Noel and I took the kiddos to see Kung Fu Panda on the weekend. I went along because I was desperate to get out and about for some time with him and them, but I was pretty sure I would find the movie boring and/or groan-worthy.
I was wrong! To my own surprise, I really enjoyed it. At one point I realised I was just gazing at the screen with a big smile on my face and I thought "Oh, goodness, I really like this!" It's funny and gorgeous. I'm not usually much of a fan of Jack Black, but in this he is AWESOME (lol, I never use that word but sorry, I just have to. "There is no charge for Awesomeness.").
I just deleted a few sentences in which I tried to pinpoint why I liked the film so much. I can't put my finger on it. The characters are just deep enough for their story, and they and their world are beautifully drawn, and it all just works really well.
I like it. So go see it if you get the chance.
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I'm a bit excited tonight, and a bit too keen to tuck the girls into bed, because I've borrowed The Shining (hooray for DVDs at the library!) and will watch it tonight accompanied by my block of Maya Gold chocolate (Fair Trade chocolate! Buy it! Don't buy the slave-harvested stuff!).
I don't even have any idea what The Shining is about, but it's one of those classic films that has been on my to-watch list for ages... I shall report back, faithful listeners... readers... friends... you know who you are...
Tuesday, 24 June 2008
Tuesday, 17 June 2008
Mmmm... the worst pies in London....Well, not really - they were pretty good actually. This was last Wednesday when I got the kids asleep and sat down for a bit of gory delicious Sweeney. However, I accidentally hit some button on the remote which messed up the sound and I couldn't figure it out, so I didn't end up watching very much of it. The dull stereo sound was just too depressing for such an experience.
So on Saturday night my lovely friend Hayley was visiting and we watched it with proper surround sound. Unfortunately the experience was still nowhere near as good as seeing it in the cinema... but that will have to wait until we build our dream house with a beautiful, insulated, specially-made theatre room. Still, it really is delicious, this film. I know I've raved about it before, but Johnny's "Mr Todd" is just beautiful. Really beautiful.
I enjoyed Helena Bonham Carter's performance a lot more this time, I think I paid a bit more attention to her so got the gist of her character a bit better. I love Sacha Baron Cohen too, but my gripe with him is that I struggled to understand him when he reverted to an English accent. He mumbled. I also particularly appreciated the funny bits - especially the song "By the Sea"; goodness that is so well done and so funny. I could watch it all day.
Now, for Depp fans, all that there is to do is wait for his next two appearances, in The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus (Hmmm, I'm a little annoyed that IMDB's listed Johnny first in the credits there; he shouldn't be top billed when it's Heath Ledger's character...) and Public Enemies.
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In other news... I'm feeling the acting itch again, and, well, I'm really feeling the need for some extra cash to be flowing into this household, so once I get this bubba of mine a little more settled I'll be beginning the ring-around again to agents and casting people. Let's see if I can get myself something...
My 5-year-old daughter is starting Drama and Musical Theatre classes next week, and the 3-year-old will be starting Dance. Mwa ha ha... I'm going to be a big annoying Stage Mum....
Tuesday, 10 June 2008
Strong Bloody Violence
My Sweeney Todd DVD just arrived in the mail. Mmmmmm.
Meat pies for dinner, methinks!
It was Johnny Depp's birthday yesterday, by the way. Happy 45th, Johnny!
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Speaking of violence, and Johnny... we watched American Gangster the other day. It reminded us of Blow , except with murder as well as drugs.
It was a good movie, although we watched the extended edition so it kinda went on forever - almost 3 hours of gangster talk and family/political maneuvering, so I got pretty lost (I always get confused with the different connections/families/loyalties in gangster-type films). Russell Crowe was great, as he usually is, and it was nice to see him acting again rather than rabbiting on about football, which is all he's in the news for these days 'round here.
Meat pies for dinner, methinks!
It was Johnny Depp's birthday yesterday, by the way. Happy 45th, Johnny!
~~~~
Speaking of violence, and Johnny... we watched American Gangster the other day. It reminded us of Blow , except with murder as well as drugs.
It was a good movie, although we watched the extended edition so it kinda went on forever - almost 3 hours of gangster talk and family/political maneuvering, so I got pretty lost (I always get confused with the different connections/families/loyalties in gangster-type films). Russell Crowe was great, as he usually is, and it was nice to see him acting again rather than rabbiting on about football, which is all he's in the news for these days 'round here.
Thursday, 5 June 2008
A spoonful of sugar
Miss B is watching Mary Poppins so all those fun songs are filtering through the doorway...
"A spoonful of sugar, that is all it takes. It changes bread and water into tea and cakes."
Oh I love Mary Poppins. Such lovely messages about life and value. I know there are two schools of thought about this movie though. Some people seem to think she's a very freaky scary manipulator. I can totally see where they're coming from but I just ignore the freakiness and concentrate on the cute and loveliness. :)
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No spoonfuls of sugar for me, though. I lost 1.9kg this week, woohoo! So, if I stay on track, this "spare tyre" should be gone in no time!
"A spoonful of sugar, that is all it takes. It changes bread and water into tea and cakes."
Oh I love Mary Poppins. Such lovely messages about life and value. I know there are two schools of thought about this movie though. Some people seem to think she's a very freaky scary manipulator. I can totally see where they're coming from but I just ignore the freakiness and concentrate on the cute and loveliness. :)
~~~~
No spoonfuls of sugar for me, though. I lost 1.9kg this week, woohoo! So, if I stay on track, this "spare tyre" should be gone in no time!
Monday, 2 June 2008
Comedians
Did anyone see Frank Woodley on Rove last night?
Some parts of Rove really irritate me but he always has great guests so last night I was watching it in between tidying up and baking bread (go me, little miss domestic!). I think Frank Woodley is fabulous - as is Colin Lane but I'm kinda glad they've gone their separate ways and we get to see their indivdual talents shine more.
It was a fun interview of course; quite hilarious, especially his answer to the inevitable gay question. Every answer to every question (well, almost) was funny in some way. Which got me to thinking - why do comedians have to be funny *all the time*?
Whenever we see a comedian interviewed, or on a variety show or quiz show or anywhere really, they're always constantly making jokes. Now obviously this is their job and there are times when they're expected to provide some lighthearted diversions. But really, they don't have to be doing it constantly do they? I wonder if they're like that in their everyday lives, always relating the situation they're in to some hilarious anecdote, or if it's just the "stage persona".
I have a bit of a theory (based mainly on my own experience and feelings) that actors love acting so much because they don't have to be themselves; they can be someone else for a while... yes I know, thank you Captain Obvious, but what I mean is that we are hiding in a way, covering our real self up because it's so much easier to be public if we're not revealing ourselves. If I get laughed at or strange looks or ignored, that's okay because it's not really me.
Essentially, what I'm saying is that actors are pretty insecure, and, as well as being lots of fun and requiring a bit of talent, playing a character allows us to find security without revealing too much of ourselves. That's how I feel about it anyway. Maybe other actors will say differently but hey, this is my blog and my theory. (I'm very secure with how insecure I am, thanks very much!)
So, perhaps comedians have a similar thing going on. Whenever I see Frank Woodley (and other comedians too, but Woodley in particular I think), his eyes, to me, do look pretty insecure. I know the "deer in headlights" kinda thing is part of his comedic persona, but it seems to me that if you look in his eyes there's something a bit frightened in there. And it really feels like he's making all those jokes to take the attention away from that insecurity and distract us from finding out who he really might be.
All of which is fine with me, because he's hilarious. It would be great to chat with him I think, it might be quite revealing (but hopefully not as revealing as that Rolf Harris fantasy...).
Some parts of Rove really irritate me but he always has great guests so last night I was watching it in between tidying up and baking bread (go me, little miss domestic!). I think Frank Woodley is fabulous - as is Colin Lane but I'm kinda glad they've gone their separate ways and we get to see their indivdual talents shine more.
It was a fun interview of course; quite hilarious, especially his answer to the inevitable gay question. Every answer to every question (well, almost) was funny in some way. Which got me to thinking - why do comedians have to be funny *all the time*?
Whenever we see a comedian interviewed, or on a variety show or quiz show or anywhere really, they're always constantly making jokes. Now obviously this is their job and there are times when they're expected to provide some lighthearted diversions. But really, they don't have to be doing it constantly do they? I wonder if they're like that in their everyday lives, always relating the situation they're in to some hilarious anecdote, or if it's just the "stage persona".
I have a bit of a theory (based mainly on my own experience and feelings) that actors love acting so much because they don't have to be themselves; they can be someone else for a while... yes I know, thank you Captain Obvious, but what I mean is that we are hiding in a way, covering our real self up because it's so much easier to be public if we're not revealing ourselves. If I get laughed at or strange looks or ignored, that's okay because it's not really me.
Essentially, what I'm saying is that actors are pretty insecure, and, as well as being lots of fun and requiring a bit of talent, playing a character allows us to find security without revealing too much of ourselves. That's how I feel about it anyway. Maybe other actors will say differently but hey, this is my blog and my theory. (I'm very secure with how insecure I am, thanks very much!)
So, perhaps comedians have a similar thing going on. Whenever I see Frank Woodley (and other comedians too, but Woodley in particular I think), his eyes, to me, do look pretty insecure. I know the "deer in headlights" kinda thing is part of his comedic persona, but it seems to me that if you look in his eyes there's something a bit frightened in there. And it really feels like he's making all those jokes to take the attention away from that insecurity and distract us from finding out who he really might be.
All of which is fine with me, because he's hilarious. It would be great to chat with him I think, it might be quite revealing (but hopefully not as revealing as that Rolf Harris fantasy...).
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