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The Movies Part
Lots of movie watching going on. Some good, some okay, none bad (yay).
I have rewatched: Julie & Julia, The Time-Traveler's Wife, The Joy Luck Club, Terminator Salvation, and Star Trek 2009. Sadly none of these movies were as good on rewatch, especially the last two. To be honest I only watched TS again for Sam Worthington. As for J&J, it's even more torturous to have to watch the Amy Adams parts the second time around (though the Meryl Streep parts are just as charming), and as for TTTW, it loses ... something. I don't know what. It's still a lovely and touching story, but it didn't quite take my breath away the way it did the first time.
As for new movies, I've watched: Up in the Air, It's Complicated, Precious, and Inglourious Basterds.
Up in the Air: I just didn't like it as much as I wanted to. It was fine, a good movie ... I liked both the female "leads" (Alex and Natalie) and Clooney was fine, but it just didn't live up to the hype imho. For some reason I thought it was going to be funny ... I don't think I laughed once. I actually found it rather bleak and hopeless. I mean, despite having an epiphany Ryan is forced by circumstance to go back to his same old way of life. What's the message here, that unless you have it figured out early, it's too late?
Totally suspected Alex was married, but it was still a bummer when it was revealed. And it's not really like I'm looking for rom-com type pat happy ending, but Ryan finally finding a woman and getting to a place where he feels like he can take the next step, only to be shot down and then get sent back up in the air is just ... depressing. The only "hope" comes from Natalie (and the relationship Ryan builds with her, though it felt more superficial than I wanted it to), but even that is depressing because the point of her character is her youth and resilience, so it's not too late for that second chance. Which comes to the message that unless you're still young and naive, you might as well pack it in, it's over for you. Which is also fucking depressing. Because I'll tell you what ... when Natalie and Alex were talking about what they look for in a guy? I related a lot more with Alex than I did Natalie!
It's Complicated: Total opposite message from Up in the Air, lol. Too extreme on the other side of the spectrum. It should have been subtitled - "It's Complicated: A Fairy Tale for Divorced Women." It was fun, it was entertaining, it was totally unbelievable. It's the ultimate dream of the older divorced woman: her husband who leaves her for a younger beauty realizes the error of his ways, that his ex-wife is far superior (sexier, more caring, bigger heart, best cook, more useful, perfect in every way) than the model he traded her in for. Sure, there are brief attempts to acknowledge Jane's culpability in the demise of her marriage, but it rings so untrue, especially in the context of the rest of the movie. Jane is perfect and Jake was a perfect idiot to throw her away. Isn't that how it always plays out in a divorcee's revenge fantasty?
No idea what Steve Martin was doing in the movie. He could not have been more of a cardboard figure. I don't know why he took the role (well, other than for the paycheck). They could have cast an unknown in the role and it would have been fine, because the stars of the show were Meryl and Alec. Alec is just so lovably smarmy. But you know who completely stole the whole show for me? Harley, the eldest daughter's (who the hell knows what HER name is) fiancee. The 3 actual children of Jane and Jake are totally anemic and boring. I don't know why/how Nancy Meyers could have written them so completely lame and then had such a standout character like Harley -- though maybe that's more John Krasinski than her.
Anyway, it was a fun and entertaining movie, if you can keep your eyeballs from rolling toward the ceiling too many times due to Jane's fantasy-perfect life. I mean, her house is a DREAM. And yet from the beginning we know she's trying to remodel it into something better. It's like, oh yeah, boohoo for you living in this perfect house, so glad you get to make it even more perfect -- what? And then the freaking garden is like some idyllic paradise, what everyone wishes their garden were like. And she owns a freaking successful BAKERY ... yet doesn't seem to have to get up at 3am to go work/bake/whatever, she has minions to do all the hard work. Yet when she wants a midnight snack with Adam, she can whip up chocolate croissants just like that (yes, one of the most complex pastries ever btw). It's so ridiculous. The hardest thing is feeling sorry for Jane in the first place. She's got everything! So what that her ex-husband was an idiot?
Precious I read the book in college and couldn't imagine it being a film ... it was so hard to read. Not, you know, in a literal sense, but in a "ohmygod I can't believe this happens to this girl" way. Bravo to all the actors in this one (including Mariah Carey, who was actually not horrible), but especially Monique, who really, really needs to get a supporting actress Oscar. Oh yay, I see that she won the Golden Globe, which bodes well. I mean, sure, the two Up in the Air actresses were good, but their roles were cake in comparison.
Inglourious Basterds I liked it/enjoyed it, and I can totally see why rewriting history would be awesome and fun ... but ultimately I'm like, "Yeah, but that's not what happened." I mean, the problem with most movies like this (see: Valkyrie) is that you know how it ends ... or at least, how it's supposed to end. History tells us that Hitler lives, see. And while we might wish it differently (and perhaps that's the point of making a movie, it can be anything you want, real or not), fictional history isn't really all that interesting to me. Well done and all that though (Christoph Waltz totally deserved that Golden Globe, and needs an Oscar besides). I have no idea (like Steve Martin above) why Brad Pitt took this role. It could not have been less interesting a character, and really had practically the least impact. I was actually very impressed by Diane Kruger, who up until now I only really knew as "the not-stunning-enough Helen of Troy."
The Food Part
Actually the most memorable parts of Inglourious Basterds and It's Complicated, for me at least, was two food scenes. >.> I'm totally a one-way road. For IB it was the scene with the strudel. My God at all the decadent whipped cream spooned on top! I had to make some immediately! Well it turns out, making true strudel dough is quite as complicated as making croissant dough. I mean, according to Rose Levy Berenbaum, I need a 48" round table, because you have to roll the dough out sheet thin to that size. O.o Yeah, I am not ready for that. So I had to fake it by using refrigerated phyllo dough. It might not have been true strudel, but it was a good enough substitute (soooo delicious with the whipped cream on top).
Second was the croque monsieur that Jane made for Adam. I was like, what is that cheesy bread goodness that she is serving him?! Turns out that croque monsieur is French "fast food" -- basically a grilled cheese sandwich with ham, and the cheese is usually gruyere or emmenthal. Leave it to the French, even their fast food is superior. You can turn it into a croque madame by adding a fried egg on top, or a croque provencal by adding slices of tomato. Whatever croque you prefer, it will be delicious! I had the original croque monsieur for dinner tonight (using Beecher's cheddar as that's what I had on hand), along with Caesar salad. Soooooooo good! Next time I need to either broil the cheese or place the rack higher up, in order to get more browning to the cheese. Oh, and I think there's some debate as to whether a true croque monsieur is an open-faced sandwich or has two slices of bread (like grilled cheese), but since Jane served it open faced in the movie and that's what made my mouth water, that's the way I prepared it. And did not regret it one bit!
Yeah so tonight I ate 2 slices of croque monsieur, a Caesar salad, half an avocado, and a generous portion of apple strudel with a giant mound of whipped cream. My diet isn't going so well.
The Other Stuff Part
I've gotten a new haircut (realllly needed one). I don't think I like it. It's not that it looks bad, but I don't think it looks good either. Certainly not better than the way I usually wear it. I've got side bangs now and I'm just not used to hair touching my face so it's driving me a little crazy.
I made two apple strudels but don't want to eat both, because ohmygod at the butter involved. Tomorrow I have a physical therapy appointment, but everyone there is super thin so I think the apple strudel would not be appreciated. I could bring it in to work, but technically I work from home so I'd have to make a special trip there JUST to drop off the strudel. Times like these I wish I had one of those TV show neighborhoods where everyone is all nice and friendly with each other, I could give it to a neighbor.
I don't want to work tomorrow. It's not fair that we don't get MLK day off. :(
Lots of movie watching going on. Some good, some okay, none bad (yay).
I have rewatched: Julie & Julia, The Time-Traveler's Wife, The Joy Luck Club, Terminator Salvation, and Star Trek 2009. Sadly none of these movies were as good on rewatch, especially the last two. To be honest I only watched TS again for Sam Worthington. As for J&J, it's even more torturous to have to watch the Amy Adams parts the second time around (though the Meryl Streep parts are just as charming), and as for TTTW, it loses ... something. I don't know what. It's still a lovely and touching story, but it didn't quite take my breath away the way it did the first time.
As for new movies, I've watched: Up in the Air, It's Complicated, Precious, and Inglourious Basterds.
Up in the Air: I just didn't like it as much as I wanted to. It was fine, a good movie ... I liked both the female "leads" (Alex and Natalie) and Clooney was fine, but it just didn't live up to the hype imho. For some reason I thought it was going to be funny ... I don't think I laughed once. I actually found it rather bleak and hopeless. I mean, despite having an epiphany Ryan is forced by circumstance to go back to his same old way of life. What's the message here, that unless you have it figured out early, it's too late?
Totally suspected Alex was married, but it was still a bummer when it was revealed. And it's not really like I'm looking for rom-com type pat happy ending, but Ryan finally finding a woman and getting to a place where he feels like he can take the next step, only to be shot down and then get sent back up in the air is just ... depressing. The only "hope" comes from Natalie (and the relationship Ryan builds with her, though it felt more superficial than I wanted it to), but even that is depressing because the point of her character is her youth and resilience, so it's not too late for that second chance. Which comes to the message that unless you're still young and naive, you might as well pack it in, it's over for you. Which is also fucking depressing. Because I'll tell you what ... when Natalie and Alex were talking about what they look for in a guy? I related a lot more with Alex than I did Natalie!
It's Complicated: Total opposite message from Up in the Air, lol. Too extreme on the other side of the spectrum. It should have been subtitled - "It's Complicated: A Fairy Tale for Divorced Women." It was fun, it was entertaining, it was totally unbelievable. It's the ultimate dream of the older divorced woman: her husband who leaves her for a younger beauty realizes the error of his ways, that his ex-wife is far superior (sexier, more caring, bigger heart, best cook, more useful, perfect in every way) than the model he traded her in for. Sure, there are brief attempts to acknowledge Jane's culpability in the demise of her marriage, but it rings so untrue, especially in the context of the rest of the movie. Jane is perfect and Jake was a perfect idiot to throw her away. Isn't that how it always plays out in a divorcee's revenge fantasty?
No idea what Steve Martin was doing in the movie. He could not have been more of a cardboard figure. I don't know why he took the role (well, other than for the paycheck). They could have cast an unknown in the role and it would have been fine, because the stars of the show were Meryl and Alec. Alec is just so lovably smarmy. But you know who completely stole the whole show for me? Harley, the eldest daughter's (who the hell knows what HER name is) fiancee. The 3 actual children of Jane and Jake are totally anemic and boring. I don't know why/how Nancy Meyers could have written them so completely lame and then had such a standout character like Harley -- though maybe that's more John Krasinski than her.
Anyway, it was a fun and entertaining movie, if you can keep your eyeballs from rolling toward the ceiling too many times due to Jane's fantasy-perfect life. I mean, her house is a DREAM. And yet from the beginning we know she's trying to remodel it into something better. It's like, oh yeah, boohoo for you living in this perfect house, so glad you get to make it even more perfect -- what? And then the freaking garden is like some idyllic paradise, what everyone wishes their garden were like. And she owns a freaking successful BAKERY ... yet doesn't seem to have to get up at 3am to go work/bake/whatever, she has minions to do all the hard work. Yet when she wants a midnight snack with Adam, she can whip up chocolate croissants just like that (yes, one of the most complex pastries ever btw). It's so ridiculous. The hardest thing is feeling sorry for Jane in the first place. She's got everything! So what that her ex-husband was an idiot?
Precious I read the book in college and couldn't imagine it being a film ... it was so hard to read. Not, you know, in a literal sense, but in a "ohmygod I can't believe this happens to this girl" way. Bravo to all the actors in this one (including Mariah Carey, who was actually not horrible), but especially Monique, who really, really needs to get a supporting actress Oscar. Oh yay, I see that she won the Golden Globe, which bodes well. I mean, sure, the two Up in the Air actresses were good, but their roles were cake in comparison.
Inglourious Basterds I liked it/enjoyed it, and I can totally see why rewriting history would be awesome and fun ... but ultimately I'm like, "Yeah, but that's not what happened." I mean, the problem with most movies like this (see: Valkyrie) is that you know how it ends ... or at least, how it's supposed to end. History tells us that Hitler lives, see. And while we might wish it differently (and perhaps that's the point of making a movie, it can be anything you want, real or not), fictional history isn't really all that interesting to me. Well done and all that though (Christoph Waltz totally deserved that Golden Globe, and needs an Oscar besides). I have no idea (like Steve Martin above) why Brad Pitt took this role. It could not have been less interesting a character, and really had practically the least impact. I was actually very impressed by Diane Kruger, who up until now I only really knew as "the not-stunning-enough Helen of Troy."
The Food Part
Actually the most memorable parts of Inglourious Basterds and It's Complicated, for me at least, was two food scenes. >.> I'm totally a one-way road. For IB it was the scene with the strudel. My God at all the decadent whipped cream spooned on top! I had to make some immediately! Well it turns out, making true strudel dough is quite as complicated as making croissant dough. I mean, according to Rose Levy Berenbaum, I need a 48" round table, because you have to roll the dough out sheet thin to that size. O.o Yeah, I am not ready for that. So I had to fake it by using refrigerated phyllo dough. It might not have been true strudel, but it was a good enough substitute (soooo delicious with the whipped cream on top).
Second was the croque monsieur that Jane made for Adam. I was like, what is that cheesy bread goodness that she is serving him?! Turns out that croque monsieur is French "fast food" -- basically a grilled cheese sandwich with ham, and the cheese is usually gruyere or emmenthal. Leave it to the French, even their fast food is superior. You can turn it into a croque madame by adding a fried egg on top, or a croque provencal by adding slices of tomato. Whatever croque you prefer, it will be delicious! I had the original croque monsieur for dinner tonight (using Beecher's cheddar as that's what I had on hand), along with Caesar salad. Soooooooo good! Next time I need to either broil the cheese or place the rack higher up, in order to get more browning to the cheese. Oh, and I think there's some debate as to whether a true croque monsieur is an open-faced sandwich or has two slices of bread (like grilled cheese), but since Jane served it open faced in the movie and that's what made my mouth water, that's the way I prepared it. And did not regret it one bit!
Yeah so tonight I ate 2 slices of croque monsieur, a Caesar salad, half an avocado, and a generous portion of apple strudel with a giant mound of whipped cream. My diet isn't going so well.
The Other Stuff Part
I've gotten a new haircut (realllly needed one). I don't think I like it. It's not that it looks bad, but I don't think it looks good either. Certainly not better than the way I usually wear it. I've got side bangs now and I'm just not used to hair touching my face so it's driving me a little crazy.
I made two apple strudels but don't want to eat both, because ohmygod at the butter involved. Tomorrow I have a physical therapy appointment, but everyone there is super thin so I think the apple strudel would not be appreciated. I could bring it in to work, but technically I work from home so I'd have to make a special trip there JUST to drop off the strudel. Times like these I wish I had one of those TV show neighborhoods where everyone is all nice and friendly with each other, I could give it to a neighbor.
I don't want to work tomorrow. It's not fair that we don't get MLK day off. :(
