retro, retro, retro!!!!

from the new york post!:

HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN
THE '50S: A NICE PLACE TO VISIT

By MARY HUHN

THE recession is such a bummer. Wouldn't it be nice to time travel to a simpler era the 1950s when money was plentiful, appliances were shiny, and rock was just beginning to roll? A carefree time, when wiggling a Hula Hoop rather than watching the Dow plummet was the favored pastime, and love could be found at a sock hop. Happily, a DeLorean time machine a la "Back to the Future" isn't necessary. Doo-wop shows, record hops, and soda fountains are all here. As it turns out, happier days can be had again.


Junior's serves up cheesecakey goodness.

SODA FOUNTAINS

* Junior's Opened in 1950, this cheery spot is known for its cheesecake as well as its Skyscraper Ice Cream Sodas and Mountain High Sundaes. (386 Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn; 718-852-5257)

* Tom's Restaurant The diner-style restaurant began as a soda fountain in 1936 and

survived the 1950s peak of the soda-shop era. Order a

cherry-lime ricky or a malted milkshake at the vintage counter Richie Cunningham would most definitely approve. (782 Washington Ave., Brooklyn; 718-636-9738)

* The Soda Shop A conglomerate nostalgia fest with "penny" candy, comfort food and milkshakes. (125 Chambers St.; 212-571-1100)


The jukebox at Great Jones Cafe is stocked with '50s tunes.

TUNES

* WFMU It's rare when CBS-FM Oldies plays '50s tunes, but you'll find old rock 'n' roll, country, soul and pop on this station's shows such as "Fool's Paradise," "Music To Spazz By" and Michael Shelley's show of No. 1 hits. (91.1-FM; wfmu.org)



LIVE

* Kenny Vance and the Planotones Joined by Milton Love and the Solitaires, Cleveland Still and the Dubs, the Chiffons, and Emil Stucchio and the Classics, Vance brings doo-wop back this Friday at Town Hall. "When people are transported back in time, we become teen idols again," says Vance.

(123 W. 43rd St.; 212-997-1003)

* Little Richard The 72-year-old piano-storming madman behind "Tutti Frutti" and "Lucille" brings his screaming and glaring self to B.B. King Blues Club on June 7. (237 W. 42nd St.; 212-997-4144)

* The Ultimate Doo Wop Show Jimmy Beaumont & the Skyliners, the Contours, Shirley Alston-Reeves (of the Shirelles) and others perform June 6 at the Beacon Theatre. (2124 Broadway; 212-465-6500)

FOOD AND LIQUOR

* The Cub Room Named after the Stork Room's VIP lounge, which drew the likes of Grace Kelly, this SoHo place offers drinks such as the Frank Sinatra a blend of Absolute Vanilla, blue curacao and Cointreau. Not sure what the Chairman would have thought of that. (131 Sullivan St., at Prince Street; 212-677-4100)

* Donohue's Steak House This Upper East Side dining room, a one-time neighborhood joint for Bernie Madoff, hasn't changed its mood since it opened in the '50s. (845 Lexington Ave.; 212-650-0748)

RECORD HOPS

* Legion The club draws a dance crowd with a few '50s/'60s events each month. These include tonight's Honeysuckle, in which Mr. Fine Wine and the Paw spin vinyl platters of doo-wop, blues, R&B and stomping soul artists such as Chuck Berry and Big Maybelle. The fun repeats itself the third Saturday of every month. On the last Friday of every month (this Friday), Chickaboom! spins rockabilly, R&B and bubblegum. (790 Metropolitan Ave., Williamsburg, Brooklyn; 718-387-3797)

* Rebel Night Throwback tiki bar Otto's Shrunken Head hosts a monthly sock hop that encourages '50s fashions, but the focus is on twisting, jiving and strolling to everything from rockabilly country to Bo Diddly beats and garage surf. It's held the third Friday of the month; mark your calendar for April 17. (538 E. 14th St., near Avenue B; 212-228-2240)

* The Wang Dang Doodle Host Phast Phreddie and deejay Todd-O-Phonic Todd promise to turn the tables with the wildest, trashiest records they can dig up. Next doodle is Thursday at the Trophy Bar. (351 Broadway, Williamsburg, Brooklyn; 347-227-8515)

HAIR AND NAILS

* Martinis and manicures Polish your outsides and soak your insides at the vintage Beauty Bar. (231 E. 14th St.; 212-539-1389).

* Tomcats Barbershop Pining for a pompadour? This retro rock 'n' roll spot has haircuts, grease and beers and it can even pinstripe your ride. (130 India St., Greenpoint, Brooklyn; 718-349-9666)

JUKEBOXES

* The Great Jones Café This New Orleans joint, with a bust of Elvis keeping watch, serves gumbo with a side of 45-rpm singles on its classic

jukebox, which includes '50s artists such as Lefty Frizell, Sonny Burgess and the Hollywood Flames. (54 Great Jones St.; 212-674-9304)

* The Lakeside Lounge The East Village bar's music box is loaded with '50s blues, New Orleans soul and rockabilly. (162 Avenue B; 212-529-8463)

THEATER

* Guys and Dolls Revival

of the 1950 Broadway musical

that mixes gambling, missionaries and strippers. (Nederlander

Theatre; 208 W. 41st St.; 212-921-8000)

* The Marvelous Wonderettes A jukebox musical about four teenage girls' 1958 high school prom and their reunion 10 years later. (Westside Theater; 407 W. 43rd St.; 212-239-6200)

marymhuhn@nypost.com

okay, so some of these songs are totally cheesy, but they're so romantic and great when you're absolutely head over heels in love! (not that i really know what that is...so let's just say lust?) but anyway, these are some of my faves, these really aren't in any particular order:

1. "wonderful world" sam cooke. basically, it says that nothing else matters than being in love with this girl. so cute!

2. "i love you for sentimental reasons" nat king cole. so romantic. i want to dance to this at my wedding.

3. "i will follow you into the dark" death cab for cutie. kind of morbid, but still totally sweet.

4. "stand by me" ben e. king. so perfect. so simply said. even if the world's ending, i'll be okay as long as you're with me. awwww.

5. "without love" hairspray. without love, there's nothing. so sweet. and of course i love the interracial piece.

6. "heaven" dj sammy. i love this version. it's so upbeat, but still so romantic.

7. "everytime we touch" cascada. so fun to dance to, but so romantic. it totally converys that feeling of being soooo into someone.

8. "this magic moment" the drifters. not the version by jay and the americans. that's simply subpar. i've loved this song since the sandlot. when squints kisses wendy peffercorn. but yeah, i love how it captures that one moment when everything just seems so right....ahhh....

9. "fever" peggy lee. so sexy. so cool. i love how it portrays that feeling...of the fever that a boy gives you...aaaaaah.

10. "whatta man" en vogue and salt-n-pepa. a song of complete and total praise and adoration. so sexy because you can tell that anyone who would say all these things is so completely in love.

11. "ave maria" beyonce. she does it so beautiful. it's so sweet. "you are my heaven on earth, you are my last, my first..." i like to think she's singing it about jay-z.

12. "just like heaven" the cure. ah, one of my all time favorite songs. so sweet. it's actually kind of sad, but we just don't need to think about the back story.

13. "smoke gets in your eyes" the platters. another song that expresses how you know when you're totally, completely in love.

14. "i will follow him" little peggy march. complete and total adoration. a little bit stalkerish because it never really expresses whether or not the feeling is reciprocal, but still the devotion is just really romantic.

15. "tonight i fell in love" the tokens. a great doo wop classic about finding the one.

16. "come go with me" the dell vikings. so sweet. he just wants her to come with him...

17. "at last" etta james. the etta james version is better than the beyonce version, even i'll admit that. but this is just such a romantic classic.

18. "crazy in love" beyonce. she's crazy in love. enough said. such a fun song.

19. "love" nat king cole. such a classic. so sweet. loved it since the parent trap.

20. "love story" taylor swift. SO SWEET! oh gosh, i love this song. even though romeo and juliet didn't really turn out that sweetly and i get really irritated that people always use that example as the perfect romance (THEY DIED!), but i still love it.

21. "can't take my eyes off of you" frankie valli. so classic. so romantic. it's just such a song of total admiration. aaah....

22. "teenage love affair" alicia keys. so sweet. young love is just the most romantic.

23. "you send me" sam cooke. gosh, i love sam cooke. he's so romantic. marry me? unfortunately he's been dead for 45 years, but still...

24. "the one" backstreet boys. ah, i love it, that hands down proclamation that he'll be there for you no matter what...so sexy.

25. "please mr. postman" the marvelettes. i love how she's not afraid to beg for her letter. she misses her boy! it's so romantic.

26. "i'll make love to you" boyz II men. so cheesy, but sooooo sexxxxxy.

27. "bouncing off the ceiling" ateens. so old school, but that young feeling of being so helplessly in love that you can't control yourself. it's so hot.

28. "when we get married" the dreamlovers. okay, of course this is romantic, it's a guy saying that he wants to marry you and is basically saying he wants to have a great big wedding, that's so hot!!!!

29. "what dreams are made of" hilary duff. so silly, so simple, so fun.

30. "clumsy" fergie. another one of those songs about being so totally in love that you're just out of control...or in this case clumsy.

31. "i'll be" edwin mccain. ah, a nineties classic. sooo sexxy!!!!

32. "iris" goo goo dolls. another nineties tune. so sweet.

33. "can't help falling in love" elvis/ateens. both are good in their own ways. but the concept's what i love...

34. "baby-baby-baby" tlc. extremely sexy.

35. "our song" taylor swift. so sweet....that teenage love thing again!

36. "kiss me" sixpence none the richer. oh gosh, i love this song. when i was younger i used to fantasize about it playing at the perfect moment, oh wow, those were the days, hahaha...

37. "chasing cars" snow patrol. i remember when this first came out. i like didn't get it at first. but it's such a sweet song. how can you not love it.

38. "lost without u" robin thicke. this song is about as sexy as he is.

39. "dedicated to the one i love" the shirelles. i love the shirelles. this song is so sweet.

40. "this will be an everlasting love" natalie cole. this better play at my wedding. i love it.

41. "my town, my guy, and me" lesley gore. yup, that's the way it should be.

42. "love" keyshia cole. i really know what she's saying in this one....

43. "one boy" bye bye birdie. that's the way it should be....

44. "first date" blink-182. it's nice to hear that stuff coming from a guy....

45. "heaven sent" keyshia cole. so, so, so romantic.

46. "hands down" dashboard confessional. aaaah, that anticipation....so hot!!!!

47. "truly madly deeply" cascada. so romantic!!! love her version!

more to come, i'm sure i forgot some....

songs that almost made the cut...but just didn't:

"i love my bitch" busta rhymes. okay, guilty, i loooooove this song! it's so bad, i don't like the word bitch and i don't like the n word and those are the two most used words in the song, but i still love. edited version, oh yeah, totally sexy....he loves his woman, it's romantic!!!

"ava adore" smashing pumpkins. i love that it says "we must never be apart" and stuff like that, but the fact that it says "you will always be my whore" just kind of takes away from the romance....

"right here in my arms" him. it's really sexy but that band is just too morbid to really be considered "romantic." i love it though.

"my baby loves me" martina mcbride. i used to love this song, but then i realized that if a guy is actually telling you you're not good enough, you need to get the fuck out.

"you make me feel like a star" the beu sisters. it's sweet but the girl is kind of saying she's going to be nothing...i like to be more optimistic than that!!!!

it was a really interesting movie.

despite adrian brody's huge and highly distracting nostrils, i found the film to be very enjoyable.

beyonce was fantastic...of course. my dad thought so, too.

it was a really interesting movie. i learned a lot about the early music industry that i didn't know.

i loved seeing the portrayal of some of my favorite artists...and of course the legendary alan freed, aka moondog, the reason for cleveland's claim to fame as the home of rock and roll.

it's funny though, there were a lot of other famous artists on chess records that weren't even mentioned...they made it seem like chess records only represented like four artists, even if those were just their biggest stars.

anyway, i highly recommend this movie if you like music at all. it's a very fascinating history.

this is so sad. bettie page was so iconic to many a retro girl...from popeater:

'50s Pin-Up Queen Bettie Page Dies
PopEater / Wire Services
posted: 11 HOURS 7 MINUTES AGO

LOS ANGELES (Dec. 12) -- Pin-up icon Bettie Page died in Los Angeles on Thursday after falling ill with pneumonia following a heart attack earlier this month. She was 85.
Page was a ubiquitous sight during the 1950s, propelled to stardom when she posed for Playboy as Miss January 1955. Soon her image was gracing playing cards, record albums and bedroom posters across the country

She stopped modeling in 1957, retreated from the public spotlight and turned to religion. She enjoyed a renaissance of sorts in the 1980s, as a new generation of fans became obsessed with her legacy.

Her agent, Mark Roesler, said Page was admitted to a Los Angeles-area hospital four weeks ago. She never regained consciousness after suffering a heart attack earlier this month.
With her dark bangs, alluring blue-gray eyes and wide smile, Page cultivated an innocent girl-next-door persona. The one-time school teacher was nice, but clearly also naughty. Some of her photos featured spanking and bondage.

"Bettie Page embodied the sterotypical wholesomeness of the Fifties and the hidden sexuality straining beneath the surface," authors Karen Essex and James L. Swanson wrote in their 1996 book "Bettie Page: The Life of a Pin-Up Legend."

Page professed to be mystified by all the attention, saying she never felt particularly attractive and had to wear a lot of makeup to cover up her large pores. After she found God, she was initially ashamed of having posed nude.

"(B)ut now most of the money I've got is because I posed in the nude," she told Playboy last year. "So I'm not ashamed of it now, but I still don't understand it."

Bettie Mae Page was born on April 22, 1923, in Nashville, one of six children. She and two sisters were sent to an orphanage after her father went to jail and her mother could not cope on her own. Page later described her father as "a sex fiend" who started sexually molesting her when she was 13.

Page, armed with an arts degree with Peabody College in Nashville, did her first modeling work in the 1940s after moving to San Francisco with the first of her three husbands. After they divorced in 1947, she pursued modeling in New York. Photos from a shoot with Miami photographer Bunny Yeager ended up in the pages of Playboy.

The layout featured Page winking at the camera wearing only a Santa hat as she decorated a Christmas tree. Playboy founder Hugh Hefner described it as "a milestone in the history of the magazine," which he had founded less than two years earlier.

Later in life, Page was furious that Yeager made a fortune from the photos and never compensated her.

Some American lawmakers were not as impressed with her modeling abilities. Page was served with a subpoena to appear before U.S. Senate investigators trying to discover a link between juvenile delinquency and pornography. Page never appeared. Soon after, she completely disappeared from the scene.

After two other brief marriages failed, Page battled acute schizophrenia beginning in the early 1970s. Her comeback gathered momentum with the 1991 movie "The Rocketeer," based on a comic book where the hero's girlfriend was Page. Fan clubs and websites proliferated, and Page made a good living signing memorabilia at conventions. On the rare occasions that she gave interviews, she insisted that she not be photographed.

Page had no children. There was no immediate information about funeral plans.

and this from wikipedia: According to MTV "Katy Perry's rocker bangs and throwback skimpy jumpers. Madonna's Sex, book and fascination with bondage gear. Rihanna's obsession with all things leather, lace and second-skin binding. Uma Thurman in Pulp Fiction, The SuicideGirls Web site. The Pussycat Dolls and the entire career of Marilyn Manson's ex-wife Dita Von Teese" would not have been possible without Page.

okay, so we're now officially into the holiday season, so i can officially start writing about the holidays!!!! so every year, i look forward to the movies that come out around the holidays, and this year especially because this is like the only time this year that i'm going to be able to see movies with my family...and these are the ones i'm looking forward to:

four christmases...vince vaughn, reese witherspoon...how can you beat that?

as if you weren't already sold, from yahoo movies:
What's The Story?
Brad and Kate are a perfectly happy couple with no intention of getting married. In fact, with both sets of parents divorced and remarried, they're pretty cynical about the whole "family" thing. But to their dismay, the weather conspires against their plans to leave town on Christmas. Now, instead of being family-free over the holidays, they have to visit four different households, each visit more grueling than the last. Even if their romance manages to survive the ordeal, it will certainly never be the same.
Three Good Reasons:
1. It's Thanksgiving weekend, and you need somewhere to take your crazy cousins and in-laws for a couple of hours so you don't have to talk to them.
2. The movie boasts an all-star cast of legends and current favorites including Reese Witherspoon, Vince Vaughn, Sissy Spacek, John Voight, Tim McGraw, and more.
3. Director Seth Gordon, who won fans with the wryly funny and surprisingly moving documentary The King of Kong, brings a fresh new voice to the timeless genre of romantic comedy.
Bet You Didn't Know:
Reese Witherspoon (Walk the Line) and fellow cast member Sissy Spacek (Coal Miner's Daughter) are the only two women to win a Best Actress Oscar for the role of a female singer in a biography.
opens november 14.

quantum of solace....it's like james bond...new school.

from yahoo movies:
What's The Story?
In a first for the Bond franchise, this film is a direct sequel, picking up an hour after Casino Royale left off. Scarred by the death of Vesper Lind, Bond first squares off then pairs up with the smoldering Russian-Bolivian agent Camille as he tracks down information on the nefarious Dominic Greene. Surprisingly good looking for a Bond villain, Greene is concocting a scheme to overthrow the leader of Bolivia and take control of... does it really matter, so long as Bond wipes the floor with him?
Three Good Reasons:
1. Because you were just as heartbroken as Bond by the ending of Casino Royale, and you want to see someone pay.
2. Director Marc Forster, known for wrenchingly personal stories like Monster's Ball and Finding Neverland, brings stirring humanity to this breath-stopping thriller.
3. Daniel Craig got eight stitches and sliced off a fingertip making this movie. You really owe it to him.
Bet You Didn't Know:
The title -- meaning "a small amount of comfort" -- comes from a short story by Bond creator Ian Fleming, but the plot is unrelated. The story has Bond at a dinner party and doesn't have any action in it at all. To integrate the title into the movie, they named Greene's terrorist organization "QUANTUM," but the filmmakers freely admit they don't know what it's an acronym for.
opens november 14.

how about you..this movie looks fun.

from moviefone:
This Irish comedy focuses on a woman named Ellie, who despite her family reputation as the wild free spirit, is left in charge of her sister Kate's retirement home when Kate's called home to care for their ailing mother. Normally, Ellie already has an aversion to responsibility, and she's definitely not prepared for the downright rude "hardcore" residents at Woodlands rest home. Strangely enough, however, Ellie and the people in her care begin to learn from each other, and her unexpected journey doesn't seem like such a terrible burden after all.
opens november 14.

TWILIGHT!!!!! need i say more?

from yahoo movies:
What's the Story?
Based on the best-selling young adult novel by Stephenie Meyer, Twilight breathes new life into the classic vampire tale. Not that vampires breathe. Isabella "Bella" Swan is new to the small town of Forks, Washington, and finds herself drawn to the enigmatic Edward Cullen. Apparently, she's into older guys. Like, a hundred years older. Though the discovery that he's a vampire doesn't dim Bella's passion, the young couple soon has worse problems. Not all vamps are as nice as Edward -- and one is out for Bella's blood.
Three Good Reasons:
1. Any tale that can convince a jaded teen to pry her nose away from the TV screen and bury it in a book instead must be gripping indeed!
2. Director and co-writer Catherine Hardwicke generated Oscar buzz with Thirteen, a hard-hitting indie portrait of teenage life which she also directed and co-wrote.
3. If you thought Cedric Diggory (Robert Pattinson) looked cute waving a wand in Goblet of Fire, wait 'til you see him stop a car with his bare hands.
Bet You Didn't Know:
The real teens of Forks, Washington are pretty extraordinary, too. In 1990, a class of Forks high school students actually built the Timber Museum, the town's main pre-"Twilight" tourist attraction.
opens november 21.

bolt...looks like a fun, family, disney thanksgiving movie!

from yahoo movies:
What's The Story?
A dog's life is actually not half bad, or at least it isn't for Bolt, star of a hit TV show. He's spent all his days on a TV set, portraying a canine superhero alongside his costar and owner, Penny. Bolt is convinced that his superpowers are real, but when he accidentally gets shipped to New York, he's in for a rude awakening. Only with the help of his new sidekicks -- Mittens the cat and Rhino the hamster -- will Bolt be able to discover the true power within himself and find his way back home.
Three Good Reasons:
1. The legendary John Travolta's smug-yet-earnest voice is perfect for the clueless canine conqueror, and "tween queen" Miley Cyrus voices his best friend Penny.
2. The holidays are all about bringing family together, and this clever, colorful movie has something to capture the interest of kids, teenagers, and adults alike.
3. Mark Walton, a longtime Disney animator, voiced Rhino the hamster on the temporary tracks but never expected to land the part. Check out the movie to find out why he won the role of the fearless furball.
Bet You Didn't Know:
Bolt is an American White Shepherd. The little-known breed came to be when the AKC ruled white German Shepherds out of the show ring, but has since developed its own personality and following.
opens november 21.

cadillac records...i'll see anything with beyonce...especially if it takes place in the 1950s.

from yahoo movies:
What's the Story?
StoryIt all started with a few records sold out of the back of Leonard Chess's Cadillac. During two turbulent decades of history, the music machine Chess Records oversaw the rise of such legendary artists as Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry, Etta James, and Bo Diddley. In this true-life musical drama, writer-director Darnell Martin chronicles not only the life of Leonard Chess, but also the racial issues of the day and the stories of the many colorful personalities who contributed to the company's success.
Three Good Reasons:
1. Chess Records was known as "America's greatest blues label." Check out the soundtrack of this movie to find out why.
2. Oscar winner Adrien Brody is joined by a veritable "Who's Who" of modern African-American acting and musical talent including Jeffrey Wright, Beyonce Knowles, Cedric the Entertainer, Gabrielle Union and Mos Def.
3. Costume designer Johnetta Boone's 1950s fashions are a nostalgic delight, and make the men and women of the cast look equally fabulous.
Bet You Didn't Know:
Writer-director Darnell Martin was the first African-American woman to direct a film from a major studio (1994's I Like It Like That for Columbia Pictures).
opens december 5.

frost/nixon...sounds really interesting.

from yahoo movies:
What's the Story?
In 1974, Richard Nixon made history by resigning the office of the Presidency, evading trial and conviction for crimes committed while in office. Three years later, charismatic British talk show host David Frost convinced Nixon to do a televised interview. This film dramatizes the conflict between two famous egos: a disgraced President hoping to stage a comeback by outfoxing a journalistic lightweight, and an ambitious celebrity hoping to make his mark by giving Nixon the trial he never had.
Three Good Reasons:
1. With films like Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind, and Cinderella Man under his belt, Academy Award winner Ron Howard is just the director to bring this acclaimed stage play to the big screen.
2. In today's increasingly heated political climate, it pays to remember that even a President is just a man, and all men make mistakes.
3. Frank Langella won a Tony for his overwhelming performance as Nixon in the stage play, and is already being talked about as a strong contender for a Best Actor Oscar.
Bet You Didn't Know:
If Langella earns an Oscar nod for playing Nixon, he won't be the first -- Anthony Hopkins was nominated in 1996. Incidentally, Hopkins grew up in the same town as Michael Sheen, who plays David Frost in this film.
opens december 5.

nothing like the holidays...christmas movie, duh.

from yahoo movies:
What's the Story?
Jesse Rodriguez, the youngest of the Rodriguez family, has returned safely from combat overseas to join his parents, brother, and sister in Chicago for Christmas. Expecting a chance to reforge old bonds, Jesse and his siblings are unprepared for the bombshell their mother drops: she's leaving their father. This revelation sends the family into chaos, but when a real crisis emerges, they manage to put aside their differences, find humor amid all the drama, and prove they're still family after all.
Three Good Reasons:
1. 'Tis the season to treat your family to a real holiday movie -- one that will make you laugh and bring tears to your eyes.
2. With talented actors like Alfred Molina, John Leguizamo, and Freddy Rodriguez heading up the cast list, you can expect top-notch performances.
3. Watching the Rodriguez family bicker and wrestle with chainsaws may make you appreciate your own family all the more.
Bet You Didn't Know:
It's not surprising that one of the lead actors shares a last name with his character. "Rodriguez", meaning roughly "Son of the famous power," is the 9th most common last name in North America.
opens december 12.

the reader...loooove the era, and ralph fiennes is hot.

from yahoo movies:
What's The Story?
In postwar Germany, a man named Michael has been haunted for years by the memory of a beautiful woman named Hanna, with whom he had a love affair as a teenager. Much older than Micheal, Hanna mysteriously moved away without saying goodbye, leaving Michael guilt-stricken and confused. Now, years later, Michael finds Hanna again at a war crimes trial, and learns some important missing pieces to her story that help him to better understand both her and himself.
Three Good Reasons:
1. Stars Kate Winslet (Hanna) and Ralph Fiennes (Michael) have both been nominated for Academy Awards before, but neither has ever won. You can bet they're both giving it their all.
2. The book on which the film was based clearly has international appeal -- it was the first German novel ever to top the New York Times Bestseller list.
3. Director Stephen Daldry and screenwriter David Hare last worked together on The Hours, which was nominated for nine Academy Awards.
Bet You Didn't Know:
Bernhard Schlink, the German-born author of the novel, knows what it is to question the actions of his role models. He was taught English by a former member of the Nazi party.
opens december 12.

what doesn't kill you...from what i hear it sounds good and has a good cast, but i can't get much info about it except for this short synopsis from wikipedia:
Hawke and Ruffalo will play childhood friends Paulie and Brian, respectively, who are forced to survive on the tough streets of South Boston through a life of petty thievery. They join a local gang of criminals, but Brian finds it hard to reconcile his work and friendship with Paulie and his relationship with his wife (Amanda Peet) and son.
opens december 12.

seven pounds...always have to see the will smith drama.

from yahoo movies:
What's The Story?
Clinically depressed IRS agent Ben believes that in one crucial moment in his past, he made the wrong decision and destroyed his chances at future happiness. Now, in a desperate attempt to atone for his guilt, he assumes his younger brother's identity and sets out to change the lives of seven people he has never met. In the process, he befriends a blind pianist and falls in love with a remarkable, courageous young woman who will make him reevaluate not only his plan, but his entire life.
Three Good Reasons:
1. If you loved The Pursuit of Happyness, you'll be thrilled to see director Gabriele Muccino working once again with the remarkable Will Smith.
2. The holidays can leave you feeling a bit glum, and this life-affirming film may just lift your spirits and inspire you to count your blessings.
3. The movie's advertisements raise an intriguing question -- how can a man ruin his life in seven seconds? Head to the theater to discover Ben's haunting secret.
Bet You Didn't Know:
Some things that weigh seven pounds: a birdbath, a Sockeye salmon, a Yorkshire terrier, a physics textbook, a 12-gauge shotgun, a Goliath frog, a four-man tent, and the tooth of a sperm whale. None of these things appear in the movie, as far as we know.
opens december 19.

yes man...oh this looks like fun.

from yahoo movies:
What's The Story?
Carl Allen's life can be summed up in one tiny syllable: "NO." Cynical, fearful, and stubborn, Carl ducks anything that resembles opportunity, and convinces himself he's content with his comfortable rut. Then along comes a self-help guru who convinces him to turn his every "no" into a "yes." What a difference one word can make! Suddenly Carl finds himself meeting new people, trying new things, even falling in love. But like the Red Bull he's been guzzling, Carl's "yes high" seems headed for a spectacular crash.
Three Good Reasons:
1. Believe it or not, this comic carpe diem is based on a true story, the British biography of the same name, by humorist Danny Wallace.
2. Nobody juggles "off-the-wall" and "inspiring" quite like Jim Carrey. If you loved Liar Liar, you won't want to miss Carrey's latest role as a joyfully reformed cynic.
3. Director Peyton Reed is no stranger to quirky comedies, having already brought us Down With Love, The Break-Up, and Bring It On.
Bet You Didn't Know:
Real-life "yes man" Danny Wallace could probably teach us all a thing or two about living a full life. At age 22 he became the youngest producer ever to work at the BBC.
opens december 19.

nothing but the truth...sounds really interesting!
from yahoo movies:
What's The Story?
Inspired by real events, this drama centers around Rachel Armstrong, a newspaper reporter who writes an article which reveals the identity of a female CIA agent. Rachel, also a wife and mother, now faces the prospect of serving time in prison when she refuses to reveal her source. Only time will tell whether Rachel has made the right choice. Nothing But the Truth is a powerful tale of political principles, and of the sacrifices that must be made to uphold them.
Three Good Reasons
1. Kate Beckinsale continues to show she's more than just a vinyl-wearing vampire with the challenging role of the reporter, based on real-life journalist Judith Miller.
2. If you liked The Contender, you'll love director Rod Lurie's latest effort, which also spins real-life events into a dramatic fictional tale of a powerful woman's moral dilemma.
3. Shot in Memphis, the film looks quite different from the usual Hollywood fare. Tennesseans in particular will want to support the film, which employed dozens of locals.
Bet You Didn't Know:
Vera Farmiga, who plays the exposed CIA agent in the film, has a pair of pet Angora goats, whose wool she enjoys knitting in her spare time.
opens december 19.

the brothers bloom...looks like fun.

What's the Story?
The classic caper film gets a new lease on life in this sprightly and colorful tale of two charming con men. Bloom is ready to say farewell to the lifestyle, but his older brother Stephen manages to talk him into "one last score." They plan to take gorgeous young heiress Penelope on a trip around the world, then leave her fleeing from imaginary villains while they scoop up her millions. Only one problem: Penelope seems every bit as smart and adventurous as the two brothers, and one of them is falling for her...
Three Good Reasons:
1. If all the season's dark and sober films are giving you the holiday blues, this colorful caper may be just what the doctor ordered.
2. Lighthearted as it is, this movie has quite the heavy-hitting cast. Both Adrien Brody and Rachel Weisz have won Oscars, and even the brothers' pyromaniac sidekick "Bang-Bang" is played by Oscar nominee Rinko Kikuchi.
3. It's the second film from writer/director Rian Johnson, who won a Special Jury Prize for Originality of Vision at Sundance for his teenage private eye thriller, Brick.
Bet You Didn't Know:
The opening narration is read by actor and magician Ricky Jay, who has written several books on the subject of con men and other hucksters. Jay was also listed in the Guiness Book of World Records for throwing a playing card 190 feet at 90 miles per hour.
opens december 19.

bedtime stories...this actually looks like a good adam sandler movie. it seems like it'd be fun for the family.

from yahoo movies:
What's the Story?
Skeeter Bronson's life as a hotel handyman is pretty humdrum until his sister gets laid off, forcing her to do some out-of-town job interviews. While she's gone, Skeeter gets to watch her son and daughter, who insist on hearing bedtime stories and embellishing them as they go along. Much to Skeeter's shock, the stories seem to have some mysterious power, causing parts of them to come true the following day. Unfortunately for Skeeter, the magical parts are the ones those crazy kids dream up.
Three Good Reasons:
1. Adam Sandler has always mixed his bad-boy humor with a childish charm. It'll be fun watching him around kids his own maturity level.
2. It has a terrific supporting cast, including Kerri Russell, Guy Pearce, Russell Brand, and Jonathan Pryce.
3. Hopefully, it will inspire parents and kids to make up their own imaginative bedtime stories.
Bet You Didn't Know:
Courteney Cox, who plays Adam Sandler's sister (and previously played his girlfriend in The Longest Yard), has two older sisters, an older brother, and nine half-brothers and half-sisters.
opens december 25.

the curious case of benjamin button.
from yahoo movies:
What's The Story?
Benjamin Button, born in New Orleans in 1918, is no ordinary infant. A doctor declares his body to be aged like that of a man in his eighties, and no one expects him to live too long. Despite predictions, Benjamin survives, seeming in fact to grow younger and stronger. During his childhood he befriends young Daisy, who is unafraid of the "old man." He lives on to attend school, fight in a war, and baffle everyone he meets. As his body grows gradually younger, his heart learns the timeless nature of love.
Three Good Reasons:
1. It's the second on-screen pairing of Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett, who were so good together in 2006's heart-wrenching Babel.
2. Stylish and provocative director David Fincher reteams with Pitt for the third time after Seven and Fight Club.
3. It's a lush, engaging and emotional story that has already been pegged by observers as a sure Best Picture nominee.
Bet You Didn't Know:
The film is based on a story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, who said he was inspired by a quote from Mark Twain. He was quoted as saying, "Life would be infinitely happier if we could only be born at the age of eighty and gradually approach eighteen."
opens december 25.

marley and me...i love dogs.

from yahoo movies:
What's the Story?
This comic romp tells the true story of John Grogan, a journalist who decides to get a dog for his wife as a warm-up to having children. The puppy, named Marley after the reggae legend, turns out to be the single most badly behaved animal in the history of pet ownership. Over the years, the neurotic, hyperactive, and untrainable Marley wreaks more destruction than the next dozen dogs combined. But despite the headaches he causes, Marley teaches his family a new trick called unconditional love.
Three Good Reasons:
1. How is it that the funny and easy-on-the-eyes Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston haven't been in a movie together before?
2. It's from the director of The Devil Wears Prada with a screenplay from Independent Spirit Award winners Scott Frank and Don Roos.
3. Have you seen Marley? He may be "the worst dog in the world," but he might also be the cutest.
Bet You Didn't Know:
Who knew the comic cutie had an artistic side? During the shooting of the film, Owen Wilson wrote poems and shared them with Alan Arkin, who shared poetry of his own in return. Their literary bonding continued via email once the movie wrapped.
opens december 25.

valkyrie...okay, tom cruise and kenneth branagh...not my favorite. but still i'm fascinated by the era.

from yahoo movies:
What's the Story?
This chilling tale of duty and conscience is based on the true story of a failed attempt by the German Army to assassinate Adolf Hitler in 1944. Approved by Hitler himself, Operation Valkyrie begins as a plan to maintain order in the event of the Fuhrer's death. But when Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg joins the German Resistance, a plot is hatched to kill Hitler and use Operation Valkyrie to overthrow the government and make peace with the Allies. The devil, as always, is in the details.
Three Good Reasons:
1. Tom Cruise is joined by a killer cast of actors -- Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, Terrence Stamp and Eddie Izzard -- and none of them put on fake German accents.
2. It's the first reteaming of director Bryan Singer and screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie since the Oscar-winning The Usual Suspects.
3. The story starts as a war drama, but turns into a suspenseful thriller. Even if you know the history, you'll still be gripping the armrest until the very end.
Bet You Didn't Know:
The real von Stauffenberg lost his left eye, his right hand, and two fingers on his left after a battle in the Tunisian desert. To prepare for the role, Cruise practiced dressing himself with just three fingers and writing left-handed.
opens december 26.

revolutionary road...bringing kate and leo back together!

from yahoo movies:
What's The Story?
Frank and April Wheeler, on the surface, appear to be a happy 1950s suburban couple. Frank has a steady, lucrative job, and April has given him two beautiful children, leaving their neighbors impressed and envious. Under the surface though, both Frank and April yearn for adventures and heightened experiences that their life of middle-class mediocrity denies them. As they each attempt to break out of their own perceived prisons, their marriage begins to dissolve and their lives spin wildly out of control.
Three Good Reasons:
1. The last time Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio smooched onscreen, they set worldwide box office records.
2. It's directed by Oscar-winner Sam Mendes (American Beauty), who hopefully has a happier marriage with Kate in real life than Leo does on screen.
3. The Richard Yates book the movie is based on was called one of the 100 best novels of the century by Time Magazine.
Bet You Didn't Know:
Kate Winslet is the youngest actress to have been nominated for five Academy Awards, but she still has not won. Leonardo DiCaprio has earned three nods, also without having won. However, Peter O'Toole trumps them both with eight acting nominations without a win.
opens december 26.

defiance...world war ii...daniel craig...liev schreiber...that's all i need.

opens december 31.

i love holiday episodes of tv shows, just in general...even of shows that i don't particularly like...i always watch the holiday episodes. here are some of my favorite halloween episodes from various tv shows:

"night of the day of the dead" lizzie mcguire. i love how they took a twist on a typical halloween episode by incorporating the day of the dead tradition. very cultural. and of course, i love lizzie mcguire. available for purchase on itunes.


"the mummy in the maze" bones. i love bones, and this is quite possibly one of the best episodes. it's uber-creepy. and totally halloweenolicious. ha, and you gotta love the costumes! and um, SHAWN HUNTER IS IN IT! available for purchase on itunes.


"who's afriad of cory wolf?" boy meets world. old school episode! where cory turns into a werewolf, lol!!!! it's so funny! this is like season 2, when eric was still the good-looking older brother full of worldly wisdom. available to watch on youtube, here's part one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfFOhduwq-Y


"and then there was shawn" boy meets world. this isn't actually a halloween episode, but it definitely counts. it's the one with "jennifer love fefferman" that's basically a parody of all teen scream horror flicks. but then it has a totally meaningful ending. available to watch on youtube, part one here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LXZxcEdRCA


"witches of pennbrook" boy meets world. how much did i love boy meets world when i was little???? it was all about TGIF!!!!! this is a fun episode! melissa joan hart is in it!!! yay! and candace cameron!!!!! and she looks totally bizarre but still kind of hot as a witchy girl, ha. available to watch on youtube, fist part here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6iYh__2h6U


"a halloween story" sabrina the teenage witch. the first sabrina halloween! i love how much their family loves halloween! and i love libby's jackie o and harvey's james dean!!!! watch here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjUMlPBUmbU


"a river of candy corn runs through it" sabrina the teenage witch. another great sabrina halloween! so funny! this is her party one, where 10,000 maniacs randomly shows up! watch here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q42ShZ4cQrQ


"good will haunting" sabrina the teenage witch. another good one from my favorite teenage witch!!!! love salem at the beginning!!!! watch here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgcCRNywGq4


"the phantom menace" sabrina the teenage witch. the last of the good sabrina halloweens. another with a great salem opening...i love salem. watch here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RwbhDsoQmA


"witchcraft" brotherly love. looooove this show! i miss it so much! and this is a super fun halloween episode!


"halloween" my so-called life. great episode! a retro fabulous mystery! a tragic death and a vintage ghost- so megalicious. i know that sounds weird but when i was little i always wanted to meet ghosts from the 50s/60s so when i saw this episode i was so OMIGOSH! and this is the episode that mentions kurt! watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lH1T2QqfrkM


"trick or treat, who cares?" ellen. i totally loved this show.m jeremy priven at his best. this is such a fun episode. AND THEY HAVE GLUTEN FREE DONUTS! love it. watch here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cnp_gL3nVfI


"scream murray, scream!" clueless. this has always been one of my favorite halloween episodes! it's like a faux murder mystery! and it's so fabulous! couldn't find it online, but i'm sure you can catch it on the n!!!!!


"slutty pumpkin" how i met your mother. haha, so fabulous. another one of ted's amazing escapades...and barney's first encounter with victoria's secret!!! nph is GREAT in this and so are marshall and lily in their couples costume!!!! available on itunes.


"trick or treehouse" 8 simple rules. a great halloween episode. and so funny and family friendly because this was still when john ritter was on the show :(. watch here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITLxhzwb8rs


"the middle earth paradigm" the big bang theory. SO FUNNY! being the doppler effect is definitely the funniest costume everrrrrrr!!!! available on itunes.


"the class goes trick-or-treating" the class. i miss this show! this was such a great halloween episode! how much do i LOVE the little girl's breakfast at tiffany's costume?!?!?!?!?! watch here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCZeWKP8mn0


"nightmare on carrie's street" two of a kind. i definitely watched this show a lot longer than most people...like way after it was cancelled, and way after i was too old to watch it, ha. i love this episode. watch here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UOjqdmv1H8


"two guys, a girl, and a psycho halloween" two guys and a girl. this is a really weird episode where ryan reynolds has a doppleganger that kills everybody and then it turns out it's really mimi from drew carey, ha. watch here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jv1cXqRfXV4


"halloween 2: mind over body" two guys and a girl. watch here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mub2TuyYIxU


"the satanic curses" two guys and a girl. watch here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdBLur8IRT0


"boo" so weird. watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghgfiaNrWu4


"the witches are out" bewitched. available on itunes.


"trick or treat" bewitched. available on itunes.


"boo! he's back" jesse. no one else remembers this show, but i adored this show...anyone remember it? you know, with christina applegate???? it was great! and this is the episode where the ex comes back! i remember it, big drama! can't find it anywhere...uh, sorry...


"haunted" dead like me. an extra scary special of dead like me!!!! fun episode! the dead can be seen on halloween! available on itunes.


"the gift of life" wings. watch here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGZrW5qWGRE


"halloween" newsradio. one of the best sitcoms ever! funniest episode! with the halloween party. andy dick and phil hartman (rip :() are awesome! available on itunes.


"first...do no harm" commander in chief. a little bit of a different take on halloween. stopping terrorists, finding her sixteen year old daughter in bed with a boy, dealing with the fact that her husband is definitely jealous of her even though he says he isn't...all in a day's work for president geena davis. this show was so underrated. available on itunes.


"halloween" buffy the vampire slayer. one of the best episodes. love this show. this is the episode when everyone becomes their halloween costumes. amazing. available on itunes.


shows where every episode is halloween:

bewitched. of course, they have halloween episodes, but overall, everyday is halloween when dealing with samantha and the crew.


dead like me. love the halloween episode, but love the show in general. it's always halloween when you're living amongst the dead.


big wolf on campus. does anyone else remember this show? because this show was baller! for all of us creepy little kids that loved paranormal stuff, with a twist of comedy, this show was the shit!


pushing daisies.


so weird.


growing up creepie.


true blood.


blood ties.


supernatural.


moonlight.


charmed.


mona the vampire.


buffy the vampire slayer. 90s tv at it's best. gotta love buffy. and willow. and angel...


lucy, the daughter of the devil.


sabrina the teenage witch.


gilmore girls. because for some reason this is just a very fall show.


wizards of waverly place.

my favorite month. there are just some things that are so...october, you know?

so i think i'm going to do a series of things that remind me of october...starting with, my favorite "october" movies. some of these movies have nothing to do with the actual month of october, they just feel like october to me.

october sky.

of course, this is because it has october in the title, and also because it just feels like october to me, probably because it's called october sky...hard to tell if it's just because of the title or not, but it's a great story, and you know i love history and the 1950s...and it's so sad! and homer is hot, jake gyllenhaal all the way!

national treasure.

i always felt like this movie took place in the fall, especially the scene where they're shopping at urban outfitters...they pick out very fall clothes. and this is just one of my favorite movies of all time.

twitches.

I LOVE THIS MOVIE! it's so much fun! and it's october all around! i mean, it obviously takes place in october so the awesome halloween funness and scenery is just spectacular! and i've always loved tia and tamera! i remember when this movie came out in october 05, one of my favorite octobers ever!

twitches too.

of course. it's just as much...if not more...fun than the first! and just as cute too!

hocus pocus.

when i was little, i was so afraid of this movie! but then, when i was like 7, i was like omg hocus pocus rocks! and it really does! it is probably one of the most fun halloween movies of all time! i love the whole salem with trials/historical aspect of it, and max is totally hot in that 90s way, and thackary is kind of hot in that 1600s way....

sleepy hollow.

this movie is so typically tim burton. so creepy, yet so good. i love the imagery...the entire town of sleepy hollow is just so like creepy and stark but i totally love it. this movie IS october. and i love christina ricci, as we all know....and yes, johnny depp is in it as well :).

the hollow.

i'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that most people have never seen this movie...let alone heard of it. it's with nick carter (yeah, i know...), kaley cuoco (one of my fave girls), and kevin zegers (so hot!). it's another take on sleepy hollow in like a fun teen thriller really not scary but kind of trying to be sort of way. it's about kids that live in the town of sleepy hollow, which is like still obsessed with the legend and then kevin zegers finds out that he's a descendent of icabod crane. it's super fun.

breakfast at tiffany's.

ah, what a lovely, glamorous movie. that does, indeed, take place in the fall, in october i think, because when they're stealing things at the store there are halloween masks! ah, this is just such a good movie! it makes me feel happy and nice! and i love the soundtrack, moon river forever!!!!!

children of the corn.

i don't know why, but this movie is like my all time guilty pleasure. i just love it. it's so lame, but it's hilarious, the kids are just so crazy! isaac and malachai, hahahahahaha. and i just love the part where the girl is in the room listening to "runaway" by del shannon....i love that song!!!!!! and it just holds a special place in my heard because mr. hastings used to call our class his little children of the corn in 11th grade english :).

casper.

retro christina ricci! i love her as kat! this is suuuuuch a fun movie!!!!! so cute! and i always though that vic and real life casper were kind of cute! and that's not weird because this movie came out when i was five!!!!!!!

casper meets wendy.

retro hilary duff! katie and i loved this movie when i was like 8! i remember my grandma getting it for us at rite aid after my after school french class one day...the best! this movie is pretty crappy, but it's like even more fun than the first!

harry potter and the sorcerer's stone.

i know this movie spans over an entire school year, but this is an october movie all the way. does anyone else LOVE the scene in the dining hall during halloween when the jack-o-lanterns are like floating in the air??? and the food always looks so good, especially in that scene! that alone made me want to go to hogwarts!!!!

the covenant.

yeah, okay, so maybe this is a crappy movie, but come on, how bad is it really? great fall setting in new england...creepy story of witchcraft...lots of places that make you jump...good music (white zombie <3<3<3)...and um, HOT GUYS! chace crawford, taylor kitsch, steven strait, tobey hemingway...yuuuum!

urban legend.

kind of creepy, but totally fun in that scary, teen thriller kind of way. and um, joshua jackson and jared leto are totally hot. and idk, there's just something about a college campus that says fall.

teen witch.

classic disney at it's best. with blake lively's older sis! i love how this was originally a sequel to teen wolf...ha. i love this movie though! i heard they might remake it, with ashley tisdale!

marie antoinette.

maybe it's the macabre aspect of the young french queen...or the fall woods where she's transformed from a young austrian girl into marie antoinette...or maybe it's that there's a sex scene set to bauhaus...idk, i just really like this movie...visually. like i could watch it on mute or just have it play in the background of a party or something...but it has good music, too. i just love the costumes, the scenery, the decadance...

halloweentown.

the original. not the second. hated it. halloweentown high was okay, not as bad as kalabar's revenge, but still not the original. i refused to see return to halloweentown because they replaced the original marnie with sara paxton, but now that it's october! i might reconsider just because i'm in the mood to watch any and all halloween movies. but anyway i love this movie. that's like my dream...to live in a town where it's always halloween. and after i saw this, i was just like waiting to find out i'm really a witch!

corpse bride.

sometimes i feel like no one else liked this movie. true, i didn't like it as much as the nightmare before christmas, but it's still fun and i loooove the music!

the little vampire.

such a lame, yet such a good halloween movie. so fifth grade for me! that was one of my favorite octobers, the first one in our new neighborhood, classic autumn!!!! anyway, i love like the scottish setting and the old costumes and stuff....and jonathan lipnicki was so cute!

the nightmare before christmas.

of course. a classic. one of my favorite halloween and christmas movies. i love the story, and the songs, and it's just so good!

monster house.

i love watching this movie while babysitting. it's so cute. and it has some grown up elements in it too. some of it's really dumb, but overall i was pleasantly surprised by this movie.

the scream team.

no, not the cavs hip hop squad...the terribly underrated disney channel original movie, with kat dennings!!!! omg, i love this movie, i wish that they would show this more often!

mom's got a date with a vampire.

i probably just like caroline rhea because i'm fat, but whatever, imo, this is another great dcom halloween flick! i love the random rockabilly club that they go to, and you know i love vampires. i remember watching this on a friday night in fifth grade before a swim meet the next day. that was the first night i ever had chipotle. weird, i know, but i remember it.

phantom of the megaplex.

dcoms rule when it comes to halloween. you know i love the movies so this has always been fun for me...plus mickey rooney is great!!!! and when i was younger i thought the kid was cute!

under wraps.

this dcom is never on, but i remember seeing it at my old house when it first came out...i remember going on a walk in daisy hill that day and kim from down the street was babysitting us...it's a fun movie.

tower of terror.

i love this movie, because it's got the whole retro-glamour-historical side, with the swing music and all, and i also love kirsten dunst..and morgan from boy meets world!

interview with the vampire.

so good. the historical costumes and sets are fabulous, and kirsten dunst is great as mini-vampire claudia...oh, and brad pitt is the sexiest vampire ever.

the haunted mansion.

love the movie as much as i love the ride (when it's not broken, which it seems to be quite often these days....). but this movie is just so cute and fun! i remember seeing it with my cousin when i was in 8th grade and actually being kind of like woah! at some parts, and i enjoyed it so much that i saw it again with my dad, and i saw my math teacher there, like with his five year old son, and i remember thinking wow i'm too old for this movie but i totally love it...yeah....

just like heaven.

for some reason this is absolutely a fall movie. maybe it's like fall when she's in the garden at the beginning, idk, but it just seems fallish to me...and because it's all supernatural and stuff! and it's riley's favorite movie!!!! i miss you little buddy!!!

beetlejuice.

sometimes i'm like wow i hate this movie it's so lame, but other times i'm like omg i love it...and sometimes i'm like okay, i love it for this one reason: my whole life is a dark room. one. big. dark. room.

the addams family.

gotta love a creepy family...especially one with a mom named morticia...i love that name :).

the craft.

this movie is soooooo crazy. but i kind of love it....in a weird way. like it's a pretty terrible movie, but it's just so wonderfully creepy!

halloween: h20.

for some reason i really like THIS halloween the best...maybe it's because it's like modern and i can actually remember when it came out...and josh hartnett's in it and he's not like completely terrible!!!! i mean it totally beats the halloween before it (the curse of michael meyers) because they totally messed everything up from 4 and 5 because they didn't recast danielle harris. i actually like 4 and 5, too, because i like jamie, and a guy from my church wrote one of them, i think it was 5. of course the original is good, but 2 and 3, especially, suck...and then there's resurrection...with tyra banks. ha. best part of that movie: busta rhymes- "trick or treat...motherfucker." HAHAHAHAHAHA! yeah but h20 is the best...and don't even get me started about rob zombie's remake, as far as i'm concerned that is NOT part of the series.

scream 2.

definitely the BEST of the series!!!! i love how they're at colege...as i've said before, college campuses are just soooo fall!!!! and this one has the best cast for sure, with sarah michelle gellar (total scream queen), jerry o'connell, rebecca gayheart (she's so underrated), joshua jackson, omar epps, neve campbell (who just gets better with age), jada pinkett smith, tori spelling, luke wilson, heather graham, portia de rossi, and of course jamie kennedy (who, btw, is teaching a film class at kent). i also love how matthew lillard makes a cameo at a party...when his character totally died in the first movie!!!! love it...so much better than the third which is totally overly corny. scream 3 definitely could've been good because it's when everything kind of comes together and the whole mystery is revealed but courteney cox's hair looks crazy and parker posey just makes the whole thing lame...but i do love patrick dempsey, jenny mccarthy, jay and silent bob, and kelly rutherford. but yeah, love the sorority house scene with smg...it's such a nice house! it makes me wish that we had sorority houses here, but we don't because of dc brothel laws...true story.

a cinderella story.

one of my favorite movies ever...sooo cute! i love hilary duff! and chad michael murray is SO HOT! and yeah, loooove the halloween homecoming dance! her dress is sooooo GORGEOUS! and regina king and jennifer coolidge are great in this movie too!

from the new york observer:

The Reinvention of Kirsten Dunst

by Irina Aleksander | August 12, 2008 | Tags: Style, Kirsten Dunst



A few weeks ago, at a party for the second Chelsea location of 303 Gallery, a crowd of downtown creative types milled around, outfitted in ’80s Ray Bans and indie rock T-shirts. Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore was the guest DJ, and the Virgins, a New York band of perfectly disheveled young men whose songs have been featured on Gossip Girl, performed onstage next to a pile of rubble. (The gallery was still under construction.) Around 7:30, 26-year-old actress Kirsten Dunst quietly arrived with her on-again, off-again boyfriend, Matt Creed. Ms. Dunst, dressed in a cream-colored, polka-dotted ’50s dress that hit just below the knee, roamed around, dodging the cameras. The pair departed early for the after-party at the Beatrice Inn, where Mr. Creed is the resident DJ and Ms. Dunst has become a regular.

In this crowd, the sighting of Ms. Dunst was hardly unusual. Since March, when she moved to New York (and into a $3 million Tribeca penthouse she bought last year) to star in Andrew Jarecki’s All Good Things with Ryan Gosling—after a stint in rehab at the Cirque Lodge in Utah, which she told the press she entered for “depression”—Ms. Dunst seems to be everywhere. In the past few months, she’s been spotted walking in Soho in black shorts and a flannel shirt, hair tousled, Barack Obama Rolling Stone cover visible; in a white T-shirt dress, walking with Dave Ransone, the tattooed bartender of the Rusty Knot and East Village bar Black and White; sitting on a stoop on Broome Street while chatting on her cell phone in cut-off shorts and rugged vintage boots; watching the British indie pop group the Ting Tings at McCarren Park Pool in Williamsburg in a loose green dress and a white headband (à la Arden Wohl); strolling with Mr. Creed in a straw fedora and floral vintage dress; lunching at Café Cluny in the West Village; and dining at Freeman’s on the Lower East Side, saying to a group of people at her table, “I’m so glad I met you guys!”

One member of the downtown music scene was introduced to her as she walked up Fourth Avenue with the Strokes’ manager, Ryan Gentles. A 28-year-old music writer once encountered her walking down Hudson Street in a men’s V-neck T-shirt tucked into high-waisted ’70s jeans. “She was super pale and had that look of someone you know, but not in a famous way,” the music writer said. “It was like, ‘Does that girl date a friend of mine and have I met her at their birthday?’”

Ms. Dunst’s open courtship of the downtown scene has resulted in typically jaded New Yorkers’ own fascination with her. There she is! Among us! Just sort of there, hanging out!

“She hasn’t been around here in like a year, and then she was nowhere, and then she just shows up in New York being seen every single night,” said a 28-year-old male model who lives in Los Angeles and is part of the bicoastal Beatrice-Chateau Marmont crowd. “She’s going to like every concert and every event, and people there are, like, obsessed with her!”

Much like the new kid at school, Ms. Dunst has picked her lunch table of downtown cool carefully. The new Kirsten (as she’s known around town) rolls out of bed, throws on one of her several pairs of Ray Bans and wanders around lower Manhattan, puffing on American Spirit Blues. She doesn’t care so much about Hollywood as she does about her image outside of it; being just another downtown brooding artist seems somehow truer than being a done-up L.A. celebrity. (Ms. Dunst’s publicist, Steven Huvane, declined to make her available for an interview.)

Ms. Dunst is never photographed hopping in and out of chauffeured SUVs in five-inch heels. Instead, she roams around in Warishofer sling-back sandals—the grandma shoe that’s become part of the downtown vintage aesthetic—portraying a kind of new, seemingly accessible celebrity that Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams personified by moving to Brooklyn and walking the streets without the bodyguards or disguises employed by their Los Angeles counterparts. “The Beatrice was Heath’s haunt,” the male model said. “You could always find him there, having a drink on his own at the bar, his bike locked up outside. I think it taught all these other stars how to be that kind of cool and how much people there appreciate it.”

“She clearly seems to be into that scene right now, but we should applaud her!” said the music writer. “It speaks well of her that she’d rather hang out in Lower East Side dive bars than lunch at the Ivy.”

It’s a kind of celebrity that others with Ms. Dunst’s level of stardom, like Mary-Kate Olsen, have attempted, but failed, to cultivate; Ms. Olsen may look the part, but she’s rarely without her black Escalade and beefy bodyguards. And just a few years ago, Ms. Dunst seemed to be heading down a path well-trod by many lithe blond actresses before her. A star since the age of 11, when she kissed Brad Pitt in Interview With a Vampire, Ms. Dunst has also played a tortured young girl in Virgin Suicides; the captain of the cheerleading squad in Bring It On; and the title role in Marie Antoinette.

In 2002, she started dating the actor Jake Gyllenhaal. In the aftermath of their breakup in 2004, she began to be sighted in L.A. in questionable states of sobriety in the company of various actors; the gossip blogger Perez Hilton took to calling her Kirsten Drunkst. And thus, many in her circle seem to view her newfound attachment to New York as an attempt to remake herself as not just another Hollywood starlet.

Some of her New York friends have transferred over from her Los Angeles social network. Then there are those she simply approached and asked for their phone number.

A 22-year-old model met Ms. Dunst in May 2007 at the Empire Diner. Ms. Dunst overheard the model talking about a Beirut show at Bowery Ballroom and came over to ask about it. “I didn’t even recognize her, but I was like, holy cow, this person is friendly!”

The model asked Ms. Dunst about her dress—it was Marc Jacobs—and a friendship sparked.

“I’m Kirsten,” Ms. Dunst said finally.

“I was like, ‘Oh, you’re Kirsten Dunst!’ Crazy!” said the model. “And then she basically just asked for my phone number and I gave it to her.” The model said she didn’t see Ms. Dunst around very often until this spring, when the actress became a regular at the Beatrice.

Other members of Ms. Dunst’s rotating entourage include Sara Moonves, daughter of CBS CEO Les Moonves; Carlos Quirarte, who works for the premium denim brand Earnest Sewn; and the actor Josh Hartnett. One acquaintance said “Kiki” has been spending her time with “that Freeman’s crowd.” Ms. Dunst also frequents East Village mixology bar Death and Co., the Lit Lounge, and Bowery Electric, where Catherine Pierce of the girl group the Pierces spins on Monday nights; in May, Ms. Dunst celebrated her 26th birthday there.

But most of the time, Ms. Dunst can be found at the Beatrice Inn, perched on the counter behind the DJ booth, smoking cigarettes and bopping her head around to her boyfriend’s tunes.

Despite reports in Page Six of Ms. Dunst pursuing the actor Emile Hirsch and Drew Barrymore’s ex Justin Long, her friends say she has not done either. And depending on whom you ask, she and Mr. Creed still may or may not be together.

Whispers of their breakup began to percolate among the downtown community a couple of weeks ago, when an excursion to a Massachusetts lake house was planned among some 25 people, a group that Ms. Dunst and Mr. Creed were supposed to join. But they didn’t show. Still, some friends insisted that they have an on-again, off-again relationship that should be obvious from the way she’s still hanging around the Beatrice DJ booth.

Most describe Ms. Dunst as shy and heavily guarded. Some said that she can be a party girl when no one is watching. “She doesn’t really stand out at Beatrice,” said one regular. “When Lindsay [Lohan] used to come into Bungalow 8, it was like Elizabeth Taylor was there or something, but Kirsten pretty much blends in.”

Blending in is perhaps the point. After all, Ms. Dunst’s move to New York came in the wake of her time in rehab, a period that the gossip blogs attributed to her breakup with Razorlight frontman Johnny Borrell.

“It seemed like she went through a rough patch of maybe drinking more than she should, but I’m not one to talk,” said party photographer Patrick McMullan, who’s been photographing Ms. Dunst for years. “She really seems to be embracing New York.”

And the 22-year-old model, who said that she and Ms. Dunst have had talks about the “rough stuff,” agreed. “I think she’s found a level of her own in New York,” she said.

from mtv:

James Franco Sells Weed to Famous Friends on ‘Pineapple Express’ DVD

Published by Shawn Adler on Monday, August 11, 2008 at 12:54 pm.

For my money, one of the funniest bonus features in DVD history is “Finding Ben Stone,” the fake documentary included with “Knocked-Up,” where director Judd Apatow auditions several other big name actors for the part that eventually went to Seth Rogen..

Get ready for a similar assist from Rogen’s famous friends on the DVD for “Pineapple Express,” the actor revealed. That is, if the cops don’t get the footage first.

“We filmed a lot of different actors we know just going and buying weed from Saul [played hilariously in the movie by James Franco],” Rogen said. “Justin Long, Martin Starr, Judd Apatow, that one was actually pretty funny. Bill Hader.”

Right up there among the best scenes, actually, is the very first, where (slight spoiler warning) we witness a military experiment on the dangerous effects of marijuana. Of course, for the army to do experiments, it needs volunteers. Enter Rogen’s famous friends once again.

“Yeah, the movie has that weed military testing and we got a lot of actors we know to come in and be like weed test subjects in the 50s,” he revealed.

Think the DVD extras sound funny? Are you going to pick it up? Sound off below.

Alice Cullen
Twilight series character
First appearance Twilight
Created by Stephenie Meyer
Portrayed by Ashley Greene
Information
Species Vampire
Gender female
Age 19 (physically)
Date of birth 1901
Date of death 1920
Occupation Student
Family Carlisle Cullen (adoptive father) Esme Cullen (adoptive mother) Edward Cullen and Emmett Cullen (adoptive brothers) Rosalie Hale (adoptive sister) Cynthia Brandon (biological human sister)
Spouse(s) Jasper Hale
Address Forks, WA, USA

Personal history
Early life
Alice's early history is very vague, as she remembers nothing of her human life and woke up as a vampire, all alone. It is eventually revealed that she was born around 1901 in Biloxi, Mississippi and was kept in an asylum because she had premonitions, which intensified into her "special ability" when she was changed into a vampire. While at the asylum she was kept always in a dark cell, which was another reason why she remembered so little. Alice was changed by a vampire who worked at the asylum (and did not survive) in order to protect her from James, a tracker vampire who was hunting her. She and Bella are the only two people to ever escape James. After doing some research, Alice found her grave and discovered that the date on her tombstone matched the date of her admission to the asylum (she had stolen her file from their records), perhaps implying that she was 'dead' to her family when they confined her there. Through her research she additionally discovered that she had a sister named Cynthia, and that Cynthia's daughter, Alice's niece, is still alive in Biloxi.

Romantic relationships
Jasper Whitlock/Hale
Alice foresaw Jasper finding her in a vision before he even knew he was looking for her. They met face-to-face in a diner located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where she told him that she had been waiting a long time for his arrival. A little bewildered but intrigued with her knowing him, Jasper "bowed his head like a good southern gentleman" and answered, "I'm sorry, ma'am." She offered him her hand, a non-verbal question of whether or not he would like to go with her. He did indeed take her hand, as the sight of it brought him hope "for the first time in almost a century". During their companionship and travels, Alice and Jasper fell in love. By 1950, they found Carlisle with more assistance from her visions and have been part of his coven ever since. Alice and Jasper have been together since the 1950s, but are not as flamboyant about their relationship as Rosalie and Emmett are. They are stated to be soul mates and have been married legally once.[2] Their distinctly understanding love is what separates them from other couples, and they are both very protective of each other.

Physical traits
Alice shares many of the physical traits associated with Twilight vampires, such as inhuman beauty, pale skin, golden eyes (which deepen to black depending as thirst increases) and deep purple shadows under her eyes. She is described as being petite, 4'10", "thin in the extreme,"--from malnourishment while incarcerated--with small, "pixie-like" features. Her hair is described as cropped short, having been shaved completely when committed, spiky, and black. She moves gracefully, continually cited as dancing, with a carriage that would "break any ballerina's heart", as described by Bella in Twilight.

Vampire traits
Alice has enhanced strength and speed due to her vampire status. Though petite, she is a capable fighter because of her agility, speed and ability to see the future. The premonitions that Alice experienced as a human are intensified in her vampire life, and she uses this ability to her advantage in order to keep her family safe. However, Alice's sight is limited: she can only see the outcome of a decision once it is made. Also, the future is subjective and Alice cannot see it once werewolves become involved. This is a mystery that Carlisle has theorized is due to the unpredictability of the werewolves, who, in the splitsecond they phaze, don't technically "exist." Alice, while talking about her talent, describes herself as being "far from infallible" overall.

Personality
Alice is portrayed as being bubbly and optimistic, and loves and cares for Bella like a sister. She often ignores other people's advice and does things her own way, which usually results in the outcome being better than predicted. She has vicarious fun dressing up Bella "like a three-dimensional paper doll" and throwing parties, and loves shopping at expensive shops in large malls. She is very protective over Jasper and makes sure he keeps in line.

crazy courtney posted this yesterday as well:

Sunday, July 27, 2008

"kookoo bananas"
Current mood: amused

can we all agree that "KOOKOO BANANAS" the phrase is mine?
yes, i think we can. Im flattered other people are using it, detail oriented- cough- types, and I'm not trying to patent it eg ":thats hot" i just wanted to establish it is my phrasing.
thats all.
you have been told. okay going to rest and chant and try to think well not think channel the best couplet at the front of any song since 1954.
xc

8:04

this is really old, but this is really, truly my favorite music video of all time! check it out!!!!

"hair" by the early november.

so i was pumped about chloe sevigny's fashion line when i first heard about it...then i saw it and i was like hmmmm, maybe not so much....anyway, apparently it's still out there and still getting buzz...here's the latest from fashionista:

Chloe Sevigny: Still Kickin
Jul 02, 2008 @ 10:01am
There is life yet for Chloe Sevigny's Opening Ceremony collection.

While on Topshop, we came across their new Post-War Precision collection (originally called the Valerie Collection, though we don't know why they changed the name). Topshop describes it as "1950s pin-up styling with a rockabilly twist", but between the checkered pieces, acid wash jean jacket and ditsy floral print dresses we thought "We Wish We Were Chloe Sevigny" would have been a more apt description.

Just take a gander at these high-wasted checked pants. Remind you of anything? We thought so. Similarily, this blouse by Topshop is almost an exact replica of one Chloe turned out for Opening Ceremony (although in the picture it's shown in floral, Chloe also made one in basic white), one of the more wearable pieces of the collection. And these tiny floral printed shorts are very reminiscent of Chloe's floral skirt. Topshop even went as far as a floral bustier, one of the more signature pieces from Chloe's collection (ps. we're still not sure who's buying these). [Editor's note: Natalie loves Chloe's floral bustier!]

The Topshop stuff is actually really cute (thankfully, they stayed away from midriff baring tops) but our reaction was overshadowed by the same sneaking suspicion we had when we tried the items on last March in Opening Ceremony, or maybe it was last April and at Urban Outfitters. Either way, we're wondering why, amidst less than positive reviews, the Sevigny collection has had such a strong influence on retailers.

Perhaps Chloe was on to something, but it's a shame her designs are being copied more often than worn.

--HAYLEY PHELAN