Amazon Adventure 3D, Hurricane 3D @ CA Science Center's IMAX Theater

Since Wing is much more of a cinema technophile than I am, she'll be taking the reins on this blog post.

The newly installed IMAX with Laser projection system is a fantastic addition to the California Science Center. It has finally resolved one of the common issues that plague many regular 3D movies - the dullness of images viewed in stereoscopic 3D. With the new laser projection, the 3D images are bright and crisp; the colors are vibrant. On top of that, the 12-channel surround sound system provides a great audio boost to go with the beautiful visuals - the perfect combination to experience the many nature-themed films that the Science Center has to offer.

Amazon Adventure 3D follows the journey of naturalist Henry W. Bates into the Amazon. It was breathtaking, seeing the rainforest brought to life on the gigantic 7-story high screen.

Hurricane 3D, a documentary that tracks the beginning and end of an Atlantic hurricane, showcases both the beauty and destructive power of nature. The 12-channel surround sound especially shined during this film. It was so immersive I felt like I was in the eye of the storm.

Tips:

• To get the best IMAX experience, definitely try to pick seats that are in the upper center rows. As with most 3D projections, the images on the edge of the screen tend to be harder on the eyes when one is seated on the side. The effect is even more pronounced when viewing 3D on an IMAX scale screen.
• If you haven't yet, definitely swing by the space shuttle Endeavour special exhibit. For the low admission price of $2, you get to witness one of the greatest human achievements on display.

** Photos provided by Boutique Publicity

The Little Mermaid @ Hollywood Bowl

I was so jealous of everyone who got to see The Little Mermaid at Hollywood Bowl on Monday because the original voice of Ariel, Jodi Benson, headlined that night.  At least we got a small taste of her still-amazing-after-30-years voice at the show we attended on Saturday, where she was the surprise guest.  She's an infinitely better singer than Sara Bareilles, who at least looked the part of the Little Mermaid, with her long, wavy tresses colored red halfway down and wearing a sea foam green dress.  I even overheard a little girl yelling "Look, it's Ariel!"



What we didn't miss on Monday was Alan Menken's pre-show (in Monday's show he was replaced by Brad Kane - original voice of Aladdin - and Susan Egan - voice of Meg from Hercules).  On piano, Menken performed a career retrospective with songs from Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, Pocahontas, Little Shop of Horrors, Newsies, and Enchanted, just to name a few.  I almost teared up a little, listening to the man who penned so many soundtracks from Disney Animation's golden age, when not only were the films great, but so were all the songs.  During that era, animated films saw success at the box office and on the radio.

The celebrity guests also impressed, from Rebel Wilson's sassy turn as Ursula (in an amazing black shimmery dress that I could definitely picture Ursula wearing) to Titus Burgess' exuberant performance (I didn't know he had originated the role of Sebastian in the Broadway show.  No wonder he was so good!).



Sadly, John Stamos' badly placed microphone prevented us from getting the full experience of his song, Les Poissons, but, amazingly, the audience stayed respectfully quiet so that everyone could hear him.  His hilarious stage antics made up for the misplacement of his microphone.

I hope the success of this show convinces Disney to have more of their animated films in concert.  I'm hoping for Aladdin next summer.  However, they really ought to do Beauty and the Beast to promote their new live action film.


More Reviews:

• 5 Highlights
• Saturday's Show
• Monday's Show 

Nightmare Before Christmas Live with Danny Elfman @ Hollywood Bowl

The dreams of every Nightmare Before Christmas fan came true last weekend at the Hollywood Bowl when, for the first time ever, the movie was shown with the original singers performing live and accompanied by the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra.  When we bought the tickets, I wasn't sure what to expect.  I was just excited to hear the Danny Elfman (hello every amazing Tim Burton movie soundtrack!) sing the NBC songs live.  So, it was a treat to see and hear special guests like Paul Ruebens, Catherine O'Hara, and Ken Page (who sounds even better live, belting out Oogie Boogie's Song).  Everyone sounded great, especially Danny Elfman, and it was fun to see how expressive they were on stage while performing during the movie.  It was like getting a behind-the-scenes look at how the soundtrack was created.  

Elfman must have been on a high from all the singing and audience cheering because he ended the night with the Oingo Boingo song, Dead Man's Party, which sounded unplanned, but was a wonderful surprise.



Another surprise was Sandy Cameron, who played violin during the intermission and was an absolute badass.



The Hollywood Bowl also made that Halloween Day extra fun with candy stations for kids, and adults, to trick-or-treat their way up to their seats and a costume contest before show.  I loved seeing all the Tim Burton and Nightmare Before Christmas themed costumes.  


More: 

• Consequence of Sound
• Entertainment Weekly
• LAist
• OC Register

September Issue

Photo via ShoppingBlog

I just finished watching The September Issue and was very impressed by the documentary's soundtrack.  The behind-the-scenes action was fascinating (I wish there had been an interview with Andre Leon Talley because he was such a character, but I enjoyed learning about Anna Wintour, who only showed real emotion when she talked about her what her siblings thought of her job, and Grace Coddington, who seemed so down-to-earth, and a bit tragic, for someone in the industry), but definitely was helped along by the music selections.

Here's the track listing:

1. Opening Title - Craig Richey
2. Destroy Everything You Touch - Ladytron
3. Back From Paris - Craig Richey
4. The September Montage - Craig Richey
5. Anna's History - Craig Richey
6. Textures/ Grace's History - Craig Richey
7. Grace's Photos - Craig Richey
8. Burn It All Down - VHS Or Beta
9. Golf Cart - Craig Richey
10. Around the Bend - The Asteroids Galaxy Tour
11. Nostrand - Ratatat
12. Packing For Rome - Craig Richey
13. At Sea - Electrelane
14. S to U - Chessie
15. Grace at Versailles - Craig Richey
16. Give It Up - LCD Soundsystem
17. Diversion - Mark Ronson
18. Anna's Meltdown - Craig Rickey
19. That Home - Cinematic Orchestra
20. Grace In Car - Craig Richey
21. Don't You Worry - Jim Noir
22. Flathead - The Fratellis
23. Swisha - Ratatat
24. Suffer for Fashion - Of Montreal
25. Be A Star - Oh No! Oh My!
26. End Titles - Craig Richey

Suffer for Fashion, one of my favorite Of Montreal songs, was PERFECT for the start of the end credits.




More:
indieWIRE

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World

Photo from Daemon's Movies (great photo BTW)

Absurdly entertaining movie that sadly won't make as much money as, say, The Expendables (awesome in a corny 80s action movie kind of way) because the Scott Pilgrim-loving audience is so specific (nerds and geeks).  I'm not saying the audience is bad (hell, I'm a geek), but I think the general audience just won't get all the jokes, which the movie is chock-full of.  You get stuffed with pop culture references (per Edgar Wright's usual style.  BTW, Spaced is one of my favorite shows) until you burst into laughter, which happens almost nonstop.  I didn't even notice the movie was over two hours.  I wasn't as geeky as my two video game-loving companions, so I missed a few jokes here and there (I'm sorry I never passed Zelda :\ ), but they loved the movie and picked up on many small details that hardcore gamers would notice. 

The movie was really well-cast; Michael Cera played Scott Pilgrim to a tee.  Kieran Culkin was a fantastic sidekick and Jason Schwartzman was perfect. Who knew Mary Elizabeth Winstead could so easily go from perky cheerleader to space punk tough chick. 

I was surprised at how good the music was for all the made-up bands in the film.  Music had to be vital when the main character was named after a song. 



With the likes of Beck, Nigel Godrich, Broken Social Scene, and The Rolling Stones contributing to the soundtrack, the music had to be exceptional. 


Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World soundtrack:

01 Sex Bob-Omb: "We Are Sex Bob-Omb"
02 Plumtree: "Scott Pilgrim"
03 Frank Black: "I Heard Ramona Sing"
04 Beachwood Sparks: "By Your Side"
05 Black Lips: "O Katrina!"
06 Crash and the Boys: "I'm So Sad, So Very, Very Sad"
07 Crash and the Boys: "We Hate You Please Die"
08 Sex Bob-Omb: "Garbage Truck"
09 T. Rex: "Teenage Dream"
10 The Bluetones: "Sleazy Bed Track"
11 Blood Red Shoes: "It's Getting Boring by the Sea"
12 Metric: "Black Sheep"
13 Sex Bob-Omb: "Threshold"
14 Broken Social Scene: "Anthems for a Seventeen-Year-Old Girl"
15 The Rolling Stones: "Under My Thumb"
16 Beck: "Ramona (Acoustic)"
17 Beck: "Ramona"
18 Sex Bob-Omb: "Summertime"
19 Brian LeBarton: "Threshold 8 Bit"


More Reviews:
NPR (comprehensive)
NY Daily News
MTV
Guardian
Stereogum


Fun Interview:

Inception

Inception is probably the best film I've seen this year.  I haven't left a theater doubting reality like that since I watched the first Matrix.



The trailer reveals the tip of what the film is actually about.  This review is going to sound kind of general because it'll be difficult to discuss it without ruining it for everyone and I think EVERYONE needs to see this movie.

The fight scene was incredible.  It gave the impression of being in space, but still had human speed, adding up to a disorienting, but amazing action sequence. 

Joseph Gordon Levitt has to be one of the best actors of our time.  He has been extremely convincing in the past movies I've seen him in (Brick, (500) Days of Summer, 10 Things I Hate About You) and he is no different in Inception.  His walk, his words (I adore his gravelly, private eye type voice), his look (loved his flawlessly pressed, neat suits), his mannerisms made me believe he was this extremely serious character and helped to make him the perfect straight man in certain scenes.  Leonardo DiCaprio looked ratlike to me, but I think that emphasized the deceptions he participated in.  I adored Ellen Page's Asexual Chic wardrobe, which  came off as Parisian / Bonnie & Clyde (I wanted all her handkerchiefs, except for the western hipster one) meets 1940s professor (loved all the vests and blazers).

Photo from OnlineMoviesHut

Was it just me or did anyone else find it ironic that Cillian Murphy, who played Scarecrow, was in another movie about dreams?  Marion Cotillard really scared the poop out of me in one scene where her eyes were bulging.  I almost thought her head was going to start spinning around.  She convincingly conveyed mystery and fear through her mood swings.

The soundtrack, which was written and composed by Hans Zimmer, really enhanced the film by creating so many different levels of anxiety through fantastic string arrangements that made me think of large machines and machinations.  I think the score is right up there with Jaws' in instant recognizability. Also, it won't sound outdated when you watch the film years later, unlike The Matrix, which obviously sounds like the 90s. 
  

More:
Camerawork
Visual Effects

(500) Days of Summer Tour @ Downtown LA

I've always been fascinated with the old pre-war buildings in downtown, so for Jennio's birthday we decided to do a self-guided tour of sites from (500) Days of Summer (what other recent movie has celebrated the architecture of this area?).  So, here's the route we took along with some details (and pictures from moi) from the tour guide provided by Los Angeles Conservancy:

San Fernando Building

Nook in Old Bank DVD (video & record store in film)

I loved the DVD store.  It was really kitchy and had all these plants in old tins and a cute little dog running around.  I would definitely rent from here if I lived nearby. 
Location:  400 South Main Street (at Fourth Street)
Facts:

• Designed in the Renaissance Revival style 
• Achieved local attention in 1910, when a series of police raids occurred on the sixth floor due to illegal gambling in the rooms
• Redeveloped by Gilmore Associates; reopened in 2000 as seventy loft-style apartments - one of the early projects that sparked downtown’s current renaissance

Old Bank DVD located on 1st floor of San Fernando Building

Barclay Hotel

It's a shame they don't seem to have enough money for the upkeep of the exterior and interior because you can tell how beautiful it once was. 
Location: 103 W. Fourth Street
Facts:

• In the film, the lobby serves as the hangout for Tom and his buddies
• Designed in the Beaux-Arts style with Romanesque features (which are less detailed and ornate than the more formal Beaux-Arts style)
• Look up to the top of the building to see "The Van Nuys Hotel" (commercial venture by Isaac Newton Van Nuys, one of L.A.'s wealthiest businessmen and landowners)
• Opened in 1897 as the Van Nuys Hotel, one of the finest in the city with the latest amentities (first hotel to provide phone and electric service in every room)
• Fourth Street lobby has many original elements, including ceiling decorations, columns, arched doorways, stained-glass windows with old-fashioned scenes
• Oldest continuously operating hotel in Los Angeles, now a low-income residential hotel

Continental Building
As much as I love fire escapes, I was a little scared of stepping out on the 12th floor fire escape just thinking about how old it might be.  The 2nd floor Continental Library was very cute.
Location:  408 S. Spring Street
Facts:

• In the film, this is one of Tom's favorite buildings, as viewed from Tom's bench; identified by him as "L.A.'s first skyscraper."
• One of the first examples of the Beaux-Arts business block
• At 175 feet, considered the city's first skyscraper
• First floor has been altered, but the second story retains its stone block design
• Notice the row of lion heads on the projecting cornice made of pressed galvanized tin
• Served as office space and later housed many banks
• Now owned by Gilmore Associates, which converted it into 56 loft-style apartments, which opened in 2001

Bradbury Building

Hydraulic elevators originally powered by steam-derived boilers in basement

One of my favorite buildings in DTLA.  I always thought it odd that the exterior was so plain, but the interior was so ornate. I've always felt there was a steampunk feel to the place.
Location:  304 S. Broadway
Facts:

• In the film, this is the site for an important meeting for Tom
• Built in the Victorian Romanesque style
• Simple sandstone and brown brick exterior gives way to 5-story interior court willed with light from the glass roof, cast-iron railings, and open cage elevators
• Oldest commercial building in the center city
• Has long been a popular filming location, probably best known for the 1982 sci-fi epic Blade Runner

Million Dollar Theatre
It's sad that the halls of the apartments look like modern day offices and don't resemble anything like the elaborate exterior.  I was disappointed the theater lobby was closed, so I didn't get a chance to see any of the original detailing (at least I HOPE there is still some vintage decor). 
Location:  307 S. Broadway

Longhorn skull over apartment entrance

Facts:

• Sid Grauman's first L.A. theatre
• One of the earliest movie palaces in the U.S. and, with 2300 seats (originally), one of the largest
• Designed in the ornate Churrigueresque style
• Lavish exterior terra-cotta ornamentation by Mora includes bison heads, longhorn skulls, and allegorical figures representing the arts
• The name Million Dollar comes from the combined original costs of the land and building
• Originally had a 2-story exterior foyer/lobby; has been altered over the years, though some details such as murals remain underneath
• Upper stories originally housed office space; now apartments

Grand Central Market
This was the perfect precursor to the end of the tour.  We grabbed a banana split from Jose's Ice Cream Corner.
Location:  315 S. Broadway
Facts:

• This was the site of a deleted scene from the film in which Tom and Summer are shopping for fruit
• The city's first fireproofed and steel-reinforced structure
• Market opened in 1917
• Today has over 50 vending stalls, each privately owned and operated
• Project removed a tile facade added in the 1960s to reveal the 2nd-story windows and many of the original Beaux-Arts details

Angels Knoll

I've driven past this park so many times and have always wanted to visit and check out the view.  It's surprisingly nice.  Too bad there are a few ugly parking structures and unattractive buildings. Still, it's a very peaceful spot.  I've always had the same sentiment as Tom about the streets being kind of unappealing, but surrounded by towering beautiful old architecture.
Location:  Hill Street and Fourth Street, go all the way up the 100+ steps
Facts:

• In the film, this is Tom's favorite L.A. spot, offering a great view of (mostly) pre-war buildings.  As Tom shows Summer the architecture, he says words along the lines of, "There's so much beauty here.  Sure the street level isn't much to look at, but if you look up, there's some exciting stuff going on.  If it were up to me, I'd get people to notice!"

We did a driveby of the rest of these places: 

Fenton Building (aka Roseland dance hall)
Location:  833-835 S. Spring Street, between Eighth and Ninth Streets
Fact:  In the film, this is where Tom works as a copywriter for a greeting card company

Fine Arts Building
I only got a quick glance at it, but it looks like it would be amazing.  What other building in DTLA has reclining figures on the exterior?!  I must return because I think the lobby will be just as impressive as the exterior.  
Location:  811 W. Seventh Street
Fact:  This is one of Tom's favorite buildings; he singles out architects Walker and Eisen

Eastern Columbia Building
Definitely one of my favorite buildings in city.  It looks absolutely gorgeous and my dream is to one day live there.  I'm still trying to find the time to visit and explore the building
Location:  849 S. Broadway, across from The Orpheum Theatre
Fact:  Another one of Tom's favorites


More:
Map of some key sites from the movie

View Los Angeles in (500) days of Summer in a larger map

Crazy Heart

Photo by Nashville Music Buzz

I was curious about the movie after seeing Jeff Bridges win an Oscar for it.  I went into the theater not knowing much about it except that he was a musician and there was country music involved, which made me a bit concerned because I'm not really a fan of country. Surprisingly, the music didn't really distract me from the movie at all.  I even shocked myself by actually LIKING some of the songs. I enjoyed the bluesy piano playing of Wesley Barnes (the uncle of Maggie Gyllenhaal's character, played by Rick Dial).  Robert Duvall's freestyle singing of Live Forever made me think of a John Mayer song.  I could imagine those lyrics not being restricted by a style of music.  There was a Johnny Cash quality to Brand New Angel that Jeff Bridges sang in the bar after getting out of rehab.  I found this old school style of country music to be more blues and more meaningful than the current country crap today that irritates me to no end.  After watching Bad Blake (Bridges) go through the journey that was the movie, I found The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart) to be sad and beautiful.  I didn't want to leave the theater until the song was over.

I can see why Bridges won the Oscar; he was amazing in the role.  I also loved the landscapes in the film.  They reminded me of warm vintage photographs.  The sweeping shot of scenery at the end of the movie made me want to return to the Grand Canyon.  The cinematography was fantastic.  It really emphasized the grittier, darker times in his life with the dingy clothing and shadows leading into a sudden lightening and cleanliness after sobering up. 

I did get a bit grossed out by the relationship between Jean Craddock (Gyllenhaal) and Bad Blake because she was young enough to be his daughter!  But I can see why they were attracted to each other. I chuckled when I saw Colin Farrell as a country singer, but I guess he had a really good speech coach because if I hadn't known he had a heavy Irish accent then I would have been convinced he was an American country singer. 

Track List:

1. Hold On You - Jeff Bridges
2. Hello Trouble - Buck Owens
3. My Baby's Gone - The Louvin Brothers
4. Somebody Else - Jeff Bridges
5. I Don't Know - Ryan Bingham
6. Fallin' & Flyin' - Jeff Bridges
7. I Don't Know - Jeff Bridges
8. Once a Gambler - Lighnin' Hopkins
9. Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way - Waylon Jennings
10. Fallin' & Flyin' - Colin Farrell, Jeff Bridges
11. Gone, Gone, Gone - Colin Farrell
12. If I Needed You - Townes Van Zandt
13. Reflecting Light - Sam Phillips
14. Live Forever - Robert Duvall
15. Brand New Angel - Jeff Bridges
16. The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart) - Ryan Bingham

More:
NY Times Review

Captain EO, "Remember...Dreams Come True" Fireworks Show @ Disneyland

source

Disclaimer: Okay, so I love Disneyland...a lot. I often went there when I was a kid, which eventually led to me getting a job there during college. It's one of the few places I wouldn't mind visiting alone. There's just something about the nostalgic rides and the unforgettable food that just improves my attitude for the rest of the day.

By the way, Disneyland now sells annual passes with monthly payment options ranging from $8.09 to $30.59. If you visit the park at least once a month, you already get more than your money's worth AND the passes get you discounts on food!

Anyways, I stray. So, I went to Disneyland yesterday on a free ticket, a week after I participating in the "Give a Day. Get a Disney Day" program.


Captain EO Tribute
was the main thing I wanted to see at the park because it had just reopened a few days earlier on Tuesday. As soon as we entered Disneyland, my sister and I pretty much ran straight to the attraction. I was super excited because I hadn't seen it since the 90s (it ran from 1986 - 1997), and it was always a favorite. I would watch the 3D movie at least once, if not more, every time I came to the park.

I really enjoyed all the behind-the-scenes video they showed right before the start of the movie. What other film will ever have George Lucas, Francis Ford Coppola, and Michael Jackson working on the same set again?

I have to say the movie was even better than I remembered, thanks to the 70mm print, improved acoustics, and awesome 4D effects. This is a must-see for anyone who has ever been a fan of the original or of Michael Jackson. Hearing the music tracks (Michael Jackson's We are Here to Change the World and Another Part of Me as I leave the theater) brought back so many memories. Classic MJ songs, just classic.

I really wish they had sold the white rainbow shirt that Jackson was wearing in the movie because I would have bought that in a second.

source

(Closest thing I could find to the shirt without it being
the original vintage one sold in 1986)

It's pretty crazy to think about how my sister and I were part of the first generation of kids to see the movie and now a whole new generation will get to experience it. I really hope they keep the Captain EO Tribute for a very long time.


"Remember...Dreams Come True" Fireworks Display
Was I the only one who was kind of moved by this fireworks spectacular as it helped us board the Disneyland Railroad and took us on the same journey through the park that we took, not only earlier in the day, but throughout the times that we've visited the park? I was reduced to a childlike state of wonder as I listened to the recordings and music and watched the fireworks represent The Main Street Electrical Parade (the fireworks actually looked like one of the floats!), Enchanted Tiki Room, Indiana Jones (music epic as usual. Loved the balls of fire), Haunted Mansion (fireworks shot up all around us to create something similar to the stretching room), Pirates of the Caribbean (felt like I was caught between the battle of two ships), Matterhorn Bobsled announcement, Space Mountain, Star Tours, and more, while Tinkerbell flitted in and around the castle to signal the beginning and end of the fireworks show. It was just amazing, one of their best fireworks displays.






More:
The Untold Story of Captain EO
Fireworks details

New Moon Soundtrack Out

New Moon Soundtrack: Track List
1. Death Cab for Cutie—“Meet Me On the Equinox”
2. Band of Skulls—“Friends”

3. Thom Yorke—“Hearing Damage”
4. Lykke Li—“Possibility”
5. The Killers—“A White Demon Love Song”

6. Anya Marina—“Satellite Heart”
7. Muse—“I Belong To You (New Moon Remix)”
8. Bon Iver & St. Vincent—“Roslyn”

9. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club—“Done All Wrong”

10. Hurricane Bells—“Monsters”
11. Sea Wolf—“The Violet Hour”

12. OK Go—“Shooting the Moon”

13. Grizzly Bear (with Victoria Legrand)—“Slow Life”

14. Editors—“No Sound But the Wind”
15. Alexandre Desplat—“New Moon (The Meadow)”

Looks surprisingly decent. I know, I'm lame, but I just watched Twilight the other night out of boredom and it was kind of bad, but some of it was funny because of sheer ridiculousness. Embarrassingly enough, I'm a bit eager to see New Moon because that wolf boy is pretty hot (He's like a young Mario Lopez) and Edward is going to try to commit suicide.

(500) Days of Summer

source

I have to say this is my favorite movie of this year. What can I say? I’m a sucker for movies about weird people finding love, albeit short-lived. First, I absolutely adored the wardrobe of the two main characters: Tom (played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and Summer (Zooey Deschanel). Tom’s style was Old Man Chic.

source

His wardrobe was the stuff of every indie girl's dreams of what they would love their boyfriends to wear. I loved every outfit. In fact, I would love to know where he shopped because I'd like to go there myself to make a future investment... Deschanel must have either chosen her own wardrobe or had her own stylist do it because it was spot-on for her look. I loved the accents (butterflies, ribbons, pins), all the ruffles, and the secretary outfits. Only thing I wasn’t a huge fan of were the high-waisted pants, but maybe because I can’t really pull them off (darn my short torso!).

It was nice to see LA being used as a beautiful landscape instead of the typical representations of grit, poverty, and crime. I feel like so often (of the movies I've seen so far) LA is seen as a dirty battleground. I'd like to visit all the places where Tom and Summer went on dates. I felt like I was a bit alone in my excitement over seeing Tom get past the first floor of the Bradbury Building (as seen in Blade Runner

source

and Pushing Daisies).

source

I've been there and it's gorgeous. I would love to go on the other floors. Guess the only way is to get an interview there. Tom also mentioned when he's in downtown LA (Pershing Square, it looks like) he knows people look at the first floors of the buildings and think they're ugly, but there is so much beauty when you look up into the sky at their architectural elements. I've always had the same exact thoughts every time I've gotten stuck in traffic in that area. Sometimes when I walk around there I get distracted because I'm always looking up to the tops of these beautiful old buildings. I loved the individuality of the apartments Tom and Summer lived in. Tom's chalkboard, albeit messy, is so fantastic. I wish I had one, except maybe in the form of something neater like a glass over a wall? or whiteboard? Somehow those just don't seem as aesthetically pleasing. I loved how Summer's apartment looked like a little French flat. The flowery wallpaper could have easily come off as creepy, but her decor made everything look cute and perfect. Having seen a loft downtown in an older building, I believe these two apartments could actually exist there.

I thought it was so creative how the movie jumped back and forth through time, showing the audience glimpses of the good and bad and the causes. I know the movie was sad, but I also found it to be a bit optimistic. He had all these high ideals of love and it eventually infected the girl he once thought was the one and in the end, he was still the idealistic romantic that he started out as.

Loved all the music. Everything fit in with the scenes really well. And I liked recognizing a lot of the songs.

Track List

1. A Story of Boy Meets Girl – Mychael Danna and Rob Simonsen
2. Us – Regina Spektor
3. There Is A Light That Never Goes Out – The Smiths
4. Bad Kids – Black Lips
5. Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want – The Smiths
6. There Goes The Fear – Doves
7. You Make My Dreams – Hall & Oates
8. Sweet Disposition – The Temper Trap
9. Quelqu’un M’a Dit – Carla Bruni
10. Mushaboom – Feist
11. Hero – Regina Spektor
12. Bookends – Simon & Garfunkel
13. Vagabond – Wolfmother
14. She’s Got You High – Mumm-Ra
15. Here Comes Your Man – Meaghan Smith
16. Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want – She & Him

iTunes Bonus Tracks

17. Here Comes Your Man - Joseph Gordon-Levitt
18. Sugar Town - Zooey Deschanel
19. At Last - Kevin Michael

Time Traveler's Wife Credits

I know Time Traveler's Wife will probably play a sappy love song during the credits, but how awesome would it be to have Black Sabbath's Lonely is the Word instead?

Anvil! The Story of Anvil

Had an unexpected foodventure last night. Well, we were expecting to try Umami Burger for the first time, but unexpectedly discovered that they served Cake Monkey desserts, and then unexpectly ended the night at the Kogi truck after unexpectedly enjoying the documentary about Anvil.

So, my friend and I both ordered the Umami Burger and shared an order of Malt Liquor Tempura onion rings. They were definitely the best onion rings I've ever had. They were perfectly cooked and surprisingly unoily.

The burger was unlike anything I've ever had before: fluffy bun, high quality meat that melted in my mouth, grilled mushrooms, and a parmesan wafer that perfectly complimented the burger. Then I got a Cake Monkey raspberry red velvet cake to go

(for eating dessert in the theater. :) So good. Excellent raspberry jam. My friend chose the PB & marshmallow cake, which she said was really good). They also serve ice cream sandwiches from Milk, which I've been meaning to try, but I couldn't resist trying a new Cake Monkey dessert since I am currently in love with them. The waiter was very friendly, but we would've enjoyed our meal a bit more if it weren't for the somewhat snarky manager (? I'm not sure who he was, but he was sitting in the backroom with us on his laptop) who kept interjecting into our conversation and making comments like "What? It's your first time here? You 2 must be the last people in LA to try our burgers," and later on bragging about the number of people who eat at his establishment. Sorry we're so late in the game and haven't had a chance to make it out there. No need to be rude and btw, your restaurant wasn't even completely full the night we were there. The back room was still empty when we left. And parking on La Brea kind of sucks before 7pm. I kept getting confused about what to do there because the restaurant was a mix of countertop burger place and fancy restaurant.

I know this entry was starting to sound like a food blog (I'm attempting to attack LA Magazine's list of 101 Cheap Eats in LA), but finally I'm getting to the meat (har har) of this post. The whole purpose of this night was to watch Anvil! The Story of Anvil at a fairly small theater, Regency Fairfax. We started out in the wrong theater. Not my fault, I thought my friend new where she was going! We thought it was really odd that there were so many old folks watching a documentary about a heavy metal band. We sat through all the previews and as soon as we realized they were actually there to watch a documentary based on 12 hours of footage about A Chorus Line (BORING!), we ran to the correct theater that actually had more people our age and apparently more previews geared towards Anvil's audience (a more racy trailer of Easy Virtue and commercial features such as the Transformers sequel and Pelham 123). Anvil was funny, endearing, and optimistic. Full synopsis here. The movie introduced the band by showing one of their wild performances during the 80s and continued with their 30 year struggle to try to make it. I was really impressed by Lips, the lead singer, and his unwavering optimism. He and Rob ( the 2 original members) were in their 50s and Lips still kept encouraging the band to go on tours, play shows, and make albums (at the time of the film, they made their 13th album). Lips was so quirky and such a fanboy when he ran into other metal bands and it was interesting to hear all these other big bands talk about how amazing and inspiring Anvil was. They also interviewed someone who used to manage Anvil and 2 other famous metal bands (Poison? White Snake?). I can't understand how that manager could make the 2 other bands famous and not Anvil. It just seemed so strange that they never made it big. I feel like they just needed to be managed in America. Once they succeeded here, they could succeed anywhere. That always seems to be the case with a lot of musicians. They always become infinitely more successful once they gain popularity in America. I feel like the world doesn't know who you are unless America knows who you are. It's not like other popular American metal bands didn't know who Anvil were. I feel like if they really admired and liked Anvil, they should have referred management to them. During Anvil's ineptly managed European tour, it was so heartbreaking to see them perform at venues where there would be less than 5 people. I almost cried when Lips' older sister gave him the over $10,000 he needed to go to England and have CT professionally produce their 13th album. It was so sweet that she just wanted to help her little brother pursue his lifelong dream. I loved the ending when they finally got to play in front of a huge stadium after worrying about whether anyone would even show up. That looked like the biggest crowd they had ever played in front of during the entire documentary. The movie made me really want to see Anvil succeed. I hope they get a portion of whatever the film and book earns. And if they ever play in LA I will definitely go see the them. Currently they're touring Europe. When they get to the US next month, they'll be playing at Rocklahoma and opening for AC/DC in Massachusetts.

I knew the Kogi truck was going to be on the way back home, so we drove by to see how many people were in line. Fortunately, it was 10 before 10pm, so they weren't open yet and the line was fairly short. I introduced my friend to Korean tacos and she loved them. I was looking forward to the pork belly special, but they ran out and replaced my disappointment with cinnamon cookies and Kogi sliders, which had the taco stuffings in between bread instead of in between a tortilla. I think the sliders would've been better had there been spam in between the buns. The short rib was still very tasty though.

Cloverfield

Not the GREATEST movie I've ever seen. Honestly, I probably only saw about 15% of the movie. The rest of the time I had to look away from the screen due to motion sickness. I can't help it, sometimes I even get motion sickness from 1st person shooter games! So, I either kept my eyes closed or looked away from the screen unless the monster was running by or something. Also, the scene with the night vision was pretty cool. Otherwise, the movie didn't really make me care about the people that much. The characters were kind of vapid. They were gossipy and cared about stupid things, but I guess the appeal of the movie was that you were experiencing what they were going through like you were right there with them. I still liked the Korean movie The Host much better.

High Note: good choices for music at the party. I can't believe they played Coconut Records' "West Coast". Hells yes! Spoon, Gorillaz, Ratatat. They should've released a soundrack.
Low Note: Only character I liked in the movie was Lizzy Caplan and her sarcasm and she wasn't even there for the entire movie

Juno and Sweeney Todd

Juno

Oh Juno, you won me over with "Oh and Sonic Youth sucks. It's just noise!" So true. W is always touting the greatness of Sonic Youth, but I just never got it. They sound SO noisy and distorted to me. Oh, boo me if you want. I'm going to complain about certain types of music and if you don't like it, then try to change my mind by making me the best mix of their music possible as proof. Otherwise, shut up!
Right from the beginning the movie reminded me of Napoleon Dynamite. Maybe it's the cute acoustic song playing along with the animation. The soundtrack was mostly acoustic with quirky lyrics. Some of them sounded really off key or like they were sung during an impromptu session where they made up the lyrics just a few minutes ago. I did like the creativity of the lyrics though. But I didn't like some of the really off key songs or maybe I don't really like The Moldy Peaches or maybe like Dan from TRS says, it's all too "lo-fi" for my taste. Although I do have to give them props for having Belle and Sebastien, Buddy Holly, and Cat Power. Admittedly, the Sonic Youth cover is alright, but I have to listen to it a few more times to be fully convinced. All the lo-fi songs do make sense when you get to the end where 2 of the main characters close the movie singing a sweet cover of the Moldy Peaches' Anyone Else But You. I think that probably won everyone over.

Low Note: I thought it was plausible that Juno spoke the way she did even though most people thought her speech was much too intelligent for someone her age. What I did find implausible was that a cheerleader would be best friends with an outcast. Yeah, right.
High Note: Belle and Sebastien and Juno said exactly how I've always felt about Sonic Youth.

Sweeney Todd

I loved the cinematography, the direction, the costumes. The way Tim Burton zoomed through the city made it seem really big and showed off the great architecture. The murder scenes were kind of shocking and so bloody. I loved how bright and vibrant the blood was (even though it was unrealistic, but it seemed to fit). Ms. Lovett's dream sequence was masterful. It was so shocking. It was like watching characters from a black and white movie enter technicolor. They looked SO cute in these color sequences and so out of place. I wish I could get some of these scenes as posters. Johnny Depp surprised me with his singing. He has a really good voice. The acting was great from everyone. Jamie Campbell had model good looks, but sometimes his giant eyes creeped me out.

Low Note: I'm sure Johanna had some operatic training or something, but her voice was WAY too high pitched for me. It hurt my ears.