tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21385014296374741592024-02-07T21:55:15.442-08:00Magic a' la ModeUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger82125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2138501429637474159.post-71393394878666416972016-02-17T09:43:00.000-08:002016-02-17T09:44:04.773-08:00Degrassi Next Class Netflix Review<div class="p1">
I don't often write about TV series, but in the rare moment - when the moon is in the right spot - I get that itch to give you some thoughts on some current TV I am giving a try. This time around, I'm talking about <i>Degrassi</i>. No, not the 80's TV series, nor the early 2000's reboot - I'm talking about Netflix's <i>Degrassi Next Class. </i>Why yes, dear readers, incase you had no clue, Netflix recently got the rights to produce and stream the new season of <i>Degrassi, </i>the same time it comes out in Canada. And rather than waiting each week for a new episode, you can stream the entire season, from start to finish, in all its overdramatic brilliance. </div>
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<a name='more'></a>So what does <i>Degrassi Next Class </i>offer for this new generation of texting wizards, social media fame junkies, and pastel hair teen heroines? A lot, to put simply. One of my biggest issues with the newer incarnation of <i>Degrassi </i>(once my true loves, Marco and Craig, left the show) is that I had a really hard time connecting to the characters. It probably has to do with my age, since I am a much more adult viewer than I was back in 2004, when I discovered what would become my favorite Canadian teen soap opera. So when I found myself diving into this latest incarnation of the franchise, I came to a stunning conclusion: I don't hate (most of) these new characters.<br />
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Granted, some of these actors have been around for a prior season or two, but since I had abandoned ship from the series around 2010, I had missed 5 years of cast members. So who do I like from <i>Degrassi Next</i>'s pack? Well for starts, there's Hunter, a character that though brings about every stereotype of current nerd culture, is interesting and a good shift from the negative storyline that Rick left on the series. Then there's Lola, who represents the social media obsessed aspect of her generation. With her pink hair and generally optimistic attitude, it is hard not to love her - even when she makes completely dumb mistakes, like dating her best friend's crush (more on that later.) Then there is Grace, who though confusing towards her point in the story, gave some interesting moments in the end. Also, gamer badass Yael does not get enough love on this show, and I hope she gets elevated to a bigger role in the next season. </div>
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Unfortunately, there were a few characters that left me a bit cold. As much as I wanted to become completely attached to the "Wannabe Singer" storyline for Maya, something about both her interactions with her boyfriend, and her lack of an actual personality, made me want to smack her near the end of the season - but with her big turn in taking control of her situation, during the last two episodes, she definitely improved as a character. Jonah was also an incredibly annoying addition to <i>Degrassi, </i>and it totally makes sense why Frankie would have the hots for him - combined, they can become the all time most irritating couple in <i>Degrassi </i>history (move over, Craig and Ashley.)</div>
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At this point, I'd like to take a moment to praise the writers for not giving us one, not two, but many awesome interracial couples throughout this new season. From the short lived pairing of Tristan and Vijay, to longer lasting Zigg and Maya, on again off again Frankie and Winston - there's a lot to chose from. But the shining example of awesomeness from this bunch is Tiny and Lola, who are too adorable for words to express. Though the way they started is not something I'm in complete support of - Lola taking Tiny away from Shay was not cool, no matter how you want to play it - the show ends up fixing the issue. Granted, the two of them make it up to each other, but it is an injury I don't think their friendship will ever fully recover from. </div>
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Another thing that should be praised, also having to deal with Lola, is <i>Degrassi</i> more mature coverage of topics that in prior seasons had been handled in a more goofy manner. Now, I'm not saying the series pulled a 180 and went all HBO on itself, but the specific episode where Lola is learning not to feel awkward about masturbation, was handled with a level of maturity that I felt past subjects, specifically those having to do with the human body and sexuality, were used for laughs more than actual lessons. The same can be said in relation to Hunter's main plot line, where he brings a gun into the school during their big "Snow Ball" dance. In the past, <i>Degrassi </i>has handled gun violence in a way that is more "juicy" rather than educational or realistic - and it is refreshing to have Hunter end up not being a character that fires a pistol, but instead talks about his mental issues and gets believable help for it. </div>
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Though at times <i>Degrassi </i>can come off like a cheesy filled drama, with no real substance, it is a culturally relevant program that I think should always be around, for both kids that need to learn a lesson, and for adults who always need a reminder of what it is like to not know what is greener on the other side. And even though the social politics of who is dating who and the battle of cheerleaders is not what I am looking for in my TV programming, seeing kids deal with real (though slightly over the top) situations is still something that never gets old to me. Call me a victim of my guilty pleasure, but I'll never feel bad for watching this show - as long as it projects a better image to kids of what life has in store for them, then I'll always support it. </div>
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<i>So, what do you think of the latest version of Degrassi? Have you watched all of it on Netflix? Or just catching up during its TV airing in Canada? Do you have a favorite character, or one you want to hate? Comment below and let me know what you think. </i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12277085754648064878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2138501429637474159.post-14871439855784871642016-02-09T10:55:00.000-08:002016-02-09T10:55:58.957-08:00Galentine's Day Meet Up: Roses, Roses, And More RosesThis past Saturday, my lovely friend Crystal ran a fantastic meet up at the famous Rose House in Flushing, Queens! This has, and will always be, one of my favorite tea rooms in all of New York City. The place instantly smells like roses, and has the kind of charming, fairy tale like atmosphere that I am a complete sucker for. And, of course, it brings out my inner <i>Beauty and the Beast</i> geek like crazy - so many visual and delicious dreams come true here.<br />
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So since this was to celebrate Valentine's Day and roses, we were all told to dress in accordance to the theme. For my coordinate, I chose to go a little outside of my comfort zone: I wore, for the first time in my entire Lolita Fashion life, a piece from <i>Alice and the Pirates - </i>and let me tell you, it felt great. Though I can't say it is the color scheme that I love the most, it embodied the feeling of romance and adventure that I get from going to Rose House.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBXJwGPFM4ZUjxkuwStn6TNPApTUzopmFuByDd0WMgmPTpyQ42ZBQapVwaMe8cL-XClpKyBjVk_Dvr_ERpdq_Sk8cy8pkXbzdx3x6Sk2xM3EpvnYPqumbDVYmxH1fKdNkP6nm8ikJQit4/s1600/dinner-g_78ee515c-6e8d-428e-bdaa-2f5cad693f15_grande.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBXJwGPFM4ZUjxkuwStn6TNPApTUzopmFuByDd0WMgmPTpyQ42ZBQapVwaMe8cL-XClpKyBjVk_Dvr_ERpdq_Sk8cy8pkXbzdx3x6Sk2xM3EpvnYPqumbDVYmxH1fKdNkP6nm8ikJQit4/s320/dinner-g_78ee515c-6e8d-428e-bdaa-2f5cad693f15_grande.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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The dress I picked was one of the big birthday presents from my parents, called Dancing Roses of the Dark Night. A lot of people dismissed this print as something just "typical <i>AatP", </i>yet if you give it a closer look, you can see that it is actually a <i>Beauty and the Beast </i>print. How? Well, the most obvious clue is the Rose in the Bell Jar, just like the iconic image from the Disney adaptation. Next, you can see the staircase is covered in roses, much like 2014 live action version, and the silverware on the table is very Disney mixed with Jean Cocteau specific imagery. And if you know anything about this blogger, you know that anything related to my favorite fairy tale is a must have in my collection. The minute I tried this JSK on, I felt this instant connection to it, like it was meant to be. And spoiler alert: It totally was.<br />
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So in keeping with the Rose theme of the meet up, I felt it was time to show off this pretty new piece of mine. I was so nervous about wearing straight up Classic/Gothic Lolita, a sub-style I haven't really dabbled in too often. Every time I had, I felt like I wasn't being myself, and got that sort of sheepish feeling. But this time, I think I finally cracked the code on how to rock this non-pastel sparkly side of myself. Incase you're curious, here's the results below....<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhALfVnUhCG2Fh7PaaC0wP7tvupbEXh8NsqW6aobf8kit8gvyHJEGwa1kIvIDyGZ2Xdh8M9xyLPQj9c2GKnaqhAvhcgbdQvex9lL4ay91R8_OTKsBy9vP3W6JZL5oX8uLaMAL751INRABw/s1600/826ee704-3f72-4c16-9d43-ab010f9c86c5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhALfVnUhCG2Fh7PaaC0wP7tvupbEXh8NsqW6aobf8kit8gvyHJEGwa1kIvIDyGZ2Xdh8M9xyLPQj9c2GKnaqhAvhcgbdQvex9lL4ay91R8_OTKsBy9vP3W6JZL5oX8uLaMAL751INRABw/s400/826ee704-3f72-4c16-9d43-ab010f9c86c5.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picture taken by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/victoriasuzanne/">Parfait Doll</a></td></tr>
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I wanted to achieve a super princess look, so I chose to wear my new Atelier Pierrot blouse underneath. The veil is from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/SakuraFairy">Lily of the Valley</a>, who make tons of other beautiful accessories and dresses too! The lace on this piece is actually snowflakes, and though some would feel that could be a weird choice to compliment the rose print, I thought the veil could represent the snow going on both around this time of year and in the Beast's castle, specifically during the Disney version. The cross necklace is from Forever 21, and though I wasn't trying to evoke any religious imagery, I guess I sort of ended up looking like The Virgin Mary! (I swear it wasn't on purpose!)</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rose House Tea Set - Picture by<a href="https://www.instagram.com/victoriasuzanne/"> Parfait Doll</a></td></tr>
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Rose House of course was lovely, as it always is. Me and my dear friend Victoria of Parfait Doll, shared a really yummy tea set. At first it looked small, but by the end we were both very, very full. My favorite dessert that we got was the chocolate cake that reminded me a lot of the movie <i>The Road to El Dorado </i>for some reason - mostly because it had these Aztec patterns on the bottom ring of the cake. And since my tea set partner in crime is a blonde, and I'm a brunette, I guess that makes us Miguel and Tulio - frilly style!</div>
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After some flower themed games, and laughing with friends, I got to spend the rest of the day venturing around Flushing - an area I don't know as well as I'd like to. I even got to see the local Sanrio store, and get my hands on one of the <i><a href="http://www.japanla.com/collections/little-twin-stars/products/little-twin-stars-x-care-bears-tunic-tank-top">Japan La Little Twin Stars shirts</a></i> I wanted - for half off! Leapin' lizards, that was a good deal my friends. </div>
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Our frilly crew then parted ways, and I have to say this was one of my favorite meet ups in a really long time. Being in Lolita Fashion for almost 12 years (#Scary) I've been getting a little jaded when it comes to meet ups - but this one still had that super special feeling that I loved from my past frilly adventures. But more importantly, I love getting to see my friends sparkle and shine in these moments - we might have tough days here and there, but these meet ups are a great way to enjoy our friendships (new and old) with each other. </div>
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<i>Love my Gals and all the Galentines they provide! </i></div>
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<i>So what did you do/are going to do for Valentines Day? Are you having a themed meet up, or just some special time with that certain someone in your life? Are you doing anything for fun for yourself? Comment below and gimmie the scoop!</i></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12277085754648064878noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2138501429637474159.post-56365264773422751572016-02-01T13:21:00.001-08:002016-02-01T13:22:02.817-08:00Magic Princess - Castles, Scepters, and Black Rings - Oh My!Hey readers!<br />
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I've been pretty busy since my last legit blog post here, catching up on all things from the Holidays, Lolita Events, and more some. But, as I don't like to disappoint, I thought I'd write a little bit about something I am excited about - and it is frilly - trust me.<br />
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I don't often get the chance to purchase things when a big new brand release happens - but when the opportunity presents itself, I always attempt to do so! This time around, I noticed that Angelic Pretty was releasing a new collection - and not just any - but one that spoke to my inner pastel royal. What dress might that be? Well, if you couldn't guess, it's <i>Magic Princess!</i><br />
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The print is covered in sparkles, tall pastel castles, and beautiful Magical Girl inspired scepters. Seriously, this dress is my everything for so many reasons. From the variety of colors it comes in (I truly love every one of them for different reasons) to the detailing on each of the three cuts (the underbust JSK being my personal favorite design) this collection is one from my dreams. </div>
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When many of my friends saw that I had purchased this dress, many of them immediately were like "Well of course you got this, it is so you!" which made me really happy - since (in all seriousness) this is definitely the kind of image I want people to think of when they are thinking of me. Pastels, castles, elegant but nostalgic pictures of royalty - this is definitely my kind of print. </div>
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There are many reasons why I fell in love with this print, but mainly it is due to a key memory it tapped into for me. Many of you know my love of all things 80's/90's (since that is when I indeed was a child) and as such, one of the things I was obsessed with as a kid was the board game <i>Pretty, Pretty Princess. </i></div>
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For those of you that never got to experience this "masterpiece" of game design, let me go ahead and explain the basic "plot" or point of this 90's relic. Essentially, you and your fellow friends, who I assume are supposed to be poor folk, happen upon a box of magical princess accessories, including a crown, ring, necklace, bracelet, and earrings - each in specific colors. Your objective is to collect all of the items (in your designated color) so that one of you will become "The Pretty, Pretty Princess" - who, let's face it, is the one of you with the most bling by the end of the game. Oh how times have changed - imagine if the US president could win their seat in the White House based on how many color coordinated pieces they collected? Would sure be a different world, right? </div>
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I can't say I remember much of playing a complete round of the game, but I do remember the accessories that came with it. The colors and images were pretty iconic in my mind, and though the objective of the game at the end was a bit silly (your reward was looking at a mirror? *shrug*) it still was a piece of my childhood that I will never forgot as a whole - specifically the one time I got the infamous "Black Ring" and felt the weight of the Pretty, Pretty Princess world on my shoulders. Trust me, when you had that thing on your finger, it was bad news. Of course now, my inner teenage goth kid would be proud to wear that piece - oh the irony!</div>
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So, now returning to our time machines from our past board game adventures, I'm sure many of you are curious to know which version of Angelic Pretty's Magic Princess I ended up purchasing. Well, as much as I loved the look of the underbust JSK, I decided to go for comfort and pick the fully back shirred JSK cut, with the super cool and interesting military style buttons on the front. The color I picked was the Sax colorway, which was the one that stood out the most to me. It showed off the print the best, and made the gold details pop better than any of the other versions did. Currently, it seems the Yellow version is the most popular, which I can totally see why - it is very unique, and a nice warm yellow instead of an annoying canary type that most AP yellow prints come in. </div>
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Sadly, I couldn't afford to get any other items from the collection on release, including the coveted crown purse. But, in all honesty, having just the JSK is fine by me. I think it is absolutely perfect, and I hope I can rock it in a super romantic coordinate for Valentines Day. I know it is breaking tradition for me to not wear red and pink together on that day - but the call of my Pretty, Pretty Princess sisters is strong, and I must answer it by wearing this masterpiece. </div>
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I'll be sure to make a post (and video!) when I receive this! So, did any of you get <i>Magic Princess</i>? Which color and cut is your favorite? Comment below and tell me all about your purchases! </div>
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<i><br /></i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12277085754648064878noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2138501429637474159.post-21440897614231336622015-10-28T08:49:00.000-07:002015-10-28T08:49:27.887-07:00NYC's Lolita Community Halloween Tea Party 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The spoopy season continues, especially in New York City's Lolita Fashion Community! We just had our annual Halloween Tea Party, hosted by the queen of spoop herself, Yanise of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/ycabrera47">KawaiiLIFE</a>. This year's party took place at King's Carriage, a location we went to for a similar get together years ago. The staff loves us, and always is super friendly, even remembering specific frilly ladies whenever we return. The place was perfect for a spooky themed party, with the burgundy walls, creaky floors, and other little touches.<br />
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Yanise set up a lovely, down to earth event, which included a Jack-o-Lantern contest that was beyond cool. The creativity of the contestants was so inspiring, especially Amy's Pokemon pumpkin and Ashley's Baby Head pumpkin. Each of the winners got three awesome prizes: two small Baby The Stars Shine Bright wallets, and one large white one as the big grand prize. There was also an honorable mention prizes, which was a free digital copy of Crystal's book.<br />
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As for me, my outfit was a bit of a last minute effort. I was pondering for weeks what I could wear to the event, but finally when I asked Crystal what her coordinate was gonna be, I decided to twin with her. The general look of my outfit is inspired by 60's Mahou Shoujo series like <i>Sally The Witch, </i>with some touches of cute silver and blue accessories to make the colors in Magical Etoile pop! My favorite item I added was my Beast Disneybound hairbow clip (<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/ExtraSweetBowtique">from Extra Sweet Bowtique</a>), putting a little bit of a Disney element into my otherwise Magical Girl coordinate.<br />
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If you're curious to know what fun was had, my first new vlog in forever (which is also on <i>Magic Ala Mode'</i>s official new YouTube channel, yay!) can be viewed below:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Xx6MHqwsoZk/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xx6MHqwsoZk?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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Like what you saw? Subscribe to the YouTube channel, which will be updated frequently!</div>
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<i>Until next time, keep up the magic!</i></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12277085754648064878noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2138501429637474159.post-54794353913561025332015-10-20T11:58:00.005-07:002015-10-20T11:58:49.403-07:00Keepin' The Peak: Movies To Watch Before/After "Crimson Peak"So, the movie that was #1 on my most anticipated list for 2015 finally came out, and its name is <i>Crimson Peak. </i>Directed by Guillermo del Toro, this gothic romance has truly taken my heart, buried it into a pile of frills, melodramatic acting, Tom Hiddleston hotness, and everything else that peaks my spoopy interest this Halloween season. But incase you haven't seen the film, or are curious to see more films related to <i>Crimson Peak, </i>I thought I'd come up with a list of sorts (<a href="http://www.thecinemadoll.com/4-crimson-peak/">inspired by my friend Cinema Doll's blog post</a>) to help satisfy your cinematic cravings.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNZoOZPUFJlcpd0tf4W6iQMYkXK75Jk_X1lABCZvxpW-yv7xuNKa6Ev26_s7cwOnH1WsypLtGdXTs1sOVU7KB8X4fZ006TiVJJQDBmdghKitlVXHQJWnLC24WFbl0BcZ7QSVbz_U0SR-w/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-10-20+at+12.03.47+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNZoOZPUFJlcpd0tf4W6iQMYkXK75Jk_X1lABCZvxpW-yv7xuNKa6Ev26_s7cwOnH1WsypLtGdXTs1sOVU7KB8X4fZ006TiVJJQDBmdghKitlVXHQJWnLC24WFbl0BcZ7QSVbz_U0SR-w/s400/Screen+Shot+2015-10-20+at+12.03.47+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Now, onto the list, in no particular order.... </i></div>
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<i><b>Death Takes A Holiday (1934)</b></i></div>
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As I have confessed on many an occasion, I am a huge fan of actor Fredric March. He has always been the classic movie hero with a certain edge of his persona. Charming, mysterious, romantic, and yet <i>slightly </i>creepy at times in many of his roles, March always gave fantastic, layered performances that would stand the test of time. One of the films that is always forgotten in many retrospectives of the actor is also the one that introduced me to him: <i>Death Takes A Holiday. </i></div>
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<i>Death </i>tells the story of a young woman named Grazia, who one night sees a ghostly spirit in front of her. Suddenly, the rest of her relatives and loved ones seem to take notice to this strange occurrence, particularly her father, Duke Lambert, who is visited by this same ghoulish being later on that evening. It turns out that this is Death, coming to ask the Duke if he can take residence within his home for a three-day holiday. The Duke eventually accepts, which leads Death to take on a human form of a mysterious prince, and things just get all kinds of romantic and crazy from there. </div>
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Many will read this description and cry, "But Dalin! Isn't that the same movie Brad Pitt was in that seemed like a bunch of soap opera garbage?" Well yes, dear reader, <i>Meet Joe Black </i>is a remake of <i>Death Takes A Holiday, </i>but in comparison, is truly a piece of cinematic trash. It seeps all the romance and gothic creepiness from the original and forms it into 90's basic filmmaking at its "best". </div>
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What I love about this film<i> </i>is that the romance between Grazia and Death is beyond enchanting. Granted, the movie has a very short running time, and so there isn't a ton of room for development between the two leads. But when they are together on screen, the chemistry between them is so electric, you can't take your eyes off of the pair. Particularly the scene in the garden near the end of the film always gives me those romantic goosebumps. So many feels, trust me. </div>
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<i><b>Rebecca (1940)</b></i></div>
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Alfred Hitchcock's <i>Rebecca </i>is easily my favorite film from his historic filmography. It features everything I love about his craft, but at the same time feels very different from the 50's and 60's films he would be known for later on in his career. The story of <i>Rebecca, </i>based on a book written by Daphne du Maurier, is the now common tale of poor girl meets handsome man, falls for him, marries him, and moves to his creepy house, were spooky things indeed happen. Sound familiar? It should, since <i>Rebecca </i>was sighted as an inspiration to del Toro when he created <i>Crimson Peak, </i>and it definitely shows on screen.</div>
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The biggest homage to <i>Rebecca</i> in <i>Crimson, </i>comes through in the character of Lucille Sharp. From her clothes and hairstyle, to the way she watches Thomas and Edith together, Lucille owes a lot to <i>Rebecca's </i>Ms. Danvers, who in my mind stands as one of the greatest movie villains of all time. Played by the immortal Judith Anderson, Mrs. Danvers is a force that hovers over the majority of the film, and even when she isn't shown on screen, her presence is felt, almost creating a sense of paranoia within the viewer. She may be just a simple housekeeper, but she doesn't take her job lightly, and will make you fear the sound of house keys clinking together. </div>
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Creepy, well paced, and beautifully acted/directed, <i>Rebecca </i>is a classic for a reason, and no matter how much time passes, it never loses its unique ability to put you on the edge of your seat. </div>
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<i><b>Mary Reilly (1996)</b></i></div>
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In all honesty, <i>Mary Reilly </i>is sort of a guilty pleasure for me. It really isn't a "great" film by any true standards, but there is something about it that keeps bringing me back to its world of bizarre romance, creepy imagery, and one of my favorite over-the-top Glenn Close performances. And then there is also John Malkovich, who somehow saves every awful movie and makes it, at the very least, a piece of exaggerated entertainment. And because it is a retelling of my favorite horror story, <i>Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, </i>I am somehow always attracted to this otherwise B-level cinematic experience.</div>
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<i>Mary Reilly </i>is the story of a housemaid (played by Julia Roberts) who comes to serve Dr. Jekyll (Malkovich). The two instantly bound and start a friendship that quickly becomes something more. At the same time, Mary's new friend seems to be suffering from some sort of illness, one that is related to his mysterious and violent assistant, Mr. Hyde, who is also extremely attracted to Mary. The rest of the movie plays out like some sort of ultra violent soap opera, with all the blood and guts you could want out of such a story. But somehow, underneath all the weird directorial choices, dated CGi effects, and horror tropes, the duo of Roberts and Malkovich make the material at least interesting to digest, and ultimately deliver a cool, creepy take on the horror classic. </div>
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<i><b>Phantom of the Opera (1989)</b></i></div>
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Though I've talked about this movie on a couple of other lists at this point, I will always have something to say about the 1989 version of <i>The Phantom of the Opera. </i> Why? Because it includes all my favorite entertaining things. For one, it stars Robert Englund, who is easily one of my favorite (if not my number one) horror actor of all time, in the role he was born to play. There is a hilarious time travel subplot, that truly makes no sense within the traditional structure of <i>Phantom, </i>but somehow is still hella entertaining. And of course, there is gore, hilarious one liners, and all the gothic horror romantic fluff that makes me instantly love a movie from start to finish. </div>
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Is it actually <i>the best traditional </i>version of <i>Phantom? </i>No, this ain't Andrew Llyod Webber or Gaston Leroux, darling. Instead, this is a violent piece of hilarious B-Movie charm, that just happens to have one of the greatest horror movie actors of all time in the lead role, making him my favorite on-screen Phantom for sure. The movie also manages to make some pretty interesting changes (aside from the time travel aspect) to the original Leroux tale, particularly the backstory for Eric. Instead of him being burned in a fire or born deformed, he signs a contract with the devil to make his music live forever, but in exchange, no one would ever love him for anything other than his music (Spoiler Alert: now he ugly.) This makes him seem the most tragic of all the movie Phantoms, and definitely the most interesting. </div>
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So if you're in the mood for a fun, spooky, romantic, but cheesy <i>Phantom</i> adventure, this will definitely get you in the Gothic Romantic feels. </div>
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<b><i>Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992)</i></b></div>
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For another famous Horror film adaptation, this one easily goes down as my favorite incarnation of a certain story about a blood sucking prince of the night. Yep, Coppola's version of <i>Dracula</i> still always gets me right in my 90's formed heart. Maybe it is the casting of such greats as Gary Oldman and Winona Ryder, or the absolutely stunning costume design by Eiko Ishioka, or the inventive cinematography by Michael Ballhaus, but something about this particular version, even with all its strange flaws (I'm looking at you, Keanu!) it still captures my imagination and heart every time. </div>
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I think there is something to be said when you finally get to see a character brought to his full dramatic potential by both such a talented creative team and such a brilliant actor, like Oldman. In previous versions of <i>Dracula, </i>I always thought the character was just there for cheap spooks and to find an excuse for a gore fest, when I always thought he was meant to be so much more. But then this movie came along, and fulfilled all my wildest, Victorian Gothic dreams. Particularly the scene where Mina and Dracula are at dinner, and her tears turn to diamonds, always got to me in the best way possible. </div>
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Giving you the appropriate spooky levels, romantic levels, and gore levels, 1992 <i>Dracula </i>definitely pairs with <i>Crimson Peak </i>like a fine wine with a perfectly crafted cheese. </div>
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<i>So </i>these are just a few of my picks, but there are plenty more where that came from! Hopefully with <i>Crimson Peak </i>sparking people's interest in the Gothic Romance genre, we can have more new movies to include on the shelf next to the goodies on this list. </div>
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<i>Think I'm missing anything from this list? Comment below with your favorites, or your thoughts on Crimson Peak? And if you're curious to know my thoughts on the film, <a href="https://dailygeekette.wordpress.com/2015/10/18/love-makes-monsters-of-us-all-crimson-peak-review/">you can click here for my review on The Daily Geekette</a>. </i></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2138501429637474159.post-85945780784841516752015-10-11T06:56:00.000-07:002015-10-11T06:56:01.128-07:00RuffleCon 2015Sorry for the radio silence, folks! The past couple of months have been a whirlwind of insanity. From my D23 trip (which I will write about soon) to meet ups, I have been one busy lady. But if you can't tell from this post, I am gonna focus on one particular event that truly took over my life: RuffleCon 2015.<br />
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RuffleCon took place at the Sheraton Stamford hotel, in Stamford CT, only a little over a week ago. I was part of the 2015 planning staff, which consisted of the major players that helped bring the fashion conference to life. I was in charge of Media Management, essentially meaning I was the one that edited all the promo videos prior to the conference, and helped organize all the photographers and videographers, to make sure they got to where they needed to be, to get the most coverage.<br />
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I also helped run a charity Instax booth for RAINN, a cause I hold close to my heart. If you'd like to know more about them, <a href="https://rainn.org/">click here</a>. I was lucky that I got to see a ton of awesome faces throughout the conference, and got to meet some new ones too. I loved being able to capture so many beautiful individuals, ones that otherwise might have felt that they were going unnoticed.<br />
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Throughout the conference, I wore a couple of awesome coordinates. Friday I was able to rock two! The first was an Ariel inspired coord, which would have been worn at D23 Expo, if the weather wasn't so hot. RuffleCon was the perfect place to wear it though, as I was presenting that day a Nerd Lolita panel with my lovely friend (and GRO), Angela. I then quickly changed into Angel of Music, as the designer (Haenuli) was a guest, and a group of us wanted to wear the print in front of her during the masquerade.<br />
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<i>Ariel Coordinate Photo - Credit to Xiaoyu </i></div>
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<i>Angel of Music Group Photo - Credit to Yanise</i></div>
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Saturday was all about looking Spoopy, and in keeping with the spirit, I rocked my first ever Witch themed coordinate. I found a mini hat from Target, and did some DIY magic with a off-brand bow I had been given years earlier. I matched it with my Putumayo cat series JSK, Forever 21 blouse, and paired an off-brand hippy skirt from H&M that works perfectly as an under piece. Finished that off with my TUK Cat Shoes, and some cat themed glasses, and I was the Spoopy princess of my dreams. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmXA89l1YS-_iG2iyb09WsUG3ot17I3kD6Lp6b0MBF5gZTbxw7fLAJj4pAGChZmgSwz0EP7PJ-EiJzqR1zxKalGyJZHi8y14ERyU2mMIbYmKE73ZaLcFSAaLnI-sk_glU-TCn3uzhiWfQ/s1600/12115840_1673457032874566_1482739308166029311_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmXA89l1YS-_iG2iyb09WsUG3ot17I3kD6Lp6b0MBF5gZTbxw7fLAJj4pAGChZmgSwz0EP7PJ-EiJzqR1zxKalGyJZHi8y14ERyU2mMIbYmKE73ZaLcFSAaLnI-sk_glU-TCn3uzhiWfQ/s320/12115840_1673457032874566_1482739308166029311_n.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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<i>Beautiful photo by Xin Lolita Photography</i></div>
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That day, I had another responsibility: Hosting the first act of the fashion show. Man, was that a challenge. I haven't been that nervous in a long time, but amidst everything, and even with the small hiccups, I think we all made it work pretty well. I'm glad I was able to put some comedy into it, and if I ever get the chance again, I'll sprinkle more jokes in there. </div>
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When Sunday came around, I was pretty tired, and did a pretty standard coordinate with Haenuli's Planetary Dreamer, my favorite print she's ever made. No matter how many times I wear it, it is beyond comfortable. And it was a good thing I wore something that comfy, since I was running around a lot that day, and had to tame some intense raptors (photographers/videographers) too!</div>
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<i>Me and Victoria, thanks to KYOPLAY Photography</i></div>
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<i>Evidence of my taming skills </i></div>
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Overall, RuffleCon was an incredible experience! I have said this many times, but this community is my family. For years I felt like such a social outcast, and that I would never find my true calling. Alternative Fashion is my calling, and showing its beauty is a purpose I know I am meant to do, for as long as it will let me. Major shout outs and love to my Maple Coven (media team), the Planning Staff (you know who you are) and all my friends I made during the conference. Every single one of you are incredible individuals, and I am one lucky lady to have been in your presence. </div>
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<i>So did you go to RuffleCon 2015? What did you wear? Are you coming next year? Let's discuss all the RC fun in the comment section below. </i></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2138501429637474159.post-45267487358784123162015-07-21T00:00:00.000-07:002015-07-21T00:00:08.800-07:00Prepping for D23 Expo - Part 2 - Ariel CoordinateWelcome to another edition of Prepping for D23 Expo! This week, we're gonna focus on my second coordinate for the event. You saw my Anna snowflake covered get up, but the other princess I am paying tribute to is much more sunny and water friendly. And if you guessed Ariel, you'd be correct! With my recent purchase of Marine Kingdom, I've been dreaming of doing as many different mermaid themed coordinates as possible - <i>The Little Mermaid</i> herself, included.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5BBNJqxIl9hx4Zj_I6Q4JpWfETMJvnDjFb2QQ4XcHDSMbaGsS1qT6Ig-RI_s1nS0dp9A_GpCZgEhXsevFWUmfDOfiWxTTPnpSeKxRilh-SDps9k0eZBZIYpH_PX7oeZ-XV4atpe8-Y98/s1600/disney-little-mermaid-learning-game-app_39141_1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5BBNJqxIl9hx4Zj_I6Q4JpWfETMJvnDjFb2QQ4XcHDSMbaGsS1qT6Ig-RI_s1nS0dp9A_GpCZgEhXsevFWUmfDOfiWxTTPnpSeKxRilh-SDps9k0eZBZIYpH_PX7oeZ-XV4atpe8-Y98/s320/disney-little-mermaid-learning-game-app_39141_1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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In this coordinate, I am focusing more on Ariel's purple aspects within her color scheme, and having her mint/green parts be featured in the accessories and more. I definitely am planning on rocking chiffon as much as possible, including the blouse, which I find from Forever 21. I also bought a specific Ariel wig, one that is fluffy and full of life, just like Ariel's own locks. I'm </div>
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As for jewelry, I was on a hunt for the perfect Mermaid themed bits and pieces. Bless the magic that is Automatic Honey, because one of their big collections this year happened to be all about that mermaid life, from seashells, to sea ponies, starfish and more - this collection was made for me, and this coordinate.</div>
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I'm still a little confused on what to wear for shoes. So far I am thinking my sparkly jellies could work, as if Ursula is transforming my tail into legs - but maybe I'll try and get some oxfords to go with it instead? Oh the trouble with shoes, there are too many of them!</div>
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Curious to know about my third outfit for the Expo? Check back next week for another installment of Prepping for D23 Expo! Want a clue? Think roses. </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2138501429637474159.post-86833916443270081092015-07-14T12:51:00.001-07:002015-07-14T12:51:54.114-07:00Prepping for D23 Expo - Part 1 - Anna CoordinateThis week, with a month till my big trip, I am gonna start a small three part series about my prepping for <i>Disney's D23 Expo. </i>Many of you are probably wondering what exactly that entails, other than packing my Mouse Ears and Park Tickets - and trust me, it gets a lot more complicated, but in the best of ways possible.<br />
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So, to begin, I wanna start by explaining what I will be wearing to the Expo. For some, they will be in a basic T-shirt and jeans throughout the duration of the event. For others, they will be cosplaying from morning till night, with possible multiple costume changes throughout the day. But what about me, you ask? Well I will be doing a mixture of both, as I will be wearing Lolita Fashion coordinates all weekend, inspired by some of my favorite Disney Princesses. But which ones will I be tackling? Here's a breakdown:<br />
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<a name='more'></a>On Friday, I will be rocking the Expo as Anna from <i>Frozen</i>. Disclaimer: <i>Frozen </i>is in no way, shape or form, a favorite Disney movie of mine. But, I will confess, that I am in love with Anna as a character all her own. So in celebration of my love of this fun and bubbly princess, I will be doing a slightly more snowflake themed coordinate, featuring Btssb's <i>Queen of Snow ~ Fragment of 「Eternity」 I Hid in Snow Globe </i>JSK in Navy. My main concept for the coordinate is to show off what Anna would look like if she was an Icy princess, like her sister Elsa, and was covered in snow. This is shown mostly through the snowflake decorated veil that'll be my main headdress for the outfit. There will also be a crystal headpiece to go with the veil, to represent when Anna freezes near the end of the movie.<br />
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Thus far I have been able to purchase everything for the outfit, except for the crystal drop headpiece. I am planning to either DIY it myself, or ask for the awesome assistance of my friend Victoria from <i>Parfait Doll</i> to help me with it. I'm hoping to see if I can find snowflake charms somewhere in the city, which would add a bit of flair to the piece.</div>
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As for shoes, I am going to be wearing either brown boots that resemble Anna's a bit, or white oxford shoes for comfort. We'll see which the weather will allow me to handle, as Anaheim is quite a warm climate. </div>
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Now for make-up, I'm hoping to get my hands on a new blush, as I want to have super rosy cheeks to resemble Anna as best as possible. This make-up tutorial is adorable, and I hope to follow it, to get Anna's freckles too!</div>
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As for other accessories, I'm planning on rocking some of my snowflake pearl jewelry I've collected over the past couple of International Lolita Day celebrations. I'm also gonna wear some of my more delicate rings, like my <i>Rose Gold Kate Spade Bow</i> ring. I was wanting to get snowflake nail art, but the only ones I've been able to find are in darker tones than what I want. But trust me, I'll be going all out for this one. </div>
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Want to know what I'll be wearing for the rest of the Expo? Tune in next time Part 2 of my Prepping for <i>D23</i> series! Tip: It'll be on the Aquatic side of frilly. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2138501429637474159.post-29100525095880824952015-06-23T07:27:00.002-07:002015-06-23T07:27:44.384-07:00Downton Abbey MusicalThe theater world can be an interesting place, one that has some of the strangest ideas of adaptations. And guess which one we can now add to the list? Oh yeah, <i>Downton Abbey</i>. (<a href="http://www.playbill.com/news/article/downton-abbey-team-working-on-a-stage-musical-adaptation-351784">SOURCE</a>)<div>
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Yes, that's right, the BBC hit about a fairy tale like rich family in the upper crust of 1920's British society, might indeed become a musical in the future - and though usually I am not a fan of theatrical productions based on hit franchises such as this, <i>Downton Abbey </i>might just work. And even though there is talks that this will be more like an arena presentation, just like <i>Doctor Who'</i>s recent arena tour, maybe <i>Downton </i>will get the more classy theater treatment it deserves. <div>
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As a long time Downton fan, my biggest concern with the stage adaptation is what aspect of the <i>Downton</i> story they are choosing to focus on. Obviously, the Mary and Matthew story has to be in there, along with Sib's story. But will they include every characters plot line from the past 5 seasons? I doubt they will be able to fit them all into it, but it would be incredibly interesting to see them try. </div>
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The characters I'd love to see maybe get an improved and shortened storyline is Bates and Anna, who are though my favorite couple on the show, have a relationship that is rockier than the Rocky Mountains. Maybe they'll trim the fat on their back and forth issues with the law, and the death of people in their lives, and instead give them a more focused happy ending. </div>
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It'd also be interesting to see if Mary and Matthew's story stayed point for point for the TV series. Maybe they'll have a happy ending as well, as opposed to you know.... the opposite. But considering this is a piece being adapted for theater, I won't be surprised if these two share the same fate on stage as they did on the small screen. </div>
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Whether this becomes an arena spectacular, or a dramatic night at the theater, the future for <i>Downton Abbey </i>on stage is surely riddled with questions and interest in every way possible. </div>
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<i>So what are you hoping happens with this Downton Abbey stage show? Which characters do you want to see on the Great White Way/West End? Or do you think an arena show is a better idea?</i><i> Comment below and tell me all your Downton feely feels. </i></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2138501429637474159.post-14853084727921009272015-05-19T11:49:00.000-07:002015-05-19T11:49:57.773-07:00D23 Expo Event Dream List<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The summer is just around the corner, which means the number one thing I've been looking forward to all year is just about to begin. And if you follow this site in any sort, you'll know that yes, it is indeed a Disney related topic. The thing I am discussing is the D23 Expo, a bi-annual convention that is run officially by The House of Mouse, and celebrates everything within it. From their animated classics, to their other accomplishments (aka Marvel and Lucas Film), D23 Expo has something for everyone. <div>
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Recently the expo has made some announcements of their big events, to which got me thinking: What do I wanna see at the event? Well, incase you were ever interested in finding out the answer, here is a fangirl filled countdown to get your creative, Disney-inspired sparks going, and maybe even you can write up a wish list all your own!</div>
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<b><i>The Big Concert: Full Sized Disney Orchestra </i></b></div>
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Every Expo, there has been a rather super-sized filled concert that plays on Saturday night, and usually becomes one of the highlights for many attendees. 2011 had Dick Van Dyke, and 2013 had Richard Sherman and Alan Menken. So what should 2015's big musical event be? A full on orchestra, performing the best instrumental pieces of Disney's expanding catalog. </div>
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Following in the foot steps of similar events for <i>Zelda</i>, <i>Pokemon</i>, <i>Lord of the Rings</i>, and many more, it would be absolutely mind blowing to see D23 put on a multimedia event of such a grand scale, but with a special Disney flair. And especially now with the new 7,500 hall created for the expo, I wouldn't be surprised if such a concert does happen in the future. </div>
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Hearing the score of <i>Pocahontas</i> or <i>Hunchback</i> performed with a large choir!? How about big orchestra performance of <i>Grim Grinning Ghosts!</i>? What if we got to hear Lily James sing <i>A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes</i> live?! All of these are just my "out-of-the-box" dreams, but if D23 ever was able to make such an concert possible, these maybe could come true. </div>
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<b><i>Beauty and the Beast 2017 Pre-Production Panel</i></b></div>
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It is absolutely no secret that I am obsessed with everything and anything related to Disney's new live action production of <i>Beauty and the Beast</i>. Whenever I hear even the tiniest bit of news, my world stops, and I begin to daydream of the cinematic perfection that is taking place with the movie thus far. And because D23 is all about showing some of the most exclusive sneak peaks into the studio's upcoming projects, I can't help but think there might be a little bit of things in store where <i>BatB</i> is concerned. </div>
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I'd personally love to see a panel devoted to the pre-production work done on the movie, and possibly some set photos and costume design, hosted by Bill Condon and production designer, Sarah Greenwood. Maybe we could see some behind the scenes photos of any make up or special effects tests, to get a bit more of an understanding of the overall visual differences between the animated film and the new live action adaptation. </div>
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Also, PS: I'd love to see a similar panel done for the recent <i>Cinderella</i> live action film as well, especially to learn of the challenges when filming some of the more "magical" sequences. </div>
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One of the other major aspects of the D23 Expo is the inclusion of what is new from Disney Imagineering, the sub-division responsible for all the technological and architectural magic within the various Disney parks. Though there are a lot of awesome new additions coming to both Disney World and Disneyland in the future, the one that has me the most intrigued is the <i>Avatar </i>expansion at Animal Kingdom. Sure, the movie I have a love/hate relationship with, but the world of Pandora itself is one I'd love to visit, especially in a Disney made theme park setting. </div>
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Last expo, we got a very small sneak peak at some of the work going on for the new park, and I'm hoping at the 2015 edition, we'll get an even closer look at the theme park world of <i>Avatar</i>. I'd love to see any animatronics featuring the leading characters, and the height and scale of the props within the various attractions. Even just some test footage would be absolutely incredible, but I'll take what I can get. </div>
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<b><i>More Dreamfinder Please</i></b></div>
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It seems like every year, without fail, something involving the classic <i>Journey into Imagination </i>attraction is featured at the expo. Everyone loves Figment and Dreamfinder, as they are two of the most iconic park characters next to The Hat Box Ghost and The Country Bears. And I am seriously hoping we get even more of these two at the expo this year, maybe even a whole panel dedicated to them? Because that would be a dream come true.</div>
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We could learn more about the history of the original ride, blue prints, test footage, and more in-depth facts as to why it so drastically changed in the early 2000's. Maybe we can even see more of Dreamfinder himself at the expo, and I can finally have a picture with him (something I've waited 20 plus years to accomplish!) </div>
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Also, I am hoping for more <i>Imagination</i> merchandise, as I want to make a room dedicated to the ride somewhere in my home. </div>
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<i>And those are just a few dreams of mine! Do you have any for the D23 Expo? Are you going? Comment below with all your Disney feels!</i></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2138501429637474159.post-40807275245312344432015-04-30T09:40:00.000-07:002015-04-30T09:40:53.110-07:00"Eternally 29" - "Age of Adaline" Review<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsh2DXl1F1XvN-tSfyoX7XnmcBE3J1jICEBDahGcPwQmFe1EuLjOVD45B3hOUdLAY2KPyPrRnYdsW9KSBk4v6rpP_urnhXXAF9jNnqm2DBLQ56I5iRH620b3WFIiYo3v1QNTCEq6Lrhz8/s1600/The-Age-of-Adaline-2015-Poster-Wallpaper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsh2DXl1F1XvN-tSfyoX7XnmcBE3J1jICEBDahGcPwQmFe1EuLjOVD45B3hOUdLAY2KPyPrRnYdsW9KSBk4v6rpP_urnhXXAF9jNnqm2DBLQ56I5iRH620b3WFIiYo3v1QNTCEq6Lrhz8/s1600/The-Age-of-Adaline-2015-Poster-Wallpaper.jpg" height="168" width="320" /></a>Many women wish that they could remain young forever. In fact, it is why the cosmetic industry continues to rank in millions, based on its promises of having "fountain of youth" like abilities. But deep down, we know it is all a fantasy, one that could never occur unless some magical spell fell into our laps. In the new film, <i>The Age of Adaline</i>, we are asked to believe in such wizardry, and enjoy a whimsical ride down a <i>Vogue</i> approved road.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>The story explores the character of Adaline Bowman (Blake Lively), who at age 29, is afflicted with a strange condition in which her body refuses to age forward. Thus, Adaline lives through eight decades in what seems to be a very youthful appearance, but carrying underneath what is truly an old soul. This suffering of sorts affects Adaline in a multitude of ways, including her relationship with her daughter, her long spanning love life, and even some run-ins with the law, making her already unusual life anything but ordinary.<br />
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With the protagonist being mentioned in the title, and with such a strong character driven plot, this is the kind of role that demands a really talented individual to lead the charge. Was Blake Lively the correct choice for such a part? If asked during her <i>Gossip Girl</i> run, many would probably say no, but with many more roles behind her, Ms. Lively has truly turned into a fantastic actress. She perfectly captures the elegance and maturity needed for the role, and convey's the decades long experiences that Adaline has gone through with just a single look. Unfortunately, the script doesn't allow for Blake to truly explore the complexities of her character, only leaving us to imagine what really could have been a memorable individual in the history of cinema.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdVeKSDfDpbui3jNNDFzWwAZJ-cZngJcF9dpQ9oVuTXZJCuQvlpN5ynxcpTzNpXREQELlDW3lqyhw9c3K33O-efL6k501pv6O7AxY6WW_MPDxXVHpL2pIOGXM-XOi1tf8JxbD8UQB029w/s1600/age-of-adaline-trailer-11182014-111856.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdVeKSDfDpbui3jNNDFzWwAZJ-cZngJcF9dpQ9oVuTXZJCuQvlpN5ynxcpTzNpXREQELlDW3lqyhw9c3K33O-efL6k501pv6O7AxY6WW_MPDxXVHpL2pIOGXM-XOi1tf8JxbD8UQB029w/s1600/age-of-adaline-trailer-11182014-111856.jpg" height="132" width="320" /></a><br />
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Her other co-stars, including iconic talents like Harrison Ford and Ellen Burstyn, suffer from a similar sort of issue. Ford, playing an important figure in Adaline's complicated journey, has one of the most heartbreaking and interesting moments in the film, but because his part is more of an extended cameo at best, it never is given the true treatment it deserves. The same can be said of Burstyn, who plays the older version of Adaline's daughter. She, out of any character (excluding our leading lady), should have the most interesting tale to tell. Sadly, her journey is also side lined and left to short snippets of exposition and a few one sided phone conversations. If there was a choice to see more of Burstyn's character versus the romance that the film features, I'd easily go for the first option.<br />
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Speaking of which, lets discuss the big selling point of this movie. Yes, there is indeed a lot of romantic elements here, which definitely takes up a majority of the story. In fact, there are more than a few different gentlemen that represent that aspect of Adaline's life, with <i>Game of Thrones</i> Michiel Huisman (who is far from a traditional leading man) being the main focus.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMZCtBNzviH04wn5KG1tJkzkqUvBBUx9rMinzxR-jsFytmWRLh4r9H2bBVfP3Y4awvTNzoL2Z7YRsJBqxKCerjy8i2P-tt_nXSfgyAg2Wip3KoSIjDBZcv5nAyEAIxuonH85xSHuFE-lc/s1600/the-age-of-adaline-slice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMZCtBNzviH04wn5KG1tJkzkqUvBBUx9rMinzxR-jsFytmWRLh4r9H2bBVfP3Y4awvTNzoL2Z7YRsJBqxKCerjy8i2P-tt_nXSfgyAg2Wip3KoSIjDBZcv5nAyEAIxuonH85xSHuFE-lc/s1600/the-age-of-adaline-slice.jpg" height="106" width="320" /></a>Blake and Michiel have a great chemistry from the start. Their banter is electric, and believable, even with the very fantasy oriented premise. But is he the most interesting fling in Adaline's history? Far from it, which begs the question why the script itself doesn't seem to realize that. Yes, he may be financially successful, have a cool apartment, be intelligent, and make good food, but that doesn't necessarily mean he should be, by default, "the love of your life." Though, in all honestly, this is a story crafted for a generation raised on stylized <i>CW</i> dramas and Taylor Swift songs, so it should be no surprise that this guy is ranked higher than Adaline's other, more captivating, lovers.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghfSfvmhxAKQKtpq34UdY916BzychlTziyv9ik2lWyKpg6sAbn4hep6_wj0JXUWoBssT45IXpMXQSmMUegE12PAscnqNumcRT74U9aamhebHh91TCgWnc-dRsvzEal8o75l3s6kO1bd18/s1600/FFN_Lively_Blake_NHORSLEY_031814_51358510.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghfSfvmhxAKQKtpq34UdY916BzychlTziyv9ik2lWyKpg6sAbn4hep6_wj0JXUWoBssT45IXpMXQSmMUegE12PAscnqNumcRT74U9aamhebHh91TCgWnc-dRsvzEal8o75l3s6kO1bd18/s1600/FFN_Lively_Blake_NHORSLEY_031814_51358510.jpg" height="291" width="320" /></a>Pushing the questionable details of the script to the side, <i>Age of Adaline</i> is, without a doubt, one of the most beautifully shot films this year, if not this decade. Cinematographer David Lanzenberg captures every decade of Adaline's lifespan with true detailed brilliance. From her flashbacks, to her 2015 San Francisco persona, no moment is any less stunning than the previous. The same can be said of set decorator Shannon Gottlieb's work, along with costume designer Angus Strathie's contributions to the film. Both have a firm understanding of Adaline's world, and how her apartment and clothing expresses her unique take on modern day living. Her style, particularly in the present, reflects a modest and refined taste, one that could be confused as a "hipster/rockabilly" style by the naked eye, but when closely, examined is exactly how an older individual would coordinate with today's latest pieces.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi51U-GUxfGcxZNm1jFg6zeX1q-EER-LggMpAMjV7SYU_Pk54_oDkiv5bJYvw-8LSNC2T4R8cwLyfzfNS0jvDeedl41tKj7Qg11mE4tdGUhMrxEcV3i4SDbInc5j2wvZm-45MIJ-DdCVHE/s1600/age-of-adaline.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi51U-GUxfGcxZNm1jFg6zeX1q-EER-LggMpAMjV7SYU_Pk54_oDkiv5bJYvw-8LSNC2T4R8cwLyfzfNS0jvDeedl41tKj7Qg11mE4tdGUhMrxEcV3i4SDbInc5j2wvZm-45MIJ-DdCVHE/s1600/age-of-adaline.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a>Though it may not feature the best of screenplays, <i>Age of Adaline</i> is a delightful and admirable effort to create a modern day fairy tale. It may not sit exactly on the same shelf of excellence as other films on the immortality/age fantasy subject, but it definitely fills a gap like 1948's <i>Portrait of Jennie</i> and 1980's <i>Somewhere in Time</i> did for its respective audiences. It is a fluffy, romantic escape at the movies, that features a really interesting concept, that sadly is not given the true examination that it cinematically should get. But for what it is, it is a film that absolutely deserves a fan base and praise from the public in general, and I hope it continues a trend in the romance genre that ditches those formula's popularized by Nicolas Sparks, and goes for something a bit more original and pretty. Cause those are two aspects that should never, ever, be neglected, no matter what age you are.<br />
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<b><i>Rating - 7 out of 10</i></b></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2138501429637474159.post-55620809647271689092015-04-07T13:15:00.000-07:002015-04-07T13:15:27.757-07:00Happy 20th Anniversary "A Goofy Movie"!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtuL5sPdaNs1sDLcOa5SwhHZipW5K_zpnghQ3ka91hN0FRh3QVpju0-7PJZgYpYY4WcsakZlo4rfIghfLHHpPHpoceXVfPnrZcU2proiP3K6SFjGIfQCay3p9qknqiYfacuhTbSXRpyS8/s1600/Max-a-goofy-movie-23177282-1280-800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtuL5sPdaNs1sDLcOa5SwhHZipW5K_zpnghQ3ka91hN0FRh3QVpju0-7PJZgYpYY4WcsakZlo4rfIghfLHHpPHpoceXVfPnrZcU2proiP3K6SFjGIfQCay3p9qknqiYfacuhTbSXRpyS8/s1600/Max-a-goofy-movie-23177282-1280-800.jpg" height="200" width="320" /></a></div>
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20 years ago today, one of my favorite movies in the whole world was released. Though I don't remember the specifics, I'm pretty sure I saw it close to its opening weekend, and from that moment onward, it has made my life just that much better in every way possible.<br />
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<i>A Goofy Movie</i> is a strange film in the world of Disney. It takes liberties with one of the most beloved Fab Five characters, gives him an angst filled teenage son, and them throws them into a pretty grand, yet mature, road trip adventure. There's romance, Big Foot, even a Michael Jackson inspired pop star, all wrapped up in a glorious, 90's package.<br />
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In celebration of this anniversary, here are a few of my favorite little things from this gem of a movie:<br />
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<b><i>Powerline</i></b></div>
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Probably my favorite thing from this movie as a whole, is the music, specifically anything that Powerline sings. As I mentioned above, Powerline is sort of the Disney certified love child of Michael Jackson, Bobby Brown, and Prince, in the body of a humanoid dog.... man? Yeah we'll go with that. Regardless, Powerline is one of the coolest characters, even without having any dialog in the movie. His songs (performed by Tevin Campbell) are some of the most addicting, clearly 90's produced, songs to ever be created. They never get old and give me a surge of nostalgia that is pure, amazing, and ridiculous. If I had to pick one song to be my favorite, probably I'd go with <i>Eye 2 Eye</i>, just because it is and will always be catchy. But no matter what the tune, you can't go wrong with Powerline. </div>
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<b><i>Jason Marsden</i></b></div>
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When I saw <i>A Goofy Movie</i>, one of the things that stuck out the most to me was the vocal performance of "whomever was the dude" that voiced Max Goof. He did a really good job, five year old me felt, and had a "cute" sounding voice. I then eventually discovered that the guy who voiced Max, and many other beloved characters (Binx from <i>Hocus Pocus</i>, Haku in <i>Spirited Away</i>) from my childhood, was named Jason Marsden, and he is one awesome guy. Aside from voicing nostalgic favorites, he also voices a lot of current shows, and seems to sing on occasion too (in Nashville of all places!) Talented, cute, and cool (just like Max), finding Marsden through <i>A Goofy Movie</i> was one of the best treasures to ever discover. </div>
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<b><i>Max and Roxanne </i></b></div>
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Though, at five years old, I wasn't exactly an expert in the romance department, I knew that for some reason, I really liked Max and Roxanne together. Maybe it was because it was just a simple, down-to-earth, teenage crush sort of scenario, or I just really dug the voice acting (reference above), but something about Max and Roxanne's relationship was really lovely, to me, at a young age. The two of them are sort of awkward outcasts in their own right, with complicated parents that have their flaws, which was refreshing for a kid who was overloaded with old Fairy Style style romances. Neither of them were perfect, and that was cool, especially for me with all my childhood issues. So with all those charms and more, I can say I am a lifelong fan of these two, forever and always. </div>
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<b><i>This Scene.... </i></b></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b><iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/QRhR3zf_Wxs/0.jpg" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/QRhR3zf_Wxs?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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The feels are strong here. Don't even need to explain it. </div>
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So, if you can't tell, I love the heck out of <i>A Goofy Movie</i>. It's a movie that might not be as popular as the fairy tale Disney flicks, but it will always remain one of my favorites for the rest of my life. It might not be your movie, but it sure, will always, be mine. </div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2138501429637474159.post-89821620985184502732015-04-05T05:49:00.001-07:002015-04-05T05:51:35.218-07:00I'm Back!<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Why hello there, friends! </i></div>
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I know, it has been quite some time since I've written anything on <b>Magic a'la Mode</b>. But don't you worry, I have officially (in a slow manner) returned. </div>
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But you might be wondering, where the heck have I been all this time? The answer is quite fun. Me and a group of fabulous individuals have been hard at work on a site called The Daily Geekette. Many of my reviews for film, theater, and the like, have all been posting on there since last year, and it has been one of the most rewarding experiences a girl could ask for. </div>
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If you're curious to check out my work on there,<a href="https://dailygeekette.wordpress.com/tag/dalin-rowell/"> click here</a>. </div>
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But, what about this blog, you ask? I have big plans on the horizon folks! Even one you might notice in your URL bar on your browser. What does it mean? You'll just have to wait and see. </div>
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Until then, keep staying sparkly and amazing my readership!</div>
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Best,</div>
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Duckie</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2138501429637474159.post-50422736501592044632014-01-10T06:59:00.002-08:002014-01-10T07:04:34.862-08:00Saving Mr. Banks Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The Disney company has a way with magic. It's something every child at some point in their life knows, especially when it comes to the classic Walt era of the Mouse House. But no piece speaks to the levels of his visual creativity and abilities more than the Oscar winning <i>Mary Poppins</i>. Though by far not my personal favorite Disney film, <i>Poppins</i> is a masterpiece in so many ways and will always be treasured as such.<br />
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But what exactly was the inspiration behind the famous flying nanny? Not too many people seem to know and always believe that she came from within Walt's own imagination. But in actuality, Mary was born from the mind of an Australian woman that many would come to know as P.L.Travers. She was a mysterious creature, much like <i>Poppins</i>, who came in and out of the public eye as quick as the wind. But what many know her for, beside her books of course, is the history between her and Walt. <i>Saving Mr. Banks</i>, the new film from Disney, gives cinematic life to these behind the scenes moments.<br />
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We begin in the past, with a familiar phrase from the original story, where we see a young girl and her father (played brilliantly by Collin Farrel) interact. We later learn this is Travers (who's real name was Ellen) during her not so "Perfectly Perfect" childhood. At the same time we meet a now middle aged Travers, who has been requested to meet Walt Disney for two weeks in California. This meeting would hopefully bring <i>Mary Poppins</i> to the big screen (a deal that had been a twenty year long struggle for Walt and company.)<br />
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The moments that occurred during those two weeks were some of the most interesting in Disney's history. With an unforgettable performance by Emma Thompson as Travers, you remember every single aspect of them, even down to what condition her perfectly permed hair was in. Thompson gives the kind of performance that people showcase in Oscar montages, make speeches about (like <a href="http://www.vanityfair.com/online/oscars/2014/01/meryl-streep-emma-thompson-best-speech-ever">Meryl Streep did here</a>), and quote for years to come. She's thrilling in every detail, and brings heart to a character that the public assumed had no soul outside of what came from her finger tips onto the page.<br />
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Walt is played by the always enchanting Tom Hanks, who though looks really nothing close to Mr. Disney, brings a similar sort of charming aura that can be instantly connected to his real life counterpart. This goes very much along with those in the supporting roles, especially Paul Giamatti as Ralph (P.L's driver), who gives the oil to revive Thompson's inner Tin Man.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span">But what must be noted above all other aspects of this film are the elegant choices that make this a love letter to childhood nostalgia. From the recreation of the original Disney Studios title card, to the replication of the linoleum hallways of the Burbank office, this is pure Disney fanatic heaven. The moment that presents this effort at it's best comes when Richard Sherman (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="itemprop" itemprop="name"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Jason Schwartzman</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span">) plays "Feed The Birds" in the rehearsal room. Many a knowledgeable "DVD extras watching" Mouseketeer can tell you that this was (by many accounts) Walt's favorite song, and the moment perfectly expresses this. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span">Though as with any Hollywood film, the level of truthfulness can be lacking, especially when you know some of the "source material". By most accounts it's been said that Travers was not a fan of the final product put on screen of her beloved Mary. So when the final act of the film is shown, it can be hard to swallow these fantasy renderings of history, even with a spoonful of sugar. </span><br />
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But when all is said and done, <i>Saving Mr. Banks </i>is a great movie. Though that is a generic term for a review, that's really the best way to describe it. These are the kind of cinema experiences an audience craves for: A great story that involves all your emotions, steers up your own personal connections, and leaves you feeling inspired in some degree, even to "Fly A Kite" perhaps.<br />
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<b>9.6 out of 10</b></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2138501429637474159.post-30789199342252491762014-01-06T13:25:00.000-08:002014-01-06T13:25:16.444-08:00Magic Retrospective: Captain EO<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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One of the things I don't often talk about too much on my blog is my love for one singer: Michael Jackson. Yeah the man was the coolest back when I was a kid, and to this day is in my top 3 favorite vocalist of all time. He was enchanting, cute, and full of energy. Anything he did in the 80s/90s (bandaids on his fingers, the glove, the socks and black shoes) was godly and had to be copied.<br />
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Because I was around during the 90's era of MJ, I sadly missed a good chunk of his 80's glory, including his work for the Disney company: The 3D epic <i>Captain EO</i>. But luckily with the advent of VHS tapes (including one that my mom used to tape the one time they aired the 2D version on MTV) I got to see the retro classic even though it had disappeared from the Disney parks respectively.<br />
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After MJ's sudden death in 2009, Disney decided to pay tribute to the legend by bringing back <i>Captain EO</i> into the parks across the world. This finally gave me the chance to see the flick in it's full in theater effects glory for the first of several times during both my vacations to Disneyland and later in Epcot at Disney World.<br />
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But what exactly is <i>Captain EO</i>? It was a 3D film (involving such talents as George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola) that told the story of, well, Captain EO. He's a rainbow decked badass of a ship captain who leads his gang of bizarre creature/robot friends through the galaxy. His sidekicks included the infamous Hooter (a turquoise mini elephant), the two headed orange creature named Idey and Ody, the robot Major Domo, and the always precious Fuzzball.<br />
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On this particular mission, Captain EO and crew have to find the Supreme Leader (played by the stunning Anjelica Huston) and give her some sort of present, but what could it be? Turns out this lady is one mean witch, who needs the "gift" of song and dance to bring her back to her former day-glow glory.<br />
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<i>Captain EO</i> is full of all the nostalgic qualities that many kids of the 80's and 90's hold tightly to their hearts. It in many cases is what I consider to be the epitome of my childhood, representing all my favorite things: Outer Space, Bright Colors, Cuddly Creatures, Adventure and of course, Michael Jackson. It just has everything, and in 17 minutes takes the audience on an enchanting (and slightly cheesy) joy ride of awesome. </div>
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There are a few things that people remember most about <i>Captain EO</i>. One would be Hooter, the character mentioned previously. Hooter would <u>ALWAYS</u> get into trouble, and EO would be there to give him a good smack talking or yelling in this case. </div>
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The other element many people fondly remember was, of course, the MJ songs. The two featured ("We Are Here To Change The World" and "Another Part of Me") are considered to be two of his best by many Jackson fans (the hardcore ones like me, at least.) In my opinion, "Another Part of Me" is the better of the two, which shows since it later ended up on Jackson's album, "Bad". </div>
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But the thing I would consider my favorite aspect of Captain EO? It's such a small moment, but many know of it. When EO transforms the Supreme Leader into her more beautiful self, Michael does what could be considered, by any account of filmmaking before or since, the cutest smile ever captured on celluloid. </div>
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If there was one image that could sum up my childhood. Look at those perfect teeth! The adorable eyes! It's all just precious! </div>
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So in short, I will always love <i>Captain EO</i>. Whether it's in the parks or not, it's a classic and always will be. If ever I am down and need a good on my face, EO and his crew are always there with some sparkly rainbows and such. </div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2138501429637474159.post-36164954536036841932014-01-03T13:12:00.001-08:002014-01-03T13:12:37.855-08:00Magic a'la Mode's Best Movies of 20132013 has come to a close, and that means it's list making time over here in the blog world! As someone that's done a lot of film criticism this year, I wanted to give a list that reflected my favorite flicks of the past 12 months. The ones that will stick with me for years to come and should be watched by all of you lovely people that take the time to read this sparkle insanity of a website.<br />
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Keep in mind this is my personal list, as in some of these movies might not be considered Academy Award winning by many out there, but I believe they bear mentioning. So here we go!<br />
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10) <i>Pacific Rim</i><br />
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I couldn't make this list without including what was hilariously dubbed among my friends as "Dalin: The Movie". Featuring my dream cast, director, and scenario, <i>Pacific Rim</i> took the action genre films of 2013 to new, cheesy, epic heights that hadn't truly been achieved prior.<br />
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Yes, the script is less than stellar, and yes there are tons of tropes from both of the respected sub-genres (Mecha/Kaiju) showcased. But the charm of <i>Pacific Rim</i> is that it comes off more as an homage than something trying to advance what had been done in the past. It breathes life into the stone cold path that Bay's <i>Transformers</i> films had left, and yet doesn't take itself too seriously. So bravo Del Toro, you achieved what every fanboy has dreamed: giving the audience the ride of a lifetime.<br />
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9) <i>This is The End/The World's End</i><br />
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Yes, this is a tie. Both these films are excellent and both deal with the same subject matter. But they are in no way shape or form the same movie. But why couldn't I pick one over the other?<br />
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Well for starts, lets discuss the American side of this story with <i>This is The End</i>. I can say without a doubt that <i>The End</i> is the best comedy film of 2013. It jumps leaps and bounds over its competitors in both it's biting dialog and incredible boldness. The last 10 minutes of this movie are some of the funniest moments put to film, ever. Channing Tatum, need I say more.<br />
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But <i>The World's End</i> has a slightly more serious edge that made it equally as enjoyable. This story of friendship is oddly aided by the surprise genre twist towards the middle of the movie, one that is best experienced without knowing anything when seeing it for the first time.<br />
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So in essence, if you are looking for an easy double feature, give these two a try. Just remember to bring the tissues, and the Backstreet Boys t-shirts.<br />
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8) <i>Don Jon</i><br />
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Sex is a really awkward topic to deal with in Hollywood. It either comes off as incredibly over the top or never gives both angles to the partners involved. But who would have thought the kid from <i>Angels in the Outfield</i> would be one of the only filmmakers to get it right? I sure didn't. </div>
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In Joseph Gordon-Levitt's directorial/writing debut, we get an equal side representation of romance. Levitt's character is a porn addicted wise guy, who falls for Scarlett Johansan's rom-com addicted girly girl. But what puts <i>Don Jon </i>beyond it's<i> </i>competition is it's honest, realistic take on the tropes and moments every human has in a relationship. With surprising supporting work from 80's dad Tony Danza and the effortlessly beautiful Julianne Moore, <i>Don Jon</i> is 2013's <i>When Harry Met Sally, </i>except with a lot more smart phones. </div>
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7) <i>Spring Breakers</i></div>
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I'll be blunt, you are either gonna love or hate<i> Spring Breakers. </i>For me, I was on the positive side. It could easily have been the worst thing to have ever been made, or the best. But during a long train ride home after seeing this MTV style art house attack on the senses, I came to the conclusion that the end result was something way ahead of it's time.<br />
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Directed by the ever so annoying Harmony Korine, we see what could be his most "accessible" film. But by no means should this give you an idea to watch this with say your mom or dad. No, this is the kind of film that midnight showings were made for, the kind you will quote for years to come.<br />
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All I can say is: "Spring Break .... forevah."<br />
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6) <i>American Hustle</i><br />
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Ever since last year's<i> Silver Linings Playbook, </i>I've become a huge supporter of David O. Russell's work. He has an excellent handle on his actors, and gives equally great parts to women and men. But nothing got my attention more than the perfection he put into his latest effort, <i>American Hustle</i>.<br />
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With tons of charm, spunk, and attention to detail, <i>American Hustle</i> is a film that sits comfortably on the shelf with other crime tales such as <i>Goodfellas </i>or <i>Casino</i>. But what makes it stand out is the brilliant female leads. Amy Adam's shines here, with Jennifer Lawrence being absolutely unstoppable in her charm. With the addition of an effortlessly composed soundtrack and set design, <i>American Hustle</i> screams to be 2013's awards winner, and deservedly so.<br />
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5) <i>The Wolf of Wall Street </i><br />
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If <i>American Hustle</i> is the 101 for Oscar winning filmmaking, <i>The Wolf of Wall Street </i>is the rebellious guidebook in the back of the library. No, <i>Wolf</i> will probably win no awards this season. It might not even get nominated past the always interesting Golden Globes (though, by god, is this Leo's best performance.) But unlike all the other films that will be nominated/win, <i>Wolf</i> is a movie people will talk about 20 years from now.</div>
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From the ads, this looks like a modern day <i>Wall Street, </i>but this ain't your daddy's Gordon Gekko. No, this is one of the boldest films to come out in 2013, and even with it's 3 hour running time stays fresh, exciting and incredible in every detail. It has easily skyrocketed to my favorite Martin Scorsese film, which was almost unthinkable after <i>The Departed</i>. </div>
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4) <i>Prisoners</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_WQ73xzx73pkwR2kkwMZQ7A6sbeK7tV-JgXMSTuHYYH9hyaOWjst9PuLlmF4yxIbk1A4UvX4zNqQh6oEQj9lr5B-a4NE2YWTznsmpez1uPnhE5GC-ALp6lt26MTFDzkIzgKgvuCqD_9c/s1600/Prisoners-Jake-Gyllenhaal-Hugh-Jackman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_WQ73xzx73pkwR2kkwMZQ7A6sbeK7tV-JgXMSTuHYYH9hyaOWjst9PuLlmF4yxIbk1A4UvX4zNqQh6oEQj9lr5B-a4NE2YWTznsmpez1uPnhE5GC-ALp6lt26MTFDzkIzgKgvuCqD_9c/s400/Prisoners-Jake-Gyllenhaal-Hugh-Jackman.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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When many people first saw the trailer for a little crime film called <i>Prisoners,</i> most regarded it as a straight up ho-hum drama. But in actuality, <i>Prisoners</i> is by far the scariest film I had seen in all of 2013. Sure, films like<i> The</i> <i>Conjuring</i> and <i>Insidious 2</i> were amazing in the horrors they offered to the audience. But for me, those are more popcorn flicks by comparison. </div>
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In my case, a true horror is something that could happen in real life. <i>Prisoners</i> is definitely one of those kind of films, and was so intense that afterwards myself and the rest of the audience were completely silent. For weeks I couldn't stop thinking about the pain and power this film had over me. It truly left a mark that I will remember for years to come. </div>
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3) <i>Saving Mr. Banks</i></div>
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As many of you know, anything related to Disney will always be a favorite of mine. So of course, I had to put one of their releases this year on the list. And as much as I adored <i>Frozen</i> to pieces, <i>Saving Mr. Banks</i> just had something a little more memorable than the other. </div>
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Maybe it was the fact that the actual Disneyland (my favorite place in the world) was on screen, or maybe it was the affection given to the old time charm of the original Disney classics pre-Walt's death. But I think what really grabbed me was how obvious this film was a love letter to nostalgia. From the opening titles sequence, to the <i>Mary Poppins</i> score references, to even the reflections of history within key moments (like Walt hearing <i>Feed The Birds</i> for the first time), <i>Saving Mr. Banks</i> is incredibly charming. </div>
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But many would wonder why this isn't my number one? Well maybe it's the Disney "expert" in me, but I think with what the public actually knows about what happened during the production of <i>Poppins, </i>its hard to watch something that comes off much more like a fairy tale. But maybe that's the way Walt would have wanted it. </div>
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2) <i>The Place Beyond The Pines</i></div>
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<i>The Place Beyond The Pines</i> was a film that actually was completed in 2012, but was officially released earlier in 2013. But regardless of the release date, <i>Pines</i> is one of the most surprising films I have ever seen. The marketing and editing truly led you to believe that this film would go one way the whole ride through, but trust me this story is as layered as a Shrek approved onion. </div>
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Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper give both of the best performances of their career, with equally stunning cinematography by Sean Bobbitt to go with it, making this film is truly one for the ages. It's a modern American fable that I hope finds a wider audience in the future. </div>
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1) <i>Her</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSxjAkoOlfveZvSBKRCotNWjgt-9zU2IBOBGGN_hXaWZLN2a2FigSLEAivWDMi8QaZtg0GqNkaxAXOhbmF4lh8NB2NS3mbj4OBeLXHhRk8Bv78nHlpWSMIlE5usSE-YTagxDlZtQnGD5s/s1600/Her-Spike-Jonze.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSxjAkoOlfveZvSBKRCotNWjgt-9zU2IBOBGGN_hXaWZLN2a2FigSLEAivWDMi8QaZtg0GqNkaxAXOhbmF4lh8NB2NS3mbj4OBeLXHhRk8Bv78nHlpWSMIlE5usSE-YTagxDlZtQnGD5s/s400/Her-Spike-Jonze.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Films can sometimes be an incredibly personal experience. One that changes and shapes you into the person you are meant to be, touch you, and stay with you. Many of the films in 2013 did that unlike in years past, but the one that sticks the most to my heart is <i>Her</i> by Spike Jonze. </div>
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<i>Her</i> tells the story of a lonely guy from the not too distant future who falls in love with his Operating System (computer.) Sounds awkward and possibly awful? At least interested? Well prepare yourself because this possibly bizarre plot is one of the most touchy and beautiful pieces of cinema to ever be created (in my opinion.) No film has felt more human than one that involves Joaquin Phoenix talking to his OS (voiced by Scarlett Johansson) for 2 hours. </div>
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Maybe it's the simplicity in the stylistic choices, the amazing acting by every single person in the cast, or the relatability of the characters, but this movie truly reached through me and gave me this big hug of emotions that I just never wanted to end. </div>
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And there you have it! That's my top 10 list of movies for the year of 2013. I hope there are some surprises you weren't expecting! </div>
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What are your favorite films of the year? Let me know in the comments below!</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2138501429637474159.post-83561604658558842152013-12-17T08:15:00.002-08:002013-12-17T08:15:47.133-08:00Rufflecon Indiegogo - Help Make This Awesome<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhL7xdRs75KWNCMrB7gmwutl4yQyC4SvEqBWaNhS2wEane4wxk47WqNH4U9N3UA3J-eoQ9y9fLJSiOy3kDvvFfxYjcX7l3k732cYzseY7bh0H_PhLb2OM4ITJE9rR2AKJg0d-V6nTr8Lc/s1600/WkTKECs.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhL7xdRs75KWNCMrB7gmwutl4yQyC4SvEqBWaNhS2wEane4wxk47WqNH4U9N3UA3J-eoQ9y9fLJSiOy3kDvvFfxYjcX7l3k732cYzseY7bh0H_PhLb2OM4ITJE9rR2AKJg0d-V6nTr8Lc/s1600/WkTKECs.png" /></a></div>
For a couple of months, I've had to keep somethings going on in my life under wraps. Now I can start talking about something very cool happening that I am involved in - an event that could be one of the coolest to happen in the East Coast if done correctly.<br />
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Here is the official description of Rufflecon:<br />
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"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px;">RuffleCon is the annual conference we hold as a two-day event, showcasing different informational panels, activities, dances, and other fun things to get involved in. We also have a Marketplace where you can purchase clothing, accessories, and other items any alternative fashion lover would enjoy."</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">RuffleCon just posted a few days ago their official Indiegogo page! Check out <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/rufflecon-2014">the link and video here</a>. </span></span><br />
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So, East Coasters, do you want to have a conference where you can have an amazing time with all your frilly friends and make new ones? Do you want to experience an elegant (mature) place to get dressed up that isn't your local Anime con? Then RuffleCon is the place for you!<br />
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If you donate you can help us get some cool events/guests for the conference, along with helping make the entire weekend truly incredible. But we can only get there with your support!<br />
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If you'd like more information, check out my friend (and one of the ladies running the event) Caro's <a href="http://fyeahlolita.blogspot.com/2013/12/rufflecon-upcoming-us-alternative.html">blog for more information</a>. Her post is fantastic!<br />
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Incase you were curious, I am going to be one of the major staff members that will be helping with the Screening department of the conference. We have a lot in the works, so keep a look out for it on the site in the future. Also, I will be running a couple of panels (which is always awesome) at the conference, so look for that as well.<br />
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So, in general, support something that could be an amazing event! We need your support and your ruffle love!<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2138501429637474159.post-25563410371379322112013-12-03T09:10:00.000-08:002013-12-03T09:13:04.966-08:00La Belle et La Bete (2014) trailer is finally hereOh...my...god. The trailer me and many a BatB fanatic has been waiting for is finally <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x17xyk4_la-belle-et-la-bete-bande-annonce-vf_shortfilms?start=2">here</a>.<br />
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I literally am a bit speechless at how truly stunning every aspect of this movie is from first glance. From the composure of the shots, to the lighting, to the costumes - every aspect of this trailer is truly breathtaking. Let's break it down with some interesting shots from the 1:58 trailer of brilliance.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje1qKwLy_96Y1Je7iGLNs_IzsfM6XnW3MqEDSAJUDrXJVJgvxLT3sGxkSR9tuqvcd_UAEcf84z_HKwnOSRtecv_Z9t8zexUCf8WmvY5nzkw0Uua6PqWMwkblFDEVBe45EI66c6Su8jtSU/s1600/Picture+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje1qKwLy_96Y1Je7iGLNs_IzsfM6XnW3MqEDSAJUDrXJVJgvxLT3sGxkSR9tuqvcd_UAEcf84z_HKwnOSRtecv_Z9t8zexUCf8WmvY5nzkw0Uua6PqWMwkblFDEVBe45EI66c6Su8jtSU/s320/Picture+1.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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The sequence with Belle riding the horse was perfect, and you could clearly see the inspiration from Cocteau's version. </div>
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I love how in this version, the area surrounding the Beast's castle is actually more spring like than winter. Maybe this changes because of the seasons or that possibly its a reflection of the Beast's enchantment, that it reflects his mood. </div>
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Out of all the costumes I've seen on Lea, I believe this might be my favorite of her gowns. It's very similar to the gown Belle wears in the 1946 version, the perfect princess dress. </div>
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Right off the bat, the motion capture work for The Beast is very well done. I'll have to wait to see the full movie to give my complete review on this aspect, but so far it seems up to pare with a lot of Weta's recent work. The hairs are especially interesting. </div>
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Again, the CGI sets in this movie are nothing short of brilliant. They capture the perfect fairy tale quality needed for the story, and I love how Belle's dress compliments the colors in the set design. </div>
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Now of course, there is always something that leaves the audience questioning elements in the film, and no BatB adaptation is complete without something new and fresh. These little dog/fairy like creatures seem to be the new "servants" of Beast's castle. Not sure if I dig these little guys yet or not. They don't seem bad, but they sure aren't the awesome scary trolls from <i>Panna a Netvor.</i> </div>
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Another perfect example of the excellent cinematography shown so far for this film. The framing is stunning, and I love the stink eye Lea is giving here. </div>
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Uh, can we just talk about how handsome Vincent looks here? *sigh* </div>
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Like, seriously. *sigh more*</div>
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Also apparently there is a ballroom sequence. *claps*</div>
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WITH AN AUDIENCE!?</div>
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This scene is by far the most interesting. The ice setting, the Beast chasing after Belle in some fluffy Elton John coat - the curiosity is<i> killing</i> me. Especially since <i>the bottom shot</i> is probably in the same sequence. Um... <i>well god damn</i>. </div>
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One interesting element that should be addressed is how The Beast facial design seems to be completely different than the promo poster lead us to assume. If you compare the two, one face (the poster) is more fluffy and lion like, where his face in the trailer is definitely Cassel's facial features covered by the motion capture design. <i>Interesting</i>. </div>
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So what are your thoughts on the La Belle et La Bete (2014) trailer? Comment below and let me know. I'm just gonna be replaying it for the entire rest of the day. </div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2138501429637474159.post-42746655520505060552013-11-19T10:14:00.000-08:002013-11-19T10:15:20.184-08:00Fangirly Post: Degrassi<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Not too often on here do I talk about silly TV shows that I love, regardless of how truly "brain cheese" quality they are. One of those shows that I am not afraid to admit that I adore still to this day is <i>Degrassi</i> (or as I knew it, <i>Degrassi: The Next Generation</i>.) The show that brought to me the stories of hot boys, awkward bodily functions and the plethora of "special" episodes, <i>Degrassi </i>was my soap opera. But how did this strange little high school drama come into my life? Let's start from the beginning.<br />
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<i>Degrassi </i>was originally a Canadian import, that was then delivered to the USA by way of the Noggin channel (also know as "The N" at nighttime.) Along with other similar programming, The N focused on showing tween/teen drama shows along with music videos. Most of the shows similar to <i>Degrassi</i> were also of the Canadian variety, giving us kids from the good old US of A the kind of programming block we didn't get much of in 2003.<br />
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The best way to describe <i>Degrassi</i> is just simply one word: Fromage. To just call the drama cheesy would be underplaying some of the aspects of the series that actually were good in the dramatic sense. But for the most part, <i>Degrassi</i> is an educational show about life dressed in tight jeans and flat ironed hair.<br />
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So what did I love about Degrassi? For the most part, it was the hilarious and sometimes intense antics of the characters. Even though some of the acting was questionable, the insane story lines these kids went through were worthy enough of a marathon just to see the end result.<br />
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But of course the other reason I tuned in every night was the cute boys on the show. I somehow had crushes for multiple guys on the show at very different times of my fandom for it. It all started with everyone's favorite bi-polar guitarist, Craig. </div>
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What can I say about Craig that many other fangirls haven't? Well for starts I think its important to note that the character himself embodies all the stuff I found crush worthy at that age. Craig played guitar, he wore cool clothes, took pictures as a hobby, and had a good attitude overall - you know, the important stuff. But at his core, Craig fit my lifestyle at the time. He lived with his stepdad and sister without any other parental figures, had a difficult relationship with his biological Dad, and he was misunderstood. </div>
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But probably the moment that Craig became my favorite was whenever he would get to sing with his band, Downtown Sasquatch. He just automatically by default was crush worthy. </div>
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Then there was Rick Murray, the troubled nerdy boy. Poor Rick was not exactly what you would call a social kid, but somehow he won the heart of Terri. Sure, Rick is by no means a "good character", in fact he is incredibly flawed and not meant to be a fan favorite. But with the incredible acting job by Ephraim Ellis (who also is ridiculously cute), Rick was complex and layered in many ways. Though the end of his story was depressing, you can't deny the impact he left on the series from then on. </div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Spoiler Alert: I shipped the hell out of these two, minus the whole you know, abusive relationship thing. </span></div>
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Speaking of my OTP's from the series, probably my number one was also Degrassi's first gay couple: Dylan and Marco. By god, these two are the cutest together. Dylan (who I swear looks like Josh Groban's blonde sibling) is popular girl Paige's older brother and is openly gay, where as Marco in the beginning masks his sexuality by dating my favorite female character (I'll get to that later.) When Marco finally comes out, he and Dylan begin what I believe to be one of<i> Degrassi</i>'s best romances. It's cool to see how mature and calm Dylan is in comparison to Marco, a dynamic that works so well in the series. </div>
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As mentioned earlier, my favorite female student in Degrassi High also was in ties with Marco. Ellie is a wannabe journalist that originally filled the role of the goth chick. Ellie's most famous or "Go There" moment was when she started cutting herself in "Whisper to a Scream", but of course she got better. She eventually came into her own and formed some of the best storylines of the series. Probably my absolute favorite plot was her slowly evolving romance with Craig, which was my couple made in fan fiction heaven. The relationship took a while to proceed, but when it happened it was amazing. </div>
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Now many of you are probably wondering what I think of the newer Degrassi kids. Personally, I haven't watched enough to have a defined favorite. My goal this year is to get back into watching the newer episodes, so I can at least understand who the heck is who in the show now. But from what I've heard, I love the new directions the show is going in and the risks they are taking. One character I have looked into a lot was transgendered boy, Adam. The actress that played Adam seems super cool and I would love to get to know the character better.<br />
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But regardless of who is who, <i>Degrassi</i> is a great show for tweens/teens. Though over dramatic to the core, it deals with a lot of issues in a mature way and doesn't make the actions of the characters seem like a fantasy. And for that I will always support them! Go Degrassi!<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2138501429637474159.post-75907686044382349562013-11-14T08:25:00.000-08:002013-11-14T08:27:41.681-08:00Review: Jolie's Sweet Creations<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Bryant Park is starting to bustle with the magic of the holiday season! The little jewelry stores are open, the hot chocolate and apple cider are steaming, and the classic ice skating rink is open. Of course one of my other favorite activities is checking out some of delicious treats offered in the area. Though I am partial to the Macarons at <i>Macarons and Cookies </i>or the chocolate at <i>No Chewing Allowed</i>, this year I was invited to take a taste of the sweet offerings at new addition <i>Jolie's Sweet Creations.</i><br />
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<i>Jolie's</i> is actually an off-shot of <i>Enrico's Bakery</i> (located in Harstdale and Bronx, NY), which is exclusively offering newer trendy treats that are popular in the bakery world right now, including their take on the famous Cronuts, but <i>Jolie's</i> calls them Kronies. I also was lucky enough to be given a sample of their chocolate covered Twinkie cakes.<br />
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First off, can we talk about how adorable the box is? The shade of pink is just precious, and makes the whole sweet experience that much more delicious. Now to move onto the treats themselves....</div>
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In the box (from left to ride) are the original glazed Kronie, along with a Boston Cream flavored one. On the bottom we have a vanilla chocolate covered Twinkie, along with the chocolate on chocolate version. First off, all three of these items are HUGE. I can't imagine eating any of them by myself... so with that I had help from my boyfriend for this review!<br />
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First I tried the chocolate on chocolate covered Twinkie. This by far out of all the treats was my favorite. The solid thick chocolate coating complimented the flavors of the Twinkie perfectly, and made me want to run to have another. The vanilla Twinkie was just as delicious, but I definitely think the coating works best with a chocolate filling.<br />
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Next up was the Kronies. As this was my first time tasting a Cronut, I have to say they are pretty tasty. But in all honesty I don't think they are the sweet for me, though I can definitely see why people love the heck out of them.<br />
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Out of the two flavors, the bigger hit was the Boston Cream, especially with my co-reviewer. He said the flavors worked really well, though we both agreed the Kronies are very filling and might require more than one meal to finish, even between two people.<br />
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Overall I think <i>Jolie's Sweet Creations</i> is a great addition to<i> The Shops at Bryant Park</i>. Though personally Cronuts might not be my thing, I definitely recommend checking out these delicious treats on your next visit to the Midtown classic. </div>
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I also highly recommend checking out their Cannolis! My man tried one this past weekend and thought they were a gift from heaven. As for me, on my next trip, I got my eye on one of those epic Whoopie Pies! Though looking at all the amazing treats offered, its truly hard to pick just one at <i>Jolie's!</i></div>
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<i> Jolie's Sweet Creams is located on the West 41st Side of Bryant Park, from now till January 5th!</i></div>
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<i>Check out their website <a href="http://joliessweetcreations.com/">here.</a> </i></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2138501429637474159.post-66044350239917826382013-11-13T08:20:00.000-08:002013-11-13T08:20:21.811-08:00Maleficent Teaser Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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And it's finally here! This morning, Disney unveiled the trailer for it's next fairy tale live action adaptation, <i>Maleficent</i>. Starring the always stunning Angelina Jolie, here we get a first glimpse of the wicked fairy and her plans for Princess Aurora (played by Elle Fanning.)<br />
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First off, this is truly one of the best teaser trailers I've seen in a very long time. The selection of clips were excellent, giving us the perfect glimpse of the world building done for this <i>Sleeping Beauty</i> retelling. </div>
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You can easily tell director, Robert Stromberg (who is known prior for his visual effects work on James Cameron's <i>Avatar</i>) really has nailed the world of everyone's favorite Disney villain. The colors are truly breathtaking, along with the sequence that ends the teaser: the famous thorn fence. Everything here just works. </div>
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My only sight disappointment is the costumes. Jolie's looks fine, but nothing has truly wowed me in this department (similar to the way I felt with <i>Oz: The Great and Powerful</i>.) But probably when a full trailer is released, my opinion will change greatly. </div>
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But that aside, really - I think this could be a gem of a theater going experience. </div>
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What are your thoughts on the teaser? Comment below!</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2138501429637474159.post-49000735736317768632013-11-12T11:49:00.000-08:002013-11-12T11:50:34.353-08:00La Belle et La Bete (2014) Holiday Windows in FranceWell, I am officially trying to hide my fangirl squeal. In France for the upcoming holiday season, the Galeries Lafayette has unveiled their beautiful windows - and they just happened to be themed to La Belle et La Bete (2014).<br />
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To say that I am dying on the inside because I want to see this in person is the biggest understatement of all time. Seriously, I wanna run out and get a ticket to France right now. Unfortunately, I lack the funds and a passport. So let's look at the pictures together, shall we? And we can both dream a little of looking at these in person.<br />
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As you can see, in many of the windows are digital screens displaying costumes and film clips. In on of the windows, we get our first look at Belle's interaction with La Bete (Beast.) Here is the gif set that is <a href="http://batbcomic.tumblr.com/post/66686650265/egipciaca-first-footage-from-the-new-movie#notes">floating around</a>. </div>
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Are you getting excited about the movie? As for me, you all know my answer. </div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2138501429637474159.post-15044207110555247702013-11-05T11:34:00.000-08:002013-11-05T11:34:24.927-08:00The lack of Art in Lady Gaga's "ArtPop"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I will be honest, I once was a proud "Monster". When Lady Gaga, the reigning queen of bizarre publicity stunts and awkward musical choices debuted onto the scene, I was sold in an instance. She had all the wacky clothes, great vocals, and catchy tunes to make her a hit among classic pop fanatics. She showed influences from the grand daddies and mommies of the 70s and 80s, with some 90s thrown in. She was curvy, full of fun and didn't take herself too seriously.<br />
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But slowly since the release of <i>The Fame</i> in 2008, Gaga has become the exact polar opposite of all those things and in fact a joke of her former self - to the point where even her album covers ( as seen above) seem like a parody.<br />
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With her latest release, the vain inspired <i>ArtPop</i>, Gaga tries to recreate the success she had with her past releases, but unfortunately fizzles to the newest lows with forced "fierceness" and an overabundance of repetitive "tricks" from her previous work. Think all the greatness of tracks like "Paparazzi" and "Dance in the Dark", rip out all the energy and fun and fill it instead with pathetic attempts at relevance, and you haven't even begun to scrape the surface of the mess that is <i>ArtPop</i>.<br />
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The album begins with the track known as "Aura". What should be a melodic introduction to the musical journey we are about to take with our meat wearing pop gal, but is instead a treasure trove of the worst noises known to man. When listening, the phrase "ear vomit" comes to mind. </div>
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As it progresses, "Aura" becomes a message of discovery, repeatedly asking the question "Do you want to see the girl behind the aura?" Now with hearing this question you would think this album would be Gaga's most personal. Are we gonna find out about the REAL Lady Gaga? Will we find out who she is under those crazy performance art outfits? Unfortunately the answer is no. </div>
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Later on in the title track of the album she states, "My artpop..." (a.k.a the purposes of this album) "... could mean anything" So Gaga basically is saying that the message in "Aura", asking us if we want to know the real her in this album, probably won't happen since these songs could mean anything - including not being honest. The result: this album seems incredibly redundant, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJuYjtp70jc">along with being reductive as Madonna would say</a>. </div>
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An equally horrendous track, that sadly seemed to have promise at first, is "Do What U Want" featuring the ever equally bizarre R. Kelly. In a lot of ways this could be the companion sequel song to Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines" - but instead of the women's rights approach it could have taken, "Do What U Want" sounds more like an anthem to Stockholm Syndrome than one promoting sexual liberation: </div>
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"Sometimes I'm scared I suppose</div>
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If you ever let me go</div>
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I would fall apart</div>
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If you break my heart</div>
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So just take my body</div>
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And don't stop the party."</div>
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Followed up by tracks like "Fashion!", which is basically a rinse and repeat message of a song with that same exact title from her B-Side collection, and "Donatella", another song about owning designer products and being important, all lacks the wit and charm Gaga once had when describing the price of fame. Instead of speaking of it's emotional value, now her focus is on its literal worth and the sex that apparently comes with it. </div>
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But the album does have some saving graces. "Applause" is one of Gaga's weakest singles (along with worst videos), but still is catchy beyond most other releases of this year and has a fantastic melody when listened to instrumentally. "Dope" could be the best song on the album.... if its chorus wasn't so dumbed down. But it at least gives a shred of hope that the Billy Joel inspired tracks similar to "U and I" and "Speechless", which happen to be my favorite side musically of Gaga, still exist in her over produced being. </div>
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And that one song, that one sound, speaks levels to why <i>ArtPop</i> is in many respects a failure. The Lady Gaga I fell for initially was a no-nonsense, pop culture respecting artist that didn't take crap from critics and got attention because she had talent - not just musically but being an overall artist. Now she's become a "Monster" like version of her younger self, whose influenced too much by the attention she has garnered and is asking the world to respect her in the way they did with her idols musically (MJ, Bowie, Madonna, etc.) But the problem is none of those artists asked for respect upfront - they got it when it was deserved.<br />
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<i>ArtPop</i> only deserves one thing: to be known as a textbook example of what could go wrong with your third album. <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2013/11/05/lady-gaga-troy-carter-call-it-quits/3442211/">And apparently Gaga's now ex-manager, Troy Carter, agrees</a>.<br />
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<b>Score: 4.9 out of 10</b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2138501429637474159.post-41387935229071810442013-11-04T11:51:00.001-08:002013-11-04T11:51:15.420-08:00Crazy Broadway News: Britney Spears Musical about Jesus. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Welp, here is probably some of the most shockingly amazing and bizarre news I have ever seen. Yes, the title is correct: There is apparently someone that wrote a Britney Spears jukebox musical (using her discography) that tells the story of Jesus Christ. It's name is <i>Spears: The Gospel According to Britney, </i>and this could either be the best thing to ever happen or the worst (both?)<br />
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All I know is, if it does get recorded or produced, I will be there in a heartbeat to see the train wreck. A Britney Spears musical all ready sounds amazing, in that awful sort of way, and if I get to see an incredibly campy rendition of <i>Hit Me Baby One More Time, </i>I am so there.<i> </i><br />
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Check out the follow story on <a href="http://www.broadway.com/buzz/172807/its-broadway-btch-britney-spears-jukebox-musical-about-the-life-of-jesus-christ-to-receive-reading/">Broadway.com</a>.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2138501429637474159.post-64103265200604618482013-10-31T10:35:00.003-07:002013-10-31T10:41:42.619-07:00Disney World 2013: Day 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have finally returned from Disney World and am now ready to give all you lovely readers a breakdown of the most relaxed, awesome vacation of all time. Lets start with the official first day of the trip. First off, I woke up extremely early (no surprise there) as I was too excited to sleep. I decided to spend my incredibly early time by explore the grounds of the resorts.<br />
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First I toured around Pop Century. We were located in the 70's area (which ended up being cooler than expected!) Our room was very close to the giant set piece of the section, showcasing a huge Big Wheels Bike and Mickey Mouse Telephone. As I walked around further to see more of the decor, I noticed a group of bunnies hopping near me. This was incredibly adorable and surprising, even for this little New Yorker who used to seeing similar creatures. I tried to snap a shot of one, but the lack of light made it hard for a good picture.<br />
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Afterwards, I returned to my hotel room and saw all my other roommates were awake. We got dressed and made our way to our first park visit of the trip: Disney's Hollywood Studios!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Lauren didn't fit in the car, so she had to lay on our laps!</b></span></div>
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First we visited one of my favorite rides of all time: Star Tours. After visiting a galaxy far far away we headed off to check out more of the park. On the way we went on the ride that made me want to be part of the filmmaking business: The Great Movie Ride. Though simple and cheesy as hell by today's standards, this ride captures the perfect little feeling that watching the grand classic films of the past give you when viewing them for the first time. Some of my favorite moments are seeing Gene Kelly in <i>Singing in the Rain</i> or Dorothy and crew from <i>The Wizard of Oz</i>.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Munchkins! </b></span></div>
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After a few more rides and attractions, we eventually got to the Animation building and participated in one of their famous drawing classes. This time we got the chance to draw Donald! Though difficult, I was extremely pleased with how my favorite quacker turned out. </div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Everyone's Donald Drawings!</b></span></div>
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We continued to explore the animation area of the park, including their famous shop that featured stunning art, sculptures and other Disney inspired trinkets. I am particularly loving the pieces of original princess Snow White, done to be in a more dramatic style of her signature dress. I also was secretly eying the Indiana Mickey Jones statue, cause it is just friggin priceless.</div>
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Lunch time finally arrived, and thus meant getting to visit one of my favorite places in the world - the place that I dub (similarly to The Great Movie Ride) "My Church" - The Sci Fi Dine In Theater. This little burger joint is inspired by B-Movie Sci Fi craze of the 50's. You are seated in tables designed to simulate the cars of the era, while being surrounded by a starry night sky. In front of you is a giant movie screen, which continuously shows a reel of 50's/60's sci-fi trailers and snack time promos. </div>
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One of my favorites thats shown is the famous "Hot Dog Jump In Bun" animation that is probably most famously seen behind John Travolta during the "Sandy" sequence in<i> Grease</i>. It continues to be ridiculous silly and endearing at the same time! <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oCnLTrXIds">Click here to see</a>. </div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><b>"Let's all go to the movies"</b></span></div>
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Though this place might not have the best food in the park, the atmosphere and variety of comfort food choices make it totally worth the visit. My personal favorites are their onion rings and picnic burger (a hot dog and burger in one!) </div>
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Then it was time to check out some more attractions. We visited the animation section again, this time to do a personality quiz. Interestingly I got Cinderella, a character that I never thought I would have much connection with! Crystal got Lady, while Andrea got Dot from a Bugs Life. Lauren then found out she was Belle (Jealous!) and the best of all.... John found out he was Jafar (even more jealous....)</div>
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After some relaxing times, Andrea and I stopped off to see a live show I had never experienced: Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular. The show is a group of stunt actors recreating (in the most cheesy style possible) famous scenes from <i>Raiders</i>. I personally loved the show, even though you can tell how dated it is (especially by the big fake film camera they use...)</div>
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Afterwards we went to relax at the Writers Stop, a little coffee/cookie joint near Star Tours. There I got to eat the famous Carrot Cake Cookie (basically a carrot cake flavored whoopie pie for us East Coast kids.) It was delicious and beautiful, along with being HUGE. The coolest find though was Mickey shaped macarons! Though not the best in flavor (I am spoiled by my New York bakery macarons...) the shape is cute enough that it doesn't matter. </div>
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Finally it was time for my favorite show in all of the parks: <i>Fantasmic</i>. We got to the arena area early, and got what could be the best seats I have ever gotten to watch the nostalgia classic. But for a short second things seemed to not being going well, as it was raining and I was scared the show would be cancelled. But the preshow went on and all seemed well. The show of course was as flawless and as awesome as ever, and continues to make me cry through the whole thing without fail.</div>
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After the show we headed to do one last ride on Star Tours. We went through the galaxy twice in a row this time, but sadly got the same exact planets both trips. Ah well!<br />
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Then we took the bus back to our hotel and found something special waiting for us: Beautifully shaped towel decorations! The one in the window we named Latrice Royale (after our favorite <i>Drag Race</i> contestant <3) and the other was a big giant bow. We think they made this for us since we had so many frills in our closet! Either way it was truly adorable.<br />
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And that was the end of our first day at Disney World! Look for more posts soon <3</div>
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