Goodbye Rachelle, Hello Bryce!

all photos property of their original owners

When I read this tweet by author Kaleb Nation last night, I thought it was some sort of sick and twisted late/early April Fools Day joke:


Bryce Dallas Howard Replaces Rachelle LeFevere



Then when I read that article, I knew they weren't joking. But I would love to know the story behind the story, you know? Other commitments? Scheduling conflicts? Rachelle was an integral part of what is currently one of the most lucrative frnachises out there! Why would she give that up? Granted, being in two movies is all the leg up she'll need for her career, but why leave the fans who have made her a success?

In an official statement, Rachelle admits that she had booked another project that hada 10 day shoot between New Moon and Eclipse, but that Eclipse's director, David Slade, moved up some timetables and suddenly a conflict existed. One source has said that the studio could have made it work, but didn't want to and cast Bryce instead.


Now, I have nothing against Bryce Dallas Howard. I loved her in The Village and everything I have seen her in since then. I just have trouble with changing actors halfway through a franchise without just cause. It ruins the continuity of the films for me. I even had trouble with the replacement of Dumbledore in the Harry Potter movies and that change was UNAVOIDABLE!

However that being said, I think that as a Twilighter, I am going to get behind Bryce. First of all, she'll be catching enough heat from the rest of the community as it is for something that isn't her fault AT ALL. Second, I remember all that BS that happened almost 2 years ago when Rob and KStew were cast and everyone hated them--then they turned out to be not that bad...and now people loved them like there was nothing ever wrong (which I just find ironic and hypocritical, but whatev). Third, this is Summit's decision and since you and I don't work for them, we'll just have to trust their judgement and go with this. Bryce is a phenomenal actress. I think this is all hte from shock. It will blow over.

COMIC CON!!!!

Can we talk about how angry I am that I didn't get to go to Comic-Con? I missed David Tennant! I missed Johnny Depp!!! And I missed all the Twilight stuff!!!

New sneak peeks were released and I, for one, can now not wait for November. It looks SO amazing! The second scene is my favorite, but that's because I am an Alice Cullen Junkie and Alice is in that one.




So, Jacob looks good and that bike scene is like straight out of my imagination, though I have to admit, I don't recall New Moon as easily as some of the others because I hate it so.
Having problems understanding the audio in the second clip? Luckily we got some super HQ:




I love this scene. It is pretty darn close to perfect. And between that and the leaked Volturi pics (that Summit has recalled, so if you didn't see them, you are slightly SOL), I think Italy is going to be amazingly perfect!!! At least, I am stoked.

But I was stoked about Twilight...and it didn't live up to expectations.

Always Looking Up

Last Night I finished Michael J. Fox's latest book, Always Looking Up. After reading Lucky Man two summers ago and falling madly in love with it, when I saw this at my local bookstore, I knew I had to have it to read.

This book had everything about the first that I loved: humor (though sometimes I wasn't sure if it was appropriate to laugh, poingant moments (the scene at his dying sister's bedside made me cry like a baby) and a general sense of goodness.

People like MJF amaze me. They have every reason in the world to be bitter, but they choose to do good with what they have been blessed with and attempt to make a difference. Reading about his struggles with his foundation and the struggles he faced with legislation, he never lost faith and hope that one dayhe and the millions of people struggling with incurable illness won't have to suffer anymore.

It made me realize just how blessed I am that myself and my family are healthy.

I'm not sure where I am going with this...but the book is amazing, and I highly recommend it.

WIP-Hermione's Hat, Scarf and Gloves

Here are updated pictures of my works:

My hat is almost done and then I will start gloves in the same color.

My scarf has been a bit of an Odyessey and I think I finally have my pattern correct. Once I am 100% sure I will be posting it and the chart I am using here-SO STAY TUNED!!!

Knitting, Knitting, Knitting

I am currently knitting Hermione's hat and scarf from the 6th Harry Potter movie. I cannot wait until it's finished. I got the hat pattern off another blog (JL Yarnworks) and will be writing up the scarf pattern because I couldn't find it elsewhere.

The Greatest Actress You'll Never Understand

I am going to make a bold statement that, undoubtedly, most people will not agree with. But this is all about my random thoughts and this is one of them, so here we go:

Judy Garland was the greatest actress ever to grace the screen.

There-I said it. It's not because she made films of extreme consequence, because she didn't. It's not because her performances were the greatest things ever committed to film, because they weren't--but they were at the same time. However, not for the reasons you usually believe a great performance to be.

There is no doubt that Judy Garland led a tough life. Her addiction to drugs eventually had to get her through her days and the pain she felt had to be great.

This is where her ability for great performance kicks in. You'd never guess watching such MGM gems as For Me and My Gal, Easter Parade, and Meet Me In St. Louis (along with countless others) that there was anything but happiness going on behind those eyes and that smile plastered on her face. But this was the act. If you look close enough-the pain is there and it's evident and she is screaming for someone to help her. But all she got was MGM execs telling her she wasn't pretty or that she was fat-which drove her to more pills.

I truly believe the the Judy we see with dancing with Mickey Rooney and the Judy who dreamt of going "over the rainbow" and befriended a scarecrow, a tinman and a lion was truly happy. That's because this is Judy doing wat she loved to do, before she was famous and being hounded by the world and the people who essentially owned her.

Have you seen Judy's last three films? She dropped the mask in Judgement at Nuremberg, A Child is Waiting and I Could Go On Singing (especially in this film). Again, this is the real Judy and the performances in these films are absolutely gut-wrenching because you want to reach out and make Judy Garland happy again.

But between Oz and these three films was the finest performance of her career because you'd never guess she was unhappy. I only hope that she found the peace she never found in her life and knows that she still means something to a lot of people.

Brothers Trailer aka Natalie Portman is working again

HOLY CROW!

That was my reaction the first time I saw the trailer for Jake Gyllenhaal, Tobey Maguire and Natalie Portman's new movie Brothers.

At first, I thought this film was going to be about a war widow, grieving the loss of her husband and trying to figure out how to pick up the pieces and raise their two daughters and her brother-in-law's help with this. I figured it was going to be one of those sappy, "I fell in love with the best friend/brother because my real husband died" kind of films-while in the back of my mind asking how Tobey Maguire is getting top billing as the dead hubby.

Then, Natalie gets a phone call informing her that her beloved husband is in fact still alive. So now the film is feeling a little While You Were Sleeping with a dash of Pearl Harbor and you get the feeling this film is going to be about Natalie deciding between these two men in her life.

Then Tobey Maguire goes postal. And you get the feeling this is going to be one of those thriller, "what is going to happen now?" kind of movies. And I am really excited about it.

The lead actors always have been strong, even if they have had their share of unfortunate mis-steps, and I am hoping this movie doesn't disappoint. But if the movie is as confused to its genre as the trailer is, it is doomed to fail to lie up to expectations.

The Other Side of the Disney Argument

I lived through the Golden Age of Disney. I was an active participant in Disney putting out some of its greatest films. I watched Disney films like they were going out of style and they are a big part of my life. They were a constant companion to my childhood and hold a special place in my heart. Even now, when I have a bad day, Disney movies will always cheer me up. So naturally, when something has been as good to you as Disney has been to me and someone starts attacking it, you attack back.

I was recently shown a documentry called "Mickey Mouse Monopoly", during which, some very well educated people demonized Disney for about an hour and 20 minutes. They attacked something that couldn't defend itself and presented several one sided arguments. I am here to fight back for something I love. While I admit that the cynic I have become argues that Disney films create some pretty unrealistic expectations in real life, at the end of the day, real life is what is REAL and Disney films will always be a FAIRYTALE.

Beauty & the Beast
Criticism: This film is about womanizers and a girl who stays in an abusive relationship with the belief that she can change him. Then she makes excuses for his earlier behavior to justify her choice to stay with him. We should also not consider Belle an independent woman simply because she reads.
Response: Wow-that's a pretty lofty allegation. How naive of me to always think this movie was about a girl who gets trapped in an enchanted castle and learns to not always "judge a book by it's cover" (a rather clever theme in a movie about a girl who loves to read if you ask me!). The level of hyperbole in the womanizer Gaston is part of the comedic charm of that movie as well as the development of his character. The presence of those 3 blonde bimbos who always hang around him makes you realize that he could have any girl in town, a fact that he is obviously aware of, but he has set his sights on the smartest girl in town (who also happens to be the prettiest). The other womanizer who was sighted by this film was the candlestick, Lumiere. Honestly, was anyone out there ever offended by Lumiere??? He was always my favorite of the enchanted objects because he was funny and not as uptight as Cogsworth!!!
Now, onto the meat of your argument-your problems with our heroine. The Beast is both physically and emotionally abusive...well, his character name is "The Beast" for a reason. Disney movies utilize hyperbole in every extent. In Gaston you have an overexaggerated womanizing, meathead. In Lumiere, an overexaggerated flirt. In Cogsworth, a man who is wound too tightly (hence him being a clock-get it?). In the Beast, you have just that-A Beast. He is meant to be horrible-you are supposed to not like him, because it shows little girls that sometimes you love the last person you'd expect. And I feel it an important point that he never lays a hand on her. He may toss her father into the carriage, but, again, I cite hyperbole.
As to your argument about her not being an independent female because she reads, it is not this quality that qualifies her as an independent female. You've failed to notice that she lives her life in want of more than anyone expects from her. She wants "much more than this provential life" and "so much more than they've got planned." What better message for girls than to reach for the stars? Not to mention, she stands her ground against both Gaston and the Beast on more than one occasion.

Aladdin
Criticism: The opening song originally contained the lyrics "Where they cut off your ear if they don't like your face/it's barbaric, but hey! it's home!". Deemed offensive by several members of the Arab world, the first part of the lyric was changed, but the second was not, still refering to Arabics as barbarians. Also, Jasmine uses her body to distract Jafar, making it seem like a woman's body is her only asset.
Response: Did you listen to what the lyric was changed to? "Where it's black and immense and the heat is intense/it's barbaric, but hey! it's home!". When I hear this line, I don't consider the Arabic world barbaric. I do consider that weather barbaric, but hey! I have problems with extreme heat...
As for your argument about Jasmine using her "femine wiles" to distract Jafar, she is using what was going to work. Let's face it: Jafar was a sleaze. She wasn't exactly going to distract him by discussing business, now was she? Also, Disney is not the only culprit of exploitation of the female body. At least Jasmine isn't real.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Criticism: This woman exists for the soul purpose of cooking and cleaning for the 7 men she lives with. Between that and going into a coma, that is the only purpose she serves in the movie.
Response: Hi, yeah, okay-this movie was made in 1937. The women of this country had yet to be liberated. Women of this era were brought up to cook and clean for the men in their life. It was a societal norm, just like smoking was in the 1960s so it was okay to have a chain-smoking villian like Cruella deVille. To suggest we stop showing this film because this is no longer the mindset little girls should grow up having is to deny our own history. Whether you like it or not, this is how our world once functioned. Only by remembering our history can we ever be sure we don't repeat it.

Mulan
Criticism: Mulan wins the war, almost single-handedly, but when she returns home it is like none of that mattered because she still didn't have a man.
Response: I invite you to read my above response. The time period this movie was set in would mean just that. It's fine and dandy that Mulan saved her country, but without a man, she is nothing. Portraying the world as it was does not make it the wrong way to portray it. Though the majority of Mulan is historically inaccurate, I have one word: hyperbole!!!!!!! Exaggeration for the sake of entertainment is a staple in the entertainment industry and, again, not a sin that only Disney is guilty of. Did you not see Titanic?

Pocahantas
Criticism: Pocahantas and John Smith were never romatically linked because the age gap between them was much larger than in the movie. Also, boiling down the differences to both groups thinking the other "savages" is an oversimplication of history.
Response: Last time I checked, Arthur Miller changed the ages of Abigail and John in his play The Crucible and no one complained. This was also something that was used to educate the general public about a major event (the Salem Witch Trials, in case you haven't read it) and he wasn't exactly accurate. Where are those complaints? Also, I dare you to find me a single Disney Fairytale that doesn't have a love story in it, in some way, shape or form. It's there in every one-at least the popular ones.
As for your other argument, I ask you to remember that the target demographic for Disney animated films are like 5 to 10 year olds. Sometimes, boiling it down to simple racial prejudice due to a lack of understanding is the easiest explanation you can give a child, and that is all the explanation they need. In case you haven't noticed, it doesn't take much to get a child to go along with the story you're telling. The root of prejudice is fearing that which you don't understand. That's the problem I have with this movie. The lyrics to "Savages" make me angry because that is how some people still think. But by having the "bad guys" sing this, you show kids this ISN'T how they should think. Pocahantas is not a movie to give a history lesson, it's there to give a lesson against prejudice-a noble moral ambition in my book.

Your Basic D.I.D: Damsel in Distress
Another accusation of this film I want to touch on is the overuse of girls always needing rescuing. While I will admit, I think Disney plays the D.I.D card a bit heavily, the examples the movie used to illustrate their point was comical.
The first was the scene from Beauty and the Beast where Belle is being chased by wolves. First of all, she didn't exactly sit there and let them eat her. She tried her best to ou run them and fight them off, but her best wasn't good enough. Secondly, when was the last time you single-handedly fought off a pack of wolves?
The second was the scene where Esmerelda is almost burned at the stake in Hunchback of Notre Dame. I have a very serious question for you: HOW WAS SHE SUPPOSED TO GET OUT OF THAT ONE ALONE???

There were other things about Disney criticized, but these were the ones I wanted to touch upon. Something I think we need to remember is that kids are a whole lot smarter than we give them credit for. They know the difference between real and make-believe before you think they do. The truth of the matter is, playing make-believe is more fun than playing real.

The film closed with the highly educated people who had been talking to over an hour wanting for Disney to own up to some of the atrocities they had perpetrated. You know what I want? I want to live in a place that will let me watch Disney movies and not feel wrong in doing so. Oh wait! I do...I live in America.

What? What did you say? Oh, that is exciting!!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!

^That was a scream of excitement coming from me. I just read an exciting announcement from the Jim Henson Company and A&E. The two plan to rerelease the hit (and cancelled too soon) sci-fi show FARSCAPE on DVD in November, in correlation with the shows 10th anniversary. Personally, it makes me feel kind of old to think of Farscape as being 10 years old already, but that fact pales in comparison to the fact that I will finally be able to own one of my favorite shows on DVD!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"These are a few of my favorite things"

Here is one of my favorite things:
When you have something you care about very much and thoroughly enjoy and other people mock you for this passion, even though they have never seen the object of your passion. Then when they finally see it, they understand it and have to "eat their hat" so to speak.

This happened to me this holiday weekend when my supervisor finally saw the film Twilight. I am quite passionate about Twilight, not for it's superior film adaptation (taste the sarcasm in that statement) or Stephenie Meyer's literary prowess (that has a hint of sarcasm in it too...I am using it in all my recipes today). I love it because it was given to me by someone who was very important in my life at another time in my life during one of the hardest things that ever happened to me. It's story made me feel better, whether it was because I believed in love again or because I didn't have to think to hard to follow it the world may never know-but nevertheless, it has become part of who I am and I care about it very much.

This supervisor mocked me mercilessly for the craze I had in November with the release of the movie, and looking back on it, some of it was over the top, but my supervisor did all of this without having read the book or seeing the film.

But now that my supervisor has seen it, my supervisor loves it. And I am laughing my head off at one of my favorite things.

NOTE: This note was written while listening to Judy Garland serenade me from iTunes. That post is coming. First I have to finish all the movies I rented!

They Don't Make 'Em Like That Anymore

Nothing blew up. No one toted around guns (well, except the cowboys). There were no car chases or hot, steamy sex scenes.

The movies of Judy Garland are classics of cinema by a great actress who, like so many others in Hollywood, left us all too soon. A troubled soul, she is the light of beauty and happiness on screen with one of the most beautiful voices to ever grace the screen. Many times this weekend as I screened such MGM musicals as The Harvey Girls, Meet Me in St. Louis, Easter Parade, For Me and My Gal, Ziegfeld Girl and the drama Judgement at Nuremburg, I said to myself on several occasions:

"Oh Ms. Garland-you had one heck of a voice...it's a shame your life wasn't as nice as one of your movies."

I couldn't pick a favorite from the ones I screened if I wanted to. They were all so wonderful because you didn't have to do much during them but sit back and enjoy the songs and dances. I loved watching Judy dance with Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire and loved listening to her voice as she crooned various numbers. It may be cliche, but I think one of my favorite numbers was "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" in Meet Me in St. Louis.

Something I have yet to experience is the joy of seeing Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland perforing together, but this is going to be quickly rectified as TCM is showing Judy movies all day on Wednesday, the 8th of July.

The saddest part of this weekend was watching her sing and dance and seeing her so full of life and spirit, but knowing that isn't how her life really was. She was a marvelous actress who led two lives...and eventually it got to her, which is a shame. It's also a shame no one could help her help herself before it was too late. But at least she left us an impressive filmography to remember her by.

And now, after this long weekend of classic MGM musicals, I am watching Scooby-Doo-the live action one with Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze Jr. Talk about extremes!!!

In the Year 2079

Movies from the Golden Age of Hollywood are what the art of making movies are all about. And this year we celebrate the 70th anniversary of the greatest year in movies. Gone with the Wind, The Wizard of Oz, Mr. Smith Goes to Washinton, and so many others.

People still watch these movies like they are brand new, like they have never been seen before, because they are timeless and don't look 70 years old. But it begs a very simple question:

"What will they be watching 70 years from now?"

While I am sure no one in 1939 could concieve that they would still be watching their movies 70 years later (mostly because they hadn't even begun to concieve the VCR and DVD player), it makes me wonder in the year 2079, what movies will people be watching for the first time? What movies that we've made will stand the test of time?

I have no doubt that in 70 years people will still be watching The Lord of the Rings trilogy, which in my opinion is the finest work of cinema this generation. In addition, they will probably still enjoy the original Star Wars trilogy, but Lord-willing, the other will have fallen into oblivion. I also hope that the future generations will enjoy the splendor that is Titanic. They will also still enjoy the majority of Disney Animated movies, but hopefully the dreadful sequels will have fallen into the same oblivion as the new Star Wars trilogy.

That's all I can think of (or hope for) and only time will tell if I am right.

My next post will undoubtedly be about Judy Garland-I am spending my weekend watching Judy Garland movies.

A Walking Thesaurus

I read a lot. I have been reading since I was a toddler and always had a reading level greater than my peers. I devour books because I get lost in them and don't know what else to do. I consider myself a well read individual. That means I use words in everyday speech (and in my writing) that most normal people don't.

Apparatly my writing looks like a thesaurus exploded. I write like I speak. I hear the words in my head and then I write them down on paper. Believe it or not, the words I use when I write I use in everyday conversation.

So, if you are offended by my large, "thesaurus" words, you're in general offended by me. Thing is, I'm not going anywhere. And neither is the way I speak/write.

***This was not a personal attack against my reviewer. This was blowing off steam at what was said, because we are all entitled to that. I appreciate the criticism and will keep it in my consideration in the future.***

A Generation of Chiuauas?

So I was just reading the Social Security Archives of popular baby names because I needed to find a couple popluar names in the 1920s that I could use in "Silent Night". While I did find the names I needed (they will be in the new chapter that will be posted before 5 tonight), I also found something disturbing.

This decade, over 2000 babies have been named "Princess". Which has led me to this question:

Has an entire generation of parents confused their children with chiuauas???

I am sorry if your name is Princess. It's just an uncoventional name. Not that I can say anything. My nme doesn't even make the top 1000 for the decade I was born.

A Review of "Public Enemies"

Public Emenies was not the worst film I have ever seen. But it wasn't the best film I had ever seen either.

Part of the problem came in that it had no identity. It was trying to be too many things at one. It tried to be a gangster movie, it tried to be a crime-drama and it tried to be a romance, without successfully being any of these.

My biggest complaint about the movie, however, comes from my two main men themselves. I love Johnny Depp and Christian Bale and usually cannot stop gushing about the brilliance of their performances. As John Dillinger and Mervin Purvis, however, they both fell flat. Neither of them played their role with any sort of personality, so through the majority of the movie, I felt a little dead on the inside because I didn't know who I should feel sorry for or why.

I also didn't like the artitistic decision of Michael Mann to leave the majority of the film without a score. In a film where your two leads are playing without any discernable emotion, a score is needed to convey the emotion of the story so that the audience feels SOMETHING.

The best performances of the film came from Marion Cotilliard, and the rest of the supporting cast who I believed were their famous bank robbing counterparts and whom I felt something, whether sympathy or loathing depending on the case.

This is another year Johnny Depp will go Oscar-less. And that is your final word on Public Enemies.

NOTE: Entertainment Weekly's Lisa Schawartzbaum and I actually agree about this movie-it's a sign of the apocalypse.