Spider-Man 3

I am so excited for this movie which, by the way, opens this Friday, May 4th! Contributing to my excitement are the trailers I've seen, especially during Heroes on Monday nights. What a cowinkydink, huh? A Spider-Man trailer during Heroes?? Yes, I know...I'm sure it was very non-coincidental.

The soundtrack looks great as well, including artists like Rogue Wave, Snow Patrol, The Killers, and Wolfmother. You can hear all the tracks on the movie's myspace page (I really like "Move Away" by The Killers).

Headlines!

Awww, so sad...looks like Katie Holmes will not continue her Batman Begins role in The Dark Knight...boooooo hoooooo. Okay, I'm over it.

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Like coffee and a donut?...Why not have some caffeine with your caffeine? Pretty soon they'll be injecting caffeine into our milk and orange juice too!

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Ahhh, yes....Paula Abdul. She has made a fool of herself once again. While I understand the fact that she may have gotten her signals crossed while talking to multiple news stations during the same interview, I don't quite understand her odd, loopy behavior-- apparently blamed on "lack of sleep." Riiiiiight. Check out two videos, here and here.

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And, finally......no one sums up headlines better than Best Week Ever. Check out my favorite clips from the last two episodes:

• Jan. 22 clip: Commentary on Paula Abdul, American Idol, Britney's Peanut Butter-carrying boyfriend, and the Golden Globes
• Jan. 29 clips:
  
• Act 2 : Commentary on Rachael Ray, K-Fed, Brad Pitt, and LaToya Jackson from Armed and Famous
• Act 3: Commentary on the new Kleenex commercial, Tara Reid, and safety talk from Beauty and the Geek

Random Bits

Did anyone see Grey's Anatomy last night? I cried like a baby when George's dad died. Of course, my sister laughed at me...I'll remember that the next time she gets but a tear in her eye.

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Back on December 12th, I talked about Pearl Jam's cover of The Who's "Love, Reign O'er Me." At the time, I only heard a snippet of the song in the trailer for the movie, "Reign Over Me." Well since then, Pearl Jam has put the entire track on their MySpace page and it is awesome...so, go listen to it right now...well, not right now...but, after you're done visiting my blog.

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In my last post, I put up the trailer for Zach Braff's upcoming film, "Fast Track." However, Mr. Braff himself recently reported in his hilarious MySpace blog that there has been a name change. So, if you go looking for the movie and don't find it, you can't blame me for not telling you! It is now called "The Ex" because apparently it had nothing to do with a track. Go read his blog though....it's quite funny...BUT (need I remind you twice?) only when you are finished here.

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I've been crazy busy lately (hence the reason for the lack of updates)...I have taken on three part-time jobs. First, I've been doing freelance writing in Education for a little less than a year and I've been doing many assignments for that recently. Also, I started tutoring back in the fall after my summer job was over. Now, I've just picked subbing back up again, twice a week.

In addition to the jobs, I've been taking steps that will hopefully lead to a permanent teaching position...By "steps," I mean this:

1. I sent in my application materials for New Jersey State Certification, after passing a required Praxis test called Elementary Education: Content Knowledge (they don't use this particular test in PA).
   
2. Plus, last Saturday I took two more tests for certification in Middle School English and Middle School Math to widen my certification area. I should have those results in about a month.
   
3. As if that wasn't enough, I am taking one more test in March, called Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge to prove my "Highly-Qualified Status" as a teacher in PA, due to requirements by No Child Left Behind.
   
4. And, no I haven't gone broke....yet.
   

Wow, I'm exhausted just writing this. I officially release you to listen to Pearl Jam and read Zach Braff's words of wisdom. But, I'll be back...

New Year...New Movies

I hope you all had a happy holiday! Over the Christmas holiday, I saw two movies...Happy Feet and Night at the Museum...what can I say?...I need to entertain my inner child once in awhile! Actually, both movies were very good. I absolutely LOVED Happy Feet. The penguins were so cute, the music was great, and the animation was unbelievable.

There are quite a few movies I'm looking forward to seeing in 2007...some are already open and I haven't gotten around to seeing them yet, while others will be released this year:


Little Children - released in NY & LA in October '06 - (not sure when it's opening nationwide)




The Good Shepherd - released 12/22/06




Children of Men - release date 1/5/07




Miss Potter - release date 1/12/07 (nationwide)




The Good German - release date 1/19/07




Catch and Release - release date 1/26/07




Hannibal Rising - release date 2/9/07 (I've read Thomas Harris' Hannibal and have followed the movies surrounding this character...so, yeah, I want to see this!)




Fast Track - release date 3/9/07 nationwide - (limited release 12/29/06)




Reign Over Me - release date 3/9/07




300 - release date 3/9/07




Spider-Man 3 - release date 5/4/07




Shrek the Third - release date 5/18/07




Evan Almighty - release date 6/22/07 - I saw the trailer for this in the theater over the holiday...looks really funny...but there doesn't seem to be Bruce in this one.

My Movie Must-Sees

It’s Movie Season!...well, for me, anyway. I consider Fall & Winter to be a great time for movies. Maybe it’s the colder weather or shorter amount of daylight, but in any event, it’s something I look forward to every year. Don’t get me wrong, I get excited by the Summer blockbusters too, but more and more it seems I’ve been overall disappointed by the Summer releases lately. Hopefully, someday that will change!

So, I’ve been looking around at the upcoming releases and thought I’d share some that are piquing my interest. However, there are way too many that I'm interested in seeing, so I'm just going to post some for now.

The first few are ones that are already in theaters, but I haven't gotten around to seeing yet. I’ve included a trailer for each, as well as a link to it in Quicktime format, according to your preference. So, here goes:

(In order by release date)

The Illusionist - 8/18/06 (Limited) - A turn-of-the-century mystery where nothing is as it seems.

Quicktime: Trailer at Apple.com

Little Miss Sunshine - 8/18/06 - Steve Carell...'nuff said.



Quicktime: Trailer at Apple.com


The Wicker Man - 9/1/06 - Despite the fact that this movie is not getting many rave reviews, it looks kinda freaky, so I'm still interested in seeing it. Hopefully it's better than that other W-Man movie Nicholas Cage was in (The Weather Man)...ugh, awful.



Quicktime: Trailer at Apple.com

Hollywoodland - 9/8/06 - Anytime a scandal in Hollywood can be revealed, I'm up for seeing it.

Quicktime: Trailer at Apple.com

The Last Kiss – 9/15/06 – This one just opened on Friday. However, I really want to see this. I’m a huge fan of Zach Braff’s work, especially Garden State, so it’s making my list of must-sees.

Quicktime: High or Low Resolution at Apple.com

The Science of Sleep - 9/22/06 - This comes from the same writer & director of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Michel Gondry.

Quicktime: Trailer at Apple.com

The Last King of Scotland - 9/27/06 - I don't know...this just seems different and interesting.

Quicktime: Trailer at Apple.com

Driving Lessons - 10/13/06 - This looks quirky and funny. Plus it stars Rupert Grint aka "Ronald Weasley" of the Harry Potter films. Awww, little Ron is growing up.

Quicktime: Trailer at Apple.com


The Grudge 2 - 10/13/06 - Well, the first Grudge scared the bleep outta me, so I gotta see this one. Sarah Michelle Gellar is back, as well as Newcomer-to-The-Grudge, Amber Tamblyn of The Ring and Joan of Arcadia fame.



Quicktime: High or Low Resolution at Apple.com


The Return - 11/10/06 - Rotten Tomatoes says 11/17 release, while Rogue Pictures says 11/10. Regardless...not only do we have Sarah Michelle in the Grudge 2, but in this thriller as well. Bring it on.



Quicktime: Trailer at Apple.com


A Good Year - 11/10/06 - Um, yeah, I love Russell Crowe. This is also directed by Ridley Scott, who directed Crowe in Gladiator (one of my all-time favorite movies).



Quicktime: Trailer at Apple.com


Happy Feet - 11/17/06 - I love penguins! Not only does this movie look cute, but funny, especially since you can't beat singing and dancing penguins. Plus, I hear Robin Williams' voice in there too.



Quicktime: Trailer at Apple.com


Well, that's it for now. I'll add more as I come upon them. Feel free to comment on any of my selections or let me know of something that might look interesting to you.

Party Animals and Poltergeists

So, yesterday, my parents, as well as my two sets of aunts and uncles, and my grandparents had a wedding to go to. The children/grandchildren (meaning my sisters, cousins, and I) were not invited, so Kelli and I offered to take care of the younger ones for the afternoon and night. We had decided to take our cousins Jimmy & Gina to see a movie, but Jimmy ended up ditching us because a friend had asked him to come to a sleepover for the night. Hmph. I guess our plans weren't "cool" enough. So...it was just me, Kel, and Gi. We had talked about seeing either Barnyard: The Original Party Animals or The Ant Bully...but, in the end, we went with Barnyard because the theater where that was playing was closer to where we were going to be. It was a fairly funny movie, but very cute. Not as funny as I had hoped; but, I'm still not disappointed either.

We were three of only about 20 people (if that) in the theater yesterday...so we had lots of space around us as the previews began...until (dunh, dunh, duuunh) this lady and her two kids had to come in and sit one seat away from us on our left. And, what made it worse was, since I had an empty seat on my left, I decided to put my purse and Gina's purse there because the floor was all gross and food-riddled. So, what does this lady do? Yes, she sits on the other side of that "empty" seat and proceeds to put herrrr purse and bag of popcorn in the seat with myyyy stuff! Don't ask me why I didn't get Kelli and Gina up right at that moment and move down to the other end of the row (where no one was sitting). I thought, okay, well, as long as she doesn't bother me, I'll be fine. But, then again, I should have listened to my instincts...I knew that there were about 15 or so other rows this lady could have chosen because, as I said, there was hardly anyone there...and I immediately had this feeling of "this lady will be annoying"...but, alas, I ignored those observations and feelings, trying to give her the benefit of the doubt.

Not long after the movie started, the annoyance was building...she kept bringing out her cell phone and looking at it (which, by the way, had the brightest light ever, next to the sun) and she kept talking to her little daughter who was sitting next to her. From the beginning of the movie, her daughter wanted to sit on her mom's lap, so, she obliged...but she says to her daughter, "Oh, honey, you're ready to head home, aren't you?"...her daughter says, "Yes, Mommy." That didn't change anything though, because they still stayed....lucky me. Every time mother and daughter would talk, mom didn't even whisper--only talked at a normal tone of voice. Finally frustrated as the woman got up and left her purse with her two kids as she went off to the bathroom, I got Kelli and Gina and we moved to the other end of the row, which I should have done in the first place.

After the movie, we picked up some salads and headed to my house to eat them (we weren't all that hungry after having a little popcorn at the theater). We also made a stop at Blockbuster because Gina loves scary movies (as do Kelli and I), so we figured we'd try to find something good and also appropriate for Gina's 10-year-old age. We settled on Poltergeist because it was PG, Gina had never seen it, and Kelli and I hadn't seen it in a long time. Plus, Gina was going to sleep over that night, so she thought it would be fun to watch it in our pajamas.

After eating our salads and watching Gina's own magic show, we made some milkshakes, turned down the lights, and settled in to watch Poltergeist. Needless to say, we all enjoyed it, but it certainly freaked Gina out. After hearing the dog in the movie barking at the strange things happening, Gina got scared because a little while later Murphy (my dog) was barking at something out the front window. As I went to see what he was doing (knowing full well that he barks at neighbors and passersby all the time) Gina ran up behind me, grabbing my arm and saying, "Collllll, I'm scared!!!!" So, I shooed Murphy away from the window and closed the blinds, and we went back to the movie. Gina buried her head in my arm a few times, but she loved it nonetheless.

After the movie, we turned on all the lights, at Gina's request...but, before we could do anything else, the phone rang...it was our neighbor, as I could see on the Caller ID. I was a little worried thinking maybe our TV was too loud or something...it does sound like a movie theater in our den when we watch movies...plus the windows were open because of the nice cool air coming in. But, no, he was calling because he noticed the lights were on in my car when he was outside in his garage. After I thanked him and hung up the phone, this sent Gi into a frenzy because Kelli and I were going to go outside and see why the lights were on (even though no one had turned them on earlier). Gina said, "You're not going out there and leaving me in here!...I'm coming with you!" So, she hung on my shirt as the three of us went outside to check the lights in my car...turns out the back window hatch was slightly ajar somehow...in any event, though, all was well.

We were all still awake when my parents returned home around midnight and we recapped the night for them; they laughed at our silliness though. Surprisingly enough, Gina did not ask to share my bed last night after the Poltergeist experience...she felt brave enough to sleep in our spare bedroom. I made her pancakes for breakfast this morning (what service!) and we talked more about the scary movie. It was a very fun night...one I can't imagine spending any other way.

The Gifts That Keep On Giving

Usually every year at Christmas, I have a good-sized "wishlist" of music and movies that I hope to receive. My parents and other family members ask me to make a list because they always say they'll never remember the names of things I want or that they've never heard of half of the musical artists I put on my list (more on that issue later). It's not that I anticipate receiving my whole list either...I also keep the list for myself, because, many times whatever I don't get from family, I go out and buy for myself with Christmas money. Don't get me wrong, I don't only get movies and music, but ironically, my family seems to have a much easier time picking out clothes for me than some music.

So, here is my thought...music and movies are the perfect gifts for me for two reasons: 1-I love listening to/watching them, and 2-They're the gifts that keep on giving. Think about it, most music and movies you obtain as an adult (or young adult) will be ones you'll continue to go back to for years after. While I don't often reach back to my pre-teen years of listening to NKOTB or MTV Party to Go, I find myself listening to the same artists or watching the same movies that interested me starting in high school.

Anyway, here's the list of CDs and DVDs I was fortunate enough to receive for Christmas from various family members. Some were bought by me after Christmas, noted by ($):

• Batman Begins DVD
• Office Space: Special Edition with Flair DVD
• Seinfeld: Season 5 DVD
• Happy Gilmore: Special Edition DVD
  
• Death Cab For Cutie: Transatlanticism
• The Shins: Chutes Too Narrow
• Neil Young: Prairie Wind
• Audioslave: Live in Cuba DVD
  
• The Who: Tommy and Quadrophenia Live DVD
  
• Beck: Guero (CD w/DVD) - ($)
• The Who: Live at the Royal Albert Hall (CD) - ($)
• Death Cab For Cutie: Plans - ($)
• The Shins: Oh, Inverted World - ($)
• Edwin McCain: Scream & Whisper - ($)
• Edwin McCain: Tinsel & Tap Shoes - Live at The House of Blues DVD - ($)

My List of Must-Sees for the Christmas Season


So you've read Tim Ballisty's Christmas Song Extravaganza (oops, I forgot "Ultimate"). Now let's talk movies. You lika the Christmas movie? The Christmas movie is good, no? Okay...enough of the joking around. I love Christmas movies and specials. In addition to great holiday music, it's one of the best ways to get into the Christmas spirit. I've compiled a list of my favorites. I know some of you may not agree, but, that is why it's my list. Feel free to tell me what you think, though...I'm always up for a good debate.

In Chronological Order (with some of my favorite quotes):

• It's A Wonderful Life (1946) - "Daddy, teacher says every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings."

• Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964) - "A toy is never truly happy until it is loved by a child."

• A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) - "Isn't there anyone out there who can tell me what Christmas is all about?"

• How the Grinch Stole Christmas! - original (1966) - "It came without ribbons! It came without tags! It came without packages, boxes, or bags!"

• Frosty the Snowman (1969) - "Happy birthday! Hey, I said my first words."

• Christmas Eve on Sesame Street (1978) - I don't have a quote for this, but my favorite part is when Bert and Ernie each sell their prized possessions to Mr. Hooper in order to buy a Christmas gift for the other; Ernie sells Rubber Ducky to buy Bert a cigar box for his paper clip collection. Bert sells his paper clip collection to buy a soap dish for, you guessed it, Ernie's Rubber Ducky. In the end, good ole Mr. Hooper gives back their prized possessions, for nothing in return.
  

• A Christmas Story (1983) - "You'll shoot your eye out." and "Fra-gee-lay. That must be Italian."

• The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (1983) - "Hey! Hey!...Unto you a child is born!... And it's Jesus!...So go on...go on!"

• Scrooged (1988) - "The catch...is that you need to shower, little man. You are ripe! Wooo!"

• National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989) - "Can I refill your eggnog for you? Get you something to eat? Drive you out to the middle of nowhere and leave you for dead?"

• Home Alone (1990) - "Bless this highly nutritious microwavable macaroni and cheese dinner and the people who sold it on sale. Amen." and "Is this toothbrush approved by the American Dental Association?"

• The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) - "Light the lamp, not the rat! Light the lamp!" and "It's ok, girls. Life is made up of meetings and partings. That is the way of it. I'm sure that we shall never forget Tiny Tim, or this first parting that there was among us."

• The Santa Clause (1994) - "Charlie, stay away from those things. They're reindeer; you don't know where they've been. They all look like they've got key lime disease."

• Elf (2003) - "SANTA! OH MY GOD! SANTA'S COMING! I KNOW HIM! I KNOW HIM!" and "I just like to smile! Smiling's my favorite." and "You stink. You smell like beef and cheese! You don't smell like Santa." and "I'm singing! I'm in a store and I'm siiiiiingiiiiing!...I'm in a store and I'm siiiiiingiiiiing!"

• The Polar Express (2004) - My favorite part of this movie is when the three children-- known as Hero Boy, Hero Girl, and Lonely Boy--are standing outside the back of the train and they sing When Christmas Comes to Town.

So, there's my list. Now, if I only had time to watch all of these before Christmas...

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire


I saw Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire tonight. I thought it was excellent and, definitely, a bit scarier than the previous films. Had a bit of a slow start, but not boring in the least bit. It is worth seeing in the theater if you are a Harry Potter fan.

I must say, though, I wish I had more time to read the books first, before seeing the movies...I've been too busy reading for my Book Club. My sister, Kelli, has read all of them so far and continues to remind me that I should read them. I find myself asking her questions after I see each movie, because I seem to forget little details from film to film.

Oh well...one day I will get around to reading the books, but for now, I think I'll need to go back and watch all the movies in order again!