Across the Universe.

Recently, I rented Across the Universe (using one of my free Redbox codes) and well, let's just say I am very grateful it was free! Quick review of things I like: The Beatles, musicals, movies, music, the '60's, and strawberries. Following the mathematical formula Things I Like multiplied by Number of Things I Like = Movie I Like, I should have liked this movie. But I didn't and it made me sad. I don't know if I'm just an oddball here, I was really surprised this has a 7.7 out of 10 on IMDB. Maybe I had too high expectations?

Basic summary of my general dislike: too long, and I just didn't care about the characters or story.

Longer explanation of my dislike starts off with the biggest annoyance, I just didn't buy the "love" between the two main characters. I guess I should stop here and say "Spoilers Ahead." Anywho, Lucy and Jude seemed to just end up together because they were near one another. I get that he dug her from when he first saw her, but she was in love with someone else and there didn't seem to be any chemistry. I feel like it would have been more effective to have it be a love at first sight kind of story or show the audience him pursuing her. Going on one walk doesn't count. They had a nice little moment when they first met with their flirty teeth talk but then nothing.

I think they could have done this better and my suggestion would be to kill off Lucy's brother and Jude's roommate and friend, Max, when he went to Vietnam. This would have brought Jude and Lucy together and made Lucy's anti-war stance even more justified. Sub rant: Lucy went from being a preppy high school kid to dressing like a soccer mom, they could have tossed a little bit of hippie on her instead of vomiting it all over Sadie's wardrobe.

#2 -- It pissed me off how the writer threw in random side characters in order to reference another Beatles' song. Oh, did she really "come in through the bathroom window?" How clever and hip you are movie! I could have lived without lesbian Prudence disappearing and reappearing, and Sadie and Jojo's band and their woes. To me, these made the movie too long and dragged it down. They could have used that time to build and develop Jude and Lucy's relationship. A lot of what happened and was sung could have happened without the shift to those characters.

Next up is the whole ridiculousness with Lucy being mad at Jude for not going out and being more active in the anti-war movement. Bitch, he was in this country illegally to be with your dumb ass thus why it's probably best for him to avoid any legal trouble. This brings up another point, I'm not exactly sure why Jude had to be English. Was it just because The Beatles were? He got deported (because of dumb Lucy) and then seemed to get a real Visa in about two weeks. Oh, heavens! However did the star crossed lovers handle such separation?

Returning to the war issue, but I felt that it didn't affect Jude. Yes, it affected him because it was a major world event in his lifetime, it was wrong and horrible, innocent people died and his best friend was drafted, but it wasn't like super personal. As Lucy mentioned, he couldn't get drafted and they never mention any of the war's effect on England and his family and friends there. Again, another good reason to have killed Max.

I will be nice and say that everyone in the film could sing very will and I think Jim Sturgess did a good job as Jude. Other positives included the bowling alley scene (musical numbers in bowling alleys rock) for the awesome song and showing Jude and his attraction to Lucy, and the Mr. Kite scene and its effects or whatever it would be called.

I really wanted to like this movie, but it just didn't happen. I just didn't care. They had good material to work with (the entire Beatles' catalog) and good basics for a story, but it needed a bit more thought and focus. It might be worth a rental to play in the background while you hang out, but it's not seeing in a theater or buying the DVD worthy.

Wow, that was long! If you made it through all that, please reward yourself with this gem.

I Recommend.

Redbox -- Movies for ONE DOLLAR per night! Well, alright it's a dollar plus tax so it's a whopping $1.06 in PA. Sign up on their website and get a free rental then you get a free rental code about once every two weeks as well. I have been seeing these kiosks all over the place lately.

The Bad: It's only new releases and "mainstream" movies. (Although, I don't know if this will change in the future though since it's a fairly new service in most areas.) You don't get the special features if they are not on the main DVD.

Hulu -- Free and legal TV! Sign up for the beta and you can watch new and old shows from NBC, Fox, USA, Bravo, E! and others. (My addictions: Arrested Development, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Always Sunny in Philadelphia) There also is some random movies including The Breakfast Club and Weekend at Bernie's.

The Bad: There is a limited amount of programs. Sometimes, they are missing some seasons or episodes from shows which can be annoying.They have "limited commercial interruptions," but they can get fucked up and take longer than they should but you can't bypass them.

The 2006 Nutshell.

Wow, I wrote something! Woohoo! I was going to make a best of something list for 2006, but I don’t want to hurt any inanimate objects or people who don’t know or care about me’s feelings. So, without further adieu, (I love that word) I present Joanne’s non-numbered list of fun/great/awesome/yay! Things of 2006.

The Decemberists
If I were the kind of person to make a CD list, The Crane Wife would definitely be on there. It’s delightful to my ears and I like how they pronounce certain words all funny like cinnamon. Sin A Mon. Getting drunk and seeing them in concert is never a bad idea and neither is doing it sober.

That Outback song
Okay, so this year I had a total mom moment. I was listening to the radio and was like “Hey, this song is fun…La la la…Why do they keep mentioning outback? Are they Australian? I bet they are. I wonder if they know Nicole Kidman, every other Australian does. Hmm, wait, I’m pretty sure they are singing about the Outback restaurant. Oh, for fuck’s sake, it’s a commercial Joanne, you idiot.”

(I swear that is how it went down in my head.)

So yeah, I know nothing about who sings it or if they are a real band or not, but I love it and if I ate steak I would totally go outback tonight because life will still be there tomorrow…

Miracle in the Andes: 72 Days on the Mountain and My Long Trek Home by Nando Parrado
As many of you know, I have an obsession with the story of the Uruguayan rugby team being stranded on the Andes. It’s kind of a sick obsession I guess, but it’s a true story and is way better than most fiction. I read Alive first, but if you were only going to read one of these, I would read Parrado’s book. (If you saw the movie, Nando is played by Ethan Hawke.) I don’t know how to describe it exactly, but it’s heartwarming and touching without being cheesy. I think I cried about three pounds of tears. It really is a story about love and God, but Parrado has such a nice view of religion and on life in general.

PS. I totally would have died within 4 minutes if that happened to me.

Heroes
I like TV. I like watching and reading about it because I am a nerd. Some of it really stinks, but some of it is really good (The Office, Veronica Mars, How I Met Your Mother) and Heroes is really good. It had a weird start with all the over talking and explaining. (I understand the moving images in front of me, please stop.) But it’s gotten much better so don’t be lame, watch it. There are a few characters I could live without, I’m looking at you, stupid Niki/Jessica/DL and Indian guy with all your talking and being dumb, but the cast is large and overall pretty awesome, especially now looking at you, Masi Oka.

The Departed
There actually isn’t much to say here because of the two people who read this you know how I felt about this movie. As odd it is, it’s a good sign when Juan has to change his shirt after seeing a movie.

Nintendo Wii
I suck at sports and things that involve hand eye coordination and balance and skills and standing upright and walking and telling stories, but in spite of all that, I still have fun playing Wii. I seriously doubt actually running around with a tennis racket is as fun as swinging a Wiimote back and forth. Although, having a sword and killing evil bats is probably more fun in real life than in Zelda…

Having a Job
It sucks and I hate it, but I have one and I’m thankful plus I do ridiculous stuff everyday and contribute to society like a good citizen.

Gnarls Barkley
Again, if I were to commit to having a best CD of 2006 list, I may or may not say St. Elsewhere would be in the top quadrant, but besides the music, the duo (look at me with my fancy use of the word "duo") in general is fun. There are costumes! And fake names! It’s like musical theater, but cool! Exclamation point!

Sweaty Robot
You know what, this whole list is based on biases because it’s my list and whatever I want can go on so why not add Sweaty Robot? They make things that are funny and the world needs more funny.

The Internet
Okay, so the Internet isn’t 2006-specific but it makes life so much easier and I feel like we should think about that every once in awhile. Everything you could ever want (and ever not want) is just a few seconds away. It helps me pass the time at work and it entertains me with its words, images and videos. So Yay! for you Internet, high five!

There was lots of other great stuff in 2006, but quite frankly, my brain hurts and I should really get back to work. Bonjour!

Cowboys Make Better Lovers.

I saw Brokeback Mountain this weekend. Twice. It was really fucking good. I don't normally gush about movies too much, but it was one of the best movies I've seen. It kept my complete attention the entire time even despite sitting on the floor in the aisle the first time I saw it and immature assholes laughing and making jokes throughout the second time. I shushed them like a mom at one point though.

The story is really well told and well acted. I cried like a big girl both times. Heath Ledger (Side Bar: I totally love 10 Things I Hate About You) and Jake Gyllenhaal were perfect and Michelle Williams has come a long ass way from her Dawson's Creek days. Plus it's just a pretty movie. I don't know anything about movie technical stuff, but the scenes were very postcard-esque. Like the images on screen were set-up and organized well like a photograph. I don't know what that is called in the film world or if that even makes sense.

Everyone should go see it and not be stupid assholes about it being "gay."