I've been in denial for a very long time about aging - my own aging and the aging of those I lust after. It's over. Harrison Ford is old. Which means I'm getting up there too.

But damn...he still looks good. If he's ever in the market for a girl with meat on her bones, I'm right here.

May 22nd...It's in my Treo. No one bother me unless you're toting nachos.

Labels: movies

I've been noticing that most of my traffic from search engines the last few months has surrounded a certain dead actor that I adore. It really puzzled me why now people are looking for stuff on River or rather why my site seems to be so popular (to me anyway) to River seekers. Maybe it was the People Magazine special issue on "Gone Too Soon" that I did flip thru in a bookstore. Even my devotion to River isn't enough for me to give People magazine $10 for info that I already know and not even a new photo. Althou that photo on the cover and the one on the inside are some of my faves. *swoon*

Now we have another beautiful, wispy haired, and lime-light shunning dead actor. *sigh*

There aren't words to express my anger at the fact that Heath Ledger OD'ed yesterday. Somehow I still buy into the idea that having a kid settles you down, that it brings a sense of mortality to your life (the hubby has hung up his plans for sky diving after Ella entered our lives), and that you try to do whatever you can do to make sure you live as long as possible for your child. That's where my anger is born from. That Heath leaves a 2-year-old daughter who will never really know him is one of the saddest things. Whether it was suicide or not, it doesn't really matter.

Here's hoping that his loved ones find the strength to move on.

I'm headed to a work trip this weekend. I think I'll pack "10 Things I Hate About You" to watch in my hotel room. Heck, I might even throw in "Sneakers" even if River looks pretty stoned in that one.

Technorati tags: Heath Ledger, River Phoenix

Labels: misc, movies

I wasn't planning on blogging about the 15th anniversary of River Phoenix's death. I've blogged about him before and I believe enough. But I've noticed a large increase in people finding this blog using his name in the last week or two. All I can think of is that with this anniversary approaching, people were getting nostalgic.

Normally I mark this birthday as I hate to linger in the sadness that was his death by overdose. But his death and addiction reminds me that everyone is human, we all have faults, and none of us are perfect. Yes, I do wander into the land of thinking he was a hypocrite & liar, but that trip ends quickly.

To those of you who never got the excitement of watching him in the theater on opening day, you missed quite an event. To those of us who grew up with him, let's try to keep reaching for the best we can offer this world.

Technorati tags: death, River Phoenix

Labels: misc, movies

Well the hubby turned the big 3-5 today. So what was his birthday wish?

To spend it with his chicas at the Museum of Science & Industry to see the "Star Wars" exhibit.

It was pretty damn neat, so if you're in Chicago or will be in Chicago, stop and see it. Yes, it's pricey ($21 for adults), but it's so worth it. Of course we got in free as I received a free membership that came with a voucher. But we still would had gone, we were planning it since we knew it was coming. Anywho, it was a lot of fun.

BUT...at one point we see the Darth Vader costume. Ella runs to grab the hubby, "Daddy! Darth Vader!" We both laugh and smile with pride knowing we're raising her right. Then she says it, "That's Luke Skywalker's dad!"

*thud*

She hasn't seen all the movies yet and we haven't told her that Darth Vader is Luke's dad, but we figure that she figured it out by the snippets she has seen and that Anakin is Vader. And for the record, my stance was that she shouldn't watch snippets out of order, but hey, I'm only her mother.

While we're disappointed that she won't be shocked about the revelation in Empire the way we were, but I think it'll be a great conversation in a few years about how she views the saga versus how we view it.

And hopefully we'll all be in agreement that Han shot first.

Technorati tags: Star Wars, Chicago

Labels: family, movies

Ok, so looks like everyone is getting a Simpsons avatar. I tried...three times...to make one of me and I can't get it to look anything like me. I think I'm too heavy for the skinny body, which has the boobs that are mine, but please, not heavy enough for the "Big Tony" body. Oy...and let's not even start with the nose selection.

Part of me thinks this is because of the limited body options and the other part of me thinks this is because I really have no real idea of what my body looks like.

Either way, I have no avatar and am thus a pop culture failure. ;-)

Labels: movies

There is no other explanation for why he just keeps looking better.

Yup, the hubby & I just saw "Ocean's 13" and we liked it. The hubby really liked it.

Part of the plot involves one of the gang working at a factory in Juarez, Mexico. He ends up starting a revolt at the factory. It plays for a huge laugh and honestly, it was pretty funny seeing this skinny white guy chanting along with the Mexican workers about fair pay, etc.

Then the other side of my brain kicks in and I start thinking of how there really are people working in Mexico in horrible conditions for little pay. How there really are revolts that happen and they don't have happy endings.

Then I try to put my faith in Clooney & Pitt and that they market themselves as human rights activists. Heck, there's even a joke/line about how you can't fire a waitress for gaining 4 pounds (the bad side does this) and Ocean's gang shakes their head at this tragedy. People who work hard for attention to the world's tragedy can't just want a simple joke out of it, right? Right?!?

See, this is why sometimes I wish I could turn off the feminist part of my brain and just enjoy a movie that I suggested because I figured we wouldn't have to think too much. The hubby's training really smashed him in the brain - in a good way. I figured that "Ocean's 13" would be pure fluff. Well 95% of it was.

But back to Brad Pitt. Oh my gawd...I hate Angelina in so many ways. OTOH, I really wish she was my buddy. What I'd give to have martinis with her.

Labels: feminism, movies

From today's Zwecker column:

IRONY HERE? Considering the efforts of Angelina Jolie and her people to restrict the kinds of questions the Oscar winner would answer at the New York premiere of her new film ''A Mighty Heart,'' it seems sadly amusing that the event was arranged to benefit Reporters Without Borders, an organization that fights for freedom of the press.

As Foxnews.com points out, the rigid requirements drafted by Jolie's lawyer were spurned by the Associated Press, USA Today and others -- leading Jolie to cancel all print interviews. All that was left were fluffy ''Entertainment Tonight''-type red carpet chats, not zapping the actress with any hard-hitting questions.

Fox News complaining about freedom of the press? *thunk*

Another tidbit in Zweck's column is that Maggie Gyllenhaal is in town. Hey, Maggie call me chica. Let's have coffee. And I don't just love you because of your oh-so-hot brother. I love you for yourself. But if Jake's in town and even if he's got a certain blonde with him, he's welcome to join us.

Labels: movies

We took Miss Ella to see "Shrek the Third" last night and we had a great time. The amount of jokes for us geezers far outweighs the jokes for the kids. It's not the best of the Shreks, but it's good enough. Of course my favorite scene is where Fiona & her gang of girlfriends are locked up and Fiona tells them that they have to do something. Snow White yells, "Alright girls, get in position!" They all go to sleep - TO WAIT TO BE RESCUED! Fiona gets pissed off as does her mom and mom kicks some major ass then. I won't totally spoil the moment.

Shrek isn't a perfect feminist movie, but gosh darn, of all the kid movies out there, it has to be one of the tops. And you gotta love that Prince Charming is the villain. Get that kiddies! Save yourself!

Miss Ella was much better this time at the movie. But she's still almost 4 and has 5-10 armies of ants in her pants. She did like the movie and this morning told me it was her favorite. Then I asked if she liked it better than "Happy Feet." "Oh, Happy Feet! That's my favorite!" haha...she's too cute.

I got the tickets on Fandango and used my Blingo winnings, thus saving $11. WOOT!

And Andrea...whoever you are. Thanks for signing up! Here's to you hitting that $1000 jackpot.

Labels: Ella, feminism, movies

1. Peter Parker gets outer space ooze on him and it reveals his dark side. This mostly involves him turning into a stereotypical macho man. There's strutting down the street leering at women, using another woman to make Mary Jane jealous, and getting all Jared Leto. Seriously, he starts to wear his hair in his face and I swear he might have put on some eye liner.

2. There are about 4 subplots in this movie:
a) Peter & Mary Jane - Fairly lame and pathetic.
b) Peter & Harry - This was the better of the two love stories.
c) Peter & Eddie - Eh...predictable.
d) Peter & his guilt - This was the second best subplot. I know a lot of people don't like the aunt, but she brings a bit of humanity back to Peter when he needs it.

3. The action scenes were good. Special effects awesome.

4. Overall, a good movie.

Next up...28 Weeks Later...I hope. That or Shrek 3.

Labels: movies

Anyone else see Spiderman 3?

We went last night and during Peter Parker's "dark side" moments, he gets all cocky because women are noticing him and starts to really strut around NYC. Then he starts to do the leering looks thing too. At one point a woman with a cell phone appears to snap a photo of him or just happens to have a phone in her hand as she looks back in disgust.

If you saw it, did you catch that scene?

more on the movie & Peter going all Jared Leto later.

Labels: feminism, movies

We decided to take Ella to the movies last night and MtR was the best we could do. It got a lot of good reviews and well, it's a cartoon. She didn't like it. At all.

The first issue was that due to seeing a huge Shrek sign in the lobby she got it into her head that we were going to see Shrek. Maybe also that I said we'd see it when it came out.

Next after realizing that we're not seeing Shrek, she thought we were going to see a Pooh bear movie. I have no idea where that came from.

In MtR, the bad guy has a bowler hat accomplice. Ella did NOT like the bowler hat. It's a thinking robot with legs, thus looking like a big black spider.

It was about 3/4 of way thru the movie that she asked to leave. Well, missy, when Mommy has invested this much time in a movie & we paid so much for a movie, we're gonna finish! OK, I didn't say that, but did tell her to sit down and wait.

It ended up being a pretty good movie. All mushy like a Disney film should be. I had my feminist radar up and the only thing that I didn't like is that yet once again we had a boy in the lead and a boy as the buddy. Oh and the woman scientist wasn't all that great of a role model. But I guess that's a stereotype of all scientists not just women. I think.

Labels: Ella, movies

Last night I did something I haven't done in a long, long time. I did nothing.

We came home from a long day at work and a quick shopping trip and I vegged on the couch. I watched the last part of "The Traveling Pants" and the many parts of "Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire." I find it funny that I've NEVER seen "Traveling Pants" in one sitting, but it makes me cry like a baby EVERY time I see it. I cannot watch this movie with anyone else because I cry that much. And don't get me started when Cedric dies either. Oy!

Of course I'm also having a hectic crazy week, my period is around the corner, and my allergies are pissing me off (hello, Goddess? It's spring, please bring back the heat.). OK...now to go get Miss Ella outta bed.

Labels: misc, movies

USPS has released a series of stamps marking the 30th anniversary of the release of "Star Wars." You are also invited to vote for your favorite stamp so it will get its own sheet! As much as I love Yoda, I voted for Han. I am very sad that they don't issue stamps that you lick anymore because this is as close as I'll get to any action with Harrison Ford.

Labels: movies

Since it was a pretty nice day we headed up north to Old Orchard Mall, which is an outdoor mall. Yeah, why would anyone put an outdoor mall in Chicago? But it worked for us today. Ella got to get out and walk around, I got to hit Ann Taylor Loft (and I resisted their credit card again!), and had a good time. For dinner we went to the Cheesecake Factory. The hubby & I hadn't been there in ages and well, why not? Ella walked in and picked out her cheesecake within 10 seconds.

After I looked at the menu while waiting for our table, Ella comes over and says:

Mom, I'm just a little bit hungry. But after I finish, I want dessert.

Ah, you are my daughter! I told her that she could have dessert if we didn't have to yell at her to sit down and behave during dinner. She did it! So we ordered the cheesecake she picked out to share. It was the Apple pie one. After a few minutes to digging in, Ella puts her fork down and says she's done. We tell her ok, I eat some more. One minute later she says to herself:

Oh, just one more bite. Yeah, one more bite.

The hubby & I just laughed to each other ever so silently. She's 3 1/2 and already saying stuff like that. Too cute!

Off topic, slightly, HBO has been having a major Star Wars marathon going for the past few weeks. It's been rare to turn on the TV without one of the six movies being on. Yes, we're letting Ella watch. She has no idea of timeline yet. But her favorite characters are Ben/Obi-Wan (both young & old), Chewie, and Yoda. The hubby got her a lightsaber for Christmas and know she's really into it. My biggest reason for letting her watch is that there's one kick ass princess in those movies! So it doesn't do much for the whole non-violent upbringing, but that was a failure from the start.

Labels: Ella, movies

Whedon exits "Wonder Woman" pic

Whedon announced the news on Friday on a fansite, chalking it up to creative differences. "I had a take on the film that, well, nobody liked," he wrote on www.whedonesque.com. Studio and agency sources confirmed the development.

Althou I guess that means I can keep my $9 in my pocket.

Labels: movies