Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

I can't believe this musical was made into a movie. Had you have told Parker and myself this about two years ago we would have laughed in your face. But nonetheless it was made into a feature, holiday film (Yeah, what is that about? A Holiday movie?). Surprisingly I wasn't fearful throughout the WHOLE movie. Now, mind you the scariest movie I have seen in a long while was about some Demon Fog rolling into town... But still...

So I have to say hands down Helena Bonham Carter was the whole reason this movie was great. While Johnny Depp was good, he just wasn't amazing enough to make the cut. Borat did a good job in this one (I know I should call him Sacha Baron Cohen, but it is more fun writing Borat). And yes even Alan Rickman did a good job, but none compared to Mrs. Lovette and her pies; simply hysterically, hideously funny.

I thought the whole movie was a mess of evil and gross-out blood, but the characters were somehow interesting and dare I say "likable." Anyway overall the music was so-so, the costumes were awesome, the characters were fun, and the story was off the wall.

I give this a very dry Peanut Butter and Rice Cake Pie with a sip of Diet Coke on the side.

The Simpson's Movie

So I realized I never posted this blog about the Simpsons Movie from early August, so in order to follow through with my New Year's Reso from January... here it is:

I laughed out loud and remembered being in the sixth grade when I watched the Simpsons on TV all the time. I really thought it was an odd story about the bubble around Springfield but somehow it was still good. I know this sounds terrible but I thought they were going to push the envelope more, I think they could have taken things further. But then again lots of kids watch it so it was better that they didn't. So here's to a 2-D movie in a 3-D world.

Rice cakes and Peanut Butter with a sip of Gatorade.

Juno

At last! A movie I can fully taste Spaghetti and Diet Coke with! Mmm Mmm... This was a delightfully wonderful film. Here's the short and fast of why Juno is the best movie in December:

1. Ellen Page was PHENOMENAL as the sixteen year old Juno. I mean she did have her start as an X-Man so I guess it works. My guess is there will be some big buzz over this young star. She's got a great career ahead of her.

2. Good feelings. This movie was positive in every moral dilemma. Gotta love that.

3. Supporting Cast. Allison Janney and J.K. Simmons were simply lovely as her step-mom and bio-dad. Michael Cera was awesome and perfect as her one time love, he was probably the best supporting character because there is something so believable about him. And Jennifer Garner was perfect as she went from loathed to loved. Good stuff.

4. Laugh out loud funny. It was sort of like Little Miss Sunshine styled comedy was great.

5. Great conversations. Ellen Page made this happen. The back and forth, pauses, and pure delivery of the lines were perfect.

Overall Spaghetti and Diet Coke, fully satisfying.

National Treasure

So National Treasure was the winning ticket this weekend. Although we had hoped to see a different film, August Rush, we ended up seeing The Book of secrets.

There really isn't much to say about this film. I liked it just enough to not be annoyed, and I hated it just a little so as not to give it a beans rating. It was very much the sequel to a blockbuster where the writer, director, and actors all tried to mimic the novelty of the first movie. Nothing new--except for Hellen Mirren in the role of Ben's hieroglyphic reading mother.

All in all I gave it a nice gulp of Diet Coke with a Rice Cake, and yes when Hellen was on the screen I even tasted peanut butter. There you have it.

I'm Back Hollywood!

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Academy.... Tell the WGA, I am back at the movies again so they should start writing again.

Yes, it was an epic week for me as I saw not one, not two, but so far three movies this week. So I should warn Parker, don't read this blog.



Firstly was my favorite movie going experience with the Fauf. We saw Enchanted. The movie was pretty good, extremely typical for Disney, yet something of a departure. I really loved the lead in this, she made the movie worth it. It was nice to see something family friendly, which was actually enjoyable across the board, all I ask is they don't make a sequel to this film (Disney's one flaw which proves it is not Heaven on Earth).

Overall I gave Enchanted a Rice Cake and Peanut Butter rating with a sip of Diet Coke.





Secondly I saw this ridiculously gorey movie with Parker. Another good experience, but not as lovey-dovey as the first. THis movie had to have been good, because it goes against all things in movies that I have disdain for. It was a western styled movie (bleck), it had Tommy Lee Jones in it (double bleck), it was set in the late 70s/early 80s (blerk), and it was bloody, bloody, bloody. Yet, I didn't hate it, and actually I thought it was pretty good. Therefore if your taste is for those things, you may love this movie.

The best thing it had going for it were these crazy characters who you were able to buy into from scene one in the movie. The best I can say is, I liked it enough to give it a rice cake and peanut butter rating. So there you go.





Lastly, just yesterday I saw the epic The Golden Compass. I'm not sure I get the hype, but I totally see the author's creativity. Nicole Kidman was really good in this role, she held herself well and only gave away a little bit at a time. I liked the Narnia-Harry Potter (and yes Parker I warned you at the top) style the director and author hoped to achieve, but I also thought to myself, haven't I seen this before?

Well, the difference is this is from an atheist/non-religious promoting person. I caught some of the undertones, obviously the big story of oppression from the truth, so I get "it" but I wouldn't tell my kids not to see it because of this reason--as Kaleb and I talked about it, it is GOOD for people to ask questions and to pursue the truth but the trick is to not be settled on what feels good, rather to be changed and trust in what is true.

At any rate this is a good film to start discussion with, and it actually made me want to write again, but alas I only give it a Rice Cake and Peanut Butter with sips of Diet Coke.

Where have all the Spaghetti Dinners gone? Maybe I'll find it in Alvin and the Chipmunks today...

Fa La La Time

Yesterday was a delightful day filled with wedding bells, laughs, and Christmas lights. We attended Merisa and Jonathen's wedding yesterday which was fun, we met some funny, like-minded people who live all the way across the country. After some cake, tri-tip and Mexican dancing we went Christmas light watching.

Let it be known the Parker Family has no lights up, but has magically changed the lamps on their lawn to look "Christmas-esk." However just a few blocks down from the Parkers there is a glorious Disney-esk sight! I think I need to go video it because it is so extreme. Their whole house is done up in lights and the lights blink on and off to the sounds of the season. A-MAZ-ING.

With this in mind I talked to Fauf about doing "The Fa La La Shaw Awards." So if you know of a great house (maybe your own home) that is decked out for the Christmas Spirit and could win in one of the following categories please send a message my way so I can drop an award off at your house this year:

Best Use of Fa la la Lawn Ornaments
Best One Candle in the Window Fa la la
Best Green Christmas Fa la la (no holiday lights--save energy and save the world--think green)
Best Way to Bug Your Neighbors for a Month with Fa la la
Best Use of a Fence for Fa la la
Best Non-Residential House Fa la la
Best Fa La La of 2007

[Today's Christmas Song: That horrible song "Grown Up Christmas List"]

Christmas Spirit Day has Come!

Cory Ramirez did a drive by snatching of my Chapman materials and he said something about "Spirit Day." This was something I completely forgot about-- Spirit Day, the day in which you ring in the holidays with Christmas movie watching, cookie eating, card writing, and present wrapping.

Nevertheless as I reflect upon my week I realize yesterday WAS my Spirit Day. In class we did a short Literature and Writing Unit on the Polar Express so to end our unit we watched the Polar Express, had treats, and wrapped some AMAZING presents for our parents---oh and we also wrote cards to our big buddies in Mrs. Olwin's class. So I guess we should say "Praise God for First Graders."

I am now luxuriating in my 3 week vacation and planning grand adventures of nothingness and creative fun to enjoy as I celebrate the fact that I am nearly half way through my first year of teaching and everything is working out like a Wombat Divine

Oh and mad props go out to Parker who graduated from the academy and who is NOT the one person in his class without a job. You're an amazing man, Mr. Parker.

Now here's to the holiday goodness that will sink into your soul...

[Song of the day: Where are you Christmas?]

Hanukkah Night 8: Something for my Memories

YES! I got just what I forgot I really wanted! A GNOME SANTA CLAUS! Talk about an amazing wife, she hates gnomes (what with the heal biting and all) but she still got me one. Yes, that memory is fond and he will stand proudly through the Winter months!

Here's the the end of Hanukkah, this year it lived mightily in my heart!

Hanukkah Night 7: Something for my Nest

Yes, the Nest has something a little more exciting in it now. The NEW Pirates DVD. I love it. And come to think of it so does Fauf. Hum, was this gift secretly for the Fauf? Its no secret FAUF loves to buy things for the Ig that will benefit the Fauf too. Alas, I have no complaints.

Hanukkah Night 6: Something for my Soul

I love it! I got this great Christmas CD called "Martini Tracks" it's great. For those of you who don't see the connection It has all the soulful singers on it Ella, Louie, the whole gang. Soul = Soulful. Just deal with it.

I am pretty excited about it, as I suspected it was that CD after I saw the shape under the tree. However I am unsure if this CD is a good idea to give for Hanukkah, after all it is a bunch of songs about Ol' Santa Claus and Jesus. Oh well... Speaking of Christmas though, my kids are going to be siniging on Tuesday night at Ralph Dunlap if anyone would like to come. 7:00-7:30 pm, in the Fine Arts Room!

Happy last nights of Hanukkah folks!

Hanukkah Night 5: Something for my Mind

This is my 556th blog ever. That's a lot of blogs.

Anyway...

Last night was a great night where great minds thought alike. Well let me put it this way, we both bought each other Scrabble Games! I got the 20-minute speed version and Farah got the deluxe version. The 20-minute is pretty sweet because it is an alternative to normal Scrabble, all of the letters are on dice. The deluxe is grand because it has a swivel/lazy-susan (Thomas Jefferson invented) and grooves so the letters aren't jostled about.

So if we are in the mood to challenge the mind, we're now ready. Now, to get that Scrabble Dictionary...

Hanukkah Night 4: Something for my Bedroom

Well, night 4 has come and gone. It was great because well... There was a great Christmas Party at the Burtnet's last night where my team kicked butt (shout out to the Ugly Shirts), and then was the time to "Hey, hey, light the manorah." So last night I got something great. Something wonderful. And cosa too.

I got a new robe. It is amazing in navy blue with red and gray plaid. It is just what I wanted but never thought to ask for. I became accustomed to wearing robes on the Honeymoon when the Shahlgrivans got us the Suit at Sycamore. And my wife, being the perfect one she is, got me one for Hanukkah. So hey, hey, I'm gonna lounge in my new robe today.

Get it!

Hanukkah Night 3: Something for my Cosa Life

Yup, tonight is all about being maj cos. So Farah got me something simply davoon. Everyday to keep school-life cosa, I take a drink of V8 to school, so this night of Hanukkah she got me an amazing winter wonderland thermos! It rocks my life away. Indeed, my Hanukkah Darling is great to me.

Here comes night 4... (not sure I am going to write about tomorrow)

Hanukkah Night 2: Something for my Hobby

Certainly this was a gift for the hobby of entertainment I have.

Well this night was just amazingly grand. Fauf and I just finished exchanging gifts. What did I get?

TICKETS TO WICKED! Finally! At last! Huzzah!

I'm so happy, it was awesome how she gave me the gift too--in a ruby red slipper in this amazing ruby red box. Hanukkah is just the best.

Hanukkah Night 1: Something for my Tummy

Yes, the rumors are true. My first Hanukkah gift from Fauf was a big one. LITERALLY BIG!

I arrived home last night from my stupid, horrible, simply dreadful BTSA meeting to find Fauf anxiously waiting for me. I give her my gift (wrapped in a beautiful gray holiday sweater bag) and she gives me hers (wrapped in an amazing chinese to-go-styled box). In it is but one scrap of paper, but what to my surprise do I see but a GIANT PIZZA staring back at me!

Yes, Farah gave me the gift that was bigger than the table could hold: A 30" pizza! Amazing! Each slice was 15" long and simply wonderful. She was also extremely thoughtful and invited Jon-Morgan, and Parker (the other love of my life) to join us for the meal. It was simply the best way to start Hanukkah. In the words of a little Jewish girl at my school, "That's a great way to start Hanukkah!" (see Jon-Morgan for pictures)

Here comes Night 2...

It's True

I apologize for the lack of bloginess this week. I was distracted by a cold and creation of the first ever BACKstage Nest Newsletter. And may I say.... Yes, the first edition of BACKstage Nest is completed and has been sent out to an inbox near you.

If you did not receive a copy it is because we did not have your address in our address book. So please check your inbox, if you didn't get your copy you can subscribe by writing IgMasterW@yahoo.com. Simply write "Sign-Up" followed by your name in the subject box. No message is required, however, we do love to hear from our members.

Happy Holidays, especially to our Jewish friends who will start their Hanukkah Celebrations this Tuesday evening.