Thursday, January 31, 2008

15 Worst Lines in a Movie

I've said it all along and now finally someone agrees with me. EW has released their pick for the top 15 worst lines uttered in a movie. All of them are winners, or should I say "losers" but one of them in particular is literally the WORST EVER. Period, end of sentence. And I've always said it. It's bad not only in its delivery, but also in its randomness, its context in relation to the scene, and its sheer stupidity. Can you guess to which line I'm referring to of the 15? Baron, you should know it. So should you, Ashley. Here's a hint, it's not the Ever After phrase. I actually believe their EA pick paled in comparison to when Drew Barrymore breathed "I Shall Try" in one of the bazillion crappy scenes from that flick. Awful.

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Click on the image to get to the list

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I Feel Like a Failure and So Should You

Are you kidding me!



Yeah she's going to be real popular in high school

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F.Y.I.

I knew I wasn't the only one questioning the validity of the Oscar Nomination for "Falling Slowly" by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova. The New York Times picked up the story and after an investigation by The Academy the nomination stands.

Full article here: Once Again, a Legit Nominee

Now that that's cleared up who's anxiously awaiting their performance and subsequent win? Me! Me! Me!

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Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Flight to the Comcast

While anxiously awaiting the new season of Flight of the Conchords I stumbled across this video of Brett and Jermaine at a Comcast function. They sing "Business Time" but I was laughing more at their intro. Enjoy!

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Tuesday, January 29, 2008

MGMT: TIme to Pretend



I can't take credit for finding this video, that goes to Pop Watch. But I can take credit for downloading these spunky teens about three weeks ago. I have no idea who the ef they are or why they look like African tribal men on the cover of their album. And I'm not even going to comment on the random chicks and their Blue Lagoon ensembles. That's just creepy. All I can really say is that the song weirdly displayed in this video is catchy and I play it on my Itouch often. I get a newer bolder and white Xris Xross-esque vibe with these two, you?

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Monday, January 28, 2008

Already a Winner

First promo shot from the movie Step Brothers starring Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly. The story revolves around two men in their late 30's (Ferrell & Reilly) who have to learn to live like step brothers in one home when their respective single parents marry. Can't wait!

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Seth McFarlane's take on the WGA/AMPTP Negotiations

I know I haven't really posted anything on the strike recently but after that late Nov. meeting between the two parties that went absolutely nowhere I kinda gave up hope. Good news is that apparently the informal talks are going so well we may just get our writers back to work before the end of the season. Here's hoping. In the meantime I thought I'd share Seth McFarlane's take on the negotiations. For those who don't know who Seth is, he is the creator of the Family Guy, one of the funniest shows on television. I've got to say that this video is 10 kinds of funny with some expletives so be warned. And if you think you recognize one of the actors, you do. It's Josh Radnor from How I Met Your Mother. Enjoy!

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Thursday, January 24, 2008

Doesn't Make Sense

So I spared everyone my Oscar nominations post because this years nominees weren't really that exciting in my opinion. And to tell you the truth I see very little surprises at the actual ceremony either (that is if we get an Oscar's telecast and not some lame Mary Hart unveiling) ; there is a lock in every category in my opinion. But that's neither here nor there. My only real WTF? moment came at the announcement of Original Score and Original Song. In the former category Jonny Greenwood, a Radiohead member, was excluded for his chilling score to There Will Be Blood, and then Golden Globe winner Eddie Vedder was shut out in both Original Score and Original Song for his soundtrack to Into The Wild. Wa? It didn't make sense to me. Apparently it didn't make sense to EW Pop Watch either who blogged about it until she actually looked up the Oscar rules:

scores cannot be "diluted by the use of tracked themes or other pre-existing music."


So basically because there are some material that isn't new the whole thing goes to Hell. That sucks, especially when you hear the score to There Will Be Blood. Even if it was only 2 minutes of original score, it's like nothing I've ever heard before.

And then this begs the question, how did "Falling Slowly" by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova from Once get a nom if that song was on two previous albums, The Swell Season, and another Frames album before the movie was made? Don't get me wrong I salivate at the chance of seeing them perform that melody live come Oscar night but still. I don't get it. I remember discussing this very subject with my roomie. She asked if I thought a song from Once would get a nomination. I, assuming all songs must be original material for a film, said only the song, "Once" could qualify. Guess I was wrong.

Can someone explain this to me? Kthanks!

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Tuesday, January 22, 2008

R.I.P. Heath Ledger

At first I figured I wouldn't post about his death because a.) It's depressing and b.) I don't have much to say on the subject. But I guess in the end I realized even if I didn't have anything to say I should at least respect the talent we lost. Man. Too young, too soon. My condolences to the family, especially his daughter, Matilda.

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This One's for You X-Woman



"Anyone Else But You" by The Moldy Peaches from the Juno Soundtrack

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Friday, January 18, 2008

The Opposite of the Opposite of Possible is Still Possible

I've been meaning to post this video for quite some time but in the holiday splendor I forgot. Two days ago Ellen Page, Jennifer Garner, and Diablo Cody from Juno were on Oprah and the whole time I kept asking, where's Michael Cera? Yeah he practically wears the same outfit through out the whole movie but his performance was quality. And he was in another little comedy called Superbad too. See that one Oprah? In any event, to honor the man boy I bring you one of his greatest performances to date. Now before you see it you need to understand what he's talking about. So I recommend you start with this video first.




Now note. This video is real. He actually created this video as his personal resume and sent it to various companies in NYC.

And now to Michael's spoof:

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Thursday, January 17, 2008

Best Use of a Song in an Opening Credit Sequence

While I was walking Fitz this afternoon, my Ipod Touch sang a classic 80's song to me. Honestly, every time I hear it I automatically picture the opening credits to one of the most mind-effing movies of all time. When I got home I did a little youtube search and found the sequence. After watching it a couple of times now I've decided that there is NO better use of a song in the *opening minutes of a movie ever. Not only that, but I believe it's also one of the greatest movie sequences ever. It's just so sinisterly awesome. Do you agree?



Movie: Donnie Darko
Song: "Head over Heels" by Tears for Fears

* I must note that it technically isn't the opening minutes of the movie, but it is the first time we see the secondary characters

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Wednesday, January 16, 2008

This Kid Really Likes His Glasses

From the desk of Jonathan Patrick

Alas, my writers' guild-starved television viewers! I have found yet another masterful piece of reality TV! This one is from the original reality tv: the news. It's an interview of some teenaged, frat-star-to-be after throwing a party in the land of down under:



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Friday, January 11, 2008

Arcade Fire on Fire

Rebellion (Lies) by Arcade Fire has to be one of my favorite songs of all-time. Like all-time. And on their second album, Neon Bible, they've added yet another track that in my opinion might climb up the ranks to become all-time. No, it's not No Cars Go, but rather, Keep the Car Running. Very reminiscent of Bruce for sure, but still brilliant. Check out their performance on the Jonathan Ross show. If they haven't converted you yet, this spectacle will. For your viewing pleasure, Arcade Fire:



Bonus: For the one person that doesn't own my favorite, here's Rebellion (Lies). Revel in it's marvelousness.

Rebellion (Lies)

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Monday, January 7, 2008

Reviewed and/or Abused: Atonement

My last free day of vacation my mother, sister, and I decided to see a movie of light fare that would allow us to begin the upcoming work and school week in hope and happiness. So we saw Atonement, one of the most effing confusing and depressing films of the holiday season. Yeah I know this film was not marketed nor conceived as a family oriented fun times flick but man, did they have to take my already fragile heart and pierce it ruthlessly with a solitary tear shed by James McAvoy? More Review After the Jump!

Don't get me wrong, the movie is great in certain respects, i.e. the acting is superb, the score impeccable going so far as to include the sound of typewriting in its melody, and the story itself is fantastic. How could it not be though, right? The book, written by Ian McEwan is heralded as one of the 100 greatest books of all time by Time Magazine. Plus there was this four minute sequence shot with one frame that puts you in the middle of the Dunkirk Evacuation that was powerful. Joe Wright, who also directed Pride and Prejudice, has a wonderful knack of making the audience feel as if they are right in the thick of it which is the mark of a brilliant director, no?

However there is something in my mind that stops this movie from becoming a future DVD of my collection. And that stoppage is the characterization of Briony Tallis. First I must preface that I've never read the book therefore I must tread lightly here, but from what I have understood from researching the story, the main character, Briony, starts off as this little 13 year old girl who witnesses something she doesn't understand and therefore makes a huge error, and in consequence ruins the lives of the two lovers played by Keira Knightly and James McAvoy. Now the title of the movie leads one to believe that the rest of her life is spent attempting to atone for the fatal mistake she made long ago. And in fact certain decisions of hers would lend itself to this theory, yet I didn't feel that she atoned or wanted too. I left the theatre wondering if she really understood what she did and whether she explored the real motivations for inventing the atrocious farce in the first place. So in essence something that was supposed to be the bread and butter of the movie, i.e. her wising up to her actions just wasn't there for me. Granted the story unfolds in a very convoluted way with a quasi shocking ending (if you haven't read the book of course) which could exacerbate my misunderstanding of Briony's real emotion throughout the film but still. If I have to go to message boards and wikipedia to figure it out then it wasn't really convincing was it?

Perhaps, though, that's the point. The lines of reality and fiction are blurred to us just as it was in Broiny's head. Therefore what one thinks is a romantic drama is in essence a morality tale showcasing the dangers of mixing fact with fiction. Either way the movie destroyed me. Mostly because James McAvoy's interpretation of a tortured soul is out of this world. Also because he had the one sole tear sliding down the face moment. Those kill me.

So go see it if you want to further discuss it with me, but trust when I say my mother and sister left saying, wha?

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Ladies and Gentleman I Present to You....

For those of you that don't know I received an enormous surprise on Dec. 19th. The kind of surprise that makes you shriek and squeal and tinkle just a little in your pants. It was the early Christmas present from my parents and boy was it a doozy. I frankly never thought in my wildest dreams my parents would actually agree to buy me this wonderful treat but color me happy when they did. So without further adieu I present to you.....

Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, aka "Fitz"




Is he a handful? Absofruitly! Did I want to return him out of sheer panic 30 minutes after I got him, and then every hour on the hour for the next 24 hours? Of Course! But I stuck with it and now he is curled up on my lap as I type this post. He still has a long way to go before he reaches obedience perfection but I will say he's a keeper.

More pictures of Fitz after ther jump!







*Thanks Paige for the pics!

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Sunday, January 6, 2008

Gladiators....ready!

From the desk of Jonathan Patrick, Internet Provocateur

A lot has been made on this blog about the Writers' Guild and their strike and its effect on television. I am here to show the silver lining of it all. For me, the glass is half-full. With the writers on strike, that means the most anticipated show in the history of TV: American Gladiators.

It kicks off anew today at 9pm EST with a two hour premiere and then will continue on Mondays. Before I show some clips for the new show, it's only fitting that I pay homage to the original American Gladiator show.

One of my favorite scenes:





Looks like the new show will be keeping most of the old events. One of which is the Assault. This is the one where the gladiator tries to hit the contestant with a tennis-ball gun while the contestant tries to hit a target above the gladiator with various guns/toys. In the old show, if you hit the target, smoke would shoot up over the gladiator. The new show does this too. In addition, it launches the gladiator 50 feet through the air into a pool.

Please enjoy:

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In the words of everybody's favorite child of Mother Nature, the cosmic ray gathering Malibu, "Sweet!"

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