans. I saw his nose hairs I was so close. He was so fantastic. If you have not really committed yourself to the Piano Man, then go ahead and listen to these songs and be converted: It's Still Rock'n' Roll, She's Always A Woman, Big Shot, Piano Man, Scenes at an Italian Restaurant, and Vienna. You will be changed.

"She can lead you to love, she can take you or leave you
She can ask for the truth but she'll never believe you
And she'll take what you give her as long as it's free
Yes she steals like a thief but she's always a woman to me"

-She's Always A Woman, Billy Joel

The "Uh huh's" and "Oh Ya's"

This is a small but important dedication to those moments in film when you fall in love. I'm not taking about story plot, I'm talking about myself. These are the moments that you remember from a film, not because they were important to the story line, or because they freaked you out, but because they turned you ON. it's that.. "whoa.. who is that glorious man?" ( sorry to woman lovers alike, but I have to write from my point of view so if you have some female "yooza's" moments then feel free to send the to me and I will post them for you). First on the short list would be the scene in "The Virgin Suicides" with Josh Hartnet. I am not the biggest Josh fan, but I can appreciat'e good bone structure as much as the next girl. I am taking about his swagger and style as he walks down the hallway to Heart's "Magic Man". He whispers into Lux's ear "you're a stone fox" and we all just melt a little bit. The character of Tripp is the essence of high school cool, and we can't help but drool a little bit. Number two on the list goes out to Tristan Thorn ( played by Mr. Charlie Cox) of the book and film "stardust". I am a sucker for movies with swordfights and men wearing vests.. so I loved the book before I loved the movie. It's a feel good fantasy with a head turning stud. He starts out as a lovesick bumbling fool, and somehow by the end of the movie he turns into a sword-wheeling badass with a swagger ( that is an important adjective to use because some men have it and some men don't) that makes my tummy flip a little. Plus he has the cutest side smile of all time. The last man of the evening ( and don't worry there will be more to come in time) goes to none other than the master of swagger himself.. Han Solo. Don't hate on the Star Wars geek, he is a God. He has the sass and spunk you can't help but love, and in the end he is always the good guy. We all love a badass. Han is no exception. Ok, more on THIS topic at another date.. I have to go to class. Swagger away gentlemen... swagger away...

The greatest trick the devil ever pulled, was convincing the world he didn't exist...

Wrap your head around that for a minuet. I think that might be one of my favorite movie lines. "The Usual Suspects" is one of my favorite movies for a number of reasons ( but one of them is not Kevin Spacey because he bothers me a little bit). For some weird reason, I like stories that have no good guys. There are NO good guys in this film. Well, I guess it depends on how you define a "good guy". It is a movie about criminals threatening other criminals with a giant "Who done it?" at the end. If you have not seen the movie and want too, stop reading, I'm going to spoil it for you. Kevin Spacey plays an annoying cripple who has the illusion he has just been thrown into this lineup of hard core criminals by accident. But it is always the least expected you should expect, and Kevin Spacey with watery eyes is no exception. They talk fast and dirty, slinging "Fucks" and "Cock Sucker" around every threat. However, it really invites the ambiance of the movie, and puts you in a deep and dirty place right alongside the "bad guys" you love so much. The best part about this movie is the end, it messes up your head. I LOVE movies that make me go " WHATTTT?" at the end. In my other life I am positive I was someone stealthy. Probably the person on the computer in the van, cracking codes on the computer. I don't this I have the gusto to actually hurt people, so I would be the "weapons specialist" and " security code crakcer" person. Over and Out....

The Cove

I just spent the last two and half hours being enlightened. Documentaries can be difficult to watch because everything is one sided. A point is trying to be made, so the information you get is pushed at you in a way that makes you feel overwhelmed. I love documentaries, and documentary film making. However, this is the first documentary I have seen in a long time that leaves the the opposing sides in the dust, and focuses on a problem that desperately needs to be solved. "The Cove" is a documentary that was put together by a REALLY brave group of activists and scientists geared towards putting a stop to the dolphin slaughter in Japan. Whaling is illegal in Japan, fortunately for them dolphins are not considered whales ( but biologically they are small whales). They kill over 23,000 dolphins a year by herding them into a blind cove and murdering them with harpoons. Thats all I can call it, murder. It is very hard to watch, but the more information and knowledge we have, the better chance we have at stopping this awful yearly travesty. Ric O'beary (pictured above) was the trainer of the beloved "Flipper" in the 60's. After everything he saw and experienced as a trainer, he realized these intelligent animals are not meant for captivity, and has been setting dolphins free all over the world ever since. This post is strictly about awareness. There are so many causes in our world that makes us shut our eyes and shake our heads. Sometimes we feel useless and lazy because we can't seem to even attempt to try and fix these things that makes us sick to our stomachs. If I could I would be out there in those waters with cameras, risking it all for something to improve this ignorant population of ours. Maybe one day I will be, but for now, what makes me feel better is writing this blog on my couch and hoping that someone will see it and get curious enough to watch the movie. Knowledge is power.


http://www.takepart.com/thecove/

Me love you long time

I think this post is long overdue for me. I will forever be entranced by the wonder that IS David Bowie. He is just one of the coolest cats that went through the music world. What was really great about David Bowie was that he created his own style. True artists are on the front line, waiting to shock and awe you, and David really raised some eyebrows. His claim to fame with his alter ego "Ziggy Stardust" was an alien being who is attempting to present humanity with a message of hope in the last five years of its existence. Ziggy Stardust is the definitive rock star: sexually promiscuous, wild in drug intake and with a message, ultimately, of peace and love. How cool is that? So many other bands stole his style and were inspired by his weird music that he became a legend all over the world. My all time favorite song in the entire world is "Golden Years". I realized this when I was in 7th grade and I saw a Knight's Tale for the first time. I think we all know the scene I am referring too. I have included a link for that particular scene so everyone can remember how cool it really was ( RIP Heath). But basically, one of the things I would love to do before I die.. is see him live. I don't think it will happen because he no longer tours, but if anyone catches word of a secret underground jam session.. I will sell my liver for tickets. Major Tom signing off.......


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlPpFPxti5Q&feature=related

"So I turned myself to face me
but I never caught a glimpse,
Of how the others must see the faker
I'm much too fast to take that test."
-David Bowie, Changes