Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Happy New Year!!!!

Hi, everyone! How are you guys this morning? I know I'm blogging kindof early but you know....I'm up! lol. Anywho I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year! It's 2011; new year and new life! lol. Don't ask me what I am talking about.



So today I want to do a few things: I want to pay homage to Teena Marie and review 2 movies.



When Scott Pilgrim Saves the World came out in theaters I thought it looked pretty cool. Just not cool enough for me to spend $10 on. But months later I found myself drowing in a sea of ennui so I decided to rent a couple of movies, one being Scott Pilgrim. Ugh! It totally, unexpectedly rocked!!!!! This movie hands down is one of the coolest movies I've ever seen in my life. The movie is based on the comic book written by Bryan Lee O'Malley and is directed by Edgar Wright. It stars Micheal Cera as Scott, a 21 year old guy who's apart of an awesome Canadian garage band. He falls in love with Ramona played by Elizabeth Winstead. Things are going well until he finds himself battling Ramona's evil exes in order to keep her heart. What makes the movie so interesting is the amazing music and the colorful, eye-popping video game like special effects. The story was pretty good too...and quite funny to boot with appearances by Kieran Culkin and Jonathan Swartzman. I usually prefer to rent movies and not buy them because I don't enjoy watching movies once I've seen them. (don't ask why) but I am pretty sure I am going to buy this dvd. I most def recommend you all see this movie if you haven't already.

Grade- A.

For Christmas I decided to treat my mother to dinner and a movie. We ate heartily at TGI Fridays and then went to Loews movie complex. Our movie of choice: The Tourist starring Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie. Okay, for one thing it is 100% very smart to put 2 such attractive ppl in the same movie together. I hardly know what it's about from oogling at Johnny and sighing at Angelina. But I'll try to give you a synopsis: A mysterious woman (Jolie) is being tracked by a government agency in Italy. She gets a letter from an old acquaintance who is obviously wanted by the government. He tells her to board a train and find a person who looks like him to sit with so the agency would think it's indeed him. She sits by an American tourist (Depp) and an adventure ensues! While Scott Pilgrim was awesomely cool, The Tourist was simply charming. Directed by Florian Hecknel von Donnersmark The Tourist contains a twist at the end that'll leave you smiling!

Grade- B

And now I want to take the time to pay homage to Teena Marie who died the morning after Christmas 2010. Teena Marie was a legendary R&B singer who's career stretched from the early 1980's to the present. She started on Motown Records, moved to Epic Records in 1983 and after an 14 year hiatus signed with Cash Money Records in 2004. She was found responsive by her daughter on the afternoon of December 26 and an autopsy will ensue. I just want to send my condolensces out to her family as we all remember a musical jewel.

R.I.P Teena Marie.


Let me know what you think.

Until next time,

Lew

Thursday, December 23, 2010

I know...I know....:P

Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! lol. I know. I know. I haven't blogged all year. Since April of this year actually. Sorry. What is my excuse? I don't have one. I'm just sorry. lol. (Being lazy, of course!) But now I'm back and in full effect! This blog is going to remain the same which means I will be posting interesting news stories and movie and book reviews. That's what I do! Shall we begin?

Okay, so today I'm going to review The Sorcerer's Apprentice starring Nicolas Cage, Easy- A starring Emma Stone and then I'm going to talk a little about that horrifying Lakers vs. Bucks game that ended disastrously last night! lol.


So, this weekend I rented two movies, The Sorcerer's Apprentice and Easy-A. Both were great rentals!

The Sorcerer's Apprentice stars Nicolas Cage as good wizard Balthazar who has for centuries searched for the descendent of Merlin whom will also have his marvelous power. He meets the little boy in 2000 and that goes awry when his enemy played by Alfred Molina is unleashed. Then he meets up with the boy played by Jay Baruchel in 2010 and together they have to stop Maxim Horvath (Molina) from unleashing a powerful, evil wizardress! I was not sure about this movie since it stars Mr. Cage. I'm sorry but many of his current movies have been terrible, from Bangkok, to The Knowing (one of the worst movies ever!) and even Astro Boy was terribly acted. (That's a cartoon!) But I must say that he did justice in this movie. It was eye catching from the very beginning with the fight out between Balthazar and Maxim in an antique shop. Throw in the charming but dorky personality that Jay brings to every one of his movies and you have a cute but adventurous tale of magic, science and love. I definitely recommend this movie for you all to rent.

Grade- B+

Next, I watched Easy A starring Emma Stone as an ignored teenage girl named Olive who discovers an easy way to become popular fast: become a trollop by pretending to sleep with alot of dorky boys and make them popular too. But she finds out that the reputation of a skank is a hard one to manage gracefully especially when religious fanatic Marianne (played by the lovely Amanda Bynes) decides that she has to go! This a very funny tale inspired by the Scarlette Letter written by Nathaniel Hawthorne. I laughed throughout the movie and enjoyed it immensely. I definitely recommend you rent this movie soon.

Grade- B+

Okay. So now let's talk about this game last night between the Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks. Point blank the Bucks tore the Lakers to pieces. And this was very upsetting since the Bucks are a mediocre basketball team. Pictures of an angry, pouting Kobe Bryant can be searched on the internet and I can't help but giggle at the sight. It's so amazing to me how he has played basketball for 14 years and have won and lost games dozens of times and he still gets so mad when he loses. Poor Kobe:( lol. I definitely understand the embarrassment of being a top tier team and losing to Bucks. Add in the knowledge that Kobe was in a minor car accident and damaged his expensive car earlier that day and you have a star in a very bad mood. But I can't help but laugh because the Lakers are still in the running to the NBA championships; they are 21-8 now, won last year (and 15 other championships to boot) and Kobe must learn that everyone have bad days. Don't get so upet! lol. We love you anyway! You're Kobe! He's probably thinking about how the Celtics are pretty much #1 in the league thus far but he must remember that the Lakers beat them last year. So what? Kobe, you're handsome, rich and have a beautiful family (Vanessa Laine is a lucky chick if there ever was one). Take a deep breath and smile!

And that goes for all of you out there, too. Whenever you find yourself getting upset, remember that having good and bad days is a part of life and that it's going to be alright. Take a breath and smile:)


Let me know what you think.

Until next time,

Lew

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Julie and Julia, UP and What is it with these Hoarders?

Hi, everyone! How are you guys this fine morning? I'm doing well. The sun is shining. Hooray! I know what you guys are saying. March 25th Lew? Why was your last post all the way back on March 25th? I'm sorry. I've been crazy busy and preoccupied lately. But I'm back and plan to post more frequently.


Okay. So for today I'm going to review two movies I've watched recently, Julie and Julia and UP as well as the tv show Hoarders.

I watched UP last week and I must say that it was such a refreshing and ridiculously cute animated film. It is about an elderly man named Carl Fredricksen(voiced by Ed Asner) who decides to go on a lifelong wanted adventure to South America and suspends his house by thousands of helium balloons. A young eager Wilderness Explorer named Russell (voiced by Jordan Nagai) gets caught up in the adventure and have the time of their lives. It was made by Pixar for Disney and was released in 3D in theaters. Too bad I missed the 3D because I rented it but it was definitely worth the rent. I teared and laughed the entire adventure through. This film won Academy Awards for Best Animated film and Origianl Score and it deserved both awards. I definitely recommend you rent this film for the entire family and score it- A.


The second movie I most recently watched was Julie and Julia starring Amy Adams and Meryl Streep. It's based on two books, one by Julie Powell in whcih she tells of her expereince of cooking all of the recipes (524) in Julia Child's infamous cookbook Mastering the Art of French Cooking in one year; the other book is My Life In France, Julia Child's autobiography. The two books are masterfully interwoven to present the dramatic comedy and I absolutely loved it! Meryl Streep's portrayal of Julia Child is spot on and she is radiant as ever. The movie is written and directed by Nora Ephron and received a number of Academy Award nominations. I recommend this film to everyone and score it A.

Okay. Unfortunately, on a less enthusiastic note, I want to briefly talk about the new TLC show called Hoarders. The show is reality tv at its best (sacasm). It goes into the lives of people who for some reason decide to keep everything they come in contact with and place the items everywhere in their home until piles and piles of junk and trash are formed and they are drowning in it. Ummm. I don't get it. I don't get why people would do this. And this is coming from a person who chooses to keep most documents acquired for long periods of time. But it never gets to the point of what you see on this show so and of course I don't find any logical reason for keeping what is obvious trash so....what is it that makes these people want to keep everything until they are living in piles of germ containing filth and someone has to come and make them clean it up? I just don't get it. I know there is a psychologist out there somewhere who perhaps know exactly what is wrong with these people and they need to explain it to me. It's just plain nasty and most of these people are adults. Moreover, making this matter into a tv show is just plain wrong. This issue like rehab, finding love and every other private matter that people SHOULD NOT place on tv but do should not be shared with the world. I can't watch the show for more than a minute each time;exactly who is watching this show and why? TLC is primarily known for it's bay and birthing shows (reality tv that is understandable since it's pretty educational as welll as interesting) but they went completely wrong with this one. Sigh. SMH.

Well, that's what I have to say about that. Let me know what you think.

Until next time,

Lew

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Catchup, The Proposal, and movies coming out and I want to see.

Hi everybody! How are you guys this morning? I'm doing well, thanks. lol.

So today I'm going to just list a few of the juicy events that have happened since I took my leave of absence and some opinions about them. And then I'm going to review The Proposal for you guys and talk about some movies that are out and I want to see or that are coming out and I want to see them.


So since I've been gone: 1. there's been a tragic earthquake in Haiti through which 250,000 people have lost their lives. This was a catastrophe of epic proportions. However, many people turned out to help the people of Haiti including Wyclef Jean, George Clooney and Drew Barrymore who sponsored and organized the Haiti relief concert that aired on television and all over the internet. I watched via youtube and donated what I could to the efforts. Some of my most memorable performances came from Mary J. Blige, Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake, Jennifer Hudson, Cheryle Crowe, Keith Urban, Kid Rock and Beyonce. Loved it!
2.The 82nd Oscars aired on March 7. I did tune in and enjoyed the simple but funny antics of hosts Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin. Everybody was beautiful and everyone who won deserved it even though I was really hoping that Gabore Sidibe won Best Actress and George Clooney Best Actor. Nevertheless, congratulations to Sandra Bullock and Jeff Bridges who actually won those awards.
3.Corey Haim former teen idol died of Pneumonia with a possible connection to drugs on March 10, 2010. Haim starred in a Canadian tv show and in many movies but in most known for his role in Lost Boys which is deemed as an 80's classic. It has been announced that he did have Pneumonia at the time of his death but toxicology reports are still being done to rule out drugs. R.I.P Corey Haim 1972-2010.
4.President Obama's Health Care Bill was passed this past Sunday. I will report on that with more detail another day.
6. A couple of women have come forward saying they had affairs with Sandra Bullock's husband Jesse James. Since then they couple has planned to divorce and details of their prenup have surfaced and it has been reported that the document makes sure each keep all of their own assets after their seperation. That was smart!


Okay, enough of the hub drub. So, I watched The Proposal starring Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds during Spring Break. And I loved it! It is a great movie that makes you sigh and laugh all in the same gesture. It's about a selfish, tough-as-nails chief book editor (Bullock) who is threatened to be deported back to her hometown of Canada if she doesn't come up with an idea. She suddenly gets the idea to make her overworked assistant (Reynolds) to lie and say they are married and agree to marry her. She proposes this just before Reynolds is to attend his grandmother's 89th b-day party in his hometown of Sitka, Canada. She attends the party along with Reynolds with the intentions to meet the family, get married and divorce soon after. There's just one problem: They fall in love during the weekend after she sees just how wonderful a guy Reynolds is. The movie is pretty predictable but the story and acting is just so good that it still is great to watch. And with wonderful performances by Craig T. Nelson (Reynold's father), Mary Steenburgen (Reynold's mother) and Betty White (Reynold's grandmother) The Proposal is a delight! I rate this move: B+ and recommend you all rent or buy it if you haven't already.


Okay. So there are a few movies that have come out that I want to see or are coming out that I want to see. These include: Brooklyn's Finest starring Don Cheadle, Wesley Snipes, Richard Gere and Ethan Hawke. It came out on March 5 and is a gritty crime dram about the lives of four members of the Brooklyn PD. Alice In Wonderland also came out on March 5th and is Tim Burton's take on the silly but classic story of a girl who falls into a foolish parallel universe. And of course, I will see it in IMAX 3D!

I also want to see Repo Men starring Forest Whitaker and Jude Law and with a story similar to Repo! The Rock Opera which was one of the weirdest movies I'd ever seen. It's a futuristic thriller about a company who sells high end organ replacements for those who real organs fail them. They are expensive and they do offer a payment plan but if you miss a payment the company sends Forest and Jude to repossess their property. Good stuff! This movie came out March 19.

Coming out on April 16 is the new installment to Marvel movies call Kick-A** which is about a group of kids who decide to become real life super heroes and help fight crime. It looks like it's going to be adventurous, hilarious and cute all at the same time so I definitely want to see this movie.


Okay. Well, there you guys have it. That is everything that was on my mind today. It's good to be back!

Until next time,
Lew

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

I'm BACK!!!!!

Hi, everybody! I'm baaaaaack! Did you guys miss me? I know you did. Well, today I just want to tell you that I am back and will begin posting my observations and opinions on issues in news and entertainment starting tomorrow. I know alot of juicy things have happened since my last post and I will run through the ones that matter to me and then begin a new era of great blogging with a movie review and opinions on the new Health Care Bill. I just wanted to take the time today to let you all know that I'm back and to get ready for more juicy topics starting tomorrow.


Until next time,
Lew

Monday, December 21, 2009

RIP Brittany Murphy:(

Hi, people! It's me...again. But I am not smiling so bright right now. I am here to pay a small tribute to Brittany Murphy. Brittany Murphy is best known for her parts in Clueless, Girl, Interrupted, Don't Say A Word (my favorite) Blackbook and Uptown Girls.

I admired Brittany and loved pretty much all of her movies. In my opinion, she was never in a corny movie and she was never bad in them. Her movies were always interesting and entertaining; whether they were dramas, comedies or romance, I was never disappointed by Brittany's performance.

The saddest part, of course, is that she was only 32 years old and died of cardiac arrest. While coroners have assumed it was natural causes, investigators are probing into the actual causes of Ms. Murphy's arrest. Some people are suspicious that she was delving into drugs and things of that nature. Family members have said that she was experiencing flu like symptoms just before her death and think maybe that had something to do with it. Whatever the cause, the world has lost a true beauty and talent. My deepest condolences go out to her family and friends.

2009 has truly been the year of unforgettable deaths and as we all go into 2010, I wish everyone a safe and happy New Year.

God bless!

Lew

Monday, December 14, 2009

Movie reminders!

Hi, my people. How are you this Monday night? I'm doing great. Tonight is my last day of class! Last week was the last day in my other class so I'm pretty much on vacation until January. Yeah man! lol.

So tonight's post will be short and neutral. I just want to inform you guys of some very interesting movies that are in theaters or are coming out very soon.

The Princess and The Frog, an animated movie from Disney came out in theaters this past Friday, Dec. 11. Already it has banked $25 million at the box office coming in at #1.

Invictus, starring the likes of Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon also premiered in theaters Friday. The movie takes place at the fall of aparthied when Nelson Mandela decides to unite his countrymen by getting the Rugby World Cup to play in South Africa. The movie is already receiving high reviews and compliments. I may check this one out.

Avatar will be out in theaters this upcoming Friday, Dec 18. I definitely plan to check this movie out! The movie is based on the computer game of Pandora and features beautiful effects and incredible action scenes. Plus, it is written and directed by James Cameron who also directed Titanic, True Lies, and a bunch of other great movies all of which I have seen! lol.

Also out this Friday is Did You Hear About The Morgans? starring Sarah Jessica Parker and Hugh Grant as a miserable couple who gets a second chance when they witness a murder and have to go into protective custody together. It looks pretty funny. I'll probably rent it.

For the Christmas holiday, we have Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel starring Jason Lee as Dave and the voices of Justin Long (Mac on the Apple commercials. Love him!), Matthew Gray Gubler and Jesse McCartney as Alvin, Simon and Theaodore. The female chipmunks that showed up in the latter cartoons are also going to be featured in the movie. So cute! I definitely plan to check this one out before the year's out! It comes out December 23.

And of course there's Sherlock Holmes which will be out in theaters on Christmas day! It is starring Robert Downey Jr who has given nothing but great performances in movies since his comeback from his fall. The preview looks both funny and adventurous and I will definitely be checking that out!

So, there you have it! 6 movies for you to plan to see before the year is ended. Have fun and don't forget that your girl Lew has come with the goods! lol.

Until next time,

Lew