And the award for best marketing plan goes to...

I-- along with a good portion of the continental United States-- have been obsessed with Glee since FOX aired the pilot to tease the upcoming September premier (which has now been pushed up one week to September 9th). Apparently those lucky enough to attend Comic Con and make it to the Glee panel were treated to a preview of the second episode, but cyberspace has lucked out with this clip of Amber Riley working "Bust your windows" by Jazmine Sullivan.

It's a testament to the shows popularity (before actually being on the air) that there has even been a term coined for those fans of the show, a la "twi-hards" and "chucksters". The new term for those who lie in wait for episodes and new tidbits to be released have been dubbed: "gleeks".

Enjoy.

Statues in the dark...

As previous posts can attest I'm feeling a little bit older of late, but I'm not quite at the age where I've managed to purchase my own home. I do, however have a penchant for cruising the decorating sites and hoarding ideas for later when I do own my own home.

So I was reading through ApartmentTherapy.com today and I came across a regular post that they do which centres around tours of people's homes. This picture is from a woman's home in South Africa, which the article calls a "shrine."

I have to say-- ignoring the fact that I'm not particularly religious-- I would not want to stumble into this dining room in the dark. You could easily scare yourself silly with a life-sized figure of Christ nailed to your wall! What's more, I imagine that smashing a figure of Christ because you think it's an unusually nimble cat burglar in the dark likely brings about more bad luck than, say, breaking a mirror?

Just a thought. *shiver*

Apparently this is news...

I have reached the age where I'm no longer able to understand the gibberish that spews from my younger compatriots' mouths about their favourite stars.

I don't understand why anyone would want to be a part of a 'Robsten' (as it sounds suspiciously like a dirty middle-aged baseball player). I'm entirely unconvinced of the allure of the two-toned singing nasal cavity that is Miley Cyrus. And I cannot wrap my brain around the phenomenon that is the Jonas Brothers. These boys singing on stage at the Grammy's with Stevie Wonder was almost physically painful.

So it is with supreme confusion that the following news fell across my desk: the second of the Jonas brothers has apparently decided to split with longtime girlfriend Camilla Bell (you know her and her eyebrows, I promise you). Which for me begged the question, what took them so long to figure out that they're siblings?

"You wanna join me?"

Cruising the net earlier today I discovered a preview for the rest of True Blood's second season and I must say...I have tingles! Check out the clip below for more but it looks like it's going to be a good one:

Got you all fired up with your Tabitha and Napoleon complex!

So, what was wrong with the show last night!? Cat looked creepy in that shiny garbage bag, it was worse than the crap outfit she wore last week. Ellen looked crazy. I kept thinking she couldn't move her face properly because of botox. My dad thinks they just didn't do her make up very well. Mary looked subdued, but she needs to shut up. Mia is Mia and I love her more and more.

Group Routine
Travis is my god. Yeah, he's hot. The camera work for the routine was the most pathetic ever and I couldn't even concentrate to watch the dancing. It really made it difficult to watch. I didn't notice Brandon at all.

And Siobhan says: I think I might have liked this dance if I could actually see it. Whoever was working the steady-cam for Ade's flips needs to be reminded that they're not Scorsese and it's not about the shot but the dancing. Unless it's a crappy shot in which case it's ALL about the shot.

Evette (or Janvan if you prefer)
I wasn't too sure of this partnership. Evan is cute. Janette is sexy. Sometimes it just ends up awkward. It's like Travis and Martha, it was often awkward. The Sonya jazz had some nice moments and Janette looked super fierce. Once again the song didn't seem very Sonya-esque, I'm surprised you didn't mention this. And again it was another remix. They really have been picking on Evan and it doesn't seem valid most of the time. I wasn't surprised Mia said that Janette was her favourite of this season... she is a fantastic dancer. The rumba did seem awkward, on both parts. There was a move when she went down his side with a spin, which I remember Chelsie doing--and Chelsie did it so much better. Plus Janette's solo was weak. Why didn't she do any of her Salsa dancing... she needed an up tempo song to really make her remember what she did. All I remember is that I was bored.

And Siobhan says: Evette sounds cutesier...which I think is appropriate in view of the diminutive stature of the couple. Seriously, how do they manage to stand beside Cat without laughing hysterically. I think that if they stuck together there would be more trust. I think it might partially stem from the fact that she doesn't do contemporary so she doesn't necessarily know how it's supposed to feel but with the Latin dances she knows exactly how her partner should feel in relation to her, which may cause doubt. Problematic. I didn't think they made a very good couple. Bottom two for sure.

Branine
So, this partnership is the bane of my existence. I hate Brandon. I hate Brandon. I hate when he smiles. I hate when he tries to be sexy (like in his awkward-to-watch-because-he-treats-it-like-porn solo). The Waltz really sucked. It was awful. I was glad they were called out on it. I was more focused on whether Brandon used the word ponder properly in the video clip. I thought you had to ponder a question, or something specific. Can you really ponder squirrels

And Siobhan says: I think you can technically ponder squirrels, it's just not used? Also, this partnership is the bane of everyone's existence; especially the dancers. Have you ever seen two people dance so completely separated? The waltz was terrible (that dress was not flattering, and I really wanted it to be because they really haven't figured out how to dress Jeanine, and that sucks). I really liked the Lorianne routine but as you mentioned the song choice could have been better.

Melade
Did Ade seem slightly annoyed to get Melissa again? Is that why he seemed awkward and clumsy during the cha cha? Gotta love Melanie Lapatin! Ade's solo was much better than last week and I appreciated that Melissa tried something a little different. It seems like her age is making it more difficult for younger viewers to relate to her. Now, for the second dance I didn't pay any attention to the intro video because I think Tyce is a cancer on the program. I realized it had to have been about cancer because Melissa was wearing the head scarf. It seemed clunky and awkward to start and then all of a sudden it was just WOW and I wanted to cry. I wasn't surprised with the judges reactions. It seems like everyone has been touched by cancer. I thought Mia's crying was beautiful, and it made me have a new appreciation for the routine she did with Lacy and Neil.

And Siobhan says: I'm not going to lie: I cried. But not because of the routine, only because everyone else was crying. Honestly, they couldn't have driven that point home any harder. Shot of Melissa crying, cut to Tyce tearing up, cut to Nigel unable to speak, cut to Melissa again because Ade's not crying. Cut to Ellen, who still looks stunned, yet touched. Cut to Mary who's crying (big surprise). Cut back to Tyce, who looks more upset. Cut to Mia. Cut to Tyce crying. Cut to Mia. Cut to Melissa. Cut to tears....cut to... Cat. Standing in the middle of it all; the ice queen. I have new found respect.

Kayson (I'd call it Jayla, but there was a girl on ANTM named Jayla... and she was a bitch)
So how lucky am I to get my two favourites together?! I never got Travis and Natalie. But they got stuck with Tyce and Shane Sparks... two of the most underwhelming choreographers this season! I think my problem with Tyce is that his Broadway routines have featured really boring songs that just fail to catch my attention. This number worked better and I would say that it is the best he has done all season but it's still a far cry from what he's done in the past. The hip hop was definitely the best Shane Sparks has done all season, but I don't know if I'd say the best ever. But there were some pretty amazing parts to it. I definitely loved the beginning and the end.

And Siobhan says: I was super excited for you when I saw these two together. Thing is, I think it actually turned out to be a pretty solid partnership. Honestly, I don't think that they'll be in the bottom this week. I am, however, so over Kayla that it hurts me physically. They need to stop talking about her like she's already won. That said, if she and Brandon end up in the final two...you know which girl I will switch my allegiance to.

Bottom two girls: Melissa and Janette.
Bottom two guys: Evan and Ade. (or whatever he said)? I was really impressed with the new choreographer and how she dealt with Jeanine wanting to cry. But I think the song really ruined the routine and all the hardcore bullshit she was talking about during the video clip. I haven't re-watched it with a different song because A) Jordin Sparks is awful. B) The song (called "Battlefield") just makes me think of "Love is Battlefield". C) Brandon is awful.

Going home: Evan and Melissa!

So Siob and I agreed on the bottom two. And we were so wrong. I only had one right! I really wanted to pick Janette to go home after her lousy night, but just didn't have the balls to pick the Natalie over Allison Top 8 elimination! I shall miss Jason and his hotness!

Step 1: admitting you have a problem

With a nearly one-hour commute to work (small by GTA standards but there you go) I listen to the radio on my way to work every morning. For the last week or so the discussions on the morning show I tune in to seem to all revolve around whether or not the female host qualifies as a geek. Now I would have to say I likely have a broader perspective on what it might mean to be a geek but she seems to be absolutely HORRIFIED by the idea that she could be considered geeky.

I'm not naive enough to think that being a geek has become so chic that it's cool. But how many high school comedies are there in which the "cool kids" learn to accept the idiosyncrasies of the strange, friendless germophobe (/ bird-lover / heavily perspiring) awkward kid in their class? It's clearly a popular theme, and not just because a good percentage of those making the films were likely pigeon-holed into this category but because people like to root for the underdog. So, if the hero of most high school comedies is the unappreciated smart kid, what's with this need to be anything but geeky?

Clearly I've never really understood it but since it seems to be such an issue they DO say that the first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem. And so:

I would really like my next vacation to be a trip to comic-con because I think it would be fun to go once and see what all the fuss is about. To that end I will share with you the following article on how to pic your perfect costume (by Robot Chicken, Family Guy and Austin Powers' Seth Green) should you be lucky enough to attend.

"A wear-it-if-you-dare guide to Comic-Con costumes" (EW.com)

!SALE! 2 for 1 high-tech catsuits!

And in news that once again proves the first thing to go out with the economy was any attempt to mask the derivative nature of popular films these days please observe exhibit A.

Exhibit A: Rachel Nichols as Shana "Scarlett"
O'Hara on the left with ScarJo on the right as
Iron Man 2 villain Natasha Romanoff (a.k.a.
Black Widow).

It's nice to see Hollywood trying to cut back on wardrobe costs...every little bit counts.

SYTYCD... without a doubt!

Merci to Siob for allowing me access to her mighty blog!

Adissa
I am really going to miss these two performing together. Melissa is rock solid. She is amazing. Ade is also great, but I think he is often outclassed by how beautifully Melissa moves. He's so insanely powerful, but sometimes I think it gets lost in translation. I liked their disco, but after how quick Doriana had Branette do their disco this one seemed a little less exciting. I think Melissa looked incredible in her outfit though! In terms of the waltz I thought Melissa looked fantastic and that I was really glad they used a MJB song, even though the waltz would be more suited to a different kind of voice. I often wonder why Ron Montez choreographs the waltz when Jean Marc choreographs a lot of other ballroom routines. I love Jean Marc, and I love seeing France. Can they become my surrogate grandparents? Would he be offended? I wasn't terribly surprised that they were in the bottom three, but I knew that they wouldn't be going home. Melissa looked amazing in her solo. But do we think a ballerina can win the competition? It's like a swing dancer winning. I think a lot more screaming girls can relate to a pretty ballerina than a gangly swing dancer like Benji.


Kaylono
So, their first routine was the best of the season. Without a doubt. It was classic Mia. But I'm waiting for Mia to do something that just makes me want to rewatch the dance over and over and over again. Their emotions were amazing during the dance and I quite loved watching it. I do love Kayla, but I'm not crazy about Kupono. Their second dance was not good. The choreography was weak. I think it's important for the choreographer to give the dancers insight into the dance and not expect them to come up with the emotions on their own. They definitely needed to express something emotionally and didn't, but the judges were a bit too harsh. I really do not like this new Broadway choreographer. I'm sure she's an amazing dancer. But she definitely isn't working on this show. I don't miss Tyce, I think he's getting a little stale. Maybe time to move on and try someone else. Give someone new a try! I was really glad they were not in the bottom... but if they had only done the second dance they sure would have been!


Jaitlin
Do I really think Caitlin should have gone home? No. Did she deserve to go home? Yes. Should she have tried harder on the show. Without a doubt. She and Jason were both disappointing for the first 5 weeks of the show. They have way too much talent to be riding the middle of the pack. Jason, please let me notice something other than your hot body. The foxtrot was beautiful and Caitlin looked gorgeous, but it wasn't amazing. Mandy Moore's jazz routine deserved better. Caitlin looked like she was ready to go home, like she had had enough of Nigel being overly harsh on her. I was disappointed, but I really need the next few weeks to have AMAZING dancing.

Phinine
You know I hated Phillip. I'm so glad he's gone. He's amazing at what he does and should be applauded for it. But he is not a technical dancer and shouldn't become one. He should use what he does and do the best he can. Maybe I'll like Jeanine now that he's gone. She seems like a bigger girl. Does she have wider hips? Or is she just built stronger? I don't like the outfits she wears to do her solos... how there are patterns cut out and exposing her midsection. The Russian folk dance could have been killer. The choreography should have been different but I don't think they performed it like they enjoyed it. I'm sure they did it well, but there was nothing to make the routine exciting. Nigel definitely should not have badmouthed the choreographers, and it should have been edited out of the footage. The jive wasn't any better, Phillip looked AWFUl with that open shirt/awkwardly placed tie. He looked like he was a 10 year old boy who realized he's extremely gay and wants to perform a Broadway medley for his grandma. Thank god Melanie is back. She adds the sex.

Evandi
The hiphop was recycled NapTab. It wasn't good. They both looked awful. The idea of her being pregnant didn't really come across in the dancing... probably a fault of the choreography. I liked the song. It just reminded me too much of the Bleeding Love routine, which I didn't want. I actually thought they did a better job with the samba than with the hiphop. I was glad Pascha and Anya choreographed. I'd love to see them perform it! I'm glad that they were safe, but they really need to step it up next week with new partners.

Brandette
I hate him.

Results show: I don't like that they won't be showcasing other talent anymore. I don't want to watch audition footage that will be reshown during the fall season. Kelly Rowland sucked. Maybe one of the worst television performances ever. After watching the solos I would have kicked off Jeanine and Phillip. Just glad that he's gone.

Next week:
I want to see:
Jeanine and Brandon.
Jason and Melissa.
Randi and Kupono.
Evan and Jeanette.
Kayla and Ade.

C'mon ABC: you can do better than this...

Yes I realize that by blogging this I'm essentially advertising for what I believe to be a bad show. I'm actually not tagging it for that exact reason. This is the trailer for one of fall's "new breakout shows" from the producer of Grey's Anatomy comes...GREY'S IN SPACE!

It looks to be just as ridiculous but features some familiar faces who (I'm ashamed to admit) will have me watching the pilot. Christina Cox (star of Canadian show Blood Ties and guest star on Bones, House MD and Numb3rs), as well as Ron Livingston and the ever charming Laura Harris (tragically combusted starlet Daisy Adaire of Dead Like Me) have bought this show one chance to impress me.

Thoughts?

Vertical living...

Saw this short post on ApartmentTherapy.com and thought it was intriguing. Apparently the Primo brothers of Brazil are living in a vertical apartment as part of a 33 day installation. The picture on the site in insane (and I've included a small capture here though it was pinched from the AT site, who in turn pinched it from somewhere else). Have a look for yourself...

...I'm trying really hard not to make a joke about heights....

The web is filled with reproductions of the picture above with short captions but it was a little harder to find articles: http://www.newstin.com/rel/us/en-010-016076847 this has links to various write ups on the installation.

Poster Review: I love you Phillip Morris

I saw this poster and the only thing I could think of was: how on earth it Ewan McGregor going to pretend to be in love with that?!

Seriously, I really am intrigued by the premise of this film but that poster makes me think that his skin is going to melt. The black lettering on a yellow background also doesn't help me get into a non radioactivity and bombs mental space...

For a comedy which according to reports doesn't shy away from representing homosexuality onscreen, and has managed to drum up some controversy based upon the little exposure it has enjoyed thus far I'm disappointed by its marketing. Especially in view of the uphill battle it has to fight for release in the United States. At present it is expected to go straight to DVD.

Sadness.

Too many actors in one film? Add a holiday!

According to BuzzSugar.com the already celeb packed cast of Gary Marshall's new rom-com Valentine's Day is getting two additional members. With stars like Julia Roberts, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Alba, Jessica Biel, Jennifer Garner, Shirley MacLaine, Bradley Cooper and Ashton Kutcher already on the roster, Marshall has now added "McDoctors" Dempsey and Dane to the lineup.

Checking out the film's basic premise (a collection of famous people play characters who are all somehow interconnected in which all the action takes place around Valentine's Day) and I have to say, it sounds like another attempt to re-create the intrigue of Love Actually. Marshall's last film, He's Just Not That Into You, tried to remodel the "famous ensemble cast" idea based on the beloved instructional booklet for empowered women of the same name. The result is what I like to call oatmeal...and plain oatmeal to boot. It's pleasant yes, but in the end it's not all that satisfying. It sort of fills you up without actually giving you the opportunity to thoroughly enjoy it. It's just sort of there.

I suppose we will see how it fares when the film comes out and believe me, you'll know when it's almost time to feel neutral about the release of this film. There will be a crap-load of trailers floating around that all end in a comprehensive list of the famous actors that appear in the film.

And it will look crowded.

When it rains...

Stumbled upon this video of the London premiere of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince today and was entertained by the cast's reaction to the rain. As it turns out it has rained at the premiere of every single one of the Harry Potter movies.

Who knew.



Please click the link above; I couldn't get the video to embed.

An unfortunate thing about going green...

...when you're conserving energy by not turning on as many lights in your home, things have a tendency to creep up on you.

I'm just going to put it out there: I don't like it when bugs startle me. Once I know they're there I can dispatch them accordingly. But when they sneak up on me...I squeal like a little girl.

And then my housemate has to save me.

Public Opinion of Public Enemies

I mentioned in an earlier post that I really enjoyed Public Enemies but I have found (since raving about it) that the vast majority of people who have seen it have not been impressed. It makes me a little sad. Not because they disagree with my opinion (I'm perfectly comfortable with the idea that others don't share my views) but I find it very disappointing when I get really excited about a movie and share it with others, only to be shot down when they return from the film.

For instance, I was raving about Public Enemies at work last week so this weekend one of my co-workers went to see it. The look on his face as he approached my desk today...no good.

I think the problem with raving about a movie is that you set others' expectations too high, causing them not to enjoy the film that you loved. Time and time again I get really excited about film and I leave the theatre thinking "meh." Now, I would like to say that I will be able to temper my reactions for the benefit of my co-workers, friends and family (plus anyone who's silly enough to read this self-serving blog). But I know that I won't. So maybe we'll just leave it at "take my positive reviews and opinions with a grain of salt."

Here's the thing about this movie in particular: while I understand that people might not care for the film, I have found their reasons for disliking the movie in many cases to be trivial and silly. For instance I heard one reviewer on the radio last week citing the way they shot the film (in this case in high definition and colour rather than, one would infer, black and white) made it inauthentic.

Inauthentic. Really?

The film takes place over the last year of Dillinger's life from 1933-34. If we remember our film history the first "talkie" (film with sound) wasn't released until 1927 and "talkies" were only just becoming popular in the 30's. If this reviewer is looking for something more authentic then he's really looking for a black and white film with crackling sound and old world movie stars. To say nothing of a script which minimizes the violence of the main characters and glosses over most of the relationships in favour of the plot line; since the medium at this point was still in its early evolutionary stages.

While we're at it can I just mention, that in real life there are no edits? Hope you like a 365 day film; Genius. Sorry that was a little catty. Okay, that was a lot catty.

Please don't misunderstand my intentions in making the above point (i.e. I love black and white films and there's quite a lot to be learned from them). I simply believe that you can come at familiar subject matter without having to always employ the same conventions of filmmaking (black and white film for the past, fuzzed out edges during dream sequences, smooth and ethereal images during a daydream etc.).

I think that in this case (as with Star Trek, though as I've mentioned I wasn't a fan of the technique) the filmmaker has made a deliberate choice with regards to the style of the film. The idea was to make us understand just how charismatic this man must have been and just how dangerous he and his associates were. By making the images and sound as clear as possible and recreating in detail the various areas of their world, Mann (Michael, Director) is able to suck the audience into the 30's and allowing us to experience the whirlwind journey with the characters.

Certainly it is not a perfect film but I have to say there were quite a few more great moments than bad ones (for me anyway). If you're expecting the untouchables, don't be. But the movie is a solid entry in the "g-man" movie hall of fame.

-Sio

Need to break this up...

Okay so even I'm a little sick of the SYTYCD love in that's going on right now. So I'm going to try to break it up with a little summer movie wishlist/rundown of what I've seen and loved and what I can't wait to enjoy.


(500) DAYS OF SUMMERS
I have spoken about this film before but am still SUPER excited about it as it looks adorable and quirky (if a little predictable).

THE BROTHERS BLOOM
I'm a huge fan of Rachel Weisz and have heard tales of the card trick scene from reviews I've read and friends I know (also obsessed). I can put up with Adrian Brody if it means that there is a heist and some explosions. Have also been told by friends that this is a fun and suitibly fast-ish paced movie. Light, happy...perfect for summer.

BRÜNO
I'm intrigued by this. I wouldn't necessarily say I'm excited but I have read a few reviews by critics who have seen the twenty minute preview and I have to say I'm interested to see what kinds of reactions he gets from middle-America. There are times when he's clearly pushing the envelope just for the sake of it but I'm wondering if the actual questions he raises as a result balance out the over-the-top antics. Reserving judgement until I've seen it.

HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE
I'm so excited about this movie it's pathetic. I know that my excitement outweighs the movie itself but here's the thing: I can always count on the Harry Potter movies to be of a certain quality. A quality that is severely lacking in the modern cinematic landscape and which I sorely miss. The people who work on these movies are the best in the business and frankly, it shows. This one's out on the 15th of July folks. Get ready.

THE HURT LOCKER
One of the best reviewed films in recent memory this film centres on a team of bomb squad soldiers in Iraq. Led by Jeremy Renner and directed by Katheryn Bigelow, promises to be an adrenaline ride and frankly...I'm all over it. Plus Renner was on the recently cancelled The Unusuals and was one of the stronger aspects of the show.

THE PROPOSAL
You know those trailers where all the good jokes are included and when you get to the theatre you're already prepared for the best parts (thereby making them less funny than anticipated)? This is not that movie. Cleverly the trailers for this film have been edited in such a way that even the jokes that are included are edited for the "small laugh" in favour of the "big laugh" occurring in the theatre. This movie is a good time and a solid piece of rom-com acting from the queen of the rom-com and her little errand boy.

PUBLIC ENEMIES
Saw this yesterday and can't stop thinking about it. It's the kind of movie that I was interested by but not super excited about and I left the theatre genuinely exited about the craft that is making films (keep in mind that I went to film school). Johnny Depp is so charismatic in this role that it makes me want to read up on and see old film clips of John Dillinger. Marion Cottillard is charming and the rest of the cast is filled out by supreme talents. Every time you turn around there is a walk-on part being played by someone you've seen carry films of their own. The movie is that good. They have A-listers making themselves available for two or three lines of dialogue.

Fantastic.

SURROGATES
It comes out on September 25th and doesn't really qualify for the summer movie catalogue but that's okay, because the trailer doesn't make me want to see this movie. What it does very effectively is a) remind me that Bruce Willis is old and b) inform me that there is a interesting Graphic Novel out there for me to read. And so I shall....

More on that later.

Matt's top ten SYTYCD routines of all time!

My top ten SYTYCD routines of all time! I have included the YouTube links so that you can relive the magic (Love, Sex & Magic when it comes to Travis).

1. Katee & Twtich, Season 4, Contemporary
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pKIetmaLWs)

2. Chelsie & Mark, Season 4, Hip Hop
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3_J2GCY-9I)

3. Heidi & Travis, Season 12, Contemporary (The Bench Routine)
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6O_Cv7YZQg)

4. Sabra & Neil, Season 3, Jazz
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AR2U_oS_UQ0)

5. Chelsie & Joshua, Season 4, Argentine Tango
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uhg8Dq9ynYI)

6. Katee & Joshua, Season 4, Bollywood
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tmhmmPllCA)

7. Travis & Benji, Season 2, Hip Hop
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Au90mjwRZtY&feature=PlayList&p=4AF64549FF93B95F&index=24)

8. Katee & Joshua, Season 4, Samba
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmXgKaAsKeo)

9. Heidi & Ryan, Season 2, Cuban Rumba
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlX9i-b7y-I)

10. Sabra & Dominic, Season 3, Rumba
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdJua-Iwlps)

-Matthew (posted by Siobhan)