Avatar IMAX

Momma said we could go to the movies if I was home before midnight. So Mikey from Jersey, Sam, Steven, Mr. Adam & I all went to go see Avatar on the IMAX here in NYC. We loved it! I was totally enthralled by the special effects and the 3-D shit. I couldn't figure out how they made the blue people so realistic. I want a blue person!

Was the story original? Absolutely not. It was Pocahontas on another planet. Was the movie preachy about big business and how it destroys the endowment? Well, no - it was honest. And the facts are the facts. They didn't need to be sugarcoated so Republicans can feel good about how they don't care. I found the whole concept of the "braid" connecting with nature (wildlife, plant life and the actual planet) interesting. How we're all connected or rather - the blue people. The fight scenes both hand to hand & the war scenes were spectacular. I think I would like to see this movie again. And that is something I never do. Should you see this? Hell yes! And do on the IMAX!

The Phantom of the Opera

Last Friday night Mikey from Jersey took Mr. Adam & I to the theater. We saw The Phantom of the Opera here on Broadway. OK, let's go...

The last time I saw this show (on Broadway) was in 1990 with my dear friend Meg. Mr. Adam had never seen Phantom except for the movie. So we went. Tourists. Tourists and more tourists. We had excellent orchestra seats and I have to admit, I was a little excited about seeing the show again after 20 years. We had to endure during the entire Act I of the show some dumbass foreigner's translation box turned up so loud I though I was going to kill. Phantom is a musical with specific quiet and silent points on purpose and all I heard was some female/electronic translation device running and running. I thought the Jersey guy next to us was going to kill someone. At intermission we dealt with the stupid tourists. They tried to save money and bought one translator which "should be" held next to the ear, not shared and held out like a walkie talkie. HATE! I hated her! Dumb bitch. Act II was better, well for noise levels. Let's talk the show now....

We saw the new phantom, Christine & Raoul. Can you say bad? Follow with me kids "BAD". Christine not only didn't have the vocal chops to sing her role, but she was a really bad actress. How bad ryan charisma? Well, let me say that there was nothing organic about her blocking. She walked on and moved on the stage merely hitting her marks and moving her arms. Raoul's songs were dropped to be baritone. What's with that? And no, he wasn't the understudy. I forgave Raoul somewhat, my friends didn't. The phantom - eh, I'd like to say that maybe he was just new and still getting used to the show. But from what I understand he's been swinging the role for quite a while. Too bad, it's his show and he was merely mediocre.

Should I see it ryan charisma? Well only under two circumstances: 1) if their understudies are on. I can't see how they'd be any worse. Or 2) if they recast the show. The sets, costumes and supporting cast were great and in fine shape for a play over two decades running. But those leads. Someone saved some money.

The Book of Eli

Last weekend Michael, Mr. Adam & I went to go see Denzel's new flick The Book of Eli. What did you think of it ryan charisma? Well, I'll tell you. I liked it much more than my movie cohorts did. I think the post-apocalyptic storyline is WAY too common these days. But in a weird way I feel they (the post apocalyptic movies) give me preparation on how to survive when the world only has a few hundred people left and they're all eating each other. Survival skills kids, survival skills.

Denzel kicked royal ass in this movie. I really enjoyed the action scenes. The movie's storyline was interesting. Eli (Denzel Washington) has the last copy of The Bible on earth. All the others were destroyed after "the big flash" because The Bible was considered the cause of the Earth's demise. Which is totally understandable (just look at what the dumb Christian fundamentalist fucks are doing now). Eli comes across Gary Oldman's character and he wants The Bible to "control the weak minded and stupid" (ain't that the truth). Then the violence begins. I won't give away the ending, but I will tell you - it's kind of a fizzle ending. Should I see it ryan charisma? Sure, but on DVD.

Present Laughter

Michael took me to see Broadway's newest old play Present Laughter starring Victor Garber. This 1930's play is not one of Noël Coward's best plays as far as I'm concerned. For a comedy it certainly had quite a few, shall we say, unfunny moments. Did you hate the show ryan charisma? No! Certainly not. But for such a large cast, it certainly isn't something I'd take an out-of-towner to go see. No matter how strong the star power is. The show for lack of a better word - drags. In Act II, Scene 1 I didn't think I would actually be able to bear a long conversation between two characters. It went on endlessly and quite frankly - I zoned it right out.

Now honestly, I'm a huge fan of many older plays. Some by
Noël Coward himself. But I just don't think this is worth $120 a ticket. There I said it. Should you go see this? Nah, only if you have a personal connection to the play. It's long and has poor "speed of life". There, I said it.

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

Well, Momma has finished another book. This book "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" was pretty good. It was written by the late Stieg Larsson. Now I know that this is the first book in the Millennium Trilogy, but I have to tell you I'm very tempted not to read the other two. I'll have to wait and see. Did you like the book ryan charisma? Well, I did, but not until I was one third done with it. The book was originally written in Swedish so many of the names and cities are also Swedish. I can't tell you how distracting I found these complex words that mean nothing to me in English. But the story itself was interesting. It's a murder mystery so I won't give too much away, but I have to tell you. I only predicted half of the ending of this book. So there is some surprise.

The story is about a man who has nothing left (don't they all?) and is hired by a wealthy, elderly man to not only write the history of his wealthy family, but to find out a 30 year old missing girl mystery. Fun! Should you read this? Only if you really have a need to. I'll admit it, the whole beginning drags.

A Single Man

Last weekend Mikey from Jersey, Mr. Adam & I went to go see A Single Man by Tom Ford. The movie starred Colin Firth. I have to say that this movie had me mixed up. I felt that Mr. Ford captured the late 60's, early 70's perfectly right up to the faux period cinematography. But I felt that this art house film was exceedingly "art house". I almost felt as though this was a really, really good directing student's film. But a student film none-the-less. It mirrored so many other art house films that I've seen in terms of sound, color & editing that I was torn.

Yes, I liked this film. I found the story almost unbearable. It's about a man, whose lover of 16 years dies suddenly in a car crash, and his organizing his life and matters so that he can commit suicide. Heartbreaking, heart wrenching. A very good movie with a very difficult subject matter. Should you see it? Hell yes, and let me know if you think the art house stuff was laid on a little thick? kisses, you know Momma loves you!

Up In The Air

Adam, Jim and I went to go see George Clooney in Up In The Air. I have to say, I liked it. First let's chat about George Clooney. Mr. Clooney is so damn good looking. He really is a movie star. But I must say that in this film there was a "bed" scene where Mr. Clooney was shirtless. Not so pretty. Because Mr. Clooney has the chest of a 14 yo boy he fits in suits nicely. But his handsome, gorgeousness doesn't help when he's undressed. As a matter of fact, he should never do nude nor shirtless. It's not right. OK, let's chat about the movie...

I thought Up In the Air was excellent. It's definitely not a feel good movie. It's about a man who makes a living laying off employees. He moves from one company to another and does the dirty work that the bosses don't want to do. His job is to be cut lose the workers. With a job like that it's no wonder he has no responsibility with relationships. His only friends are his flyer miles. His family is his backpack. "What's in your backpack?" He has the airport down to a science, yet fails miserably with relationships. This movie doesn't have a gee wow Hollywood ending. It actually is somewhat more realistic. I won't ruin it for you, because this movie, on the big screen or on DVD will be just as good. Should you see it? Yes.