vices

It started Monday night while at karate class--the pain gripping my skull, twisting behind my ears, down my neck, across my forehead and even through my teeth made me want to vomit.  I shuttled the gang home early, skipping our 2nd degree lesson in a traditional Japanese-style open hand form which I shall phonetically spell as "Nung-duck-dong."  Or was it "Muck-luck-wong?"  I can't remember. 

Anyway, I woke up yesterday a snot-gobbling, aching, feverish wreck. Since the vise squeezing my head entitled me to a sick day on the couch, I contemplated what slothful vices to pursue.

Television seemed easiest, but did you know that even with 60-odd channels, there's not a damn thing interesting to watch in the morning? 

I thumbed through books, but the whole focusing on print made my stomach woozy.

My biggest vice is playing mah-jong on Mr. T's ipod touch, but Mr. D hid it from me (good call, he is wise indeed) and Mr. T changed his user password (another good move--these dudes don't stage interventions when I've got a gaming addiction, they just cut me off cold turkey).  No mah-jong for this mama.

Internet surfing?  Again with the focusing of the eyes and the stabbing painpainpain of the ol' noggin.  (Besides, is it just me or have people stopped posting much lately?)

I lay against my pillows too hepped up on cold medication to nap.  Perhaps a movie would entertain and relax my addled mind.  Something light and refreshing, no hard-edged drama, no kung-fu, no car chases, no deep reflection on the human condition. 

This is when I realized I have a weakness never before detected  Here's a list of the movies I considered watching:

Notting Hill
Love, Actually
Sense and Sensibility
Four Weddings and a Funeral
Bridget Jones's Diary
Bridget Jones:  The Edge of Reason
American Dreamz
Chocolat

That last film aside, do you see the trend? 

'Tis true.  I've got the Hugh Grant Film Collection in my DVD library.  (Except for Four Weddings and a Funeral, that's VHS, yo.)

Admit it, Green Girl, you have a thing for thing for foppish British fellows like me who blink excessively, stammer and run their hands through their thick brown hair.

Guess I do.  Who knew?

I blew my nose, adjusted the heating pad and indulged.  (Though it must be said that Rowan Atkinson totally steals scenes in Four Weddings.  And is it just me or was Andie MacDowell just flat and weird in that part?)  I prefer him best as Daniel Cleaver or William Thacker, how about you reader?

Thankfully I rallied by evening and was able to stay awake for my other, more disturbing vice, Sons of Anarchy.  (Loved how Opie returned to Jax's side.)  Today I'm running at 80% and thankful the pressure's off my head.

Spill it, reader.  What vices do you turn to when you take a sick day?

 

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die hard

I've been reading, reading, reading.  Last night I flopped on the bed and switched on the TV to rest my eyes.  I'm used to finding nothing good in 60+ channels, but to my surprise I found Die Hard on channel 60 and Little House on the Prairie on channel 61.  The LHP episode was right after Nancy got adopted by the Olsens and goes around town being a total bitch to everybody, including locking one girl in an ice house overnight, requiring a visit to Doc Baker.  Naturally Pa is the hero, but Laura implements a plan of vengeance the whole town enjoys.  Happy endings all around.  I couldn't recall the revenge, so I kept flipping over to LHP during commercial breaks to find out.  Aha.  A "mermade" tank, where people can dunk Nancy and her sausage curls. 

But Die Hard--oh weren't the 80's a grand time for movies?  Top Gun, Beverly Hills Cop, The Goonies, Tootsie, Caddyshack, Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Princess Bride, Ghostbusters, Hoosiers, Big, almost everything decent by John Hughes.  (Notable films NOT on my list include all the horror flicks which I refused to watch even though my friends did.  I hid my face during most of Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween, Chucky and The Exorcist.) 

I adored "John McClane/Roy's" vendetta against the European terrorists, led by Hans Gruber played by Alan Rickman who provided me with one of my earliest moments of inner conflict.  (Another early moment of inner conflict involved David Lee Roth in the Jump video, but that's a story for another day.)  Here's the thing:  he's the head bad guy in this movie, but I kept finding myself oddly attracted to him.  Was it the accent?  Certainly not the beard.  The suit?  The scene where he thinks fast on his feet and tells John he's not a terrorist, please don't shoot when he's looking for the detonators?  Of course I rooted for Bruce Willis as the cowboy hero, but Hans Gruber had his own strange appeal. Bruce Willis was cocky, sexy, clever and brave.  I'd nursed a crush on him starting back in his Moonlighting days.  But what was up with this Alan Rickman fella?  Now I know, but when I was 16 I didn't.

Do you blame me?  See for yourself.  Then:



Now:



Die Hard, like most of my other favorite movies, mixes up action and comedy.  Even though I've watched it at least a hundred times, I watched it for the 101st time last night.  I remembered how in high school we'd rent it on VHS and bring it back to Sarah's house and hang out in her den, eating chips, drinking soda, rooting for Bruce Willis and quoting all his best lines.  "Yippie kai yay, motherf*cker."  "Nine million terrorists in the world and I gotta kill one with feet smaller than my sister."  " No f*cking shit, lady. Does it sound like I'm ordering a pizza?"  " Eeeh! Sorry Hans, wrong guess. Would you like to go for Double Jeopardy where the scores can really change"   "Come out to the coast, we'll get together, have a few laughs..."  " That was Gary Cooper, asshole."  " Welcome to the party, pal"

Ah, I could still quote so much of the movie.  That was the great thing about being a teenager in the 80's--we'd rent those videos over and over and over again and commit every scene to memory.  Do kids still do that these days?  

The Avengers was magnificent, but Die Hard is still terrific.  Despite the ginormous 80's hair and computers I loved it all over again.  And that Bruce Willis.  After all these years I still adore him in that role as John McClure.
  

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of giants

I felt like one all day yesterday--the PS called me in to cover 3rd grade and I was the tallest person in the room--looming over the students. I've never taught 3rd grade before. About 15 minutes into it, I'd had it up to my neck (what is that? about 4'8" off the ground?) with the tattling. Good golly they like to narc each other out. I live with all boys and they don't tell on each other very often. So I laid out the Law of Ms. W #1: Unless there is blood or police involvement, don't tell me about it.

All told, they were a funny bunch of goobers, more energy than a case of Red Bull and sincerely concerned about every detail of the day. (Mrs. X doesn't do it like that!) I'm convinced that 3rd grade alone keeps most of the pencil eraser industry afloat. They erase often in their commitment to precision.

Those other Giants won--wasn't that nice? The game action started out good, lagged a bit toward the middle, but a satisfying ending for everyone at Chez Green Girl. And now we lay to rest the NFL season until the end of August.

We also rented Real Steel over the weekend. Boxing, robots, Hugh Jackman, the redemption of a father/son relationship--what's not to love? And what kid would NOT want a remote-controlled boxing robot? I knew the gang would enjoy it, I got a huge whiff of sweat, mud and testosterone when I opened the DVD case and extracted the disc.

All this movie needed was a chase scene with monster trucks and it would have been epic. It was rated PG-13, which kind of confused me--clearly this movie is marketed towards boys younger than 13. I found very little in the film disturbing enough to merit that rating. Perhaps the language in a few scenes and the violence of the robots boxing--I don't see why the filmmakers couldn't have toned it down to get that PG rating.

But if the PG-13 rating gives you pause, I need to steer you towards my family's favorite giant movie of all-time:

The Iron Giant.
Written and directed by Brad Bird of Pixar fame (in the days before he made it HUGE with movies like The Incredibles and Up, this movie is layered, charming and lovely. It's a smart movie, not the brain-dead crap served up by Cartoon Network. The characters get fleshed out, the setting is during the Cold War, and the story is engrossing. A boy find a giant robot from outer space and they become best friends. A government agent wants to destroy the "alien life form" and the boy and robot team up to protect each other and their town.

Plus, the ending totally makes me tear up--I full-on cried the first time we watched it.

Haven't seen it yet? Get thee to a video store and rent it. Or "Netflix it." Or whatever the cool kids are doing these days.

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Team Edward

Along with a little group of  my fellow twi-hard team Edward besties, it has become our tradition to have a movie viewing session before each new installment in the Twilight saga.  Besties E and N have both taken their turns at hosting the fete, and I was giddy to do the honors this go round.

We were fans of the series from the get go, having read all of the books before even learning of the movies.  So, as you can imagine, we've read, reread, watched, re-watched and thoroughly dissected every page of the books and scene of the movies.  We even have Team Edward tees.

I set out to set a festive table without spending a dime.  E and N provided themed plates, napkins and a life sized Edward standee left over from past affairs.  I printed movie quotes, had Honey collect sticks from the yard, dredged up fake jewels (since vampires sparkle in the sun), and pre-purposed the apples that will become apple pie on Thanksgiving.

Since Bella dined on mushroom ravioli on her first date with Edward and the Cullen's prepared an Italian feast for her birthday celebration, I went with a prepare-in-advance party friendly baked mushroom ravioli dish and caesar salad for the main course.  (I used this recipe for the ravioli, but substituted with actual mushroom ravioli and homemade alfredo sauce.)  The guests all brought appetizers, just I just provided some cinnamon red hot popcorn from Heavenly Gourmet and good old salted popcorn for movie watching, and vampire bite red velvet cupcakes for something sweet.

And after refreshing on New Moon, we took our blood bags of Twizzlers (Bella's candy of choice, and left over from the cowboy party to boot) with us to the theater for Breaking Dawn Part 1.  Aside from a weird wolf talking scene and too many frames of blood vessels, it was all around fang-tastic.  

Now to wait an entire year before Part 2...

xoxo

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Banned Books Week 2011: How to Get Suspended and Influence People

  Like Lush, I never heard of Adam Selzer's debut middle grade novel How to Get Suspended and Influence People before. I'm not sure if I would have gone out of my way to check it out, but I saw it listed on a challenged list by ALA and that in it of itself made me curious. The book tackles the ever controversial sex education curriculum in schools. 

Description: Gifted eighth-grader Leon Harris becomes an instant celebrity when the film he makes for a class project sends him to in-school suspension.

Review: Leon Harris is our sarcastic, smart aleck, and extremely witty narrator. He is a gifted eighth grader who participates in an advanced studies activity along with several of his equally intelligent, socially outcast friends. For their first assignment, each advanced student must film an educational health or safety advisory video to be shown to the younger middle-school students. Leon immediately thinks of the boring videos that he and his classmates have seen throughout the year particularly the out dated and uncomfortable sex education videos that never really address that plagues the ordinary tween. Leon decides he wants to do a sex-ed video that will address his peer's issues and anxiety with honesty so he signs up for the sex-ed topic. He decides to deviate from boring anatomical line drawings and cheesy cartoons in favor of a surreal, avant-garde video inspired by Fellini and Salvador Dal!. In fact he goes even further and names his movie La Dolce Pubert. He knows he can't use real nudity in his movie but cleverly goes around this issue by using a montage of classical nudes with close-ups on the 'good parts' and frank rhyming narration that comes off as quite comical and tongue in cheek. 
  While his advanced studies teacher applauds Leon's creativity, the moralistic and conservative teacher, Mrs. Smollett, who heads the gifted program finds Leon's video inappropriate for the student body. Her interference with Leon's video results in Leon's suspension. Leon's peers' interest in the video skyrockets and Leon becomes an instant celebrity. Whether or not Leon achieves victory is what the second half of the book is about. 
  I liked Leon. He is definitely a lot wiser than his years. His intention of making a sex-ed video never deviates from making an educating video that states "it's okay. it's normal". I don't think he even thought he could reach celebrity or fame with his video nor does his head swell up when he does. The book is definitely more slanted to the unconventional bent that clearly empathizes with Leon's attitude toward school, his budding relationships and the adults who seemingly don't understand him. Unfortunately, the book falls a bit flat in the last half of the book as we are told how the video is made and what Mrs. Smollet's reaction is instead of showing it. I felt the lack of describing the process lessened the impact of the book's purpose and it showcases the one dimensional opposing viewpoint. Selzer doesn't take into consideration that there are parents that oppose to sexual education being taught in schools and that opinion is also valid too. Despite these flaws, I thought the book was enjoyable. 

Rating: 3 stars

Why it was challenged/banned: In 2009 the book was challenged at the Nampa, Idaho Public Library by a parent appalled that the cover included an abstract drawing of a nude woman and the back cover contains some profanity. Source: ALA

Words of Caution: While there is an abstract drawing of a nude woman on the front cover, that depiction is most graphic as the book gets. There are no detailed graphic descriptions of which pictures Leon uses for his project. There is some mild profanity in the book, however, it is mild and not unlike what is heard in the school hallways. I would recommend this book to Grades 6 and up.


If you like this book try: The Gospel According to Larry by Janet Tashijan

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we're that family

the one that quotes movies. All the time. We have our favorite lines:

"The sun is shining, the tank is clean ..."
"You're killing me, Smalls!"
"Squirrel!"
"Go ahead. Make my day."
"My Precious."
"These aren't the droids you're looking for."
"As you wish."
"I do believe in fairies!"
"For Narnia!" (usually declared with a flourish of sword, spoon or plastic light saber)
"To the Batmobile!"
"'Ello, Poppet"
"You want s'more? S'more of what?"
"Bond. James Bond."
"Fish are friends, not food."
"Just keep swimming."
"I find your lack of faith disturbing."
"The Force is strong with this one."
"Help me, Obi-Wan. You're my only hope."
" I shall call him Squishy and he shall be mine and he shall be my Squishy. Come on, Squishy Come on, little Squishy. Ow. Bad Squishy, bad Squishy."
"To action! We surrender! Not that action, you idiots! The kung-fu thing!"
"Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine."
"Cheese, Grommit!"
"Skadoosh!"
"Oh, I do love a bit of gorganzola!"
"Sharkbait. Hoo ha ha!"
"You dum-dum. You give me gum-gum."
"You are a sad, strange little man."
"Way to go, I-Da-Ho!"
"That was totally wicked!"
"Just smile and wave, boys. Smile and wave."

We do use original dialogue, but you're guaranteed to hear any of the above quotes throughout the average week at Chez Green Girl.

Spill it, reader. What movie quotes are in your clan's running dialogue?

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5 fast film reviews: what to rent, buy, skip over in the DVD aisle

My sons have reached the age where going to the movies is a lot of fun. They behave beautifully in public, our schedule allows time to hit the occasional matinee, and because I don't have child care expenses (Mr. T can babysit!) I've got spare cash for tickets and popcorn. We've got a drive-in movie theater where admission is $6/adult and $2/kid and a local theater has $2 seats on weekday mornings. Team Testosterone took advantage. So, in case you didn't get to the movies this summer, here's what you did and didn't miss:



The Zookeeper: Confession: I have a thing for Kevin James. He reminds me of my favorite ex-boyfriend, so this review skews positively. The kids loved the animals and while some of the voices and jokes were annoying, the gorilla alone made the movie awesome (especially when the zookeeper takes the gorilla out for a night on the town and they hit the local Applebees). The story got more about the human romance factor and less about the animals towards the end, but it was genuinely sweet and had a good message about being true to yourself. Definitely rent-worthy.



Kung Fu Panda II: Will become legendary in its awesomeness. All the big stars came back, fresh villains (a nasty-ass peacock), plot threads picked up where the original left off, battle scenes galore. The cinematography was phenomenal in Po's memories of his childhood. This sequel grows all the characters and doesn't stoop to cliche. Unlike many kids' movie themes, this one got heavy at the end with an honest and brilliant message about forgiveness and mercy. Best part? The final scenes leaves the door open for another sequel! Buy it, you'll want to watch it over and over.



Mr. Popper's Penguins: Overall, a cute movie in the tradition of Disney family films involving wacky animals and misguided humans. I enjoyed the casting except for the title role. Jim Carrey irritates the hell out of me--if he'd play it straight (like in The Truman Show) and quit overperforming like a hyperactive fourth grader desperate for attention, I'd have liked this film more. Rent it, once is enough.



Smurfs: On a scale of Fred: The Movie and Finding Nemo, this ranks one step above Fred. Neil Patrick Harris was the only saving grace, mainly because he said all the things I was thinking, like "Doesn't that song get annoying?" I cannot defend my Secret Gay Boyfriend in this film. There is no defense for this movie. I didn't like smurfs when I was a child and the translation to the big screen left me feeling smurfed off. Skip it.



Cowboys & Aliens: As action concepts go, this was entertaining mainly because it involved cowboys in this mismatched battle for the Earth. That plus great casting (seriously, Daniel Craig as a cowboy is genius!), some innovative plot threads and the gritty feel of the film quality made this a better movie than I expected. Rent it if you're in the mood for action without superheroes.



Now it's your turn. Spill it, reader. What summer movie rocked your world this year?

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Top 10 Tuesday: Female Characters I Can't Stand

It's Tuesday and time for another Top 10 list from The Broke and the Bookish. We all have characters we can't stand, which sometimes detriment our reading pleasure. I, personally, can't enjoy a book where I don't like the characters. The following ladies made me either chuck the book against the wall, abandon the book completely, made me walk out of a movie, or I just simply love to hate.

Top 10 Female Characters I Can't Stand

1. Catherine Earnshaw from Wuthering Heights- I'm absolutely head over heels for Heathcliff. Despite my many rereads of this book, I can't understand what he saw in Catherine. Spoiled, bratty, and shallow. Did this woman have any redeemable qualities?

2.  Madame Bovary from Madame Bovary- So it took you to sleep with the entire city of Paris in order to realize that the love you are seeking doesn't exist and I'm suppose to feel sorry for you? Sorry, but I can't help but be happy with what happened in the end to you.

3. Emma Woodhouse from Emma- The only Austen heroine who I hate with a passion. I couldn't digest her stuck up, "I'm right and you're wrong" attitude and she forced me to abandon this book by page 20. I really have no desire to pick it up again. I'd rather watch Clueless again.

4. Zoey Redbird from House of Night series- I use to tolerate you. I know that people make mistakes and then they try to correct them, but when you keep making the same mistakes over and over again and you can't pick one guy from a harem growing around you, it gets old really quickly.

5. Ever from Evermore- How can you like a guy who keeps making you feel bad for not sleeping with him? Grow a spine and get a personality.

6. Scarlett O'Hara from Gone with the Wind-  If you ever want me to get out of a room, put this movie on and I will leave immediately. All of the characters are atrocious. While people may admire Scarlett for her determination, but in the words of Rhett, "Frankly, my dear. I don't give a damn". Yep, that pretty much sums up my feelings for her, the movie, and book.

7.  Penelope Hayes from the Luxe series- I loved watching you scheme your way to the top. I just have one question for you: Are you happy now?

8. Jenny Cavilleri from Love Story- I didn't read the book, but my sisters and I watched the movie. It was pure torture. I might be the only one who clapped and said "Finally!" when the movie ended.  To my sisters, "Love means saying your sorry for making me watch this movie with you".

9.  9. Circe from the Gemma Doyle series- A megalomaniac witch. Need I say more?

10. Helen of Troy from the Illiad and various other myths/plays- I can't believe you don't feel one ounce of guilt of bringing down destruction on a city.  

 Which ladies irritate the heck out of you?

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will write for pay, charity and fame

My first big task at my new job is to write a script for this summer's movie camp. Can I tell you what fun it is to write a 30 minute movie script for a bunch of kids to act out? Dialogue is literally dripping out of my fingertips and I've got the first act written already. My only problem is getting my hands to keep up with my brain while I roll this baby out.

Besides being easy to conceive and write (except for the title--I'm stumped for a good one so at this time it's called "Karate Movie"--real original, right?) I am more excited to write a script and watch it play out on film. Sure, it's great to get paid for this project, but I think it'll be even greater to watch my ideas become reality. Kind of like how JK Rowling felt when she saw them build the set for Hogwarts and then sat in the theater to see Daniel Radcliffe zip around on his broomstick while playing a fierce game of Quidditch. Heck, I think it'd be neat to see a Lego version of my imagination play out, but I'm cheap that way.

Perhaps I should explore writing scripts more seriously--my agent's had NO luck selling any of my novel manuscripts. Not to brag, but my movie script is already superior to The Last Airbender and when I see the shoddy quality of plotting and dialogue people pay to watch and produce I know I can do better.

But I'm not all about the cash. I'm also working on a website for a friend and the baseball team's roster. Pure charity work. No one's ever done a roster for the baseball players before and I know the fans suffer through the first few home games trying to figure out which player is which, who's on first, I don't know's on third and so forth. Tonight the fans will go wild with glee having a roster in hand--and hopefully go wild with glee when their team wins another game.

Fame still eludes me as a writer. I mentioned my unsold novels, gathering dust in a file cabinet somewhere in NYC. I'm hacking away at a new MS, but not feeling any drive to finish it soon. It's fun to work at something with no pressure of time, money or expectation of success. There's a certain pleasure in developing characters, adding in description and setting details, attending to real life to draw inspiration for this book. Who knows, maybe I'll work it into a screenplay when I'm finished. Or maybe it'll be just fine as a file on my computer unseen by anyone else.

Spill it, reader. What do you do for pay, charity and fame?

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Movie Review: Beastly

  I really enjoyed Alex Flinn's modern fairytale retelling novel, Beastly, when I read it a few years ago. I was excited to learn that it was going to be a movie. The movie was suppose to release early, but do to some production issues it was released last week. I needed a break from the hectic work schedule and got a chance to see Beastly over the weekend. I thought it was an enjoyable, sweet film.

Description (in case the trailer didn't work for you):  Kyle is an extremely vain, superficial, and rich New York teen who is transformed into a hideous monster in order to discover what true beauty means and to find true love.

Review: After watching horrible adaptations of some of my favorite books (the Twilight Saga, anyone?), I had very low expectations of Beastly. In fact, I only knew the final cast before watching the film. To be honest, I found the casting a bit odd and was curious why they chose certain people for the roles.
 The plot of Beastly is very simple and familiar to those who know the Beauty and the Beast fairytale. Kyle (Alex Pettyfer) is an arrogant, shallow, narcissistic, and extremely wealthy New York teen who lived his life by believing that beauty is everything, a mantra that his his equally arrogant and shallow father constantly spews. After repeatedly belittling those who he thinks is beneath him, Kyle is transformed into a 'beast' by a witch named Kendra (Mary-Kate Olsen). He is cursed to look beastly until he can find someone who can truly love him despite his grotesque appearance. Lindy (Vanessa Hudgens) is the Kyle's way back to normal, but will she accept him? You can easily figure out how this story will end.
  Like many film adaptations of young adult books, the screenplay of Beastly is the main problem. Would it really hurt to add another 30 minutes to a 90 minute movie so that we can actually see some character growth? We are introduced to Kyle and see his transformation all within the first 10 minutes of the movie. Pettyr's dialogue is spoken so fast that you can almost imagine someone in the background timing him with a stopwatch. While Kyle develops a special bond with his tutor and housekeeper in the book, he continually does nothing but give them orders and somehow they magically care for him in the movie. It was a bit hard to swallow. I also found Kyle's beast actually more appealing than disgusting unlike the book. Perhaps the reason for this change is that they had to make him look startling yet allow him to move around and speak clearly. 
  There are some changes in the movie. Some of them, like character name changes, I didn't mind or really take notice after watching and thinking about the movie. My heart did break, however, when the location of the study session was changed, which is where we see Kyle's character growth and introspection. My favorite scenes of Kyle chatting in a chat room with other fairytale creatures who are facing a dilemma were also removed, but the funny and romantic scenes of Kyle trying to woo Lyndy made up for this deletion.  
  In terms of the acting, I think the actors did a good job overall. With all the hype and rumors of Alex Pettyfer being involved in the upcoming Hunger Games and Mortal Instrument movies, I had to know if this guy could act or just be another actor who got lucky- a la Robert Pattinson. I'm glad to say Alex does have an acting bone in his body, unlike Pattinson, though he still needs to develop his skills. While reading the book, I enjoyed how I was able to get inside Kyle's skin and sense his vulnerability, his loneliness, and what truly makes him..well a beast. We get flickers of this in the movie. Alex Pettyfer perfectly embodies the cocky, extremely vain Kyle with his looks and body language. The actor also does a decent job in exposing Kyle's insecurities if you look closely to his eye movements. Unfortuantely due to the script, we don't delve deeper into his character but we get enough to see that Kyle's life is far from perfect.
  Vanessa Hudgens is a very beautiful girl and didn't see her as the plain Lyndy of the book, however, she does bring out Lyndy's sweetness and made me smile a few times. I'm glad that the producers chose a girl with a diverse ethnic background to play a lead role in a teen movie, which doesn't happen very often. Peter Krause, who plays Kyle's distant father doesn't seem to fit his role and doesn't have that much screen presence to make an impression. Not to sound superficial, but Krause is rather average looking compared to Pettyfer and when he repeatedly says that beauty means everything, I can't help but think, "Well, you're not that great looking yourself".
  I was pleasantly surprised by the supporting cast of Beastly. Neil Patrick Harris had impeccable comedic timing with his dry and off kilter one liners. Mary Kate Olsen plays a quirky, creepy, evil witch quite well. Lisa Gay Hamilton plays the warmth and wise Zola is exceptional.
  Despite the movie's short comings, I think it succeeds in capturing the spirit and message of the book which is important. Beastly is a predictable romance that I found pretty entertaining and enjoyed. I would recommend seeing it, but not necessarily rush to your local theaters unless your are dying to see it. You might wait until the DVD comes out and rent it. You can read Alex Flinn's reaction to the movie and her red carpet experience on her blog.
  If you are interested in the story, I would highly recommend checking out the book. It's fantastic and one that I have been recommending to lots of readers who equally enjoyed it.

Rating: 3 stars (Recommended)

Words of Caution: The movie is rated PG-13 due to some crude language, drug references and brief violence.

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Top 10 Tuesday: Favorite Books into Movies

 It's Tuesday and time for another top ten list from the gals over The Broke and the Bookish. Today's topic of choosing our favorite book to movie adaptation was quite hard for me. I tend to either really hate a lot of movies that are based on a book that I have read. I also realized that I really like some movies that are based on books (i.e. The Princess Bride, Ella Enchanted), but I haven't read the book so I can't comment on how faithful it is to its original work.

Top 10 Favorite Books into Movies (in no particular order)

   Clueless is  a modern adaptation of Jane Austen's Emma. This is one of those rare cases where I liked the movie much more than the book. Austen's Emma got on my nerves so much that I couldn't enjoy the book. I hated her righteous attitude. When I met Cher, I instantly liked her for being...well so clueless about what was going around her.

   The Joyluck Club by Amy Tan is a book that broke my heart into many pieces with its heart wrenching stories of how mothers sacrfice things for their children. The movie had the same effect of me, my mom, and my sisters. A fabulous cast and screenplay that handled the various stories and different character point of views very well.

   Lord of the Rings Trilogy by J. R. Tolkein- I'm blown away by how much detail Peter Jackson included in his trilogy. I couldn't decide which movie of the three to put on here, so I cheated and included all of the. My favorite book, however, is The Two Towers. The movies really helped me get the various characters, races, and languages straight in my head when I read the books. The movies also introduced me to fabulous actors like Viggo Mortenson who I knew nothing about.

   The Outsiders by SE Hinton- This is probably the most faithful book to movie adaptation that I've ever seen. The actors became the characters. Their comraderie, loyalty, and love for one another leaped off the screen and felt authentic. Out of all the actors, I would say that Matt Dillon's Dallas broke my heart. Looking back at it now, the cast is unbelievable: Patrick Swayze (RIP), Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez, Tom Cruise (before he went psycho), Ralph Macchio, and Diane Lane amongst the noteables. I still don't understand how all the actors except for C. Thomas Howell, who played Ponyboy,  seemed to make it big in Hollywood.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen- Okay, so technically this is a TV miniseries, but I absolutely loved it. The screenplay is fantastic and hits on the right notes of Austen's social and political points. I watch this yearly during Winter Break and still can't get enough. It's my first introduction to Colin Firth and I have watched almost anything with him every since. To me, Colin Firth will always be Mr. Darcy.



   William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet- I absolutely love everything about this Baz Lurhman's adaptation. It beautifully and creatively captured the spirit and tone of the play while making the film contemporary with its awesome soundtrack, clothing, set, and a terffic, diverse cast. I can watch this film several times and have several different reactions to it everytime I finish it. My VHS copy of this movie is so run down that I have to go and buy the DVD. 



What's Eating Gilbert Grape?  by Peter Hedges- Everyone knows about my obsession over Johnny Depp, but that's not why I liked this movie (well, okay just a little ;) ). What's Eating Gibert Grape is a beautifully shot movie of that transferred the book's tenderness, teen angst, caring and self-awareness of the Grape family. I firmly believe Leonardo was cheated out of getting an Oscar for his portrayal of Arnie. He was phenomenal and solidified him, in my opinion, as an actor. 

   About a Boy is possibly my favorite Nick Hornby novel. It compacts a romantic comedy, family drama, and self awareness all into one. While reading the book, I couldn't think of anyone else to play the despicable yet loveable Will than Hugh Grant. Talk about a role made for an actor! Although the ending is different than the novel, it stays true to the characters and spirit of the book.

   Hamlet by William Shakespeare-  I've loved all of the adaptations that I have seen so far by Kenneth Branaugh, but I think Hamlet is his best. The movie is shot like an old school epic film like Lawrence of the Arabia, leaving no details untouched. While the movie may be long for some, I was glued to my seat watching how the characters and play unravel. I thought Branaugh's Hamlet had a wide range of emotions instead of the confused, crazed lunatic that is popularly portrayed by most actors. Kate Winslet's Ophelia broke my heart. 



Rebecca by Daphne DuMaurier- Not only is the movie directed by Alfred Hitchcock, the master of suspense, but I think it perfectly captured the creepiness of the novel, especially Mrs. Danvers. Joan Fontaine effortlessly captures the innocence and mannerisms of Mrs. Dewinters.

These are my favorite movies based on books. What are yours?



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Movie News!

   My last post on movie news was back in September of this year. Since then there are numerous upcoming movies that have my caught my eye. All of the movies below are book adaptations, which can be a good or bad thing, depending on who is the director and the cast selected. Nonetheless these films seem impressive and I might give them a shot.

First up, we have another adaptation of Charlotte Bronte's masterpiece Jane Eyre. It stars Mia Wasikowska (Jane), Michael Fassbender (Rochester) and Madame Judi Dench (Mrs. Fairfax). I really liked Mia Wasikowska in Tim Burton's version of Alice in Wonderland and I think she'll make a great Jane. Jane Eyre is directed by Cary Fukunaga and the screenplay is written by Moira Buffini. The movie is rated PG-13 and will be in theaters in March 2011. As you watch the trailer, notice how the movie has more of a gothic, dark tone to it which I think is unique amongst its many adaptations:

Second up is Adjustment Bureau, which is a movie that is loosely adapting Philip K. Dick's short story, Adjustment Team. When it comes to classic science fiction writers like Dick, sometimes I prefer watching a movie adaptation first and then reading the original in order to get a better grasp of the material. Adjustment Bureau stars Matt Damon (David Norris) and Emily Blunt (Elise Sellas). The director and screenplay writer is George Nolfi, who did one of the Bourne movies. Not only do I love both of these actors, I also love the director too. This should be a pretty good movie. It is rated PG-13 and is coming September 2011. Here is a brief synopsis of the movie: "The affair between a politician and a ballerina is affected by mysterious forces keeping the lovers apart." Source: Internet Movie Database. Check out the trailer below:

 

Third up is an interesting adaptation of William Shakespeare's play The Tempest. The Tempest is one of the few Shakespeare plays that I have not read. Looks like I have to fix that for next year. The Tempest stars Helen Mirren (Prospera), Russell Brand (Trinculo), Djimon Hounsou (Caliban), and a whole slew of other actors. I never thought I would see a movie that starred Helen Mirren and Russell Brand together, but I guess it works. I think it's pretty interesting that the male lead, Prospero, was changed into Prospera, a woman. The movie is directed and written by Julie Taymor. The Tempest is going to be released December 10, 2010 and it is rated PG-13. See the trailer below:

Fourth is a film adaptation of famous Grimm Fairy Tale The Little Red Riding Hood called Red Riding Hood. The film is set in a medieval village that is haunted by a werewolf and a young girl falls for an orphaned woodcutter, who her family dislikes. The movie stars: Amanda Seyfried (Valerie aka Red Riding Hood), Lukas Haas and Gary Oldman. Wow, I haven't seen Lukas Haas in a movie for a really long time! The movie is directed by Catherine Hardwicke and written by David Johnson. I have to admit that this one made me ponder. I don't care for Catherine Hardwicke's directing, especially after her atrocious Twilight adaptation (seriously, the whole movie is blue!), but I'm glad she is no longer directing Gayle Forman's fabulous novel If I Stay. Despite my own opinions, I think some of you might be interested so I added it to this list. The movie is slated to release March 2011 and it has not been rated. Check out the trailer and let me know what you think:

 

 Last but not least, I'm really hoping there is going to be a Baz Lurhmann adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. There has been lots of talk that the movie will star Leonardo DiCaprio and Carey Mulligan. I think Baz Lurhman is an innovative director who gives a fascinating spin on a lot of stories. i absolutely loved how he handled "Romeo and Juliet". I can watch that movie over and over again and will always find something new. Needless to say that I have watched and enjoyed all of his movies. There's no official word from Lurhmann, but it looks like things are headed in that direction. *Crosses fingers* 

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freak week part III

It's no secret that I hate scary movies. Really, really, reallyreallyreally HATE them. In high school I remember burying my head beneath a blanket at a party while everyone else watched Freddy Krueger slash his way through an acre of flesh. I couldn't bear to open my eyes to watch an entire scene play out. In college I remember a stretch of sleepless nights following a stupid decision to watch Silence of the Lambs. But the horror film that freaked me out the most? Scream. The opening scene pretty much sums up my worst nightmare.

Like most girls, I grew up going to slumber parties where scary stories got swapped while we hunkered down in our sleeping bags and shivered with delight. Those stories never freaked me out, except one: the babysitter who keeps getting phone calls while she's watching the children. And then she finds out that the caller is in the house with her. Yeah, that spooks me.

It's easy to imagine the terror coursing through my veins while I watched Drew Barrymore all alone in a house while the creepy stranger stalks her. Of course I screamed. Of course I hated it. Of course I'll post the link in case you haven't watched it. (But I won't watch it again.)





I don't mind being alone. In fact, I rather like it. But when faced with this scenario, I prefer being in a crowd. Bad things can still happen to you in a crowd, but your vulnerability is significantly reduced. Killer zombies or serial killers or creeps brandishing chainsaws can just as easily slash the people around you, right? How does the old saying go? How fast do you have to run if a crazed maniac is chasing you? Faster than the people with you. (And don't kid yourselves, I'll totally shove you or trip you to gain the advantage in that situation.)

And speaking of crowds, what's safer than a crowd of happy, playful animals all around you? This month's FABULOUS is a copy of Rena Jones' book, Lemur Troops and Critter Groups. Enjoy Rena's whimsical illustrations and interesting explanations of what animal groups are called. I think grown ups and the kids they read to would enjoy Rena's book. How can you win October's FABULOUS? Every comment in the comment box through Saturday is an entry to win--I'll pick a lucky winner on Sunday--a lucky winner who can share Lemur Troops and Critter Groups with their favorite young readers.

Lemurs, I've learned, live in groups. Except for nocturnal lemurs, who prefer to be alone. At night. When they're most active. This seems suspicious to me, but no nocturnal lemurs live in my neighborhood, so I'm not worried about them stalking me when I'm home alone.


Spill it, reader. What horror movie freaked you out the most?

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Book and Movie News!

  It's been a while since I last posted book and movie news! And boy, do I have lot of things to report!

Sequels, which I can't wait to read!

• Neal Shusterman is working on a sequel to his phenomenal book called Unwind. The sequel will be called Unwholly and it is slated to be released in 2012.
• Gayle Forman is working on the sequel to her fabulous book, If I Stay, called Where She Went. It is expected to come out in April 4, 2011. According to Collider.com, the movie If I Stay is in works. Currently, Catherine Hardwicke is attached to direct the movie while Shauna Cross is adapting the novel. According to Entertainment Weekley, the movie is to start filming next year. No cast has been decided. 
• Melissa Marr's best selling Wicked Lovely series books will come to an end. The last book will be Darkest Mercy and it will be out on Feb. 2011. You can see the cover and read the snippet on the Harper Collins website. I just read on PR Newswire that the Wicked Lovely series was picked up by Universal Pictures. Apparently, Vince Vaugn's production company, Wild West Picture Show Productions, will produce the movie and Caroline Thompson (Edward Scissorhands) will write the screenplay according to

New exciting series and or stand alone books, which I can't wait to read!

• Melissa Marr will be working on a new YA trilogy. The new series revolves around a girl assassin, a demon with a soul, and a world where myth and science meet. Look for the first book to be released in 2013!
• Lisa McMann is working hard on another creepy parannormal with a love story stand alone book called Cryer's Cross, coming Feb 8, 2011! 
• We can expect a new book by Sarah Dessen, the queen of YA romance, later this year. The book is called What Happened to Goodbye. 
• Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson and the Olympian series will be adapted into graphic novels! Coming soon on Oct 12, 2010!

On to Movie news....

• According to Collider, Gary Ross (Seabiscut), Sam Mendes (Away We Go), and David Slade (Eclipse) are the front running contenders to direct Suzanne Collins blockbuster Hunger Games movie. I, personally, would want Mendes to direct. Let's keep our fingers cross that this groundbreaking YA book isn't slaughtered at the box office. 

• Lois Lowry's classic novel, The Giver, will be made into a movie. According to the Internet Movie Database, no director, writer or cast has been named.The movie is under development.

• Kazuo Ishiguro bestseller, Never Let Me Go, is being made into a movie starring Keira Knightley and Carey Mulligan. 

Maybe this will help me understand the book and pick it up again. I gave up reading it after pg. 50.

• Freakonomics will be turned into a documentary movie. Another book that didn't really interest me. Check out the trailer:

• Ned Vizzini's YA book, It's Kind of a Funny Story will be releasing in a few weeks:

• Last but not least, Jonathan Swift's classic satire, Gulliver's Travels, will be updated by Jack Black and crew:

Cool, huh? So, which one will you see?

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why it's a good idea to see Toy Story 3 at the drive-in

As usual, Team Testosterone had a blast at the Field of Scenes. Popcorn! Playground! Mini golf in pajamas! (Mr. D's a huge fan of admission: $18 for all five of us to watch a double feature.) The drive-in has a tradition of playing the national anthem before starting the previews, and Mr. T really loves the anthem. It kind of wells a gal up with patriotism to see families, teenagers, old people and little kids standing in front of their minivans, monster trucks and Impalas while the anthem plays on The Big Screen. I resisted the urge to yell, "Play ball!" after it ended.


Lots of previews--everything is in 3D. I remember when 3D was all the rage the first time around. Now anything else is the exception if it's a kids' movie.

By the time our old pals Woody and Buzz showed up on the screen, Team Testosterone were lying in the back of the Momvan chewing popcorn and sipping slushies. They had blankets and pillows to keep warm and OFF to keep the mosquitoes from sucking them dry. Mr. D and I kicked back in our lawn chairs on the grassy knoll in front of them. Andy's growing up, the toys miss him, the first scene involves a clever ploy to get Andy's attention. A later scene was equally witty with a group of toys explaining their owner's temperament--"We do a lot of improv here." Were you that imaginative kid? One minute in a space ship blasting towards galaxies unknown, the next fending off witches in a haunted house?


Midway through Toy Story 3 we hear a long, loud wail from the bowels of the Momvan. What the what? Mr. G is bawling. I'm ready to yell at his brothers--who hit him? But no--he was scared. Mr. G who has seen a fair share of PG-13 movies about super hereos was freaked out by a PG-rated Pixar flick about a toy cowboy and space ranger. I crawled up in the back of the Momvan to ascertain why.

"Monkey."

Aha. Toy Story 3 is a little dark, a nod towards film noir, some sinister characters ruling the underworld at the day care. I held Mr. G in my lap and talked him down while we watched the rest of the movie. (I laughed so hard at the exchanges between Barbie and Ken--when he's showing her his closet--what a hoot!)

And then the ending. Sheesh. My fleece is still damp from tears. Honest to Pete, Pixar, cut a girl a break. Did you have to drag out the emotional ending for a full 10 minutes? While I sniffled and wept and soaked the edge of my sleeve, I felt grateful that I wouldn't have to exit through a brightly lit lobby. When you watch Toy Story 3 at the drive-in, you can leave in the dark privacy of your Momvan and no one can see your blooming red nose or the mascara streaked beneath your eyes.

Naturally I got all sentimenal and began thinking of my childhood toys. The most beloved are still with me, believe it or not. The dolls are in a box, despite my best efforts at gender neutrality, Team Testosterone didn't want My Friend Mandy, Baby Beth or Strawberry Shortcake. But the stuffed animals--a kangaroo, a snake, several dogs and a giraffe--are beloved by my sons and get slept with and hugged--even played with occasionally. I donated my Cabbage Patch doll to the neighbor girl who plays with her, dresses her in outfits and takes her on adventures. That neighbor girl just got a baby sister, so I see a bright future for that doll.

As I've come to expect, Pixar nailed it with Toy Story 3. But if you can't see it at a drive-in, make sure you have a handkerchief. Spill it, reader. Where are your old toys? Are they played with by your kids or did they get donated to parts unknown?

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i spy

Sunday night I actually sat down to fold laundry and flip through channels and found myself sucked in to watching The Bourne Identity for the fifth time. Such a good movie--the action sequences, the fighting, the quick-thinking. Jason Bourne is NOT hard on my eyeballs at ALL.

I gazed at Jason in awestruck wonder as he masterfully applied his martial arts training to fend off Bad Guys. My karate combat is good, but not that good.

I envied his ability to make decisions in the blink of an eye--to read a situation and act with gut instinct and well-honed spy skills.

I admired Julia Stiles's hair and realized that my new cut is just like hers. The only difference is that I have a bit of bang (new!) which flips across my forehead and coyly covers part of my right eye. And I don't sport the harsh striped highlights. I mentally complemented Kristy who cuts my hair for her brilliant maneuvering with scissors.

It would be so cool to be a spy.

Then I realized something else: I've watched The Bourne Identity five times, but I've never seen the sequels. How could I have let myself hang in mid-story all this time?


Guess what I'll be doing every night this week? Curling up in bed with Jason.
Spill it, reader. What sequels have you missed watching?

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why i may look bleary-eyed in the morning

I'm not a channel flipper by nature. In fact, I don't often watch TV. My kids are older and busier and when D's not around and they're asleep, I crave the stillness of a quiet house. But occasionally I'll get the remote in my hand and cruise through the 60+ channels that we haven't blocked out because they're offensive (talking to you, MTV, SpikeTV, VH1) or stupid (QVC, QVCII, the myriad of extra news channels). Incredibly enough, paying over $100 a month for cable with no premium channels and RoadRunner does NOT insure there's anything to watch. Some nights even Food Network lets me down.

But sometimes I'll run across a movie and stay up waaaaay too late watching it. Certain films suck me in like a field of mud--there's no resisting their power and I get stuck watching until the end. Most John Hughes movies have this effect. Classic Brit flicks like Notting Hill and Four Weddings and a Funeral rend me powerless to change channels, even though I own those titles on DVD and could watch them commercial-free and unedited. Music & Lyrics. (I'm apparently revealing my secret crush on Hugh Grant in this post, too. Oh, come on! Blue eyes, fantastic head of hair, sense of self-depreciating humor. Admit it, you love him too, reader.)

Decent teeth, too.

I even found myself in the vortex of a made-for-Lifetime movie about a special wedding dress starring a very young and mulletted Neil Patrick Harris.

OF COURSE I'm posting a gratuitious photo of him!

But my latest Late-Night-TV-Vortex-of-Viewing-Pleasure?

Hitch. BIG pink puffy heart-heart-heart it. It's sweet, funny, surprisingly intelligent, and Will Smith? Can I get an AMEN, sisters? (This clip is for you, HistoryGirl! I laugh out loud every time I watch it.)

Spill it, reader. What movie do you find holding your attention all night long, despite having seen it over and over again?

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muttonchop monday

* Mr. B's EEG went fantastically well. He was a trooper throughout and the technician (who bore more than a passing resemblance to Jake Gyllenhaal and had a nice laugh) made him very comfortable. It lasted almost an hour and we're waiting for results. I really hope the doctor calls us today.

* Meanwhile Mr. B is making "Fake Tick Faces" which crack us up.

* Hearing the news in Haiti is bad enough. I cannot imagine watching it.

* Mr. T earned 2 Webelo pins Saturday morning while I knitted fingerless mitts.

* I nearly finished the mitts whilst watching the Golden Globe Awards last night--only about 12 rows to go! Adding to my pleasure, Glee, Up, and Meryl Streep won awards.

* Confession: I adore Quentin Tarantino movies. I thought Inglorious Basterds was sheer genius. Yes, he's sooooo violent, but utterly brilliant. His passion for films and film history, the way he weaves his adoration of old movies--it's like he's paying homage to those who made films before him. Sure, he's all jutted out chin and scary soul-boring eyes--but I'd love to sit and talk to him. I'm glad Christoph Waltz won last night.

* The giant zit and the bruise on my chin from where Mr. G jumped up and cracked me with the top of his head are almost gone. I felt self-conscious all weekend.

* The mild weather has melted the roads enough that I ran Sunday. It felt good.

* We had a kid over for a play date every afternoon Friday-Sunday. Time to replenish the pantry.

* Mr. D is counting down the days until he leaves for a 5-day golf trip in Arizona.

* I finally watched Kate & Leopold (yes, a decade after the rest of you watched it). To that end I offer you this on a Monday morning:

To be fair, he isn't wearing muttonchops as Leopold, but he does look hot in knee breeches. Here's a more muttonchoppy look on Hugh, sans kneebreeches:

Happy Monday!

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how kevin widened the gap

Green Girl adores Christmas movies. She tears up mightily when the little deaf girl sits on Santa's lap in Miracle on 34th Street and the girls mother says, "She's deaf--she doesn't expect you to talk to her, she just wanted to see you." And then? (Excuse Green Girl while she grabs a tissue.) Santa starts talking to the girl in American Sign Language.

She adores every second of Love Actually (except the part where the slutty secretary makes a play for her beloved Alan Rickman). She sings along heartily with White Christmas (shout out to Cha Cha who gets the sheer awesomeness of this movie. Yo! Sisters!). A Christmas Story makes her quote long sections of dialogue all year long ("Fragile. Must be Italian.") Polar Express and Elf are new favorite classics and she giggles herself senseless watching National Lampooon's Christmas Vacation. Green Girl's heart expands with goodwill towards all men--except for Mr. Potter--at the end of It's a Wonderful Life. She couldn't wait to share all of these holiday classics with her sons (except Love Actually because it's not kiddie fare).

But her sons have discovered another favorite. These films have them rolling on the floor laughing fit to bust their guts. They can't get enough of these two movies and Green Girl can only sigh and shake her head because she thought Kevin and the gang would be a sad blip, not even registering on the Great Christmas Movie Traditions radar. She underestimated the power of prat falls and gags and a little boy outsmarting grown ups with gadgets. Now her sons quote things like "AAAAARRRGGGGHHHH!" and "You guys have enough yet? Or are you thirsty for more?" and "Keep the change you filthy animal." and from the sequel, "Merry Christmas you filthy animal (machine gun fire) And a Happy New Year."

Spill it, reader. What's your favorite holiday movie? What one makes you cringe and switch channels?

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Muttonchop Therapy

I've got three pinatas in progress, Mr. G decided this morning that he doesn't want to be a snake today for costume day at school...just for Halloween (that muffled screaming you heard earlier was me--locked in a closet while on a self-imposed Time Out), we have a wedding tonight (I've nothing to wear, as usual--don't you hate fall weddings? Too cold and too wet to wear something short or strapless or bright-colored, too odd a time of year to pull out the black standbys that you've worn to countless winter weddings.), Mr. B's birthday party Sunday, flag football Saturday morning and a meal delivery on Sunday.

What's a girl to do? Why, indulge in a little muttonchop therapy, of course. I'm digging back to an old favorite from 1996--a lovely movie that a lot of people missed. If you are one of those people who missed it, put it on your Netflix queue and fix your problem immediately, okay?

Restoration. le sigh.
While not a Regency era film, it presents a hero every bit worthy of Jane Austin's attention. Restoration takes place during the reign of Charles II, opening in 1660. The Age of Restoration was filled with scientific discovery, artistic exploration, natural disaster, religious superstition and changing medical practices as The Plague swept through Europe. It's a saga, it won 2 Oscars and Meg Ryan isn't even that annoying in it. The costumes, landscape, cinematography and longing gazes across ballrooms are all swoonworthy.


Robert Downey Jr. plays our hero, Robert Merivel, a physician whose fortunes rise and fall under the influence of all of the aforementioned forces. Summoned by the king to court, Robert Merivel falls in love with the King's mistress, is placed in a an estate which he restores, is banished, works in a Quaker-run mental assylum, falls in love with a patient, watches his wife die during the Great Plague while his daughter is born,
and survives the Great Fire of London. The breadth of plot and history is impressive (it's an educational film). Robert Merivel is handsome and brilliant, talented and alluring. Restoration is echoed in his character as he evolves from a simple man to a lecherous man in the glamourous world of Court to a fallen man with a true understanding of what is Valuable and Important in Life.


I'll grant you that technically the time period isn't muttonchoppy. It's a bit frilly and fancy. I do prefer the Regency Era, more understated, shorter hair.

But can you honestly look at that face and not feel seduced? Under that gaze a gal's got to loosen her corset a little, remove a few hairpins and let loose a gasp of pleasure.


Don't you feel just an eensy bit restored? If not, what's your restorative pleasure this Friday?

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