Strange Culture Blog

Vomit Inducing Summer Movie List 2012

2012-05-24T20:53:00.006-06:00

The month of May almost passed me by, but I could not skip the 7th edition of the vomit inducing summer movie list (previous list here: 2006, 2007, 2008 , 2009, 2010, and 2011.

I'm a little sad this post is written post-Battleship (the sci-fi action movie based on the game, that I've complained about previously).

Without further ado...here's the 2012 list.

May 25: Chernobyl Diaries
A horror movie that takes place at the site of the horrible nuclear disaster of 1986. Unfortunately some people might think the disaster is an imaginary event, something on par with The Day After Tomorrow, except it's real, and this horror movie looks like the definition of a vomit inducing summer movie.

June 1: Piranha 3DD

The title and tagline along are enough to put this on the list. No further discussion needed. The tag line: "Twice the terror. Double the D's."

June 8: Bel Ami

Classic literature adaptations don't usually make the annual vomit list, but the adaptation of Bel Ami by Guy de Maupassant hits the list when the lead star is Robert Pattinson playing a Parisian.

June 15: That's My Boy

Adam Sandler and Andy Samburg in a film that looks and smells like the 80s, or at least the 90s. And not in a good way.

June 29: Magic Mike

Steven Soderbergh is hit or miss, and I can appreciate his project variety (genre, cast, budget, etc.). But Magic Mike staring Channing Tatum as Mike an experienced stripper seems to be like the type of film that typically comes out in September with Oscar buzz and critical disappointment. So what do I make of this June release? I can only think that Warner Bros. is trying to press their luck with Tatum's other popular 2012 film success (The Vow and 21 Jump Street).

July 5: Katy Perry: Part of Me

I am not really sure why Katy Perry get's her own summer documentary. Not sure at all.

July 20: Grassroots

I get nervous about the idea of any movie that wants to open up the weekend of The Dark Knight Rises, especially a comedy/drama about a Seattle City Council election staring Jason Biggs. In this case perhaps it's more worrisome than vomit inducing, but something potentially awful to keep an eye out for this summer.

July 27: The Watch

After some bad timing - the neighborhood watch film that was set for release well ahead of the Trayvon Martin controversy has undergone a film name change from Neighborhood Watch to The Watch, but with a name change that makes it sound like a sequel to The Ring, I can't help be see this as one of the most appropriate films to hit the list this year. Sorry Ben Stiller.

July 27: Killer Joe

Hello! The movie poster has a piece of fried chicken in the shape of Texas that looks more like a diarrhea, but I have to assume it's intended to be chicken (with blood splattered on it) only because the tagline uses the word "deep-fried" ("A totally twisted deep-fried Texas redneck murder story."). Director William Friedkin, an Oscar winning director (The French Connection, 1971) and nominee (The Exorcist, 1973), might have a surprise up his sleeve here, but I just can't get past that bloody fried chicken poo.

August 17: Sparkle

If Mariah Carrey couldn't deliver with Glitter, why over a decade later would American Idol alum Jordin Sparks be able to deliver with the awfully named Sparkle (Jordin Sparks is Sparkle Williams). I expect some Whitney Houston talk behind this film which might make some discussions more sensative (i.e. no Razzie for Houston). But I expect a bust of a bust of a bust.

August 24: Premium Rush

No it's not an energy drink. David Koepp, screenwriter of this year's Men in Black III also is the writer of this like action flick, which takes the tired film chase scene and tries to freshen it up by putting Joseph Gordon-Levitt on a bike being chased in New York City. What an exhausting movie, not to mention a movie that reminds you that instead of being outside getting exercise you're sitting in a dark theater, eating popcorn watching someone ride a bike.

August 29: The Oogieloves in the BIG Balloon Adventure

Sure you have some stars like Cloris Leachman, Cary Ewles, Christopher Lloyd, Toni Braxton, and Jamie Presley, but you also have characters named Goobie, Zoozie, Toofie and Schluufy the Pillow. 'Nuf said. This smells like Teletubbies on drugs.

The Receipt Survey Experiment Follow Up

2012-05-23T21:31:00.000-06:00

A month ago I started a little experiment regarding those surveys at the bottom of so many receipts. My initial post can be found here.

I wasn't sure exactly where this project would take me, but let me summarize my initial feelings regarding the topic.

I am glad this project is over, I'm so tired of taking these surveys
I am glad I don't have to dread getting a receipt and taking a peak at whether or not it has a survey.

That's right. Taking these surveys are a pain.

When you start, you usually don't know what you're getting yourself into. Sometimes you're surprised by a simple survey (such as the simple survey for a local furniture store I completed when we bought mattress covers for new beds for our kids). But sometimes, you can stuck in a ridiculously long survey. That's how I felt when I did the survey for Children's Place. The kids clothing store survey took me almost 20 minutes, and all we bought was a pair of tights that were on sale.

Beyond the long Children's Place survey, the other surveys that were my nemesis where the surveys at my local grocery store. It's not that the survey is awful, it initially ask you what sections you shopped in and the questions are tailored to your shopping, but the problem is that we do a lot of trips in the course of a month to the grocery store. Sometimes for big purchases, but often we just need some milk. When it was a full trip with a little shopping in every section that survey took forever.

In terms of incentives, a lot of these surveys come with incentives. Often a gift card. If it's a gift card incentive the drawing can be anywhere from $100 to $5000. And in a way, it was the lower price gift cards at smaller locations that made me feel like I had a better chance of winning. The extravagant opportunity made the "win" seem unlikely, and infrequent drawings. These surveys do not tell you when the drawings will take place or the odds of winning.

Another limitation to these surveys was the fact that they weren't very "smart phone" friendly, and usually required logging into a computer which meant collecting these and doing them in a sitting at the computer, which is the last thing I want to do when I get a moment to sit down. A few surveys have time limits on them, and at times I almost missed the deadline to complete the survey.

So surveys completed, have I won anything or found any personal benefit...nope, not really. Maybe the shopping experience some how is improved by my survey completion, but otherwise all I got was a few discount codes upon completing a survey that I didn't use (thank you, GAP).

And the one survey I couldn't complete was an Pizza Hut receipt from a airport, despite the website survey instructions, the website required a store number, and the receipt only had a location code that didn't match the character requirement of the site. Shucks! No survey taken.

I understand the stores desire to capture my thoughts (and yours) on our shopping experience, but I have to wonder if there is a better way.

Here are some suggestions:

Shorter surveys that capture more targeted information (as opposed to fishing for information from staff greeting customers, store cleanliness, merchandising, and incentive programs)
Surveys that I can take on my phone when I might be more likely to be in a place where I'm trying to kill time.
Increase my odds of personal benefit, even if the benefit is smaller (such as take a survey immediately to get a deduction on my purchase I already made, or increased odds of winning even if the prize is a smaller amount, such as $10).
Surveys that can quickly capture my previous shopping experience which don't require me to type in excessive information from my receipt (such as store number, date, time, register, associate code, survey code, etc.)

The FB IPO

2012-05-17T12:00:00.001-06:00

The Facebook IPO will begin trading on NASDAQ shortly, and like all things Mark Zuckerberg, there is a unique buzz associated.

It's everything from a season o unique purchases (like Instagram), to a last minute stock price hike, to a general media blitz.

I read in Forbes recently that Facebook makes an estimated $5 per user, an the conversation seems to be that despite the excitement, frenzy, an huge membership base, that $5 a person is still not enough for huge sweeping profits.

Additionally, it seems that while some people love Facebook for posting political opinions, play games, look at there grandmother's vacation pictures and share children/pet advice, there is a continued question to privacy.

Whenever there is an IPOs for fad e-company I always question the longevity of the stock. How long will Zynga exist? Groupon?

Even companies that have been traded for awhile now, like Priceline.com, can they survive another decade of innovation and e-world development?

If nothing else, these e-IPOs create energy around innovation and an opportunity for young creatives and IT savvy developers to enter a new class of wealthy success stories. The type of stories that keep the dreams alive for future innovation.

With The Success of The Avengers...

2012-05-08T21:23:00.002-06:00

Where's the project for the multiple film deal to make the long awaited film, The Founding Fathers...

You know you want to see the following films:

John Adams
John Adams 2
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson 2
Benjamin Franklin
John Hancock
William Whipple
John Jay
George Washington
George Washington 2

All before we see the the culminating film trilogy:

The Founding Fathers: Independent Day
The Founding Fathers: Articles of Confederation
The Founding Fathers: Constitutional Convention

PBS? HBO? Anyone interested in this 13 film project. Anyone?

I'm sure they all would be striking in 3D IMAX presentations...Anyone?

The 2100 Pottery Barn Catalogue

2012-05-05T20:43:00.003-06:00

The other night at a friends house, I was admiring their rotary phone decoration from Pottery Barn.

There is always different retro items in a pottery barn catalogue to create a unique feel. Today, I looked and saw old looking yard sticks.

So in a few decades, say the year 2100, what faux items from 2012 will we see...assuming (perhaps incorrectly, that Pottery Barn exist and our current time period is at all decor worthy).

Will we see cast iron routers, stainless steel remote controls, stone car key fob replicas, britta water pitcher replicas, or computer mice?

Darling Companion (Looks Awful and Good)

2012-04-30T01:32:00.000-06:00

Darling Companion Movie Poster

I few weeks back I saw my first preview for Darling Companion staring Diane Keaton and Kevin Kline.

Within the same preview, I had the thought that

This looks absolutely awful - low budget, Diane Keaton's batting average has to be one of the worst recently, and how many clips in the preview will show Kevin Kline looking for a lost dog.
This looks like something I would really like - It looks like a simple human story, the longer I watch this preview, the more I can see how it might have a touching appeal, and did they just say "Lawrence Kasdan?" because for all the reasons this movie looks awful, it reminds me of Grand Canyon which for some reason I think is a great film, despite it's trite moments.

Honestly, there's no need to even watch the preview. I think what I've captured here all comes out in the poster. And if you need a little more to capture my thoughts, the summary on imdb.com at this moment really captures the preview as well: "The story of a woman who loves her dog more than her husband. And then her husband loses the dog."

Somehow I think that 2012 will look less favorably on this film than his has Kasdan's previous critical successes because it certainly seems to hark back to a style of The Big Chill and Grand Canyon, both successes in their respective decades (the eighties and nineties), and while I find this film a refreshing addition to the film calendar, I have a feeling based on some early festival reviews that most critics opt for a less than awe-struck review.

But a story about people (even a family pet) instead of super heroes, vigilantes, or a lorax seems like something that at a minimum is worth the dollar at a red box.

Another Reason Not To See "The Five-Year Engagement"

2012-04-28T15:35:00.001-06:00

The Judd Apatow produced film The Five-Year Engagement will likely have a less-than-expected first weekend run, compared to some of Apatow's previous gross-out film comedies.

Reviews seem mixed so far. I can see it lacking the box office appeal when you think about the girls out there who this scenario represents their worst nightmare, and guys who don't want their girl friend to bring up engagements.

It's hard to tell how the pendulum will swing, but I feel like one of the least fortunate sociological changes we've seen in the decade or so past is the continual extension of the male-female courtship. When I watch old films (or talk to my grandparents or their friends) it's amazing how the time period between meeting to dating was often more like weeks. Today, it seems like the time period is years.

My wife and I dated just over five months prior to engagement, followed by an eight or so month engagement. Even this timetable sometimes get's a "shock response."

Yet, I think that there has been little value added to the lengthening of the courtship period. Sure, I can accept some changes (such as the fact that weddings become huge events that take a little more planning than years past when the court and the minister and whoever was around made the event less "wedding plan-ish."). But the addition of steps in the dating process like we see in real life, films, and movies such as giving a significant other a key, moving in, etc. seems less than profitable to relationships.

My wife and I's dating period is probably "very traditional" (or "old school") to many, including living in separate places through dating, waiting until marriage to have sex, and so forth. But beyond the values we share that led us to make those decisions, I think the pragmatism mixed with selfishness ends up being more destructive than redeeming. And despite whatever "wrap it up" messages that this film has regarding love, marriage, and dating, anything I've seen in a preview seems to capture what I would deem destructive to my hopes that someday the pendulum would swing back and people would do dating differently.

Things Aren't Homemade Anymore, They're Handcrafted

2012-04-23T00:26:00.003-06:00

Homemade Observation

If you say something's homemade you better be planning on taking that to either a craft fair or the county fair.

It seems to me like the phrase homemade is passé.

It seems to me that the most common change in this language substitutes the word "Hand" for "Home" and "Crafted" for "Made," with variations when appropriate.

I've seen signs for "Hand Cut Fries" or "Hand Spun Milkshakes."

Or perhaps if you're buying a home decor item, if it's not hand crafted you might be in the market for something "Locally Crafted."

Homemade Arnold Palmer

The other night at a friends house when available beverages were offered Arnold Palmer (lemonade and ice tea mixed) was offered, and when clarification was requested on the brand, it was mentioned that it was "homemade" although it struck me that this term didn't match modern terminology.

So I brought up this observation raised above, but we were stuck because "Handmade Lemonade" or any beverage product of the like sounded sort of unsanitary. But somehow "Handcrafted Lemonade" some how seems appropriate, and it can only be the ever changing culture of language.

Perhaps, there still is a place for "homemade" foods, but somehow it seems this phrase has developed a granny phrase to it. Although, if I had been offered a "handcrafted Arnold Palmer" I think I would have had ridiculously high expectations for the lofty language so maybe in some cases the better substitute for "homemade" would simply be to say "we made it ourselves."

Not Anticipating: Cosmopolis

2012-04-20T20:57:00.002-06:00

Cosmopolis film poster

I thought it was pretty witty in 2001 when the Broadcast Film Critics Awards gave out a special award for "Best Inanimate Object" to Wilson the Volleyball in the Movie Cast Away.

A few years back, I read the book Cosmopolis: A Novel by Don DeLillo, and at the time, was very unimpressed with the story, especially knowing that it would be made into a movie.

I bring up Wilson the Volleyball here because in the same way an inanimate object steals the show, in many ways, I felt like the white limo in this story was really the main character, although far less interesting the Tom Hank's volleyball campaign in Cast Away. (Don't forget Hanks and Wilson also won a teen choice award for "Choice Movie Chemistry" that year as well).

In the book Cosmopolis, the main character Eric Parker (played by Robert Pattinson) spends the day riding around a limo in New York to get a haircut, losing money as he bets against the yen. Along the way Parker finds himself experiencing a number of unexpected delays, chance meetings, and destructive events.

And it's not that I'm against the "day in the life" story. In fact, early on this story reminded me of Ian McEwan's Saturday. Yet in Saturday, the themes that come out in this one day in London are themes about family, fear, terrorism, activism, aging, rationalism and adjusting to a changing world.

Cosmopolis on the other hand is not written so intelligently, and while Cronenberg has a gripping visual style that I imagine he will be able to find in this opulence of this film's young protagonist, I think walking away from the film, like the book, viewers will ask...what was the point of all that?

Parker spends much of the day pondering things like "Why do they call them sky scrapers" and the day is almost too full, ending up being just a character study of Parker, with his limo as a symbol for nothing more than Parker himself, and his attempt to make the world more or less his cork-lined oyster.

This film will not be on tops of my list, and I'm sure if it makes any sort of splash on the film season it will be the polarizing type of film that surprsingly wins top spots on some people's list while being bashed by others. And not all films like that are bad, but for me, I'm weary of this film due to it's uninspiring source material.

Edward Norton & Groupon's VERY Young Earth Theory

2012-04-19T18:53:00.005-06:00

Yes - that's right...read that text:

It's Earth Day -- the Earth's Birthday!
The Earth is celebrating its 400th birthday -- Groupon and Edward Norton want to help it reach it's 401st by promoting green living and eco-themed products.

This has to be one of the most puzzling e-mails I have ever received, and whoever edited that copy must have had the worst history and science teachers, because this just makes no sense.

Is the idea that the earth was 1612 AD was really the first year the earth existed?

And if I don't buy a reusable sandwich bag and earth friendly carpet cleaning will the world end in less than 365 days...especially if I don't get a good deal?

And what does Edward Norton have to do with any of this? I know he was in American History X, but I'm starting to wonder if his American History has something to do with the creation of the earth? Maybe that's the X.

Happy Earth day. Enjoy the little infographic of the earth with dentures eating a cupcake with his buddy the moldy moon.

Disappearing Biopics...

2012-04-15T13:30:00.000-06:00

In doing the Reel People series over the past half a decade (see:2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008 and 2007), I have found it helpful to keep a list of upcoming biopics when I hear about them. The reel people post doesn't come out until the film is well on it's way to release (including an image of the performer in character) prior to a post being crafted and published.

That being said, as I have prepared this years real people series, a number of the post I imagined writing this year appear to be no goes at this time, and in many cases a film that previously seemed to be in pre-production has fallen off any sort of production calendar.

Here are some reel people post you will not see this year, because the film although at one time seemed to be on track, doesn't even exist.

I think one quick glance and you'll see there is no way I could make up this type of detail.

Reel People Post I Do Not Intend On Writing This Year Because The Film Does Not Exist or are project indefinitly on hold

Die Blutgräfin, with Tilda Swinton as Elizabeth Báthory
Number 13, with Dan Fogler as Alfred Hitchcock
Down and Dirty Pictures, with Vincent D'Onfrio as Harvey Weinstein
Indian Summer, with Cate Blanchett as Lady Mountbatten (Joe Wright directing)
Save Us, Joe Lewis, with Terrance Howard as Joe Lewis
Piece of My Heart, with Renee Zellwegger as Janis Joplin
The Ventian, Matt Damon as Marco Polo

Is there any of these you wish were back on track? At this time, it looks like we will never see any of these, especially not in the next couple of years.

The 2012 Receipt Survey/Feedback Experiment

2012-04-14T20:51:00.003-06:00

I can't remember the first time I went to a store and they printed me out a yard and a half of receipts, and told me to take the survey to win a prize/coupon.

But what was once an oddity seems like the world's most normal thing in the world.

I don't know about you but I have never taken one of these "short surveys."

The other day at the local grocery store I frequent, they had a list of the first names of the monthly 100 dollar gift card drawing, and I thought...if I took that survey every time I went to the grocery store, I bet I would win eventually. That still left me wondering if $100 for survey after survey was worth it, but who knows?

So I decided, for 30 days I would take every receipt survey I received, and see what this world has to offer.

Today seems like the day to start. My wife and grabbed a casual dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings (the receipt only gives me the chance to leave feedback -- no survey), and then headed to the mall where we did some kids clothing shopping. And all four places we shopped (Gap, Children's Place, JC Penny, and Janie and Jack) gave receipts encouraging feedback for either coupons or prizes.

So...here we go. I'll let you know how the survey experiment goes (not to mention, readers will probably get a minor glimpse in part to my spending habits).

LOL Movie Poster - Reactions Knowing Nothing

2012-04-14T11:37:00.003-06:00

Today I caught a glimpse of this AWFUL poster for LOL staring Miley Cyrus and Demi Moore (based off the poster).

I know NOTHING about this movie, so ahead of doing a quick like premise research, I though I would share the premise that I ascertain from this poster alone.

Feel free to play along as well.

First - Miley Cyrus looks sort of trashy (but the wealthy brand of trashy) on her Alpaca fur rug, and for a movie that presumably stands for "laughing out loud" it doesn't look like she's been doing a lot of laughing.

I can't tell if a horrible Internet killer is about to come after her after pretending he was a sixteen year old boy in love with her, or if she's being a gossip girl and her college roommate is about to commit suicide because of something horrid she's posted on Facebook.

I'm guessing Demi Moore is the mom who also doesn't do a lot of laughing out loud herself, but maybe she's an acquaintance with the guy who's going to try to kill Miley, or has to deal with Miley's post attack pain. Or if it's the suicide story, Demi could even be the counsel helping everyone cope with their online bully problems.

In the end Hanana Montana (I mean Miley Cyrus) probably learns a lesson and spends less time on her phone. Maybe she even learns how to really LOL herself, and gets off the ugly rug.

Peeps Decor

2012-04-07T21:05:00.003-06:00

Peeps aren't just for eating (as barely edible treats that they are).

But they're striking image and colors can be used for more than Easter Basket filler (or even the Peeps cake my wife & I made in 2010).

Here are two ideas (with links to their source, with step-by-step instructions) for making your own Peeps wreath or topiary.

Peeps Wreath by Tried & True

Peeps Topiary by The Hungry Mouse

Bullying of the Bully Documentary

2012-04-06T20:11:00.003-06:00

About a month ago I posted about Weinstein & Co.'s attempt to get their R rated documentary "Bully" to be rated PG-13 Motion Picture Association of America, but did not intend on doing any edits.

In my post, I pointed out that I thought despite signatures and a public campaign for a re-rating I thought the ball rested in the movie producers court...you re-edit the movie to meet the rating standards, or you leave it.

Well, the film will be released next weekend as a PG-13 film, and when I heard that snip-it, the first thing I was interested in was their a re-edit.

I knew that the film had flirted with an unrated release - but it seemed that unrated could potentially be far more deadly than "R." So for me, I suppose, I wanted to see the MPAA win.

If the film wasn't re-edited not only would I credit the Weinstein Co. for being marketing geniuses, I would also credit them as the Bully of the MPAA. But it looks like a compromise has been made, which allows for a partial re-edit.

As is not surprising, the rating didn't come down to "thematic material" necessarily, but profanity. Steven Zeitchik of the LA Times reports that the rating is a compromise. In at least three spots, the volume is dropped to essentially "bleep" out the F-word. But, in untypical fashion, the MPAA is allowing a scene that does contain three F-words. Which breaks the mold of their standard ratings.

The MPAA, Weinsteins, etc. celebrate this as an opportunity for schools, boyscout and girlscout groups, etc. to bring kids without parents.

I understand the importance of the topic, but to me this seems more about group sales, not bully topical exposure. I think there will be teens who see this film and are challenged.

But if there is topical material, not just (but including) language, that might mean students shouldn't be seeing this without parental approval, then isn't that what the ratings are for?

There has been other "R-rated" films that people thought important and important enough to not change the rating, but for children to see. I specifically think of Schindler's List or The Passion of the Christ. Many under 17 year-olds saw these films, but appropriately with the approval of an adult.

I am sure you, like me, have mixed feelings about how films are rated, and can think of examples where films should have tilted up or down from their actual rating. The objectiveness is clear, but it seems that in this situation, the rating of the film was a choice, largely based on how the documentary was edited, and the Weinstein's made a choice and created a ruckus campaign that has promoted Lee Hirsch's documentary in a way that documentary's rarely get publicized.

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Jane Taylor, and Nueroaesthetics

2012-03-31T22:37:00.001-06:00

Today, my 13 month old son, Shepherd, is sitting on my shoulders when we take a walk and he's humming/singing/mumbling.

The song he's mumble-humming is the tune to "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Stars." It's very distinct, and I begin to sing the song to him to his great joy.

And I say to myself, "Where in the world did this song come from, that of all the songs we sing around our children, that this is the song they gravitate towards?"

I remember when my first child was his age, and she too loved to sing Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star and I distinctly remember it really being one of the first songs she participated in singing.

So this lead my on my own personal Google and Wikipedia search to attempt to figure out a couple of things.

First, to whom I owe my appreciation to for creating this simple and for whatever reason attractive song.

Second, why in the world this song has such a gravitational pull?

Who

So the who part of the research was easy and interesting. The tune (which also is the tune to the traditional American ABC song) is actually a french traditional "Ah! vous dirai-je, Maman" which was published in 1761, which were then further popularized by Mozart when he used this for this piano piece "Twelve Variations on Ah vous dirai-je, Maman" presumed to have been published around 1781.

The words to Twinkle Twinkle Little Star were published in 1806 in a book called Rhymes for the Nursery by Jane and Ann Taylor. The poem, titled The Star was written by Jane (there is a free archived version of the book available here).

The poem actually has multiple stanzas that go beyond our current version of the song, back when people probably really were looking to stars saying "how I wonder what you are?"

I am unable to find when the french tune and the poem were married to one another and popularized.

Why

I ask myself, "Why do little kids get drawn to this song." Is there something inherit to our souls that is captured by those in initial staccato notes, or the descending partial scales?

And yet, I didn't find an answer here, other than I learned a new word...neuroaesthetics, in which a science blogger just a few weeks ago wrote about his or her interest in the world of the science behind why we find art attractive.

This blogger discusses how someone truly interested in neuroaesthetics is going to study simple things like the Wiggles or Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, as opposed to studying fine gallery art, and while in the comments someone asks "Please tell me nobody funds such nonsense?"

And yet, there's a part of me that would be fascinated to read a scientific study on why we're attracted to this melody/poem pairing. I don't know that if I'd personally fund it, but I'd love to read the study.

Thank you Jane Taylor, Mozart, and whoever is the Frenchman/Frenchwoman who wrote this tune, for creating something my infants have loved, in which you surely did not receive adequate royalties.

Artwork pictured is from the free archieve of the not copywrite protected, 1849 printing Rhymes for Children found here.

Chances Are You Are Not A Mega Millions Winner

2012-03-31T20:00:00.000-06:00

Chances are you are not a mega millions winner.

After a frenzy of media and gambling frenzy over the mega-millions jackpot (totally over $600 million pre-tax dollars), three winners are splitting the prize and the jackpot is reset to 12 million dollars.

I've never bought a lottery ticket, but for the first time I was tempted. I didn't, but I still paid attention to the energy behind the random draw of 6 numbers.

One of things that I think is exciting about the mega-millions jackpots like the one's we just saw is that they put people in a place where they dream about what they're life would be like if money wasn't an issue.

For some, perhaps the truth comes out about all your evil motives of being a multi-millionaire who can do horrendous things. But for most, there aren't evil motives. For most there are dreams. Many dream of some simple financial freedom (dreaming of those first checks to pay off debt, homes, etc.).

But after the financial encumbrances are shaken off, those other dreams are meaningful as well. Perhaps dreams of giving to their loved ones, great family vacations, and helping out people in need. I read stories up to the drawing of people hoping to help horses in horse sanctuaries, or help out the people in need in their city.

Or maybe you dreamed of trying your hand at writing that novel, or moving to your dream city.

If you dreamed those dreams, then you shouldn't stop because you don't have a 600 million dollar payday didn't come due.

Instead, you should figure out how you might get there (without millions of dollars). I imagine it might mean for many being free of their debts (which would mean avoiding new debts). But for others, maybe money's not even really part of the story, maybe it's fear. And getting over it to do what you dream.

Chances are you didn't win, but if you dreamed what your life would be like with it, you shouldn't stop dreaming...maybe just making the same plans with out the slim to none chances of an incredible gamble.

Bad Timing: Neighborhood Watch

2012-03-28T22:09:00.002-06:00

This July 27, Fox studios is slated to release a film called Neighborhood Watch, one of the anticipated summer blockbusters.

It stars Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, and Jonah Hill.

Yet, in the wake of the Trayvon Martin killing in Sanford, Florida (as well as it's continuing headline level controversy), this film simply has bad timing.

Fox Studios has pulled Neighborhood Watch posters and previews from Florida theaters, but at this time reports say it does not plan on pulling the film from it's July 27 release.

But, the film with it's comedic-alien theme surely will get a new poster treatment and preview treatment, especially since the current preview has Jonah Hill making a gun with his hand and
pretending to shoot teenagers.

That being said, in addition to an updated marketing campaign and geographical variations, you have to wonder if there will be further changes...if it's not a release date change, you wonder if they might go for a title change that doesn't so closely seem to connect this film to George Zimmerman, a real neighborhood watchman in the news.

October Baby

2012-03-25T13:49:00.003-06:00

This weekend I had the privilege of seeing the movie October Baby. The film, which is a small film with a budget around a million dollars. The film deals with the concepts of a failed abortion, adoption, families, forgiveness, pain, understanding our place in the world, etc.

It has all the feels of a coming-of-age drama, a tinge of Nicholas Sparks, and the life-is-a-journey road trip message.

The film which is clearly marketed towards to Christian's (Evangelical Protestants and Conservative Catholics) isn't overly religious in nature, but obviously deals with a social issue that is highly politicized.

That being said, politicized issues rarely appear in films, so there's no reason to critic a film like this for presenting a message, especially when it does so with sensitivity, working the story from a number of angles (the failed abortion survivor, the birth-mother, adopting parents, the nurse who administered the procedure, and friends and frenemies in the mix).

I loved the fact that American Idol alumni Chris Sligh is in the film and his music makes the bulk of the soundtrack (although sometimes appears in overly sentimentalized spots). But truly the great performances in the film are in the cameo performances by veteran Jasmine Guy and relative-newcomer Shari Weidman, and the lead performance by Rachel Hendrix.

The film is well produced for it's budget, the story is good, although could have benefitted from a script tightening.

Reel People: Billy Murray is Franklin D. Roosevelt

2012-03-24T14:40:00.000-06:00

The film is Hyde Park on the Hudson, directed by Roger Michell (Notting Hill, Changing Lanes, Venus) and written newcomer Richard Nelson.

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Franklin D. Roosevelt was born January 30, 1882 in Hyde Park, New York to a wealthy family. Roosevelt is said to have been raised more by his mother than his father. He took regular trips to Europe and picked up some German and French. He was an avid sportsman, including golf and sailing.

Franklin D. Roosevelt attended Harvard, and while there is fifth cousin Theodore Roosevelt became president (1902). It was also in that year he reacquainted with Eleanor Roosevelt at a White House Reception. Eleanor was Theodore's niece. Eleanor was Franklin's fifth cousin once removed.

Roosevelt graduated from Harvard in 1903, entered Columbia Law School in 1904, married Eleanor in 1905.

Before getting his juris doctorate at Columbia, Franklin Roosevelt dropped out having passed the Bar Exam and took a job with the Wall Street firm Carter Ledyard & Milburn.

Franklin Roosevelt and Eleanor Roosevelt had six children (although much has been said about Eleanor's aversion to sexual intercourse). Anna was born in 1906, James in 1907, Franklin Delano, Jr in 1909 [who died in his first year of life], Elliot in 1910, a second Franklin Delano, Jr. in 1914, and John in 1916.

In 1910, Franklin D. Roosevelt ran for New York State Senate from the Hyde Park district around Duchess County, which he won, taking his seat January 1, 1911. He resigned in March of 1913 when Woodrow Wilson appointed Roosevelt Assistant Secretary of the Navy, under Josephus Daniels. Roosevelt became a strong supporter of the Navy with proposals that often exceeded the interest of United States foreign policy in aggressive action.

During this time, Franklin Roosevelt began what is believed to be his first and most notorious affair with Lucy Mercer, who was hired in 1914 to be Eleanor's social secretary. Eleanor would find out about this affair in 1918 upon finding letters in Roosevelt's luggage. Eleanor is reported to have offered Roosevelt a diverse to be with Lucy Mercer, but Lucy refused marriage to a man with five children, and Franklin's mother Sara aggressively discouraged the divorce due to the shame it would bring on the family. Instead Roosevelt committed not to see Lucy Mercer any more, and a wedge was driven into the relationship with Eleanor and Franklin, that lead to Eleanor spending the remainder of their marriage primarily living in a separate house in Hyde Park at Val-Kill.

But this was not his only affair. He is also said to have had a 20-year affair with his private secretary Marguerite "Missy" LeHand (shared by his son Elliot in the 1973 book An Untold Story: The Roosevelts of Hyde Park). LeHand died in 1941 associated with a general decline in health and a stroke. Many attribute this decline in health to Roosevelt replacing LeHand's companionship with Princess Martha of Norway.

In 1919 the Newport Sex Scandal broke - a case that was reported on daily in the papers in which a subculture of homosexual acts and cross dressing associated with the Army and Navy YMCA broke out, and in addition to the press associated with the deeds themselves, the investigation would gain criticism for the way it's investigators used an infiltration approach that often led them to commit acts it was reporting on.

Roosevelt as assistant secretary of the Navy resigned at this time and became the Vice Presidential running mate of James Cox in 1920 presidential election. Warren G. Harding, the republican candidate won the election, and became president. After the election, Roosevelt returned to New York to practice law again.

In August of 1921 Roosevelt fell into the Bay of Fundy while boating, while everything seemed normal for the next day, he suddenly had a numb leg, that would over the days ahead lead to paralysis of his lower body and a diagnosis of poliomyelitis two months after he fell ill. His paralysis would characterize the rest of his life. In 2003 peer-review study, modern researchers suggested that Roosevelt may have actually had Guillain–Barré syndrome, a paralysis that begins at the feet and hands and migrates towards the trunk.

Roosevelt would be careful from this point forward to present himself as getting better. He was only twice photographed in his wheelchair, avoiding to use in any public place. He also taught himself to walk by using iron braces and his hips.

After working through the 1920s to assist Alfred E. Smith, maintain the position as elected democratic governor of New York, when Smith ran for president 1928 he requested Roosevelt run as his replacement in the gubernatorial elections. Roosevelt accepted the invitation and became the governor of New York in 1928. He ran for a second term in 1930, which he won.

By 1932 he was running for president as the democratic representative. He won in a time when Herbert Hoover was incredibly vulnerable due to a struggling economy in the first years of The Great Depression.

Roosevelt's first terms as president were characterized by the great depression, and what Roosevelt termed The New Deal, which led to an onslaught of new government program, including new regulative agencies and stabilization programs.

Roosevelt won his second term as president against republican candidate Alf Landon, and far less legislation was passed in this second term, with conflict within the Supreme Court over Roosevelt's Nation Recovery Act, and Roosevelt's attempt to pack the court with 6 new justices, although that attempt failed. Roosevelt also maintained a general neutrality to world affairs that he had begun under President Wilson and in the previous term by dismantling military involvement and weapon sales in Latin America.

By the time World War II broke out, Roosevelt did break with Wilson's neutrality pack and did attempt to assist Britain and France, including secret correspondence with Winston Churchill as well as supporting a break in the embargoes associated with Europe. In 1940 he made the famous quote that America should be the arsenal of democracy, attempting to create interest in intervention.

In the election of 1940 Roosevelt made a unique power grab to maintain the presidency by moving the convention to Chicago, and creating a scene that showed willingness for the convention to choose anyone, but uniquely positioning himself as a popular choice, despite the unwritten rule that presidents would only serve two terms.

Roosevelt won a third term against Republican Wendall Wilkie, and his third term was defined by WWII, which initially was involved with all efforts to assist in the fight against Nazi Germany without declaring war, but the landscape changed December 7, 1941 when Pearl Harbor was attacked. The United States involvement in the war was significantly important to the war, the changing world power structures as well as the United States economy.

It was also during this time that the affair with Lucy Mercer appears in historical records to have resumed despite Franklin's promise to stop communication with her. Including reuniting in 1941 and being with Franklin even on the day of his death. She also had the code name "Mrs. Johnson" that was used by the secret service.

Roosevelt experienced declining health in 1944, but still ran for president, with a new vice president Harry S Truman. They narrowly won against Thomas E. Dewey.

On March 29, 1945 after continued conferences aimed at strengthening world alliances and the United Nations, FDR died at the age of 63 in Warm Springs, Georgia with a cerebral hemorrhage. Roosevelt would be buried on April 14, 1945 in the rose garden of his families estate in Hyde Park.

Hyde Park on the Hudson

The story of Hyde Park on the Hudson takes place in 1939, and deals with an affair that Roosevelt had with a distant cousin Margaret Suckley over a weekend that the King and Queen of the United Kingdom visit New York.

In addition to Bill Murray playing the part President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the end of his second term, Olivia Williams plays his wife Eleanor, and Laura Linney plays his cousin Margaret Suckley.

Olivia Coleman plays Queen Elizabeth and Samuel West plays King George VI.

Bill Murray's only Oscar nomination was for his role in Lost in Translation (2004), but a portrayal of FDR is sure to give Murray a chance to top-line on some awards list. Will Murray receive his second Oscar nomination for portraying this Real (Reel) Person?

The Hunger Games & Kids Killing Kids in Movies

2012-03-23T19:21:00.000-06:00

Kids don't usually die in movies.

Even less frequent is a plot that involves one kid killing another kid. Kid's murdering kids usually doesn't get people in the theater, and so it seems the topic is generally viewed as taboo.

Trying to think of a mainstream film with a degree of popularity that contains this plot element I finally came up with the film Pay It Forward. While the death of the central character at the hand of another similarly aged kid is central to the emotional climax, a plot choice of this kind has a tendency for surprise and even offense.

I ask this question going into the big film weekend we'd expect for the film The Hunger Games. This film will surely dominate at the box office and has received warm critical ratings, and yet it contains a disturbing central plot element - kids killing kids.

Arguably, this plot element is part of the intrigue, and even the broader discussion one could have about The Hunger Games book and film, and yet when I read the book, I was disturbed, but also questioned how this theme plays out in audiences.

People were sensitive to kid violence long before the 1999 Columbine shootings, but it seems that if there was ever a time that created a heightened sensitivity to the theme it was the years that followed.

Even now, the buzz trend (and the Weinstein documentary of the hour) deals with the topic of bullying and the way kids, specifically teens treat each other and potential impact each other more than they might be aware of with their words and actions.

And yet, somehow Suzanne Collins, and now director Gary Ross, in telling a story with wide popularity (particularly among teens and young adults) that hits a taboo topic in a way that no one seems to mind.

The Hunger Game - First Book Thoughts

2012-03-20T19:24:00.005-06:00

With the wide popularity of the young adult series and the film coming out, I knew I had to get my hands on Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games.

I anticipate some additional posts on some of these topics, but here's the first thoughts on the book (We'll try to keep these relatively spoiler free).

► The book isn't a phenomenal piece of "literature" in the sense that it's writing style is only so-so.

►In terms of plot and suspense, it's definitely one that keeps the reader engaged. I credit this to ease of read, "plot shock," continued suspense, and very good plot pacing.

► When I read this, one of the earliest thoughts I had was that somehow some of the shock value in the book (a premise about kids killing kids) might seem increasingly disturbing in a film version.

► There was often times I felt like the set up of the actual "Hunger Games" themselves seemed oddly similar to the TV Show Survivor including some of the promotion and filming associated with the story. Too me, that was a sting against Collins creativity.

►Part of me wonders if this book will become a "classic" (in the loosest sense of the word) or just be fad fiction, and there is a part of me, that could see this book taking a "classic" type of role, particularly if it becomes a staple of the education system, which I could see as possible since I think it reads in such a way that teachers could use it as a teaching stage for middle school and early high school.

►Part of me wonders if making a film will hurt it's chances of filling that "classic" role.

►I think there is a fascination in literature with Utopian/anti-Utopian literature, and when literature doesn't get too sci-fi (which I don't think this book does) people gravitate towards it.

► I think Gary Ross had an easy job in adapting this book to film because the book reads almost like a screenplay. The scenes play straight without a lot of figurative language, the narrative is pretty straight forward, and the descriptions are detailed enough that you can picture the action, not to mention there is almost always action and short dramatic scenes. Some of that seems natural to the book due to the fact that many of the scenes are written as "televised on TV."

► The book is certainly the type that leaves you wanting to recommend it, talk about it, and read subsequent books in the series (which I plan to do)

Reel People: Kat Dennings is Renee Yohe

2012-03-10T21:12:00.001-07:00

The film is Renee. Renee is directed by Nathan Frankowitz with screenplay and story by Kate King Lynch and Nathan Frankowitz.

Renee Yohe

Renee Yohe was born sometime in the late eighties. By the time she was 19 was in a bad spot, with severe depression, involved in self-injury ("cutting"), and had a drug and alcohol addiction.

At this time, in February 2006, she had a life changing encounter in which she met Jamie Tworkowski. Where some friends only encouraged the bad habits, Jamie wanted to see Renee be free of her pain and additions.

Renee Yohe would use razor blades to write foul and degrading things on her arms, and when Jamie tried to help get Renee into a drug rehabilitation center, they would not accept her due to being to high of a risk, primarily due to the self-injury and the level of detox needed.

So, instead Jamie Tworkowski and his friends took Renee in, and over five days they helped her in her detox as well as helped raise money for Renee's detox by selling t-shirts.

After five days, she handed Jamie her last razor blade and was able to be admitted into rehabilitation.

During this time, the group and non-profit continued to raise money for Renee's rehab and the message hit the road with bands like Amberlin and Switchfoot, giving an opportunity to sell T-Shirts and share the message.

Renee and Jamie are now a part of a movement called "To Write Love on Her Arms," a non-profit organization based in Melbourne, Florida (originally based on Cocoa, FL) where a staff of 12 continue their global effort.

Renee

In addition to staring Kat Dennings at Renee Yohe, the film also stars Chad Michael Murray as Jamie Tworkowski.

The film also has roles for Rupert Friend and Corbin Bleu, and is marketed not just as an inspirational film event, but as a film that tells the story of tragedy and redemption in a unique way with a multi-level story about dreams and fantasies. The film is also promoted for his indie-movie soundtrack.

Kat Dennings certainly has the skill for an Oscar nomination, and it's hard to tell exactly how this film might resonate with a wider film audience, but who knows...Will Kat Dennings receive her first Oscar nomination for portraying this Real (Reel) Person?

One Year Old's Favorite Book - Redux

2012-03-10T19:48:00.004-07:00

Shortly after my daughter turned one, I did a post entitled: "My 1 Year Old's Top 10 Favorite Books."

Now that my son Shepherd has just turned one, I thought I would do a similar post.

But doing 10, wasn't going to work. He hasn't clung to books the way my daughter did, and while he does enjoy one of her one year old favorites (Today is Monday by Eric Carle). The other's haven't grabbed him in the same way.

Instead though, it's very easy for me to identify his favorite book.

So instead of a top 10, he gets a top 1.

When I sit him down in the little club chair and read him a bed time story he will always sit still for a peaceful and calm reading of Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown.

And I won't lie, I enjoy it to. Something about it's rhythm (although sometimes slightly less than rhythmic), it's nothing-special pictures that line up well with the book, and the irregular amount of text on each page makes this an enjoyable read for both of us.

Bully & It's Plea for a PG-13 Rating

2012-03-05T23:20:00.003-07:00

Pictured here is a link box on the website for the upcoming documentary Bully.

Bully which is the Weinstein Co.'s next release, is a documentary about bullying which is due in theaters March 30th.

The film is previewed and touted as a powerful film of real stories of teens and the challenges they face with bullying.

I have received an e-mail or two about a petition to change the films rating, which appears to be appeal to get wider viewership, and open up the opportunity for the film to be more freely shown in schools.

The Steven Zeitchik for the Los Angeles Times writes:

The Rev. Jesse Jackson and Rep. Mike Honda (D-San Jose) have touted its importance. A Michigan teenager unaffiliated with the film has started a petition in favor of a more lenient rating from the Motion Picture Assn. of America — it was given an R for profane language — and has gathered nearly 200,000 signatures to date.

That being said, the Michigan teenager mentioned, Katy Butler, I feel has the right attitude and idea that a PG-13 rating probably would increase the films viewers, but all reports indicate that neither the film's director, Lee Hirsch or the Weinstein Co., are interested in editing out select passages with foul language to make the ratings meet the MPAA standards.

Which I get it - I get both sides, and yet, I think the ball is truly in the movie producers court to consider a re-edit (or alternative version for public presentation, such as schools), rather than suggesting that a petition could change the rating.

While the rating system is somewhat arbitrary at times, there is a general framework of standards associated with the ratings (although always changing). But it would be like a candy bar company collecting signatures to get the nutrition counsel to change it's nutrition label standards to make the candy more have wider appeal verses changing the contents of the candy bar (or accepting it the way it is).

This is a case where you will not find my name on the petition. I do think the film deals with an important concept, and I hope that the film has an impact and starts important conversations regarding this very real topic.