An Early Review of Twilight

Twilight, the movie is not due out in the theaters until later this week but I was lucky enough to be one of the few who got to see it last night at an advanced screening.

So if you don't mind spoilers (there aren't many if you've already read the book), check out my review of the movie Twilight.

I was trying to pay attention and not get distracted by the vampires, but I think I still missed a lot of the nuances of the film. Plus, it didn't help that the VIP seats assigned to us were a little too close to the screen for my aging eyes. I would have preferred to be a little farther back. Being up front and center is not so important to me. It's a good thing that I'm going to see it again with the girls this weekend.
Here's a clue. If I thought the film was really bad, I wouldn't be going back to see it again. I could just drop off my girls. But I really think that the movie has some redeeming qualities. I am really disappointed with Kristen Stewart, the actress who plays the lead role, Bella. Go read my review, you'll see what I mean.

We're going to the movies!

Remember when I said I entered a drawing for VIP tickets to the movie Twilight? Well we got it! We have two tickets to the early showing of Twilight tomorrow night!

I am so excited. I have been debating which of the girls to take with me but I think we'be got it resolved now. Tomorrow also happens to be my husband's birthday and I was kind of feeling bad about leaving him to go to the movies on his birthday this is even though he forgot about mine. :-P But, love is not all about getting even, is it? So tomorrow, it will be me and him, on a date to see the greatest vampire story of all time. LOL! Seriously, I can't wait until tomorrow night. I'm getting off work early so I can make sure the girls have something to eat for dinner before we go out.

Twilight Advance Screening Giveaway!

Are you a fan of the Twilight books by Stephanie Meyers? If you are, then I know you've got to be anxiously awaiting the release of Twilight, the movie. If you just can't wait, here's your chance to see the movie two days before the nationwide premier. Summit Entertainment & 43KIX are giving away Twilight VIP Seating! You get two VIP passes to the screening with reserved seats and a movie prize pack full of Twilight swag. Check their website, click on this link, to see if there is an advanced screening near you then enter the contest.

When you have this to look forward to, I wouldn't worry about Orlando vacations vacations this winter. ;-)

Cheesy Lines

One of my favorite films, Ever After, never fails to make me tear up with the final line: "Say it again... Say my name". It's so simple, such a commonplace request and yet it holds so much meaning. The look, the realization of what is; it's all embodied in that one line.

Do you remember pick up lines? Do you have one or do you remember one used on you? If you still got a few lines in your repertoire, then check out the Ultimate Flirting Championship by Extreme Style by VO5. Test out your lines and see if they still work or if they need dusting off. Find out if you're Victory Hair material or not :)

Bleach the Movie

As I mentioned in the previous post, my daughter loves manga and anything to do with it. She and her friends have their own manga character names that they use online. I've dubbed myself simply, MAMI, for obvious reasons. They all call me that, but if you look up the meaning in Japanese, it also means real and beautiful. I'm flattered :)

Anyway, they could be just working up to ask me to take them to see Bleach the Movie, which is showing for a limited time in Danville. That's the closest theater to us, and the movie will be shown only on June 11 and 12. I'll wait to see how she did on her finals first before deciding if she deserves this treat or not.

If you have a manga fiend in your midst, check out the website to see if the movie is showing near you.

Scary Frontier

OK, if my taz mode is not scary enough for you, I know what could be...

This movie was released in a select few theaters last May 9 and already is being released in DVD form after a mere week in the theaters. No, it's not because it's so bad. It's because it's so darn scary! All you have to do is watch the Trailer to see what I'm talking about. See if it doesn't give you the heevie jeevies just from the trailer alone.

After it was made, it was deemed too gory and sadistic so it was given a rating of NC-17. In order to get it to a Rated R, the creators of the movie would have had to do a lot of cutting and they didn't want to make that concession. They want the movie viewed in all its horrific glory, just as they created it and meant for it to be seen. So they are showing the movie at a few theaters for only a week. After that, the DVD will go on sale. If you'd like to see the movie, check their website for the select theater listings to see if it's showing near you.

If you love a good Horror Movie, then Frontier(s) will be just right for you. The synopsis on their website does not do the images justice. If you're going by the words alone, then you are missing a lot and probably won't be too interested in seeing a movie about runaway criminals who run into a scary cult-like family. I can't even imagine what the twisted 'cult' is about, but the imagery in the gallery and trailers are enough to make the hairs on the back of my neck stand and get that queasy feeling at the pit of my stomach.

Sounds enticing to you, does it? Well, check it out. It may be too late to see it in the theaters, but you can still get the DVD.

Attention, Manga Lovers!

My oldest daughter, Asi, loves Anime and Manga that's why when I saw the announcement for a limited showing of DeathNote, my interest was instantly piqued. For two nights only, on May 20 and 21, this movie based on the story of Light Yagami, will be shown in select theaters. The premise of the movie is that Light Yagami, a student, finds a notebook that was dropped by a death god. Anyone who's name is written in the notebook dies. Light makes a pledge to use the books power by using it to eliminate evil criminals. Of course, this being manga, it can't be that simple.

Go to the website to see if the movie is playing in a theater near you. The nearest theater to us that the movie is playing at is 47 miles away in the neighboring state. My daughter is such a die hard fan though that she would probably jump at the chance to go.

Movie Weekend

We had another quiet weekend. Instead of going to the movies as we had planned, we ended up staying home and watched DVDs all weekend. Here's a list of movies we watched:

American Gangster - starring Denzel Washington, this movie is about Frank Lucas, a NY drug dealer with ties to NC, who managed to create an empire selling drugs and the detective that ultimately captures him but ends up being a friend.

Stardust- a movie adapted from the Neil Gaiman novel about two worlds divided by a wall, a falling star, witches, and dueling princes. It was a great book that translated quite well into a movie. It was quite entertaining.

Guys & Dolls - with Marlon Brando & Frank Sinatra. Jade is in the musical so we watched this for background information, but we still enjoyed it.

Across the Universe - directed by the very talented Julie Taymor, is an artistically rendered movie with great music. Not your typical musical. We even watched all the bonus features, it was so interesting.

Becoming Jane - about Jane Austen. We didn’t get around to watching this yet. Maybe tonight.

Azumi - Asi’s choice, a Japanese movie about a girl assassin. Rife with violence, but if you like this genre, it’s pretty good. I watched it after they all went to sleep last night.

Rest in Peace, Heath Ledger

I should say something about the untimely passing of Heath Ledger. I didn't have time to pipe in with the rest of the world wide world this week when apparently news articles, blog posts and searches for the the actor's name spiked this past week. While I don't usually try hard to remember actor's names in movies I like, I always liked the actor who starred in A Knight's Tale. I love that movie! It was much later that I learned of Keith Ledger when Brokeback Mountain blitzed the media with their promotion.

From the snippets of news I've heard and a few internet articles I've perused, it seems to be that he died of a drug overdose, whether on purpose or by accident is still to be determined. I've seen a few articles and blog posts who tie in this incident with the way celebrities seem to be in and out of rehabs and still end up in this same demise. I don't know much about Ledger's off screen life, so I can't comment whether he also falls in that mold or not. It is just sad to see someone so young with so much promise with their lives cut short.

Johnny Depp is Sweeney Todd

Johnny Depp has been one of my long time favorite actors. I grew up during the eighties, so yeah, I even remember 21 Jump Street. His first starring role as Edward Scissorhands hooked me to watch all his subsequent movies. He has a knack for choosing quirky roles that don't always highlight his looks but the characters have a great deal of substance. I like that about his choices. I like that looks don't seem to be important to him. Obviously. Just look at what he's done with Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. Never a dull moment! The girls and I watch the DVDs over and over again.

Recently, we found Edward Scissorhands on DVD and the girls finally got to see it. They loved it too! Especially the parts where he does all the topiary sculptures. My youngest daughter just got the biggest kick out of that. I personally like the interaction between Edward and Peg and how she drew him out and took him in to her family. The Pirates of the Caribbean series is a huge favorite at our house though, it is a sure way to get everyone laughing. I marvel at how, even as gross and stinky looking as the Captain Jack character is, the heroine and the audience just can't help falling in love with him. I think that charisma has a great deal to do with the actor and not just the character.

Now Johnny Depp and Tim Burton who also directed Edward Scissorhands are back together again in a new movie, the film adaptation of the hugely popular Stephen Sondheim musical, Sweeney Todd! I love period movies and from watching the trailer, I already know I'm going to love this movie too. If you would like to take a peek at the next Johnny Depp hit, visit the official Sweeney Todd movie site. You can also visit Sweeney Todd on MySpace to get additional information about the movie and be updated on the progress of its release.

It's due to come out this Christmas, so you know what we'll be doing over Christmas vacation :)

Scared Witless

The first time I saw Halloween the movie was in the late 70's, early 80's and I believe that was the time that Jamie Lee Curtis was doing all those horror movies. This was all during the time when Jason and Freddie Kruger were at their height. I was a teenager, and thought it was loads of fun to be scared witless. Yeah, I could have used another word there, but this is after all a family blog. I still remember not being able to shake the terror from this movie especially since the following week I was scheduled to donate blood for the first time. You remember that scene in the movie where the person's blood drains all over the floor? Yeah, I still remember, and I still remember the name Michael Myers. How about you?

Halloween the movie is being resurected almost thirty years later (omg, has it really been that long?!!). This version is written and directed by Rob Zombie. What a great name to write and direct a horror film, eh? I wonder if that's his real name or a made up one? You think there will be zombies in this one? No, no zombies. This time around, they turn back time to uncover what made Michael Myers the pathologically disturbed psycho that he is. Could it be that he was abused as a child or is he a product of a perfect household? Was there a traumatic event in his childhood that somehow twisted his mind? What can possibly make a monster like Michael Myers? Look at this trailer and see if you can guess what spin Rob Zombie will bring to this version of Halloween the movie.