til the countdown

Getting ready for Christmas! Y'know, so many people bah humbug it, but you know what helps? Getting away from the commercialization of it all for a year. Live overseas from October to January, it wipes the slate clean. Sure, Korea had decorations and things, but Christmas was more for lovers than a family holiday. Plus, I spent it last year by myself in Guam. So bring on the music and the movies and the lights!

But not the shopping. I am severely financially limited.

Not quite sure how to start off the holiday blogging, so before I do, I'll tell you what I watched today. Some Like it Hot with Marilyn Monroe. I figured I'd do some background research before seeing that new movie, My Week With Marilyn. I always avoided watching this particular movies of hers. I can't explain why, but it turns out I loved it! The costume student in me kinda screams at the inaccuracy of the costumes, which I would assume they would be able to reproduce better in the 1950s as it was closer TO the 1920s... but hey. Whatever. It can be overlooked. (It was mostly the hair and make-up that got to me. That is NOT how they set their pin curls in that era! Hmm.)

I love Marilyn. The poor thing had many demons, but she was smarter than most people realize. What I love was her passion for equality, which I love finding out about old Hollywood stars. Like Clark Gable, for instance.(Look that one up.) It was Marilyn who helped launch Ella Fitzgerald's career as it was Marilyn who insisted that Ella perform at a certain upscale venue. Marilyn herself promised to buy tickets for front row seats to cause a media frenzy, and it did!

"I'm just not that smart." OH SISTER, I KNOW. Musicians and artists, good grief, they are the devil.

perfect for the season

So I'm noticing the latest trend for fashion is a Mid-west/Pacific Native American look, which I am super stoked for. I walked by Forever 21 yesterday and I had to restrain myself from buying everything with a tribal print on it. I have loved the look for years, so though I love this trend I'm a bit sad since it IS a trend. But it makes me feel like living this daydream I have of going out West for a few weeks, to somewhere like Montana or Colorado, and staying on a ranch or in a cabin. I've been a city girl for a long time, so is it really an odd fantasy to live the life I've never experienced? Don't go trying to knock reality in my head about the harshness of life out there, I get it, I get it. It's just a daydream, after-all.

Speaking of Native American influences, time to tie in this post to Halloween! Know what one of my most favorite scary movies is? The Shining!

I admit to this being my favorite Stephen King book. It was the first to give me a nightmare. However, I admit to hating the Stanley Kubrick movie at first. AT FIRST. But then, if you look at it as it's own entity, it's enthralling. It's disturbing and claustrophobic, and the cinematography is perfect. The scenes where Danny is pedaling through the halls? My god, I can't think of anything more distressing to watch. You know something bad is coming, but when? Where is it? And even if you know Jack Nicholson is going to be the ultimate bad guy, he's so good at it you aren't disappointed in the end. And seeing as Kubrick filmed this movie so meticulously, there's always new details to find. The Native American influences seemed to be hidden and yet in your face the entire film.
So if you've never seen it, my number one pick for a Halloween movie night is Kubrick's The Shining.

Thanks to http://screenshotworld.blogspot.com/2007/06/shining-1980.html for the screencaps.

movie time

Oh snow. Good grief, why must you love me so.

Anyway, watched a movie that I was slightly hesitant to sit through. I thought, "Oh no, is this going to be another indie flick that tries to be deep and disturbing under the pretense of being 'artsy'?" As a general rule I veer away from "deep" flicks. As vapid as that sounds, I am deeply sensitive enough. Watching the news can nearly bring me to tears. If I watch something sadly profound or downright violent it will stay with me for days, or even years later as something random will flash in my head.

Well, 'Girl Walks into A Bar" is nothing like that. I really enjoyed it. I'm trying to how to classify it... It's not a dark comedy, as one review says, but it is comedic. The dialogue is what really got me; it's witty and the casting was spot on. It had some quips and story twists that really had me laughing. Typical of L.A. all the women are gorgeous but I won't complain. I guess to crudely sum the movie up it's like.... Love Actually meets the L.A. nightlife. Plus, now I wish my bar experiences were like this.  OH BONUS- It's all online for free. Yay!

singing in the rain

Today I'm off to watch my kids graduate. I'm nervous/excited.

Anyway, to take my mind off of it I watched 'Singing in the Rain' last night. I'm sure everyone knows that song, but I've never seen the movie that it's in. Well, I really enjoyed it! I'm in love with Gene Kelly I've decided. Also, he's from Pittsburgh which I don't think I knew, but yet when I read it this morning I wasn't surprised. I can sort of recall seeing his name in signs in the Cultural District, but I never thought twice about it. So, even though that town bred a lot of losers, I'm going to get rid of that chip on my shoulder just because it gave us someone as awesome as Gene Kelly!

Another reason why this movie is awesome: They riff a terrible movie in it. And Debbie Reynolds is super cute! I want her hair in this movie, but then again it seems like too much commitment. We'll see.