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Love through Snail Mail

Yesterday
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JoeyMose pointed out the trailer to Letters to Juliet to me, telling me that it's a romantic comedy I probably wouldn't like.

Letters to Juliet-Trailer

On the contrary, it is a movie I'm interested in!

First of all, I've grown to like Amanda Seyfried (especially after Mamma Mia!), and this film even looks a little like the ABBA-based musical, with European scenery and love in the air (I believe even Seyfried's character is named Sophie!).

Second, it's a story about love that spans a lifetime. Vanessa Redgrave plays someone who wrote a letter to Juliet (from Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet") in 1957, and Amanda Seyfried's character finds it in modern-day time and decides to reply to the letter.

Third, I love letter writing. I find letters and mail to be a lost artform -- so I'm totally into this!

ABBA gets a 'Ring, Ring' from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

2 days ago
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I was very excited to read about the new Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees yesterday. Genesis, the Stooges, the Hollies and -- ABBA!

I personally feel that ABBA has directly influenced all of popular music we hear today on the radio. Their music knows how to be catchy ("Take a Chance On Me"), yet poignant ("The Winner Takes It All"), while also being just plain fun ("Does Your Mother Know?"). And it all started with "Waterloo," which won ABBA the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest.

The question is whether ABBA will perform at the 2010 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony. ABBA member Benny Anderson has said many times over that no one wants to see ABBA perform live because they would only be trying to recreate the magic they had decades ago, a mere cover band of themselves. As much as I respect this, I still think they should get together for one performance to celebrate their legacy in popular music.

Golden Globe Nominations: It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

3 days ago
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In my book, the Golden Globes mark the official beginning of the Oscar race. From now until March 7, it's officially on! With every movie that gets released, I will be thinking about golden statuettes.

I'll admit that this year's GG movie nominations aren't all that exciting like last year's (Kate Winslet in dual categories!), but there were a few surprises.

Golden Globes!

This year I was delighted to see 500 Days of Summer get nominated for Best Comedy/Musical (hopefully, this will lead to a nomination for Best Picture with the Academy Awards). The Hangover also got a Best Comedy/Musical nod (something the marketing team was gunning for!). However, notably missing was A Serious Man; instead, the lukewarm Julie & Julia was nominated (perpetuating the theory that Meryl Streep gives great performances in mediocre movies).

Another surprise was Avatar for Best Picture Drama. I seriously wasn't expecting this! I might have to actually see this film now. Avatar edged out An Education, which is surprising considering that if Education isn't resonating with Americans, I always assumed it resonated with the folks across the pond. Turns out, the Foreign Press ain't having it either.

I do however find it funny that this has suddenly become Sandra Bullock's year. While she's garnering decent reviews for The Blind Side, her nomination for The Proposal is surprising considering the scathing reviews it received. Plus, this was also the year she released All About Steve, the worst reviewed movie of her career (with a 6% on Rotten Tomatoes). Could she be this year's Kate Winslet?? Really???

In terms of the Television side of the Golden Globes, I find that these nominations are tired. Every year when the Best Supporting Actor is announced, you can guarantee Jeremy Piven and Neil Patrick Harris will be nominated. It's almost like other actors are only competing for three spots -- Piven and Harris are THAT solid.

Frankly, other than "Modern Family" and "Mad Men," I wasn't all that excited for the nominations. "The Office" is having one of its worst seasons yet, and I feel like their nomination is only because of how good it was in seasons past. How about giving "Community" some recognition? And even diehard "Entourage" fans have remarked that it's not as good as it once was. I feel like the Foreign Press are just lazy in the television categories.

I miss 'The Bozo Show'!

4 days ago
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This is the first Christmas in a long time where I'm attempting to watch all of my favorite holiday movies, listen to all of my favorite music, and get more into the spirit of things (you might be wondering who is brainwashing me). Every year, I let the season go by without enjoying it at all. Working in retail for nearly four years now, it's not the most wonderful time of year.

I decided to look up holiday relics I haven't seen in years.

When I was a kid, my brother and I used to watch "The Bozo Show," starring Bozo the Clown and other hilarious painted-faces (Spiffy and Cookie to name a few). My brother and I would practice for the "Grand Prize Game" -- a game consisting of 6 buckets where you would get a prize for throwing a ping-pong ball into each bucket you got. If you got to bucket 6 (and this RARELY happened), you would get the Grand Prize!

The show was entertaining, not only for us kids, but also for our parents -- especially at Christmas time when Bozo would air old holiday short films like "Suzy Snowflake":

And my personal favorite, "Hardrock, Coco and Joe":

It's funny that when my mom rewatched these movies years ago when we were kids, it reminded her of her childhood. And now, it reminds me of my childhood (even though, these films were from decades before I was even born).

So I guess this Christmas, by watching these videos and old movies, I'm trying to recreate the innocence and happiness of Christmas from my childhood. But then again, I suppose that's what we're all trying to do in a sense (or at least find that happiness people have been singing carols about for years).

'White Christmas': Most homoerotic Christmas movie ever?

5 days ago
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I have a theory that there are two kinds of Christmas people in this world. Those who like Holiday Inn, the classic black and white film starring Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire about an inn dedicated to celebrating holidays, and those who like White Christmas, the holiday tale of a celebration surrounding a war hero.

Holiday Inn is where the "White Christmas" song originated.

I prefer Holiday Inn because I grew up on it. It's probably my single most favorite Christmas movie because it reminds me of growing up.

However, White Christmas gets more respect and exposure, which is troubling for me as a HI fan. The war hero theme in the film has always seemed weird to me, the fact that Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye are so obsessed with their commanding general and are more concerned with his happiness than that of Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellen (two hotties!). Plus, there's this little gem of a scene:

I know this is a bit far-fetched, but if you watch the film, you'll see what I mean. And of course, there's nothing wrong with a little homoeroticism around the holidays, but doesn't anyone feel a little bad for Clooney and Ellen as the "beards" in this film?

The end of Christmas songs?

7 days ago
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Surprisingly, I've been listening to Christmas music this season (last year, I boycotted). A few weeks ago, my mother had asked me if I was going to buy Tori Amos' Christmas album, since I've been a huge Amos fan since high school. I said, "No. Unless she has written new Christmas material that's amazing, I'm not interested."

This got me thinking. Have all of the Christmas classics been written and performed already? Is there any real need for artists to release Christmas albums anymore?

Every year now I feel like some fly-by-night artist releases a new Christmas song that just gets added to the all-day Christmas rotation only to be forgotten about years later. My brother texted me on Thanksgiving and said a radio DJ was playing Christmas music and said to his listeners, "It's not the holidays without 98 Degrees," before playing Nick Lachey and crew. I found this hilarious considering the holidays did quite fine on their own without "This Gift" fifteen years ago.

Personally, my favorite Christmas album is by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass from 1968. Yes, they do play classic holiday songs, but their style makes them sound fresh and new. I've always hated "My Favorite Things," but they manage to make it sound completely original. Plus, this album has stood the test of time. It's still featured on radio stations today. Will we be talking about 98 Degrees in another 40 years?

My favorite gifts of the Holiday Season

Dec 9, 2009
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Every season, I struggle to find unique items to give to people. Usually, I try to relate my gifts to pop culture (since my family, too, is obsessed with movies, television, and music just like me).

This year, I have three favorite gift ideas.

One, is the Tauntaun sleeping bag from ThinkGeek. Remember when Han Solo cut open the Tauntaun so Luke Skywalker could keep warm? This gift is a play on that! I read an article in New York Times Magazine that said this gift was actually a joke gift at first and then so many people demanded it that it became "real."

Tauntaun warmth action

Second, is "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia" towel creation (with a not-safe-for-work-or-perhaps-anyone video). I've decided not to include an image so I don't get removed from Vox. However, if you've ever watched "Sunny," you know exactly what I'm talking about.

Third, is the "I'm with Hostage" tee from Jetpack Agenda.

Patty Hearst would be proud

While I'm rather partial to this web site, I love that this tee combines the classic "I'm with Stupid" with a crisis situation. Because often times, it is a crisis to be with someone stupid.

Hollywood ruins anything classic

Dec 8, 2009
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Still on my holiday movie kick, I started watching 1945's Christmas in Connecticut, starring Barbara Stanwyck.

CHRISTMAS IN CONNECTICUT TRAILER 1945 BARBARA STANWYCK

I was immediately struck by the great premise. A writer has a column about food and life in her country home in Connecticut when really she's a single gal writing from her cramped apartment in New York City. However, when a sailor returns from the War with wishes to have a Christmas in Connecticut, the writer must fake a life in order to keep her job (she even "adopts" a baby!).

What a classic story! I immediately thought to myself, "I'm surprised Hollywood hasn't ruined this yet with a remake."

And lo and behold, Jennifer Garner is in talks for a redo according to IMDB. This made me cringe. Jennifer Garner is likeable enough (in my opinion, her best role to date was Juno), but for some reason with this remake I picture talk about Blackberry phones and Martha Stewart over a soundtrack that consists of Duffy.

I'll watch K. Chen in anything

Dec 7, 2009
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In my channel surfing, I occasionally land on the Lifetime network (mostly for their "Will & Grace" reruns). While they usually have the run-of-the-mill chick flick crap around the holidays, I was pleasantly surprised to see a commercial for 12 Men of Christmas starring Kristin Chenoweth.

"12 Men of Christmas" Preview

After having watched the movie, I think it's safe to say I will watch Kristin Chenoweth doing her laundry at this point. The girl can do no wrong. She has a fabulous voice, she's naturally hilarious, and she's too cute to boot. While the story is predictable (a fish-out-of-water, city girl moves to the country farce), it's mainly pure fun and Chenoweth makes it so.

Pure cheese, but good cheese -- the best Lifetime has to offer this holiday season.

Jake Gyllenhaal: A Yinzer?

Dec 5, 2009
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Jake Gyllenhaal was recently on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" and showed off his new Steelers tat (I'm pretty sure it's fake). He's been in Pittsburgh for the past three months filming Love and Other Drugs.

Jake Gyllenhaal on Jimmy Kimmel Live PART 1

I still have my Post-Gazette map of where the star had been spotted, and ironically enough, he was hanging around in gay-friendly Shadyside (so much for extinguishing those gay rumors with a romance with Reese Witherspoon).