A new era in animated storytelling begins on 9.9.09. Visionary filmmakers Tim Burton (The Corpse Bride, Charlie and The Chocolate Factory) and Timur Bekmambetov (Wanted, Nightwatch) join forces to produce wunderkind director Shane Acker's distinctively original and thrilling tale. 9 stars Elijah Wood, John C. Reilly, Jennifer Connelly, Martin Landau, Christopher Plummer and Crispin Glover and features the music of Danny Elfman. When 9 (The Lord of the Ring's Elijah Wood) first comes to life, he finds himself in a post-apocalyptic world. All humans are gone, and it is only by chance that he discovers a small community of others like him taking refuge from fearsome machines that roam the earth intent on their extinction. Despite being the neophyte of the group, 9 convinces the others that hiding will do them no good. They must take the offensive if they are to survive, and they must discover why the machines want to destroy them in the first place. As they'll soon come to learn, the very future of civilization may depend on them. Get the full story at http://buzznewsroom.com
Highlight list of my two weeks off... even though I don't really remember the latter half. It's nothing crazy, so don't get too excited :P
- True Blood My sister was really into this show and has been wanting me to see this for a while now. I told her that I wanted to read the books first, the Sookie Stackhouse novels, before watching. I wanted to at least read the first book, Dead Until Dark, before watching the first season which is based on this book. At the start of my vacay, I had started the book, but ended up watching all 12 episodes of True Blood in a couple of days because it was so addicting (even with a non-striking, non-Edward Cullen, male vampire lead named Bill). Since then, I finished the first book and I'm almost done with the second. I had planned on completing the box set over the vacation but lots of family interaction prevented it. Oh well, I have some time before the next seasons come out :)
- Sea World We took my nephew to Sea World during the break and even though we were able to use the pass for two days, we unfortunately were only able to go one day because of the weather and time constraints. Luckily, we hit up almost all the exhibits and shows and got to see the Shamu xmas special. And I got to see my favorite marine animal, manatees!!!
- Xmas Theme This year, my family and extended family decided to dress to a certain theme this Christmas. My cousin had decided we should all dress in Christmas pajamas and each family will wear a certain color. My family was dressed in red. We were all so comfortable and toasty this year :) Also, the cousins decided on doing a Secret Santa and filled out our wishlists, and I got the Wanted blu-ray gift set that I wanted :D Yeah-yuh!
- Misc Almost got a new puppy (french bulldog, my DREAM dog!). Acquired new hardware which will have me glued to the TV much more often.
I had first heard about a possible Harry Potter Exhibition from girlrobot a while back. I have since forgotten about it since I hadn't heard too much about it... until now! Tickets have already started going on sale for when the exhibit opens.
What: Harry Potter: The Exhibition When: Apr 30, 2009 - Sep 07, 2009 Where: Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, IL Tickets?: "Tickets for this upcoming exhibit are currently available for online purchase only. Harry Potter: The Exhibition requires a timed-entry ticket, either during regular Museum hours or during extended evening hours from Museum closing until 9 p.m.
Combination tickets (good for general Museum admission and Harry Potter: The Exhibition) are $26 for adults, $25 for seniors and $19 for children ages 3-11. Between Museum closing and 9 p.m., exhibit-only tickets are $18 for adults and seniors, and $15 for children ages 3-11."
Hmm... is another trip to Chicago a possible venture for next year??? :)
OMG, I have been WAITING for this movie to come out! Finally there is a trailer! I'm not a crazy X-Men fan, but Wolverine is my favorite. Also, it was the first X-Men movie in which I was smitten with Mr. Jackman! So of course I couldn't wait for a movie based soley on his character alone, X-Men Origins: Wolverine :) It's due out May 1, 2009. I can't access the Myspace HD version of the trailer, but go here to watch :D Another plus, Ryan Reynolds looks like he's in the film too playing Deadpool!!! This just keeps getting better :P
"Coraline" looks both cute and morbid... my kind of movie! :P Description from Wikipedia:
Coraline is a 2009 animated stop-motion fantasy film based on Neil Gaiman's novella of the same name. It was animated and co-directed by Henry Selick [director of The Nightmare Before Christmas] and Mike Cachuela and is scheduled to be released in theaters on February 6, 2009.
Plot: The story of a young girl (Dakota Fanning) who unlocks a mysterious door in her new home in Ashland, Oregon, and enters into an adventure in a parallel reality. On the surface, this other world eerily mimics her own life—though much more fantastical. In it, Coraline encounters such off-kilter inhabitants as the morbidly funny Miss Forcible (Jennifer Saunders) and Miss Spink (Dawn French), and a counterfeit mother—who attempts to keep her. Ultimately, Coraline must count on her resourcefulness, determination, and bravery to get back home.
The official site I think is here. Use password "stopmotion".
In my hopeful yet doubtful attempt to avoid the insane and predominantly adolescent female audience this weekend, I caught a matinee showing of Twilight this past Saturday. I was happy to say that I didn't have to wait in line to get in, but the theater was surprisingly packed for 10AM on a Saturday morning. As long as I get a seat then I don't mind, but I always dread having to deal with obnoxious kiddies who can't keep their deafening comments to themselves. Luckily, it wasn't so bad this time and the admiration for Edward Cullen was kept to a minimum.
Overall, I think the flick was ok. I tried to keep an open-mind and didn't want to be part of the mass (of people that read the book) that critics said would be disappointed, but I still managed to be a little disappointed. I couldn't help but think about the book, both "Twilight" and "Midnight Sun", the entire time and I was annoyed at how details were modified and storylines or events were sometimes out of sequence. I understand how it would be impossible to transform a story that spans hundreds of pages into a two-hour movie, but I think some details that were changed were a little misleading to a viewer who hasn't read the books. Maybe if I didn't read the book so recently then I wouldn't have been bothered as much by minute details. However, I still think a lot of the whole feel of the books were lost in its cinematic counterpart.
Also, I think some of the acting could have been a tad bit better on both Bella and Edward's parts, but overall they did ok. Don't get me wrong though, I was swooning over Edward Cullen like the rest of them but he definitely was not as I had envisioned him to be. He was a little more whiny and out of control than I had expected, not the cool, calm, and collected man, erm 17 year-old, I pictured in my head. And what was with the vampire-in-sunlight demonstration? No fault to Pattinson, but that was more laughable than serious. It didn't help that you heard chimes every time either. I giggled over how embarrassed I was for them.
And all this doesn't mean I hated the movie. I still enjoyed it and the hubby, who hasn't read the book nor plans to, thought it was pretty good. Despite anyone's reviews, I think it's one of those movies that people will still go see no matter what anyone says because they are either a Twihard/Twilighter with Twilight fever or are just curious to see what the fuss is about. Don't know what I mean by Twihard or Twilighter? I found some hilarious and silly definitions from one my favorite online dictionaries, Urban Dictionary. Hilarious, of course, to those who understand what they are talking about. Here are my favorites:
Twilighter: The epitome of Twilight fandom. There are no words to explain how a Twilighter is, you just have to be one to get it. Twilight is our air and we will kick your ass if you say anything against it. Most mistaken Twilighters for Twibiters, or Twilight teenies. If someone says "OMG LIKE I LOVE EDWARD OME TWILIGHT!" they are not Twilighters. Twilighters can be seen wearing teeshirts for the book that have quotes that only a TRUE Twilighter would understand i.e "Which one is Edwin?" or something underrated. Or have Twilight quotes written on their jeans and hands. Most don't like the Twilight movie and some do like it. It doesn't matter. Twilighters usually get excited about the movie even if somewhere in their head they hate how annoyingly famous it's getting to preppy kids. Twilighters usually have many inside jokes about Twilight and deep discussions about it and have met Stephenie one or more times.
Oh, and we stole Harry Potter's fame AND it's actor. Beat that, wizard-nerds. You might have brooms, but we have kick-ass cold, dead and sparkling people.
Harry Potter fan: Harry Potter could kick Edward's ass. Twilighter: Actually, Edward Cullen could flick Harry's head and shatter his skull. Harry Potter fan: WE HAVE BROOMS! Twilighter: Ooh. What are you going to do? Hit us with them? Edward Cullen: *SNAPS HARRY POTTER FAN IN HALF LIKE A TOOTH PICK*
Twibiter: I LOVE EDWARD. Twilight is my favorite book. I love it more. Twilighter: *FEEDS THE STUPID TEENY-BOPPER TO THE VOLTURI*
Put that in your cauldron and suck it.
Twihard: An serious/obsessive reader of the Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer, one leap above Twilighters.
The difference between being a Twilighter and being a Twihard, is that Twihards have embraced a new Twiligion... er.... I mean, religion based on Twilight. They live and breath Twilight. Most Twihards are for Edward and Bella. Therefore, those Twihards are all for true love & love at first sight. Point out one thing to a Twihard, and they can relate it to Twilight instantly. Savage and wild, they need every single thing to be perfect in the upcoming Twilight movie.
WAYS TO TELL IF YOU ARE A TWIHARD. (Or at least, me being a Twihard myself, this is what I do) 1. You constantly check the Lex for new updates. Daily. (Six times an hour for me.) 2. Twilight Tuesday is the most important day of the week. 3. You dream of going to Forks, or living in Forks. 4. You have urges to visit Italy. 5. It's sick, but you wish Vampires totally existed so you can marry one. 6. You refer to Twilight as "literary crack" or a "textually transmitted disease" 7. You've supplied said literary crack to your friends, and wouldn't talk to them until they read the series. 8. Your favorite fruit is now a red apple. 9. Ruffled tulips are one of your favorite flowers. 10. Whenever you hear "Girlfriend" by Avril Lavigne, you can't help but replacing the words with "Edward is a Virgin" 11. When you grow up, one of your kids is going to be named Edward. 12. Your expectations on boys has suddenly shot through the roof. 13. You dream of driving a red 1953 Chevy Pickup, while your husband drives a silver Volvo s60 r. 14. You look up to the sky on a rainy day, and think "Damn I feel as if I'm in Forks!" 15. Your school projects all relate to Twilight in some way. 16. You love running to the Lex & yelling at other people. 17. You hate how Edward has a fattish, hairy chest while Jacob has a six pack. 18. You dream about killing Bella so you can date Edward. 19. If you could have one wish, it would be that you were Bella. 20. The perfect book covers have a black cover with something red in the middle of it. 21. You hate Jasper's hair, since it looks like the wig is about to pop off any minute. 22. All you want is everything to be perfect in the movie. 23. You have considered sprinkling glitter on your future/husband so you can pretend your with Edward. 24. You have seen a silver Volvo parked outside a store, and have either taken a picture with it and/or gone inside the store and look for Edward. 25. At Italian restaurants, you have ordered mushroom ravioli and a coke. 26. You know the real reason behind James going crazy is because Edward stole his cookies. 27. All of your friends think you need to see a shrink. 28. Talking with random strangers about Twilight is fun! 29. You are willing to read Wuthering Heights, since both Edward and Bella have read it. 30. Edward Cullen is your (fictional) boyfriend. 31. You've tacked Cullen on to the end of your first name... just to see how it sounded. 32. You've forced your boyfriend/husband/best boy friend to read Twilight, and made them take Edward's actions to heart. 33. Your MySpace profile is either dedicated to Twilight, or has a huge portion of it dedicated to Twilight. 34. You've Photoshopped yourself & made yourself really pale, given yourself golden eyes, and bruises underneath your eyes. 35. You enjoy criticizing every aspect of the Twilight movie, since you know they are only taking out your favorite quote/scene just to annoy you. 36. When someone makes fun of Twilight, it's like they are making fun of you, and you jump into an argument with them about how Twilight kicks ass. 37. You have realized your mean when it comes to Twilight the book & the movie, but don't care, because your only doing it out of love. 38. It was the end of the world when they released the EW magazine cover, and you took one look at Edward & wanted to puke. 39. You felt betrayed when you found out Edward would drive a hatchback instead of the s60 r. 40. You refer to to Robert Pattinson as RPattz or Spunk Ransom. 41. And finally, you are willing to spend hours on an essay/word/website that probably won't ever be read, just cause you want to talk about Twilight.
While Twilighters are open to changes with the book in the upcoming Twilight movies, Twihards are very conservative, and hate whenever something changes.
Those Twihards got really pissed off at MTV for spending a Tuesday interviewing The Bella Cullen Project.
I was re-reading the list "WAYS TO TELL IF YOU ARE A TWIHARD" and started laughing at number 25: "At Italian restaurants, you have ordered mushroom ravioli and a coke". I unintentionally did this Saturday night! Minus the coke though :P
Shed pounds with the Morning Banana Diet, the weight loss program that’s so big in Japan, it’s caused banana shortages!
I've actually been eating bananas for breakfast for the past couple weeks not knowing about this diet and I don't see any change :\ Maybe I need to pay attention more to the other rules for it to actually work? Yeah, sounds like another fad diet, but at the same time it doesn't sound like a crazy change in lifestyle. But since when did the Japanese need to lose weight? Anyway, here are the basic rules:
Need: Bananas and Willpower 1. Eat up to 4 fresh raw bananas in the morning 2. Eat whatever you want for lunch and dinner with the exception of dessert; eat slowly, chew food thoroughly, and stop as soon as you're full 3. Drink only water, room temperature preferred 4. Enjoy a sweet treat around 3PM like a small piece of chocolate or a cookie; avoid ice cream, donuts, and potato chips 5. Try not to eat after 6PM, and definitely not after 8PM 6. Be in bed by 12AM at the latest, earlier if possible; aim for 8 hours of shut-eye
Here's another video that seems to be a promotional vid for the diet and also mentions how the craze in Japan got started:
Coraline is a 2009 animated stop-motion fantasy film based on Neil Gaiman's novella of the same name. It was animated and co-directed by Henry Selick [director of The Nightmare Before Christmas] and Mike Cachuela and is scheduled to be released in theaters on February 6, 2009.
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