Movie Theater Etiquette

I went to see the 2:00 p.m. show of Salt with my sister today at Ward Theatre and had one of the most annoying experiences. A man sat next to me and proceeded to stake claim on the armrest between us. Let me just say that my sister and I got to the theater about 30 minutes early and were happily sitting there the entire time. This guy shows up 10 minutes before it starts, plops down the armrest on his far side and then monopolizes both. The bastard! I felt like elbowing him in the head on "accident" just to get him to move. That is such bad movie theater etiquette!

This leads me to my top five list of most hated movie theater behaviors. Let me know if you agree or disagree.

1. The wailing baby and the stubborn parent who refuses to take the brat out of the room - I mean seriously, if I wanted to hear a crying kid I'd have one of my own. Yes, I understand that you paid to see this movie just like I did, but no one told you to bring the baby.

2. The pre-teen/teenaged crowd who constantly text throughout the film, especially if they're seated in front of me - The phones these days with their fancy touch screens are as bright as the North Star. They should be banned from the theaters because they simply ruin the atmosphere. The only light allowed in the room should be the three-story high movie screen.

3. The egomaniacs who think they're too important to turn their phones off - Unless you're waiting to hear the test results for the cure to cancer, are the phone-a-friend on Who Wants to be a Millionaire or a suicide bomber, you do not need to have your phone on.

4. The obnoxious chair kickers - You know who you are! Don't even tell me you have restless leg syndrome.

5. The loud mouths without a clue - Stop asking questions throughout the film. It's annoying to those around you, including the people you came with. No, that isn't the same person. Yes, the main character just changed his clothes. It's a bomb. She's undercover. They're the crooks.

Movie Overload: Predators and Inception

This weekend I had a great time at the movies. On Saturday night, I saw Predators, starring Adrien Brody. The movie had its flaws but was a fun time overall. I thought casting Brody as the lead in an action flick was pretty ballsy. The last movie I saw him in was The Brothers Bloom, and this is such a departure from that role. He doesn't seem the guns blazing, leading man type, but he's mostly changed my mind after Predators.

Tonight I watched Leonardo DiCaprio work his magic in Inception. This movie is like whoa. It's deeper than deep and is one that you'll need to see more than once to fully understand it. I like how it takes you to a different world and opens your mind up to all the possibilities. It plays with reality and fantasy in a way that is similar to The Matrix.

I'm hoping to watch Despicable Me tomorrow night with some co-workers. I hear good things about it, however, it's not Pixar. Still, the trailer looks funny and I hear the 3D is pretty awesome. We'll see how it goes.

Obnoxious Moviegoers

I just came home from watching Cop Out at Regal Theatres Dole Cannery with my parents. Since the movie has been out for a while, there were only about 10 of us in a theater that could probably hold well over 400 people.

What are the odds that of the seven other people there tonight, one would have to be an obnoxious moviegoer? Apparently, the odds are pretty good. One row in front of us about five seats to the left was the most obnoxious man I've encountered in a long time.

First of all, he's one of those damn people who talk in a booming voice all the time. I could hear his pre-movie conversation loud and clear. When the previews started, he proceeded to comment on every single one of them. It was like listening to the audio commentary on a DVD.

Then, during the movie this guy thought he was so clever with all his side comments and observations. He even blessed us by repeat some of the film's jokes. It was like watching another film just listening to him.

While the movie was pretty funny, there was no need to laugh at every single joke (or perceived joke) yet our movie friend did just that. Tracy Morgan was on his game in this movie, but this guy was seriously over doing it with the yukking around.

Was he just in a tremendously happy mood or was he trying to be an ass on purpose? It's hard to tell.

2010 Honolulu Festival

Yesterday I was able to check out the 2010 Honolulu Festival at the convetion center. Haven't had time to download the pictures and video that I shot, but I'll try to do that tomorrow.

It was the first time I attended this little cultural sharing event, and I found it interesting. People from all over came to share their customs through song, dance, film and demonstrations. I was totally hoping there'd be tons of food booths. However, I was disappointed in that aspect.

While there, I caught a few performances on the inner and outer stages, cruised through the craft tables and watched the movie Hula Girls. The movie was awesome and my review can be found at Movie Addicts Club. I wanted to stay for the second movie, Departures, but I didn't really have time. I'm still planning to watch it via Netflix though and will definitely post a review.

Just A Quickie

Not much going on lately, but I just wanted to check in to make sure y'all knew I wasn't dead.

I'm looking forward to catching Dear John this weekend with my friend JC because she and I both love us some Channing Tatum. Planning to ball my eyes out though as I'm thinking it might be a little bittersweet? It's based on a Nicholas Sparks book and isn't there always something to cry about in his books/movies? Maybe I should go with waterproof mascara for this little outing of ours?

Other than that . . . well, I've been in new employee training class at work. No, I didn't get a new job. But, I'm sitting in on these new hire classes to get some ideas for newsletter articles. I'm running low on topics and my brain is too tired to think creatively. I'm hoping a quick review on everything will rejuvenate me. Also, it's just one way to get away from my desk and be with other people.

I'm still contemplating this and any other job. I mean, it'd be nice to quit and travel until the money dries up but that takes some guts. If I don't have the balls to do that, then I guess I could just take an extended vacation (one to two months maybe?) to travel around Europe or something. Or, I can save that money and pack up for San Francisco, hope I can get a job there and use the cash as reserves until I can find a job. Tough decisions.

Technology Makes People Stupid

The following conversation occurred at Ward Theatre last night at a showing of Planet 51. This is why technology is making people stupid.

Stars of this performance: group of about eight 7-year-old girls, a mother and a father.

Mom: "Okay, so we have two Sprites . . . one fruit punch . . ."
Girl 1: "I want a Sprite too!"
Mom: "Girl 1, I counted you already."
Girl 2: "Me too."
Mom: "Girl 2, you want a Sprite or a fruit punch?"
Girl 2: "Sprite."

- More of the same -
- Dad waiting for orders -

Mom: "So, we've got three Sprites, two fruit punches. Girl 7, you said you wanted a fruit punch?"
Girl 7: "No, I wanted water."
Mom: "Ok you can have a water."
Girl 4: "I want water too."

- More of the same -
- Dad only hears a high-pitched buzzing -

Mom: "Alright, raise your hand if you want Sprite?"

- Pause while counting -

Mom: "Who wants water?"

- Pause while counting -

Mom: "And what about fruit punch?"

- Pause while counting -

Mom: "Dad, can you get four Sprites, three waters and a fruit punch?"

- Dad shakes himself awake -

Dad: "Sure, four Sprites, three waters and a fruit punch?"

Mom: "Yes."

- Dad walks down stairs -
- Dad turns back to Mom -

Dad: "Four Sprites, three waters and a fruit punch, right?"

Mom: "Yeah, do you want me to text it?"

Dad: "Yeah, text me."

- Dad continues down stairs -

End of Scene Unseen Podcast

My favorite movie podcast just announced that they'll be wrapping up their show and will only be doing the blog. I don't even read their blog! It's not the same as hearing them on the podcast. The podcast I'm referring to is called Scene Unseen with Chris and Jimmy. WTF?!?! I'm at a loss for words.

These guys are hilarious and totally on it when it comes to the film world. I've watched a ton of great movies because of the DVD pick part of their show. I'm so sad to hear that they're quitting. Damn it! Every time I get into a tv show or whatever it ends up getting canceled. This really sucks.

A Waltz For A Night

I have always believed that I was a cynic . . . either that or very firmly planted on the side of realism. But I just watched Before Sunrise and Before Sunset, starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, and find that I may have misjudged myself entirely for a majority of my life.

It is shocking to uncover, so late in the game, that I am a closet romantic. Yeah, I know. It's a trip. But the films moved me to tears, and that can only happen if I'm a romantic. I saw myself in the characters. It felt like I had lived their lives. Maybe I had . . . a lifetime ago . . . but it feels so real now watching these movies.

The minimalist nature of the two films captured me. The experiences these two strangers had and shared with one another were moving. The transient nature of their relationship contrasted with the deep impact of it is utterly bittersweet. The beauty in the mundane is also significant - as much to me as a viewer as it is to them. There is something strangely poignant about their separation and reunion that reaches into my very core.

RIP John

I just read that John Hughes died today. WTF?!?!

Man, that's such a loss. He had a huge impact on kids growing up in the '80s. While I was probably a little too young to fully enjoy The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, Sixteen Candles, Ferris Bueller's Day Off and all the other great teen flicks when they were first released, I've been able to watch a lot of them over the years.

In each film, Hughes was able to capture the teen experience with honesty and was never patronizing about it. People, teens especially, could relate to the hurdles his characters faced because they had lived through them too. Hughes never diminished the significance of getting to first base or waiting around for a boy to call. These were, and still are, stressful times that everyone experiences growing up, and I don't think anyone has been able to capture this feeling or time of life as well as he did.

He will be missed.

You're My Exception

I just got through watching He's Just Not That Into You and have to say I'm a complete 'tard. Yeah, this is a romantic comedy but it really isn't. I mean, there wasn't a lot of that ooey gooey love stuff and yet I still feel all mushy inside. I'll even admit to a pathetic-sounding whimper and a sigh but don't let that get out.

In a less than stellar imitation of Tom Cruise in Jerry Maguire (I know Cruise didn't say these exact three words but they're three words nevertheless), Justin Long whips out this line:

"You're my exception . . . ."

Ok, ok, I guess the impact isn't the same unless you've seen the film and are a complete 'tard like me. But, these three simple words got me thinking about whether or not I'm the exception or the rule to this thing called love.

More and more people are waiting till later in life to settle down, so maybe my singledom is the rule these days. But will there ever be a time when the need to be in a relationship will arise sharply and I'll want to be the exception? If I wait too long, will all the chances pass me by leaving me without exceptions? Will there be a time when love becomes the rule and not the exception? Is this love thing something I should actively be pursuing, like the Gigi character in the film, regardless of if it's the exception or the rule?

So now what's a girl to do? It seems as though there are fewer and fewer options out there to find love in our island home. Case in point, the increase in online dating, speed dating and even a male auction (yes, for charity but still). I can only assume that as I get older, these opportunities will all but shrivel up and disappear.

But the things we'll do for love have absurdly increased over the years and almost do not seem natural anymore. Is that what it takes to find love? Putting yourself out there and letting it all hang loose - is that the exception or the rule?

Also, with the odds seriously skewed toward divorce it's hard to even consider marriage as a viable option these day. According to divorcerate.org, studies reveal the divorce rate in America for first marriages is 41%, second marriages is 60% and third marriages is 73%. With those kinds of odds, should marriage even be in the picture? Maybe love is all you need?



But, of course, this brings us back to the question of where do you find love? Is finding love the exception or the rule? Is online dating and speed dating the exception or the rule? Is even meeting a suitable companion the exception or the rule? Is the active pursuit for love the way to go or do you just wait for it to happen? Exception or rule?

Even after all of this, I'd stil like someone to tell me that I'm his exception to the rule.

Are Kid Movies Really For Kids?

When did kid flicks start getting all adult on us? I don't ever remember animated movies being so high brow before. Lately, they all seem to be geared toward the parent and not the child.

Last night I watched Up with my brother and his family. His 3-year-old daugher was left cowering in her mother's lap during one part. During another part she was practically nodding off because the scenes were slow (from a kid's point of view). They were in fact pretty depressing (from an adult's point of view).

When did Hollywood turn innocent children's movies into these adult art films? It seems like I can find ways to deconstruct most of the recent array of kid movies more than I can the independent art film. What's up with that?

Yeah, I realize that production companies want to entertain the parents because they're the ones who bring the kids and spend all their money at the concessions. But seriously, is the full life cycle of a man and a woman really appropriate imagery for young people?

Oh Mamma Mia!

Just got back from watching Mamma Mia! at the Blaisdell Concert Hall and I had a fab time. Went with two of my friends and we all really enjoyed it. The singing and music were great (even though I can't honestly say I'm an ABBA fan).

I'd love to give credit to the actors, but prior to the show they mentioned some stand-ins. I'm not sure who was part of the the original cast and who was an understudy. In any case, it was a fun night out and everyone did a great job.

The dances were just as lively on stage as they were in the movie. It's amazing how many scenes can be constructed using two rotating building/wall structures. The costumes were outrageous . . . so they were wonderful. The lighting was over-the-top disco or mood enhancing. Loved it.

Like in the movie, Donna's two friends are wonderful. They steal the show every time. Donna had a wonderful voice. The only bad part was that it was difficult to hear when she got into the really low or high octaves. Sophie's voice was purely magic.

The guy who played Sam (aka Pierce Brosnan in the movie version) did a much better job than Brosnan did. In fact, his singing was almost angelic. If there was one negative about the film version, it was Brosnan's singing. With this stage version though there were no problems in that area.

I noticed that there were a ton of open seats and the parking lot was pretty empty. This is the last week that Mamma Mia!'s in Hawaii, so if you haven't seen the show yet definitely try to make it out. The last number is so fun and gets the crowd pumped up. This isn't your ordinary musical.

Here's a clip from the Broadway performance:

Wicked Memories

I finally got around to scanning my Wicked playbill, ticket and flier. Again, this is a definite must-see if it ever comes to Hawaii or if you're planning to be in San Francisco. Also check out their tour dates for other cities. It was magically delicious, to steal the Lucky Charms slogan.

Also, I just purchased tickets to Mamma Mia! at the Blaisdell for later this month. I can't wait. While I'm not a huge ABBA fan, I enjoyed the movie more than I thought I would. I figure this show will be just as good. Can't be any worse than Pierce Brosnan's singing, right?

Zoom, Zoom, Zoom

Last night I caught a showing of Fast & Furious at a local theater. Obviously, we are not in a recession because it took about 15 minutes to find a parking spot after fighting off other circling cars also seeking a place to land. The only sign that there might be a little financial trouble was that only one escalator was working. However, that could just be someone's attempt to go green.

After an eight year hiatus, the original cast of The Fast and the Furious is back together again, and I must say it was a sight for sore eyes. I'd be lying if I said I went for the cars (which I think this movie lacked in comparison to the original). My main course was the succulent Paul Walker - still smokin' hot after all these years. He's a little older, a little more distinguished looking without his surfer blond highlights but is good enough to eat just the same.

While I probably wouldn't pick Vin Diesel off the dim sum trolley others might. And, so as not to disappoint them, he was definitely rockin' it in tight T's that showed off a wicked body. He still has his gravely, send-thrills-down-your-spine voice so don't fret.

Image Source: http://www.beyondhollywood.com/

Vampires of a Different Kind

I finally got around to watching Twilight yesterday and boy was it disappointing. Maybe I just have unrealistic expectations when it comes to cross-species love affairs? A work friend said that the books are better, so maybe I should try those on for size and drop the movies? Yup, that's right. Movies with an "s." They're making a sequel.

I think I'm just jaded because I've been reading about a different human/vampire love affair. This series by J.R. Ward focuses on a warrior race of vampires called the Black Dagger Brotherhood. It has just the right amount of chick lit smut and vampire violence to keep you turning the page. Plus each Brother has his own little personality quirk so it makes you want to find out what's the dillyo. I mean, c'mon. Who wouldn't be intrigued by:

1) a blind king vampire who doesn't want to be king and plays Russian roulette with his life;
2) a guy who is apparently God's gift to women but whose dragon tat likes to come out and play every once in a while too;
3) a guy with serious psych issues and physical disfigurement due to his enslavement and abuse by his own kind;
4) slavery boy's twin who has taken a vow of celibacy when everyone else is getting it on like Donkey Kong;
5) or a gloved psychic who burns anything he touches?

Also, the vampires aren't of the sissy-looking emo type like Edward Cullen of Twilight. They are real bad asses and can lay down the law with their fists if need be. They are seriously of the bad boy variety.

Brotherhood Never Looked Better

I always thought it was a cliche that "good girls love bad boys" but now I'm beginning to think there's something to that saying.

I just watched a surfer doc called Bra Boys. It talks about the life and times of a group of Australian surfers from Maroubra and focuses on the Abberton family. It is an Aussie version of Lords of Dogtown, but way, way better, in my opinion.

Bad ass surfers were never hotter than in this film. (I think the accent adds to the allure.) Covered in tats, street brawling and charging towering waves - these guys are complete bad asses. And nothing is sexier than that. It's as if Patrick Swayze's Bodhi has come to life . . . with an Aussie accent no less! What good girl could resist?

The doc itself is really interesting as it talks about Australia's history and the particular history and localism of Maroubra. Basically, it's an underprivileged area where the only options are death, jail or surfing. The "Locals Only" mentality runs high. In a place where families are often broken and drug use is high, these kids find comfort in each other and in the ocean. Their passion for surfing is evident in everything they do. They have definitely found and harnessed their Paradise.

I definitely recommend this documentary - for the massive waves, great surf footage and of course, the bad boy surfers.

Check out the trailer:

Young @ Heart

Tonight I watched an inspiring documentary about a chorus called Young @ Heart. What makes this group so special is that all of its members are seniors. They seem to be between 70 and 90+ years old, but all of them have such a great spirit, a love for life and enjoy singing.

Young @ Heart sing any kind of music - rock, r&b, pop, soul - you name it, they've sung it. While some of them may not like the songs at first, they learn to appreciate it at the end. You can see the pride in their eyes when they are able to learn the lyrics.

The songs also become special because you hear them from a different point of view. What was once a song about a lost lover becomes a song about a beloved friend. You see their interpretation of songs and realize that their passion should be bottled and sold.

This film makes you contemplate your own life to reevaluate how you live. Are you truly appreciative of what you have? Do you live like there's no tomorrow? Can you allow yourself to do what makes you the happiest? This movie is truly moving, and the amazing part about it is that it just depicts people living their lives. They're not saving the world. They're not finding the cure for cancer. Yet they do what they are able to do, and that's to sing their hearts out.

Naked Boys Singing!

Don't ever accuse me of false advertising or extreme exaggeration (well, not about this anyway). Fresh out of my dvd player is a musical theater performance-turned-movie called Naked Boys Singing! (2007). I stumbled upon it while browsing through random dvds on Netflix. Of course, the catchy title drew me, just like those darn Brangelina twins and the Madonna/A Rod affair.

After reading the first three reviews, I realized that the movie was marketed to about 82 percent gay men, 13 percent closeted gay men and 5 percent straight women. We'll, I'm proud to say that I indeed fall into that 5 percent so I quickly added it to my queue and waited anxiously for it to come on over.

When the dvd arrived, I ripped open the package and shoved it in. Interestingly enough, the dvd label was of a naked guy with the center diecut discreetly over his junk. This may well be the only discreet thing about the film.

The opening number, called "Gratuitous Nudity," quickly got the show swinging, and I really do mean swinging. After the initial shock of seeing 10 naked men dancing and singing wore off, I have to say that I really did like the cleverness of the lyrics. The songs were equally funny, touching, poignant and outright in-your-face (as was every anatomical part of the male body).

The show spared no expense and cast actors who could definitely let loose vocally. By the end of the first song, the show wasn't so much about naked guys but more about the art of it all. The message of being naked (physically, emotionally, psychologically) and setting yourself free to live and love was communicated loud and clear.

I'm not sure how gay men would view the film, but as a straight woman I'd give it two thumbs up. The performers were all attractive and very fit. There was a wide range in ethnicities so I guess you could say there was a flavor for everyone (I swear one of the cast members looks like Doug Savant of Melrose Place, another looks like Mark Espinoza of Beverly Hills 90210 and one even looks a bit like Rob Schneider).

The guys weren't hulking with muscles (like Chippendales performers) but many were definitely ripped. Their performance ability was definitely ten times better than any "male revue" out there, which I totally appreciate. I mean, can you believe they actually sang on key and their dance numbers were in sync? And there wasn't any of that corny hip thrusting or crotch grabbing; no unnecessary snake-like undulating or smokey, bedroom-eye gazes. It was basically a good theater number that happened to be about nakedness where all the performers were, well, naked.

As a side note, I attended a Chippendales performance when they were in Hawaii a couple years back when we went out for a friend's hen party. While those guys are good to look at, they couldn't sing or dance worth a damn. They had no rhythm and probably no soul either. I was definitely disappointed. You come to be entertained, but unless you throw yourself into their arms and have an outrageous number of dollar bills for lap dances, the show is not worth its weight in gold. Naked Boys Singing!, on the other hand, was a gem, even with a small budget and limited production time (as noted on the "Making of" video that can be found on the Special Features).

Naked Boys Singing! Trailer

Image sources:

http://www.impawards.com/

http://www.offbroadway.com/

Weekend DVDs

I watched a ton of DVDs this weekend, and they were all pretty great in their own way. I thought I'd share them with you.

Image Source: http://www.filmcatcher.com/

Lars and the Real Girl (2007), starring Ryan Gosling, is about a shy and somewhat troubled man named Lars who orders a life-sized doll and proceeds to fall in love with her. I must admit that this concept sounds off the wall, but you have to look beyond the surface. The movie is really about a community pulling together to help a man heal. It's about treating people like human beings and doing all you can to help them. The movie is filled with moments - funny, touching, heart-warming. I think this is one of Gosling's best works. He is genius in it.

Image Source: http://www.movieweb.com/

La Vie En Rose (2007), starring Marion Cotillard, is the life story of Edith Piaf. The movie is brought to life with her music and Cotillard's wonderful acting. It portrays Piaf at her best and at her worst. Throughout the movie, there is always just a thin line between the fragile, unsure child that she was and the confident, demanding diva that she became. She lived life to the fullest, regretting nothing. She loved whole-heartedly and embodied life. This movie is almost two and a half hours long but is well worth it.

Image Source: http://www.moviemaker.com/

Rashomon (1950) is one of Akira Kurasawa's masterpieces and tells the story of a murder from three different points of view - husband, wife and bandit. The movie deals with many themes, such as the idea of truth, good vs. evil and human nature. The plot is an intricately woven fabric that is stretched and pulled in many directions as the audience attempts to sift through and devise the truth. Filmed in black and white, the movie also experiments with different lighting and camera techniques. The movie stars Toshiro Mifune.

Image Source: http://www.allposters.com/

August Rush (2007), starring Freddie Highmore of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory fame, is about an orphaned boy who follows the music he hears in search of his parents. It is a touching tale of hope and the beauty of music. Keri Russell and Jonathan Rhys Meyers play his long-lost parents. While this movie could have been preachy and obnoxious, it wasn't. Instead, it was a tale of what dreams can do and a story of timeless love.

Scene Unseen Podcast

I just stumbled upon the greatest podcast ever - Scene Unseen. I was browsing through iTunes' free podcast and found this gem. Basically the idea behind this podcast is that one commentator watches the movie and one doesn't, then they discuss it. The two guys are Chris and Jimmy, but the ones I've heard (the most recent ones) have guest speakers. Not sure what happened to Jimmy.

In any case, they talk a bunch about the movies, what they liked and disliked, wander into other movies and topics but always bring it back. It's great. They seem to be real insiders too, so that's pretty cool to get hints about future films. I've listened to three of them so far and they're really entertaining. They're funny in a sometimes cynical way. Oh, and there's a bunch of swearing splattered throughout.