Awesome Movie

Arranged is about a Muslim girl and a Jewish girl becoming friends over their uncertainty for their arranged marriage prospects. I LOVED THIS MOVIE. And it's free streaming if you have Netflix. :)

The Meanest Mom

Great thanks to Bill, who told me about THE MEANEST MOM: a blog with the wittiest prose I have read in ages. 'Meanest Mom' posts true stories of her family, and they're awesome. My favorite posts thus far have been her responses to "Car Booster Seats," "The Cake," and "The Nudists." "Soccer Shoes" was also good.

Tee hee hee hee. It sort of reminds me of when some of my nephews complained about the food they got for dinner, and my brother (their father) decided that until they learned to be grateful for what they had they could eat oatmeal for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Oooooh, so effective!

Ready for the Chill in the Air?

 

All three of these classic lovelies are this season's jcrew. The cuts are just perfect, and I can't decide which I'd like best. The trench looks so Wait Until Dark Audrey, but then the spiced sunset seems so warm, and the heather color would accentuate my snow-queen skin. Mmmm, can't decide. :)

Unbelievable Bobby Pins

Scunci No-Slip Grip All Day Hold Bobby-Pins (see the grooves?)

Scunci's perfect bobby's have strong inner-grooved pins that actually hold my slippery hair in place; it is so lovely to only need one bobby pin instead of six. No other bobby's can compare: without even double-crossing them for support, they won't wear out, stretch out, or fall out.

Unforgettable Book. (Ages 9+)

The first line:

"So, there I was, tied to an altar made from outdated encyclopedias, about to get sacrificed to the dark powers by a cult of evil Librarians."

Alcatraz Smedry and his insane family (though he's been raised by foster parents), make this book unbelievably awesome. DIE LAUGHING AWESOME.

You'll love it! I promise you. Especially if you liked Percy Jackson-- you must read Alcatraz.

The TONY's are coming! The TONY's are coming!

Nothing too exciting this year as far as I can tell. Million-Dollar Quartet and Memphis look pretty snazzy. If I were to get free tickets to one of the nominated shows, I might pick Finnian's Rainbow, but I bet I'd settle on

Come Fly Away-- an all dance musical to nothing but Frank Sinatra vocals + a big band. No script, no singing-- just movement tells the story. This show better win choreography! It's amah-zing.

A number of crazy new shows (including an Adamms Family musical) and "meh" fad musicals. I about panicked when I saw that my beloved Ragtime is in revival and I wouldn't be able to go see it, but it appears that they've killed the magic completely; the choreography and acting are weak. All in all, I'm still excited for the show.

June 13th! THE TONY'S ARE COMING.

Not-too-bad Retelling of Cinderella

Because people call me to say things like "I have to tell you about a show you'll love! Lost in Austen--" at which point I interrupt to say I've already seen it, and at which point the individual says "why didn't you tell me about it, then?" Whatever-- it's a long way of saying that I should probably pass along more of my good reviews so interested parties can discover them too. Expect to see more reviews, I guess.

Ahem. I love fairy tales; reading them, telling their stories, watching them in ballets and movies, I am always searching for another to become my next favorite. While still not my favorite, Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister is quite good. Watch it free online.



Sort of depressing in the middle but with a dreamy, dreamy ending-- I so love the prince, even if the painter's apprentice is the real love interest of the film. Also, Iris' "high squeaky voice[] like the mice on Cinderella" might get on your nerves.

My Favorite Things: Movie Soundtracks

I owe my love of music to my parents and older siblings who wrapped it around me from a very young age. Thanks you for your example. The marvel of your talents filled my young eyes with wonder and has greatly influenced my life.

Film scores, in my opinion, are the true triumph of the symphonic world. I've been a passionate collector of them for many years, and they frequently make me cry, take my breath away, and make my heart beat faster. They can scare me too-- Jaws, anyone? I find in them more glory, beauty, and feeling than is available through any other source. I listen to them all the time! Just ask my husband-- he often mutters about how hardly anything on my iPod has words.

My father once complained that quality, refined music wasn't being written anymore. When I disagreed, he asked, "Yeah? When was the last time you heard a choral symphony?" My response was swift. "Last week. Superman Returns." The fact is that more symphonies are written today than ever before, and we owe that to the film industry. Isn't that wonderful? Finally something to love Hollywood for!

You all know I love movies, and you know a soundtrack can make or break my love for a film. Some movies use the score as a crutch, and some use it for their crowning achievement. Below are a few lists of what I consider "favorites". The following movie that I LOVE is a Janie-Thompson-esque medley of 16 movie themes that John Williams combined for an Oscars-tribute to musical scores. It's quite fun-- Daddy should especially like it. A bunch of movies he likes make the cut. My favorites too!

All-Time Hit List

Jurassic Park, Jumanji, Tuck Everlasting, Casper, Home Alone, Ever After, Little Women, Dances With Wolves, North & South, Cinema Paradiso, The Mission, Rudy, Beauty & the Beast/Pocahontas, Exodus, Patton, All of Ken Burn's documentary soundtracks, The Parent Trap, Last of the Mohicans, and October Sky.

Latest Fascinations

Rachel Portman's Cider-House Rules and The Duchess.
Ennio Morricone-- Once Upon a Time in America

My Top Composers

James Horner, John Barry, Alan Silvestri, Hans Zimmer, Alan Menken, Ennio Morricone, James Newton Howard, Thomas Newman, Patrick Doyle, Rachel Portman, Elmer Bernstein, and John Williams.

On the Street Where I Lived

Okay, I lied. I'm posting. But only because I was again struck by something I had to scream about. 

This picture was front page of the New York Times yesterday. I immediately recognized the street as Jericho road, the most direct route from the BYU Jerusalem Center into the Old City of Jerusalem. I've talked to the kids who live behind the white wire gate on the left, and twirled down the street on my way to town-- I walked down this street everyday. I can with certainty tell you that this picture was taken approx. 600 ft away from JCenter property.  Israeli police have barricaded the road now, which is safer for the center, and I've read that starting March 5th students weren't allowed in the Old City (the JC has such good security teams; students are always* safe). 

Why am I screaming? I'll tell you one thing; it has nothing to do with the above picture. It does however have to do with reason #512 of my distate (a mild word chosen merely for politeness) for the current administration, particularly for that woman. Read "Clinton Rebukes Israel on Housing Announcement." The title alone is enough to explain why I'm grinding my teeth, but let me just sum up for those of you who won't bother to read it: with a direct quote from the first article, "Israeli officials say that the Obama administration misread the situation". Let me tell you-- I buy it. 

Israel does not... appreciate... being told what to do. "The Obama administration demanded" was frequently re-worded and reused in both articles. Never fear-- Mrs. Clinton and the Mr. Biden (both who were recently in Jerusalem) assure the press of their “ironclad commitment to Israeli security.” It's just that when they're speaking with the Prime Minister, they complain about Israel's actions and literally spell out what they expect them to do to fix it. Direct quote again: ""On Friday, Mrs. Clinton told the prime minister that the United States expected Israeli officials to take “specific actions”."

But then again-- perhaps the first paragraph of the article really does say it all:

The discord between the United States and Israel over Jewish building in East Jerusalem deepened Tuesday with Israeli officials saying they would reject demands by Washington and expressing anger over the public upbraiding of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by the Obama administration.

I repeat-- Israel does not appreciate being told what to do. They will not be instructed in how to manage their affairs, and if it comes to it, they'll tell US officials to take a hike. What was that phrase? Ah yes, "reject demands by Washington." 

It greatly bothers me that the current US administration does not seem to understand this, and that they're trying to pull Israeli strings. They're aggravating the Israeli's and jeopardizing our relationship with them.  I'm NOT happy.

*The students are away on a field trip currently, not anywhere near the current disturbances.  Coincidence? Nope. Students at the JC are always safe.  

Get me a bucket-- this propaganda made me sick.

I have never seen a more repugnant exhibition of propaganda. This slimy piece of media is biased in a most despicable way, giving facts for only one side of information, and hailing "wind" as the savior of energy and degrading coal-- as cheap.

I see no reason why we should not continue to use wind energy. Of course, geo-thermal is more reliable and doesn't kill off endangered bird species like golden eagles, but I don't think that's a logical reason to stop using windmills. Birds die from running into cars and trucks, and we certainly can't outlaw those, now can we? However, coal has two big advantages over wind power: while power harnessed from wind must be channeled into turbines and from thence wired to the things it must energize, coal can be both stored and transported to anywhere in the world. Wind energy from Belgium couldn't be shipped to Brazil, for example. Coal on the other hand, well, you see my point.

One would think that while everyone is trying to become less dependent on oil, and spend money in the process, coal would be celebrated as an alternative energy source. (Much like natural gas.)

Besides-- coal isn't just used for energy. Byproducts of coal are used to make concrete, construction materials, bricks, insulation, wallboard, ceramic tiles, roofing materials, and as a mineral filler for plastics, paint, rubber matting, carpet backing, and asphalt. Can wind do those things too? No. It'd be nifty if it could, but it can't.

Let me tell you some nitpicky facts about coal. Sources listed below.


"Although coal may not be as visible today as it was around 1900, it is even more prevalent as a source of fuel. Coal production has increased by more than 70 percent since 1970."*

"About 56 percent of the electricity used in this country is coal-generated electricity."*

"Certain industries consume large amounts of coal. For example, concrete and paper companies burn coal, and the steel industry uses coke and coal by-products to make steel for bridges, buildings, and automobiles."*

Coal will likely continue to be an important source of electricity generation because it is more abundant and cost-effective than oil and natural gas. Compare these*** energy costs per million British thermal units (Btus):
Coal—$1.20
Natural gas—$4.30
Oil—$4.45

Wait wait wait-- more cost effective? Meaning it's CHEAPER? Well, I guess the scientists that wizzed this chart up think so too. 

One last thing just to keep environmentalists happy; the "EPA's Coalbed Methane Outreach Program seeks to work with coal companies to reduce methane gas emissions associated with coal mining. Since 1990, methane recovered and used productively at coal mines has increased from 13.8 Billion cubic feet to 37.2 Billion cubic feet.*" Oh goody! More useful stuff we get from coal.

If you're still wondering where I stand on this issue, let me clear it up by saying "long live coal!" and that we should be thanking our lucky stars that people still think a resource as precious as coal is "cheap," because the last thing we want is for it to start getting taxed more heavily. Ahem.


***Price comparisons.
*More about coal.


Author's note: I mentioned at the top that I haven't seen worse propaganda, but I've just remembered that I have! Only trust me, you don't even want to get me started on Rachel Carson.

Rachel Reviews: Harry Potter 6

Hermione miserably watches Ron enjoy attention from Lavender Brown.

I went to the theater expecting to see a movie I'd enjoy, but not to expecting to see one I'd be really impressed with. It's just another Harry Potter movie, I thought. How good could it be? It's already categorized. I didn't feel moved by movies 2--5, and I expected 6 to follow suit. Surprisingly, this wasn't a "Harry Potter movie." This was a film of highest quality in direction, editing, script, character interaction, acting, in short-- in everything. And so funny! My gosh it was funny! (recovers giddiness) I mean...ah... particularly keen use of humor. ahem.

The 1st time Harry bonded with Dumbledore since the death of Richard Harris.

It was the character interaction I found most appealing. Rather than being witches and wizards at a far away magic school, each person jumped out of the silver screen and you could feel their lives, the way they felt. Instead of watching a movie, you were watching people and relating to them, learning with them. What I found even more impressive was the portrayal of evil being present, but resistible, and that sacrifice was often the only way of defeating it.

This is a superior piece of work. Five stars.

Far and away better than any movie I've seen this summer.* Way better than the other blockbusters... even better than Star Trek and UP! (Not to mention Wolverine, that great disappointment of a movie.) If you get the chance, please watch this.

Tom Felton portrays a desperate Draco Malfoy.

*Which reminds me. If you ever get a chance to see The Hustler, starring Paul Newman, my advice is to find another Paul Newman film (I recommend Exodus) and stay far away from the Hustler. It was full of that overly-dramatic depressed fatalistic realism that old black and whites were fond of. Plus I hated the ending. Yuck.

I'm Back & Don't Forget Your Corset

May I be so fortunate as to wear this dress... if only in fantasy land*.

I'm back! Safe in the land of altitude! I had so much fun while I was away and I'll tell you all about it. But before I talk about my trip I'd like to address the subject of humidity in summer heat.

I don't think humidity is as terrible as people claim, WHEN and ONLY WHEN there is a slight breeze to accompany it (then the moisture feels cool on your skin, etc etc,) or you're in the open air (again with the air circulation thing). If however, you are standing in a stagnant, enclosed space --say, my sister's sun-room in Houston-- it may be difficult to breathe and you'll feel sick to your stomach.

But outside in the summer heat, do I find direct sunlight with no humidity to filter out the sun's death rays of I-will-incinerate-you-on-the-asphalt-if-you-even-think-of-leaving-the-shade more oppressive than humidity's good-afternoon-step-outside-and-I'll-steam-every-wrinkle-from-your-khaki-linen-pants? Yes. Yes, I do. Now I can hear what my parents are thinking. They're thinking that I didn't get to feel humidity when it was hot enough, but you know what? I still don't buy it. Dry heat is worse.

Try Arizona. I have a friend working for a roofing company down there, and after the heat-rays reflect from any given surface you get the heat not once but twice, and you are literally scalded by the sun.

During my way down to Texas my sister's family and I stopped at Four Corners. Man was that hot. Hot Hot Hot Hot Hot with all capital H hhhhhhhhawts. Way worse than Houston was.

Final Verdict: dry heat is easier to escape from than humidity; all you need is shade, whereas with humidity you have to find an air-conditioning unit. But if you're just gonna get chucked outside for a few hours, left alone to the elemental power of summertime heat, dry heat will kill you faster.


Bet you're wondering why I posted the picture of that delicious Victorian gown? For just a moment, pretend you're in the 1860's. Take whatever awful summer symptoms you're suffering and add petticoats, bloomers, a shift, stockings, a hoop skirt, and of course--a corset. Poof! We've just made summer worse!

Summon the tone of voice the alien uses on Galaxy Quest to describe the fate of the Gilligan's Island folk--"those poor people"-- and you'll have it just about right to describe ye olde populace. In those clothes, and under the skirts they wore, there would be no escape from humidity wherever you went. Talk about grim, grisly, greusome! Sounds more like dead, deathly, and dying to me.


Perhaps you were thinking that you'd get away without a corset? That you could escape its fate? Many think corsets weren't necessary and that they just gave people a smaller waist. No. That's not it. At least that's not all of it. Corsets also provided bust support (which, when you have a bust, is quite necessary to be comfortable for long periods of time, thank you very much). Don't forget your corset.

*I've visited this dress several times in fantasy land. Not to be a southern belle; if I were going to be a debutante in my head I'd be wearing a frilly, frothy, shoulder-revealing silk piece involving any number of ruffles. Yes, Kaylie, ruffles. But when I first saw this dress I instantly thought it carried the exact description of the plain dress Beauty wears in Robin McKinley's book Beauty, A Retelling of Beauty and the Beast, after refusing a ball gown out of fear of looking drab in a fancy dress. Ahhhh, what clever enchantments books are. Fantasy land is a lovely thing.

A Rachel Review: IVANHOE, 1982

IVANHOE, a classic tale written by Sir Walter Scott heralds the fight between Norman & Saxon by means of battle, tournament, and honor. 

Such an ending is unequaled in the entire history of film! (Though the ending scene from the 1935 Mummy where the girl is carried away from her fiancee to drown in the lake might be a close second.) Rebecca misses out because she's a jew? Historically accurate, surely, for the jewess to lose out-- but the rest of the story isn't accurate! Why shouldn't the romance work out at least? 

Ivanhoe is an awful man! AW-FUL MAN!! He tells Richard the Lionheart that if Rebecca weren't a jew he'd never let her out of his sight, and he tells Rebecca that if god had granted them to be of the same race their love would have surpassed all others. 

...and then he marries the blonde. 

I'm sorry, but did I misunderstand? You--what? Okay, no. Just no. No. NO. You do NOT leave Olivia Hussey for a blonde. No. NO. Uh uh. Seriously, it just isn't done.  And you know what else? You definitely don't give the no-account blonde a large picture on the cover of the dvd while Olivia shrinks into obscurity. 

Costumes: really quite good. Headgear for everyone was superb, and the jousting clothes were terrific. 

Actors: Lots of famous people. Even John Rhys-Davies is in this. Of course, the merits of the movie were also the reasons why I found it detestable-- Anthony Andrews and Olivia Hussey play their characters with such longing that when they don't end up together a part of your heart wilts. I should have learned during Scarlet Pimpernel that when Anthony Andrews pines over a girl he loves desperately but will not allow himself, the results are incredulity, and misery of the acutest kind; his heart bleeds inwardly and the look in his eyes is its only evidence of heartbreak. Andrews' acting particularly is fabulous to observe, but terrible to endure. 

Rachel's Review: He loves Rebecca, but marries Rowena whom he "also" loves.  That's just crap. 

A Rachel Review

Miss Potter is the life story of Beatrix Potter, the famous authoress of children's stories, notably that of "Peter Rabbit." Drama, 2007. 

Key Descriptors: Sentimental, moving, whimsical. A view into the Victorian world, almost made me cry, historically accurate, perfect costumes, idyllic soundtrack, and an overall win. 

Soundtrack:  Nigel Westlake, a composer hitherto unfamiliar to me has a style similar to Rachel Portman. The best surprise of the movie was his use of the Victorian song "Let Me Teach You How to Dance." 4 stars. 

Rachel's Review: Miss Potter  is drama at its best. I found it heart felt, thought provoking, and an overall win. What else can I say?  100 more reasons (as if we needed them) to love Ewan McGregor. Despite my usual prejudice against her acting, I found Renee Zellweger well cast and delightful. Cinematographers captured the Lake District of England very well, and the film's use of color was superb.

I highly recommend Miss Potter to everyone in my family, and anyone with taste. 

Best quotes: 

"Are you skulking?"

"I did not imagine them, they're quite real. They're my friends."

"Miss Wiggin is fallible?"

"Bedtime, my young reprobates!"

"You have something to confide? How delicious."

...and the way Ewan says "thank you." 

Spectacular

Saturday night movie with Folk Dance friends: Cyrano de Bergerac. French has never sounded so good. 

Rachel's Review: Spectacular!

Best quotes:

"The truth which I speak strikes more sparks from men's hearts than your spurs do from the cobblestones."

"May I know a thousand victories, a thousand defeats, and never timidity."