Gretch-a-sketch (old)

(One of these days I'll get a full-fledged logo and everything...)

Counting down things in any form makes me feel a bit like Casey Kasem. (For you younger folks, he was kind of like Ryan Seacrest but with a better voice and not so ahem flamboyant.)

Books
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows
This one caught my interest long before I even knew what it was about, because my ancestors come from the Isle of Guernsey located in the English Channel. Written solely through letters and telegrams, this book is awash in history, war stories, and romance. The main character, Juliet, is so likable that I wish the whole thing had been narrated by her. The diverse cast provides some genuine hilarity, which is balanced out with the memories of World War Two.


Love is a Mixtape, by Rob Sheffield
To be honest, I thought this book had been the definitive volume on mixtapes for years. Turns out it's only been out since early-2007. Thankfully, in about twenty years this will still be the definitive volume on music and love. You have to be a music geek to truly appreciate it, but it's more accessible than Perfect From Now On: How Indie Rock Saved My Life, which is what I'm reading right now. Rob's connection to his wife Renee is so palpable that it's heartaching to read at parts. Someday, I'll buy a copy and instead of storing it with my books, it will go on the shelf with my favorite albums.

Violet on the Runway, by Melissa Walker
There are endless versions to the "small town/awkward girl becomes overnight sensation," which in the book's case, transfers to the realm of modeling. For technically being a YA novel, there was a surprising amount of drug references and language. It's amusing, but not a stand-out. On the other hand, I do have to tip my hat to Melissa Walker for perfectly executing a Rivers Cuomo/Buddy Holly/Clark Kent joke overflowing with snark. Also, I tried reading the sequel but Violet was being so unbearable that I didn't get very far.

Music
She & Him, Volume One
I have such a huge girl crush on Zooey Deschanel, the "She" in the band's title. The "Him" is M. Ward, whom (who? whom?) I don't know much about. I don't see how anyone could not like this CD. Zooey's signature quirky style shines through in every song. Her lyrics seem simple at first, but there's lots of meaning once you really listen. I was impressed by her cover of "You Really Got A Hold On Me," but her rendition of The Beatles' "I Should Have Known Better" didn't thrill me. Call me a purist, but I'm wary of every single Beatles' cover out there. There's a strong country element that harks back to Patsy Cline, as well as a titch of the 50's Doris Day sound. My mother would also like to point out that she loves this cd and occasionally has to admit I have good taste in music.

Joshua Radin, Simple Times
If you absolutely can't wait for the store release on September 30th, go buy it from iTunes. That's what I ended up doing and I don't regret it at all. Joshua's signature "Whisper Rock" sound has never sounded better. Simple Times deals with break-ups and bad dreams and environmentalism, but the overall tone is cheerier than his first album We Were Here. There's a strong theme of moving forward which I really need in my life right now. Mmm...he makes me melt. I don't care when or where you buy it from, just please buy it.

Television
30 Rock, Season Two
It about near kills me that 30 Rock doesn't come back until the end of October, because of all the shows on television, this one weathered the Writers' Strike the best. Ignore the guest spots by Jerry Seinfeld and David Schwimmer and focus on Carrie Fisher, Al Gore, Matthew Broderick, and Edie Falco. There are maybe only two weak episodes out of fifteen--that is one superb track record for a season of tv. The characters are more developed in Season Two, as is the flow of humor. The best musical scene in the history of television very well may be Midnight Train To Georgia, as seen in Episode 210. We also get to see the return of Floyd, Dennis Duffy, and Devon Banks. 30 Rock, you are truly made of WIN.

Movies
Get Smart
I'm not going to lie, I had really high hopes for this one. About an hour into it, I was still all, "Um...what?" Then it picks up at the end, but my expectations were dashed by that point. Anne Hathaway is hot and Steve Carell is funny when he yells. That's it.

Big Dreams, Little Tokyo
Okay, this is more like it. Dave Boyle (a Utahn--holla!) wrote, directed, and starred in this delightful little indie flick. Here's the synopsis from IMDB, because it's getting late and I'm getting drowsy. "Big Dreams Little Tokyo is the story of Boyd, an American with an uncanny ability to speak Japanese. Boyd aspires to succeed in the world of Japanese business but finds himself mostly on the outside looking in. Meanwhile, his roommate Jerome, is a Japanese American who has always felt too American to be Japanese but too Japanese to be American. He aspires to be a sumo wrestler but finds his weight and blood pressure are thwarting his dreams. Together they struggle to find their place in a world where cultural identity is seldom what it seems." Boyd is nebbish and awkward, yet still charming. Jerome was freaking hilarious and their Japanese friend Mai is so perfect in every scene. The amateur filming comes off more skilled than one would expect. I smiled more than I laughed, but sometimes that's a really, really good thing when it comes to entertainment. You might have a hard time finding it, but pounce if you get the chance.

A review of WALL-E

Just a heads up--the following post contains info about the plot of WALL-E, go figure.


It's a tale as old as technology. Boy robot meets girl robot, girl robot goes back into space, boy robot follows her into the final frontier, boy and girl robot must save the human race.
I had been vaguely interested in this movie based purely on the fact it's a Pixar film. I read so many positive reviews yesterday (which is a major testament to the power of the internet) that I knew I had to see it opening weekend. And really, what can I say other than Pixar has done it again?

Pixar has this enviable ability to be able to portray raw and relatable human emotion in the most unlikely of subjects. They've covered toys, insects, fish, monsters, automobiles, and rats. (In my opinion, their strongest film yet is The Incredibles, but they were dealing with people in that one.) What makes WALL-E so impressive to me is that it seems like Andrew Stanton and crew viewed this the film as a challenge to improve everything else they have done before.

It first ups the ante because communication is dealt with in a very R2-D2 fashion of beeps and mechanical whirls. However, you still easily understand the longing of WALL-E for EVE and EVE's frustration with WALL-E. Secondly, the soundtrack melds together futuristic themes with some very old-fashioned stylings. One of the most beautiful scenes is aided by Louis Armstrong's La Vie en Rose in the background. Lastly, the color palette on earth is muted and stark, but still stunning in its own way. It's one thing to show that the undersea is lovely with bold fish as in Finding Nemo, but to use mainly shades of brown and still get the impression of earth's grandeur? That's some crazy talent.

Like all good movies for kids, it's more than enough to keep the adults engaged. A major strength of Pixar to other studios is that Pixar relies on rich storytelling and keeping the animation brimming with details as opposed to crass innuendos and pop culture references. Granted, it does allude to 2001: A Space Odyssey, Star Wars: A New Hope, and Short Circuit, but I think those are requisites for making a movie about space.

I loved the intertwining of Hello, Dolly! It's always been a favorite musical of mine and my senior year of high school I was in the pit orchestra for that show with all of my friends. I particularly adored the emphasis on hand-holding--in today's world there's so much focus on rushing the physical aspect of relationships. It was nice to return to a period where something simple like hand-holding meant a great deal. Heck, I still get giddy over the prospect. The romantic aspect of the show is terribly endearing, especially one scene set in zero-gravity.

Naturally, John Ratzenburger makes an appearance. I'm sure it's filled with other easter eggs, but I was too wrapped up in the story to pick up on them, so a re-watch is needed. The credits are gorgeously crafted. There's no extra end-bit like in Cars or A Bug's Life, but just stay for the new Peter Gabriel song and the art. Oh, also! The pre-film short is called Presto! and it's delightful. The story is about a magician and his rabbit in a brilliant homage to Bugs Bunny and the classic Looney Tunes. Chuck Jones would be proud.

There are a few take-home messages, namely 1. Take care of the planet, 2. Hard work is more rewarding than the easy way out, and 3. Stuff is less important than relationships. They aren't heavy-handed; in fact, they're important lessons for the upcoming generations to learn. It's also interesting to look at it as an updated version of Plato's Allegory of the Cave. Honestly, I think the main moral I learned came from Pixar in general--put the most effort and care into your work you possibly can. Not because of the money, not because of the praise, but because the things you love deserve your best labor. The passionate production of WALL-E shows and the time spent is entirely worth it.
4/4 Stars

This is one of my favorite movie scenes ever, no battle. Elizabeth Shue, I adore you!

1. Friday night was one of those booooring nights. At least, it was until 9 o'clock, when I looked up times for Be Kind Rewind and five minutes later left the house to go see it. I went by myself and sat down in the back and had such a good time. The movie's about two kinda weird guys--one who runs the ghetto VHS rental store and the other who just hangs around when he's not living in the junkyard. At one point, the psycho neighbor played by Mia Farrow praises the sweded version of Driving Miss Daisy because "it's got heart." Be Kind Rewind at first seemed like an unlikely candidate for a movie with heart, but it's more sincere and sweet than any movie I've watched in a long time. Jerry's version of the Ghostbusters song had me laughing hysterically, as did many other moments. I would also make out with Jack Black in an instant--I can't explain why I like him, I just do.

2. Q and Edge tagged me for the book meme, so here goes!

The Rules:

1. Pick up the nearest book.

2. Open to page 123.

3.Find the fifth sentence.

4.Post the next three sentences.

5. Tag five people and post a comment to the person who tagged you once you've posted your three sentences.

From French Women Don't Get Fat, by Mireille Guiliano: "Alternatively, before putting the vegetables through the food mill, reserve 2 cups and add them to the soup just before serving. The 'crunchy' vegetables will contrast with the velvety soup and will also force you to eat more slowly and thus satisfy you will less. This was the evening version; the smooth lunch variant was accompanied with Mother's yummy pancakes."

Clearly, it's from a recipe page. I'm actually not that far into it yet, but since it's non-fiction I felt okay about skipping ahead. So far all the book has accomplished is to make me crave French pastries more. I'm going to be a Bad Blogger and not tag anyone, just 'cause I don't really feel like it right now.

3. Speaking of pastries, I've been on a major cupcake blog kick right now. Heck, who isn't into the cupcake trend? I used the vanilla cupcake recipe from the Magnolia Bakery (made famous by SATC, immortalized by Andy Samberg and Chris Parnell). It's no wonder people shell out insane amounts of money for these, because they are t to the a to the s-t-e-y. (Okay, I KNOW that's not how tasty is spelled, but I can't pass up an opportunity to quote Fergalicious.) I've tried a few different recipes before (Martha Stewart's are too dense for me), but these were heaven. Buttery and moist and oh-so-scrumptious! I also cheated and used Betty Crocker chocolate frosting--next time I'll make the real stuff and actually decorate them.