I Wanna Rock!

I just saw Rock of Ages, and I don't care what anyone says; I loved it!! 

I can't help myself, I'm a fan of campy musicals! Is it a great movie? No. It's not even a good movie, but something about it just made me happy! I had to be really careful in the movie theater, it was hard for me to not sing along with these awesome songs (they just bring back so many memories of being 1 year old in 1987...)

The cast was full of some pretty big names, which isn't always a good thing for a movie musical. Tom Cruise was completely ridiculous, of course, but because he's just as nonsensical and self-absorbed in real life, he was perfect as a filthy, bewildered rock star. Alec Baldwin just seemed to be playing the guy Jack Donaghy must be in his nightmares, and there was no way I could take him seriously as the owner of a rock & roll club. Russell Brand just makes me laugh, not because he's necessarily that funny, but just because he is just such a cartoon caricature of a human being. Juliane Hough did a good enough job (well, the autotuners didn't have to work too hard at least). I'm pretty sure Catherine Zeta-Jones was being played by a robot, she just seemed so stiff...c'mon CZJ, you're a Tony winner now, loosen up a bit. Just to prove that big names aren't everything, I would have to say the best part was Diego Boneta's Drew. 

I have such a soft spot for guys who are easy on the eyes as well as the ears/guys with guitars (!!!) He's just so yummy!

It's Time To Get Things Started!!

I just got back from seeing The Muppets...and hopefully the Muppets are back to stay for a while. It has been 12 years since the last Muppet movie hit theaters (and let's face it: Muppets from Space really wasn't that great). I guess since I'm so familiar with the Muppets, that I forget how much of a generational thing they really are. My 57 year old dad can't distinguish between the Muppet Show Muppets and the Sesame Street Muppets. My 9 year old goddaughter has marginal a knowledge of Kermit the Frog. Other than that their collective knowledge of Jim Henson's creations/characters is extremely limited.

But the new movie just made me so happy!! It had every thing you expect from a Muppet movie: random celebrity cameos...check! (Mickey Rooney, Whoopi, Neil Patrick Harris, Jim Parsons, John Krasinski, Selena Gomez & that kid from Modern Family...and so many more that I'm blanking on right now), the signature self-mocking script...check! The fact that the characters know and acknowledge the fact that they're in a movie...check! Every Muppet was in attendance and Kermy sang Rainbow Connection!!

Amy Adams and Jason Segel were great...adding just the right amount of cheesiness to the mix!!

I'll bet even Statler and Waldorf would have a hard time heckling this movie! It was pretty Muppet-tastic!

**SPOILER ALERT**

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My attempted (and extremely subjective) review of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt 1 if you haven't see it yet, and are sensitive to spoilers...you have been more than fairly warned NOT to read on...

It was good. Really good. Almost worth the three hour wait in line that seemed to get about 10 degrees colder once they let the 12:01 folks into the theater leaving us 12:05-ers to freeze our fannies off for an extra four minutes.
Once I got in, finding a place to sit was a challenge...but there was an empty seat in the middle of a row, it was a really good seat, too. But I ended up between two groups of people who hadn't read the book, and were very vocal about how confused they were. Several times I just wanted to shout "let's find out together"...but I kind of realized that there is a 'Catch 22' that comes with making a Harry Potter film...you're either going to confuse the people who haven't read the books or piss off the people who have. During the first half hour, I think I counted 7 things that got left out. Semi-important stuff. Like the 'expelliarmus' thing, Krum at the wedding...other stuff that was significant but I forgot because it was past midnight and I was tired. But they did a really good job with everything. Plus, there was hardly any Michael Gambon, which was great...because even though he's been in four (now five) of the movies, he's still the 'new Dumbledore', and I think Richard Harris was the best...but without the use of a resurrection stone, he won't be re-joining the cast.
Yeah...there was loads of depressing camping, but I knew what I was getting into because I read the book! Oh and RON!! I love Ron! Ron has always been one of my favorites...even though he got his wizard-shorts in a twist and split, he still managed to redeem himself. Even though he's a main character, I think Ron is underestimated or used as comic relief--to the people who say that, I ask them "who stabbed the locket?"

It ended in the perfect spot-not too abruptly no awkward cliffhangers...