Legally Blonde 2: Red, White and Blonde - Movie Review

Greetings,

Sometimes I wonder to myself when it is that a sequel is necessary. It's obvious with some movies, every now and then, due to cliffhanger endings or being part of a book series or whatever. I'm kind of on the fence about this one about which I'll writing today, and I'll get to why in a moment. Maybe I'll figure it out, for sure, as I review Legally Blonde 2: Red, White and Blonde.

In 2001, the movie Legally Blonde became a massive hit, kind of out of nowhere, as I recall, and it turned Reese Witherspoon into a huge star. And rightfully so, because she was just a delight in the film as Elle Woods, a young woman who decided to go to law school because of a boy and ended up excelling. In case you didn't already know that. Well, here's a spoiler if you haven't seen that movie. We find out in the end that Elle's new boyfriend, Emmett, is going to propose to her. We could have all guessed that she'd say yes, and lived happily ever after. But apparently, we needed another movie to follow through with that. A movie that pretty much has almost nothing to do with said nuptials, which may have been a better plot, but what do I know?

Anyway, two years later, we got this sequel, starting with Elle making plans for her wedding, which includes trying to find her dog Bruiser's mother. Yeah, I'm a dog person as well, but come now. This leads her to finding out about a certain makeup brand doing animal testing, which, in turn, leads her to trying to fight it by way of her law firm, and when that doesn't work out, it leads her inevitably to Washington, D.C. so she can use the system to change the laws. And then, came the unicorns and leprechauns, because what happens in this thing is a tad fairy tale-ish. At least, it seems that way to me, because I can be a bit of a cynic, every now and then. Plus, I don't always trust Hollywood. Although, I think many people classify it as "feel-good". Whatever. Moving on.

What happens when she gets to D.C. is going to seem quite familiar to anyone who has seen the first film. It kind of follows the same tropes, as sequels are often wont to do. You know what I mean? She goes to some new place full of powerful people who don't take her seriously. Friends become enemies, enemies become friends, and apparently knowing plenty of fashion and beauty tips are the answer to everything. This means that writing this review is pretty easy as for plot I can basically just say "See First Film". However, despite those similarities, it has enough changes that make it different. I suppose that's the most we can hope for from a lot of sequels. Also, we get the introduction of the "Snap Cup". Which might be the awesome-est movie prop since the DeLorean. Anywho...

Another thing I like about this movie is the cast. We get a lot of old favorites coming back, like Jennifer Coolidge, Alanna Ubach, Jessica Caulfiel and of course, Luke Wilson. No Selma Blair, though. What the deuce? I thought they became best friends. Did those two have a tiff? Anyway, we also get some new faces, including legends like Sally Field and Bob Newhart, great character actors like Bruce McGill and Dane Ivey, and also the wonderful Regina King. Although, now that I think about it, she got her start on 227, which took place in...Washington, D.C., which must mean...Oh, my gosh. OH, MY GOSH! It all makes sense now! But moving on.

I suppose the question with this, as with all sequels, is whether or not it was necessary. To be honest, not exactly. We could have predicted that Elle and Emmett would marry and she would become successful at something. I don't think we needed another movie to tell us that, especially since the former was barely more than a subplot. But is this a bad movie? No, I certainly wouldn't say that. It's enjoyable enough, particularly if you like the feel of the first one. It's nowhere near as good as the first one, of course, as the newness and charm were what really made it become a hit, I think. It obviously doesn't have the newness, and also, a bit less of the charm, but it does have its moments. I say that it's worth at least one watch. And who knows? That one watch may lead to more.


Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer

Top Ten Thanksgiving Episodes

Greetings,

So, as some of you may have noticed, I have been pretty much out of commission where this blog is concerned. It's not really my fault, since I've come down with a serious case of NaNoWriMo...and also, life in general. But today is a day for giving thanks and, I think, giving back to those who love us and support us throughout the year. Since I consider anyone who so much as clicks on this site as someone who supports me, I wanted to give something to all of you. Something fun, I hope. Therefore, today, on this my most favorite of all the holidays, I will be sharing a list of my favorite Thanksgiving themed episodes of various TV shows.

I suppose the only rule for this list is that it they all had to be episodes pulled from a scripted series. So, nothing like The Charlie Brown Thanksgiving or The Lawrence Welk Thanksgiving Special (apologies to my grandfather for omitting that one!). Other than that, everything is a contender. So, off we go.


Honorable Mention: Law & Order: Criminal Intent "The War at Home" - This is merely a mention, because it's not really a Thanksgiving episode in the traditional sense. And while I may be wrong, I believe this is one of the only, if not THE only holiday themed episode from the Law & Order franchise. And they chose Thanksgiving. Yay. Also, dramatic Fran Drescher. Indeed.

#10. Saved By the Bell: The College Years "A Thanksgiving Story" - I know, I know. I made it quite clear in a previous post that I do not understand why this show exists. However, Thanksgiving is a very nostalgic time for me, so my nostalgia goggles are on with this one. There's a plot about everyone wanting to get home for the holiday, especially Kelly who is very close with her family. Will she? Who knows? Who cares? We have celebrity cameos! Or should I say early 90's celebrity cameos, like Marsha Warfield, Brian Austin Green, Jenna Von Oy, Jonathan Brandis (R.I.P) and even Mr. Belding shows up. Oh, and also Marv Albert. But I think this was before...you know...the thing happened. But whatever! Good times of my youth!

#9. Community "Cooperative Escapism in Familial Relations" - Here we have the newest of everything on the list. In this episode, we get to follow two story lines. One covers Jeff deciding to make a visit to his father, mostly through the "persuasion" of Britta, and he ends up getting more family than he thought. Meanwhile, Troy, Abed, Annie and Pierce attend Thanksgiving at Shirley's, but they soon regret that decision, leading to some hilarious attempts to escape...Shawshank style.

#8. Felicity "Thanksgiving" - Did I mention that I often wish my college experience would have been similar to that of Felicity Porter? Well, yeah, I do. Except for that weird fourth season time travel stuff. Mm-hmm. Anyway, through a series of crazy events, Felicity ends up making dinner for a boat load of her new friends, instead of going home. Nothing goes as planned, especially where Noel is concerned, but, in the end, we get a very heartwarming scene showing that, while she's far from her family, she just may have found a new one.

#7. Ally McBeal "Troubled Water" - You know it's gonna be a wild party when you gather the characters of Ally McBeal together. Add Ally's parents to the mix and the ante has been officially upped. Hoping for a nice, joyful Thanksgiving, Ally invites the whole gang over, but when secrets are revealed, things take a turn for the emotional, but also the even more hilarious. Yeah, what a treat we get with the sparring of Lucy Liu and Dyan Cannon. It's mag-nificent!

#6. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air "Talking Turkey" - Ah, yes. The episode where we find out that Will's mother is as disgusted by the behavior of rich kids as the rest of us are. Excellent. So, she makes them all cook Thanksgiving dinner, which worries Carlton, as he has invited his English teacher to the meal. I'm sure everything will work out just fine. Truth.

#5. Friends "The One with the Football" - Friends has always managed to BRING IT hardcore when it comes to their Thanksgiving episodes, so I had a lot to choose from. We have the Rachel's trifle one, the Mocolate one, the Brad Pitt one, which, in hindsight, is even more hilarious. But I decided on this one. Mostly, because of The Geller Cup. I want The Geller Cup. It's been nearly 20 years, and I still want The Geller Cup. Also, I want the That Girl t-shirt that Phoebe is wearing.

#4. The Drew Carey Show "Mimi's Day Parade" - Is anything better than the conflicts of Drew Carey and Mimi Bobeck? The answer is no. Anyway, in this episode, Drew is tasked with organizing (at the last minute) a Thanksgiving Day Parade. Mimi agrees to give Drew some much needed help, if he lets her be the Snow Queen/Grand Marshall of the parade. Again, I'm sure this will all work out great.

#3. Family Ties "No Nukes is Good Nukes" - If you've ever watched so much as one episode of Family Ties, you may have noticed that Steven and Elyse Keaton are former hippies who wish they still were sometimes. And how do hippies want to spend Thanksgiving? Participating in a protest for nuclear disarmament, of course! This was a thing in the 80's, because of reasons. And don't quote me on this, but I think this may have inspired the plot of Superman 4: The Quest for Peace. And we all know how well that worked out. This episode is better though.

#2. ALF "Turkey in the Straw" - This made my list of Top Ten ALF Episodes, so I won't ramble. You can read that list yourself. In short, it's a two-parter where ALF befriends a homeless man, who may or my not have nefarious intentions. But, yet again, we are left with the most heartwarming of stories...that involves a wisecracking alien.

#1. Mama's Family "An Ill Wind" - Two words: Drunk Iola. I shouldn't have to go on, but I will. This also made a previous top ten list, and with good reason. I LOVE this episode. It's so funny and zany and action-packed. No, seriously, there's a tornado and everything. So, this episode is even better than Twister. Which is not difficult. But I love Mama and her family and I love Thanksgiving, so there you go.

And there are my Top Ten Thanksgiving Episodes. Now I must go back to fulfilling my task of writing 50,000 words this month...right after turkey. Everyone have a safe and happy Thanksgiving with your family and friends or whomever. God bless and thank you!


Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer

Top Ten Twilight Zone Episodes

Greetings,

If there is one thing I miss when it comes to television today, it's good writing. Don't get me wrong. Some good writing can still be found, if you look hard, but it's just not as prominent as it once was. I know that, in some cases, when our parents and grandparents tell us how good things were back in the day, it's not totally accurate. But every now and then, they are 100% right. Take for example, one of the greatest shows of all time, The Twilight Zone.

For anyone who doesn't know, and shame on you if you don't, The Twilight Zone was a TV show that ran from 1959 to 1964. It was created by Rod Serling, a brilliant writer who was the master of the twist ending. And if there's anyone reading this who just said, "But I thought that was Shyamalan!", I have one response - YOU! OUT! Anyway, this is one of my favorite shows for just that reason. The writing is amazing, and I have high standards where that's concerned. At least, with other people. So, as this is apparently a scary time of year, I am going to share my Top Ten Episodes of The Twilight Zone. I'll do my best not to give spoilers, but no promises. Besides, I always give a warning. Off we go.


#10. "Night Calls" (Season 5) - Okay, History time, kids! Did you know that there used to be no such thing as Caller ID? I know, right? Well, in this episode, a little old lady starts getting suspicious phone calls, which slowly turn to creepy phone calls, then downright scary. The lesson here is just never answer your phone unless you have Caller ID. Seriously, though, this is one of those episodes that starts one way, but ends up in another. In fact, I found the ending to this downright heartbreaking.

#9. "Nothing in the Dark" (Season 3) - This episode tells the story of another little old lady, holed up in her basement, refusing to open the door for fear that "Mr. Death" (Wow, really?) is waiting for her outside. She is suddenly faced with a choice to make when a man, played by a young Robert Redford, asks to be let in for help as he has been shot. The woman is reluctant to do so, because she is so afraid, but the decision could be the difference between life and death. Hold up, Grandma! Young Robert Redford is asking to be let in and you're hesitant? Oh, wait. How can I phrase that so the youngsters will understand me? Um...okay... Hold up, Grandma! Random guy from One Direction is asking to be let in and you're hesitant? There! I think I covered all my bases.

#8. "The Hitch Hiker" (Season 1) - Because what can happen to you when you get involved in a normal hitchhiking situation isn't terrifying enough. On the other hand, we all sometimes need a lesson on when to accept what's going on in our life. Or, ya know, otherwise.

#7. "The Bard" (Season 4) - Even though The Twilight Zone is a standard for the macabre, every so often they managed to go down a different road, even that of comedy. Such is the case with this episode. It's all about a guy trying to make it as a TV writer and having little success. So, with the help of a little black magic, because that's always a good idea, he inadvertently summons William Shakespeare. No, really. The man decides to turn this into a way to help himself. And it does...or does it? Oh, and "Hi to you, too, young Burt Reynolds"!

#6. "The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street" (Season 1) - Fear is a powerful thing, but sometimes, it only has as much power as we give it. In this episode, because of something unknown happening, a neighborhood full of people begin to get suspicious of each other in order to preserve themselves from a threat that may not even exist. It shows how we have the potential to react in certain situations and how that makes us appear to others.

#5. "Living Doll" (Season 5) - Dolls are creepy. They just are. Except for Barbie. She's usually okay. Anywho, after getting married to a woman with a child to whom he is not exactly extremely nice, Telly Savalas is being tormented by, Tina, the little girl's talking baby doll, which are the worst kind, by the way. "Who loves ya, baby?" indeed. Yes, this is an episode I put in the category of very disturbing, but at least, it's just a doll and not a real, scary kid. That would be awful.

#4. "It's a Good Life" (Season 3) - Oh, joy. An episode about a real, scary kid. Darn you, Rod Serling! Anyway, here we have the story of a young boy named Anthony, and he has a special power - mind reading. And if he doesn't like what you're thinking, you might just be in trouble. This leads everyone in the town to be very nervous around him, giving him whatever he wants, and trying desperately not to upset him. Ya know, I don't like spoiled kids, but this is a bit much.

#3. "4 O'Clock" (Season 3) - One of the amazing things that this show did was talk about themes that were not only universal but timeless. It makes us think of things that still resonate today. In this episode, there is a man who is spreading gossip about his neighbors, whether it's true or not. He calls them, sends anonymous letters and even phones their employers to make his accusations. In one instance, he even says "Never mind how I know. I just know, that's all". Sound a tad familiar? You know, there's this internet meme floating around that says "The accusation is the proof". I guess it's meant to mock people who think evidence is not a necessity, and there are a lot of them these days. However, that statement is one that I find quite terrifying. Spoilers! This guy got what was coming to him and, perhaps, that should be a lesson to others.

#2. "Nick of Time" (Season 2) - This list would not be complete without one of the Shatner episodes. Most people would probably have chosen the one where he was on the plane as it spotlights his tendency to overact. But I love me some subtly and that's what we get here. At least, as much as we can get given the great man involved. Anyway, this episode is about a couple who very innocently start asking questions to a little fortune telling machine...that looks like Satan. What could possibly go wrong? As he asks more questions, the man starts to trust the machine more and more, to the point where he looks to be near obsessed. I suppose it shows what happens when we trust things we should not.

#1. "Time Enough At Last" (Season 1) - No doubt, this one is probably on the "Best Of" list for a lot of fans. And obviously, it tops mine. It's about a guy who loves to read. My dream man, and not just because he's played by Burgess Meredith. All this poor man wants is time to read, and one day he gets it. But is this thing he longed for really a gift or not? Look, even if you haven't seen this episode, you probably know the answer to that. It's one of the show's most classic twists, but it's still definitely worth the watch. Not to mention the fact that it inspired one of the funniest end credit scenes on The Drew Carey Show. Because Drew Carey and his writers understood comedy and parody. I miss those guys. But I digress. This is the best episode in my heart.

And there you have my favorites from The Twilight Zone. They just don't make shows like this anymore. Not that they haven't tried. Yes, there were two revivals of this show over the decades, quality ranging, in my opinion, from "Meh" to "NOOOO!!!" Rumor has it they might go for a third try at it. Yeah, I'm going vote against that one, if I have a vote. Which I don't. There is also talk of another movie based on it. I guess I'm a little more okay with that, as long as we promise to respect safely regulations on set. Ya know? That thing they didn't do with the first film. Bottom line, in this case, the original is always the best. So, get the DVDs or head on over to Netflix or just keep your eyes peeled for reruns on TV. Any way you choose, this is a show that must be watched.


Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer

Straight From the Theater Review - Jem and the Holograms

Greetings,

Reviewing something like this is really hard for me. I have a history with the source material, that of the 1980's cartoon, Jem and the Holograms. In fact, I would go so far as to say that I have an emotional attachment to it. When I was a kid, this was one of the things that made me love music. Yes, I know those songs could be very much drenched in 80's cheese, but that was okay. They were still good. The whole show just really was a great escape for my otherwise unhappy childhood, and I am quite grateful for that.

So, I am tasked, in this case, with discussing this film on its merits without getting too distracted by what they changed from the cartoon. Which was a lot. A LOT! And I went in knowing that was going to happen. That first trailer did set us up for the story. It didn't reveal everything, but I think we all knew what to expect. Thus, I will give my account. And I will have to make some comparisons to the show. It's inevitable.

Now be warned. I will be talking more in depth than I normally do, which means I may be giving a few spoilers. As I never want to ruin a movie for anyone, do not read my review if you intend to see this. Go see it, then come back and decide if you agree. However, if you want my basic opinion, scroll down for my final thoughts in the last paragraph. The point is, I need to talk about this, being specific about what I liked, what I didn't and what they changed. And yes, I did like quite a few things. Okay, let's discuss Jem and the Holograms. (Again, SPOILER ALERT!)

We begin with seeing videos of a bunch of people on You Tube. Get used to that. Anyway, the framing device is Jerrica Benton, our heroine, making a video to tell us the story of what will happen in this movie. All of which happens in the span of about a month. Yeah. Jerrica is played by Aubrey Peeples, who I absolutely love and who I think is so adorable. She is a teenager living under the roof of her Aunt Bailey, played by the legendary Molly Ringwald, along with her sister, Kimber, played by Stephanie Scott, and Bailey's two foster daughters, Aja and Shana, played by Hayley Kiyoko and Aurora Perrineau, respectively. Of course, they all just refer to each other as sisters, as you do.

Okay, I'm gonna stop and talk about the "Holograms" for a moment, and what was done with them. I'll get to Aubrey later, individually. First off, these young actresses are great. They had fantastic chemistry with each other, which is very important. As far as matching up with the cartoon, they did give them some similar attributes. Shana does fashion, Aja is a tough girl with a juvie record, which is kind of like the tomboy that I remember...I guess. And then, there's Kimber. Poor, sweet Kimber. She does not get as much love as she should have, from a character standpoint, I mean. They say in passing that she wrote a song, which was her thing on the show, but not so much here. Bottom line, they should have used her more. But, yes, big thumbs up to these young ladies.

So, the girls all sing together, even to the point where Bailey uses it to put a stop to arguments, and they want to make a video. Enter them dressing up in 80's fashion, crazy hair colors included. But Jerrica is painfully shy and keeps backing out. Eventually, she films herself with her guitar and a song, dressed up as "Jem", her dad's nickname for her. Kimber finds it and uploads it where it goes viral, attracting the attention of Starlight Enterprises, which is run by Erica Raymond. Yeah, Eric Raymond is a woman now. We all knew this from the trailer, and some of us were either upset or confused about that choice. Still, as much I will always hear the voice of Charlie Adler in my head when I think of Eric Raymond, Juliette Lewis was pretty awesome as a female counterpart. I mean, of course, she was. But there was no need for this. Especially in a movie that is supposed to be based on a cartoon that had about a 20 to 1 ratio of female to male characters.

Anyway, Jerrica hesitantly takes up Erica on her offer to come to Starlight and get a full on career started, mostly because she can bring her sisters and get some money to help save Bailey's house and business. When the girls get to L.A., they immediately get pushed into creating their image, or re-creating it. Here's where we get some glam and fashion and more crazy hair. Good times. Oh, and we also get Rio, played by Ryan Guzman. He wasn't bad at all, and frankly, I think this Rio is less whiny than cartoon Rio. Probably because Jerrica keeps fewer secrets from him. More on that later. However, there is something about Rio's personal life that will make old school fans say "WHAAAAATTT?!?!?" Again, major spoiler. Rio is Erica's son. Yeah, if you watched the show, this might make you feel weird. Also, no purple hair for him. What the deuce was up with that decision? Moving on.

So, Jerrica, now officially known as Jem, must do three pop-up shows in a month in order to get paid, and here's where I can give the film some credit. First, the music is rather good. Now, of course, I wish they would have used my idea of updating old songs from the show, but whatever. Second, the concert scenes are shot extremely well. I expected that, as the director, Jon Chu, is very skilled and experienced at shooting musical performance scenes for his films. I thoroughly enjoyed those scenes. Props for that.

All the while that the music stuff is going on, we have a subplot involving Synergy...ish. Okay, as old school fans will know, Synergy is the computer built by Jerrica's and Kimber's dad, which makes holograms, transforming Jerrrica into Jem. Here, she is a little robot person that kind of looks like...Remember that movie, Wall_E? She looks kinda like Wall_E's girlfriend. Turns out, that the father left them clues to find pieces which will complete Synergy, pieces that include the infamous Jem Star earrings...which are now pink. Not red, as they should be. Pink! I'm sorry, but I must give a thumbs down on that. Point is, they are basically scavenger hunting, and that actually seems like something they would do on the cartoon. Sort of. And Rio is involved here. So, he knows about Synergy the whole time. Well, that's a little different from the show, and the reason why Jerrica is keeping fewer secrets, as I mentioned.

But as the story progresses, it becomes a little predictable. Many people are comparing this to the plot of Josie & the Pussycats, and...yeah. It is quite similar, and the conflict we come across is resolved way too fast. So, sadly, that is my major complaint. The story could have been a stronger one, but unfortunately, that is where I find the film is at its weakest. Oh, except for one more thing. Remember how I said to get used to seeing YouTube videos? Well, they did this thing where they cut them into the movie. Like, you're watching a scene in the film and then you see a You Tube video. Okay, I think they were trying to integrate the music from them into scenes that had no dialogue, and THAT aspect worked, the audio, I mean. But the video being put in is completely jarring. And they do this in other areas as well. I understand what they were trying to do, especially using this to hit home their message in some places, but it did not work for me. I mean, we get it. Jem got famous because of You Tube. Next.

So, anything else that I liked about this movie? Why, yes, there is! As I said, I love Aubrey Peeples, and I thought she was wonderful. She almost reminds me of a more talented and WAAAAYYY nicer version of Kristen Stewart. I say "almost" because she truly is something special. Between the singing and the acting, I think Aubrey has a promising future ahead of her. So long as she stays on track and behaves! Let's see. What else? Well, even though I thought I would roll my eyes at it, I kind of chuckled at them throwing rather infamous lines from the show into the dialogue. It was cute. Also, Zipper was there, who we know as one of Eric Raymond's henchmen. I liked the guy in the movie, but I wish he was a little more...vicious. Amusingly vicious, actually. And I wish he used that voice we heard in the cartoon as well. What can you do though? I liked what they did with the Starlight logo. Nice throwback. Oh, and they had some great cameos, the funniest of which was Ryan Hansen, who we all remember as Dick Casablancas from Veronica Mars. He was HILARIOUS! And we get to see some women who I love dearly: Samantha Newark, original talking voice of Jem, Britta Phillips, original singing voice of Jem, and Christy Marx. Yeah, let's talk about her for a moment.

For those of you who don't know, Christy Marx is pretty much the person who made Jem. Now, granted, the initial idea and concept came from Hasbro, since the dolls came first, and she has made it clear that she does not own the property known as Jem. That is owned, still, by Hasbro. But Christy Marx is the one who wrote the characters into life. She was the one who fleshed them out and gave them backstories and personalities. She took names and images and brought them to life. Think of it this way. You know how Michael Jackson, now his estate, technically owns the Lennon-McCartney catalog, but we all know who really created those songs? It's kind of like that. So, they let her have a cameo, but she had nothing to do with the creation of this film. From what I heard, someone didn't want her to be a part of it, even though she was the one who had been trying for years to bring the show to the big screen. Even though the whole thing is her baby. Yes, why would we want the woman who knows these characters backwards and forwards to have anything to do with this? I just hope she felt all the love from the original fans, because it was and is out there. Let me blunt when I say that, if Christy Marx had been involved in this...oh, heck, in charge of this, we would have had a very different film. One that would have appealed to the new fans, as well as giving the older fans their fix of nostalgia. We didn't get exactly that. In fact, a lot of this movie was straight up insulting to the fans.

Look, I've talked about this enough, so I will wrap up now. As a movie, in and of itself and the "Jem" aspect aside, it is not that bad. And as I said, what's good about it, like the music and the acting, is pretty good, I think. But one must keep in mind who the demographic was that they were aiming at. That demographic is clearly "tweens". Specifically, "tweens" of today. Yes, even though I can give this credit where it's due, this was not made for me or any of the older fans. They did give us a little something here and there, but that's the word - little. I think we deserved more, and that's kind of sad, because this could have been something special for everyone. It really could have, but I feel like maybe someone didn't care enough about the people who have been waiting years, even decades, for this. I'm not saying they didn't care at all; I'm saying they didn't care enough. This seems like something I would see on the Disney Channel, which, again, isn't bad for the "tween" market. I can definitely see some youngsters really loving this, and happily, there is nothing offensive or inappropriate, so parents can relax. By the way, parents, if you were a Jem fan in your youth and you have little ones, they might like this movie. Just promise me that you will expose them, any way you can, to the cartoon show. Let them know things. Bottom line, I do wish that the Jem and the Holograms movie had more of the Jem and the Holograms that I know and love.

Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer

Straight From the Theater Review - Crimson Peak

Greetings,

You know how some movies get a massive amount of hype and when they come out they may or may not live up to all of it? Yeah, so let's talk about Crimson Peak.

I, like many people, have been looking forward to this movie for quite a while, for a lot of reasons. First of all, I really like Guillermo del Toro as a director, and he has great and original ideas as a writer, something I practically have to beg for these days. Put his story ideas alongside his visual...vision, and I was seriously ready. And, second, of course, Tom Hiddleston. Yeah, I'll give anything he's in a chance. For crying out loud, I've even seen Marvel movies for him. But I digress. Let's get to this movie. And I won't give too much away passed the set up.

Crimson Peak, first, and probably still, assumed to be a horror film, is actually a Gothic Romance. At least, that's what the cast and crew keep telling me. Sure, why not? The movie begins with the Universal logo being altered to suit the story ahead. They turn it red, or rather crimson. Because...title. Oh, and I hope you like that color, because it is flipping EVERYWHERE! Look, I like symbolism as much as anyone, but...come on. Anyway, our heroine is a young woman named Edith Cushing, played by Mia Wasikowska. We see, in a flashback, that her mother died when she was very young, which led to her first experience seeing a ghost, which leads us to a jump scare within the first five minutes. Oh, really, Guillermo? A flashback AND a jump scare so soon? I'm gonna let it slide, because it's you. We go forward several years, to her and her father, played by Jim Beaver, living in Buffalo, of all places. Random. Well, at least, it isn't Maine. Edith is pursuing a career as a writer, and she is, shock of all shocks, a very forward thinking woman, who doesn't want to only write romances. No, she prefers to write about ghosts. She also turns up her nose at the news of a new stranger arriving from England, a Sir Thomas Sharpe, who is, according to the ladies, charming, handsome and a wonderful dancer. Who could it be? Yes, you guessed it, Tom Hiddleston.

Anyway, Thomas is visiting America looking for funds to build some kind of clay retrieval mechanism. Red clay, of course, that is beneath his house. Well, his house and his sister's. Lady Lucille Sharpe, played by Jessica Chastain, has also accompanied him. Some people are fond of the pair; others are not. If you ask me, these two make me reminiscent of a Creepy Donny and Marie fan fiction I once came across. Make of that what you will. Anyway, Thomas begins to charm Edith, much to the chagrin of her father, as well as the local doctor, Alan McMichael, played by Charlie Hunnan, who fancies the young woman. But nothing doing. Once the Sharpe siblings finish their business in America, to say nothing of a few...events that take place. they return to their grand-ish home across the pond. And, as it is evident by the trailer, Edith accompanies them as Thomas's new wife. Oh, and did I mention that the first thing that attracts Thomas to Edith is the fact that she is a writer? Hmmm... I sure hope that life imitates art on that one, because I, in case you were not aware, am a writer. Holy smokes. This clearly would mean that if Hiddleston found out that I write, and that I write poetry, which he claims to love, he'd be putty in my paws. O-kay, then... Stalker Mode Off. Moving on.

Once we arrive in England, we begin to enjoy some elevated ghostly shenanigans, as well as a bit of a mystery that must be solved. I sure didn't see that one coming after the blatant Sir Arthur Conan Doyle name drop. Actually, one cannot blame Edith for feeling suspicious, as pretty much everyone in this movie is, at the very least, kind of unsettling. It's at this point where the mood and atmosphere that del Toro is known for truly begins to shine. This film does have an uneasy feel to it, and there are some moments of real tension. A few. Yeah, to be fair, I was hoping for more. Honestly, despite the fantastic set up, I felt that things moved rather slowly, and I found myself just waiting for things to happen. However, the moments that were supposed to grab you really did. The good parts were very good. Also, the effects were pretty darn cool. It's like what the 1999 remake of The Haunting could have been...if anyone gave a crap.

Now, I will say that there were a few interesting twists and turns in the story, but some of it was a tad predictable. There were some things that we find out about certain characters, and you would have had to have been asleep, or dumb, to not have guessed it. Also, the reasons for the actions of the characters made me just think, "Wow, really? Wanna add a mafia subplot, too? It worked for Moment By Moment. Or not." In the very, very end, though, things do pick up enough that it made it all rather exciting. Also, a bit gruesome, but, again, del Toro.

So, there are good things I can say about Crimson Peak. As expected, it looks absolutely stunning, from the costumes to the sets to the effects. It is quite a feast for the eyes, as they say. And, of course, the acting was wonderful. As mentioned, I certainly enjoyed myself some Tom Hiddleston, and Jessica Chastain gets a stamp of "Mission Accomplished" for her job of freaking me the heck out. Even Mia Wasikowksa wasn't as...um...Alice in Wonderland-y with her acting as she tends to be. Except for that vampire movie where she was just annoying, but I think that was the point of her character there, so hats off.

Bottom line, I would say that Crimson Peak is worth a view on the big screen, if for nothing else than just the visuals. It will certainly draw you in. If you want to go see it, go ahead. I certainly won't tell you not to do so. I know I had a few complaints, but it wasn't bad. It was actually quite good, just not as much as I let myself be "hyped" into believing. But I still think Guillermo del Toro is a brilliant film maker. I still hope he is the one to take the helm if we decide to give The Island of Dr. Moreau another shot. And I can't be mad at Tom Hiddleston ever. Although, when he said he preferred Star Wars to Star Trek, I could have slapped him. What? He would have earned that one!


Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer

Possession by A.S. Byatt - Book Review

Greetings,

You know what I like? Letters. Good, old-fashioned, handwritten letters. Like, on paper. Go ahead and Google those things, kids. I'll wait. You know what else I like? Poetry. I mean, I have published three books of it, so I better like it. So, what better than a book that has both of those things as its center? Not much. Therefore, today I will be discussing Possession by A.S. Byatt. Oh, and FYI, I know that Halloween is approaching, but this "possession" is not the kind associated with the scares of said holiday. I assume. Unless I missed something in the text. Anyway, let's get started.

Possession was released in 1990 and falls right about in the middle of the writing career of A.S. Byatt. Some people, apparently, refer to this as her masterpiece. Sure, why not? It is pretty good, and it is what I would call a reader's book. You know, not messing around here. And hardcore readers know what I'm talking about. So, how about that plot?

Well, I'm happy to say that we actually have two plots, intertwined through time and space. Oh, the joy. In present day, we follow Roland Michell, who is investigating letters he found written by a Victorian poet, Randolph Henry Ash. Of course, he's looking into them, since they hint at a hidden romance. What could be more intriguing? He suspects they may be written to another poet of the day, Christabel LaMotte, which leads him to Maud Bailey, an expert and distant relative of LaMotte. The two set out to reveal the secrets of these past writers, as are others in the field, and they end up finding out far more than they ever imagined possible.

Meanwhile (I love a good "meanwhile") we also follow the mysterious relationship of Ash and LaMotte. It is a relationship that not only affects them, but many people that surround them. As they tend to do. And being that they are in the Victorian era, there may be a few or more things about this pairing that the public at large would take issue with. Oh, who am I kidding? Some of us would still find problems with it. But their initial secrets leads to more secrets and a legacy which takes a winding road to the future.

And when the two timelines make their way to each other, we begin to find out things that neither we, as the audience nor the characters themselves ever would have known. Frankly, this book is a mystery novel. Just a poetic one, which certainly makes it stand out in the crowd.

Good times, indeed!

So, what is it about this book that I really like? Remember how I said that it centers around letters and poems? Well, all of those are within the text of the book. Yes, the author does not just talk about the poetry and say nothing more than it exists, and also does not give us Cliff's Notes versions of what is in the letters. It's all in there, my friends. This is actually something that Possession has been much praised for, and a lot of the richness of the writing comes from what is in those poems and letters. It's rather amazing to commit to the characters, as well as their stories and feelings, so fully.

I must say, even though in the grand scheme of literature, Possession is fairly young, it feels more classic than it actually is. I think that's a good thing. It makes it far more timeless than books written by "authors" who clearly don't care as much about the words. Just the words themselves. This is a book that reminds us exactly how valuable they are to all of us.


Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer

Chopsticks by Jessica Anthony and Rodrigo Corral - Book Review

Greetings,

I'm on a bit of a kick after having reviewed a book that was a bit unique, a little less wordy and a little more artsy, the other day. So, I thought, why not talk about another one of those? One that's much more cohesive and actually does tell a story, though it tells that story in a very interesting way. And the book is called Chopsticks by Jessica Anthony and Rodrigo Corral.

I had no idea that this book even existed, until I came across it whilst I was browsing in the book section of a store that also sells other things. Because I live in an awful place that has no bookstores. No, I'm not kidding. Anyway, I noticed it because it was much larger than the other books, and I could tell just by looking that this was probably not going to be a typical read. I was right, and I was glad.

Chopsticks tells the story of Glory, a young piano prodigy, who finds solace in her music when her mother dies. But it is her father who taught her to set her goals very high, as he wants her playing to huge crowds around the world. Though Glory is extraordinarily gifted, she is also very lonesome. She begins to seek solace with, Frank, the boy next door (oh, really?!) who is also artistic, but in a different way. As time goes on, it remains to be seen whether or not Glory's relationship with Frank will help her or harm her, both concerning her music and her life.

Okay, so this is obviously one of those classic "boy meets girl" stories, right? Maybe a little, but if you think you're going to open this book only to be face to face with the black and white vision of words on a page, you would be wrong. Interestingly enough, this story is told mostly in pictures, all kinds of pictures. Yes, there is some reading material in it, but it's pictures of notes and text messages and articles and all sorts of things that just give clues as to what is going on and pushing the "narrative" forward. I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about this method, but after I made my way through it, I realized that this was almost something of an interactive book. At least, that's how I saw it, and after reading the reviews of others, I don't think I'm exactly alone.

Turns out that different people had different interpretations of what was actually happening in the book. Was only Glory a real person and making up Frank? Was only Frank a real person and making up Glory? Was there a third party observing their lives from the outside? It could probably be any of these things, depending on how you see it. And since this is so open to interpretation, apparently, I have a suggestion for it to be even more fulfilling to those who get their hands on it. If I may be so bold as to say, this book might actually be a good tool for a writer who is experiencing the dread of being blocked but doesn't want to stop working every day. You know, if you don't use it, you lose it and whatnot. Hear me out.

Obviously, there is not traditional writing in this book, but would it be a bad idea to get your daily practice by making that up yourself? I don't think it would be any different from those books full of pictures that are specifically designed to prompt writers to write, except USE THIS FOR PRACTICE ONLY!! Don't be going and stealing other people's stories. But it's a thought. And as a writer, there are few things I enjoy more than being able to inspire other writers. Maybe these authors feel the same way. Again, though, say "NO" to plagiarism! I cannot stress this enough.

Bottom line, I found Chopsticks to be quite a unique experience, and I love when people find a way to create something special. It's overwhelming how images can evoke emotions and tell a tale just as easily and as well as words can do. Don't get me wrong, words rule and all. But if someone can combine the two to share a story, I'm all for it. So, many hats off to Anthony and Corral on a job extremely well done. I hope they have more to come.


Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer