MA: A lesson of high school humility.

High school or even junior high for many can be classified as a major struggle. Personally I was not a popular kid. I wasn't invited to parties or to hang out with the so called cool kids. And despite wanting to be excepted it seemed the more I would push the worst it would get. Between the awkwardness of puberty and not understanding anything your boy is going through or how to deal with the rush of hormones that seemed to make everything a bigger deal than it needed to be, it seemed that in those moments I would never survive. We all have stories and I am sure when I say all I mean all. Despite how popular someone is, you never really know what is going on behind the scenes. 

Behind the creepiness of an grow woman befriending high school students is a larger message. We are all a little damaged, but some of us can't let that damage go. New girl Maggie (Diana Silvers) and her mom Erica (Juliette Lewis) move back to Erica's hometown. As the movie starts the audience doesn't know that Erica has taken her daughter back to her hometown. Maggie, starts her first day of school where she meets Genie (Tanyell Waivers) a girl in a electric wheelchair that needs a push up the school ramp. This could be considered a throw away moment, but it's important to remember a good director doesn't do anything without reason.

Maggie is quickly befriended by the popular kids. Haley (McKaley Miller), Andy ( Corey Fogelmanis), Chaz (Gianni Paolo), and Darrell (Dante Brown). After plans to spend the weekend with her mother fall through she decides to meetup with Haley and friends. This is when we meet MA, who's real name is Sue Ann (Octavia Spencer). After Darrell strikes out trying to get a stranger to buy them alcohol they send out Maggie. MA comes down the road walking a dog and seems very kind and sweet and shall we say normal. Maggie asks and at first MA says no, but once she notices the name of the van that Andy is driving she changes her tune. MA steps up and buys the group some booze in what seems like a innocent although reckless act.

However, it's very clear that MA is obsessed with these kids and has an ulterior motive as she stars to Facebook stalk the group of friends. It's unsettling to watch a grown woman become so invested in high school age children. But, you start to realize the children are just the medium to help her play out her larger plan. The kids head to the rock pile to drink. It's one of those places every small town has, abandon and a great place to get into trouble without the watchful eyes of adults. Although I got the impression these parent's are not too invested in what their children are doing, but that's a conversation for a different day. We see MA calling Andy's father, who by the way is sitting in a company van as his FWB Mercedes (Missi Pyle) goes down on him. Unfortunate time to get a phone call, but believe it or not the act in which is happening does have some meaning behind it.  Ben answers the phone and is told he's son is participating in some underage drinking out at the rock pile. What's frustrating, is it's unclear if this was MA's plan all along. Get the kids in trouble so they would be more willing to party at her place.

It's clear that Andy and friends don't know what MA sold them out and they all decided it's a good idea to go back to her for help give MA the perfect opening to offer them a safe place to party. But in my opinion at this point MA has exhibited some major red flags, and the kids, seeing that they're kids and despite growing up in a world where it's now more important than ever not to talk to strange adults, don't seem to be worried.  For me the "get the fuck away from this chick" moment came when she pulled a gun on Chaz and made him completely strip in front of her and his friends. MA pulls the LOL just kidding guys card and says the gun doesn't even work and instructs Chaz to get dressed. This, however, doesn't actually deter the kids from hanging out at MAs or preventing other students from parting with her.

Maggie is the only one who seems to be put off by MA's behavior. In the meantime we learn that Erica, who's working at the local casino didn't just move her and her daughter to some random small town in middle of know where America, but in fact this was her hometown and after running into Ben, Andy's father, and Mercedes, Ben's side piece the audience learns they were all friends once upon a time in high school. Mercedes clearly has not gotten over whatever drama went down when they were kids as she points out in front of the casino guest and Ben that Erica was back home  despite all those years of saying she was getting out.

In my opinion Erica handled the humility quite well considering it was very easy to see Mercedes was going out of her way to show those around them that in her opinion Erica failed and had to come crawling back home. It's this sort of behavior that seem to be the central point of the movie. We all have dreams and goals. High school was not easy, I don't care if you where the most popular kid or a total nerd, high school was a total failed social experiment, but we all survived. Or maybe it's not so much that we survived but we grew up and moved on with our lives.

MA has not moved on and she has let the actions of her past dictate her actions in the present and future. Part of me feels bad for her. What happens to MA in the past isn't nice, it's down right mean and was clearly meant to humiliate her and Ben, Mercedes, and Erica succeeded. In this case when those kids asked MA for her help and she realized who their parents were, in her mind it presented a once in a life time opportunity for sweet revenge.

Maggie asked Andy to stop going to MAs. She doesn't have a good feeling and Andy promises. But what would a movie be if Maggie didn't have a reason to go back, and in this case she has two. Maggie and Haley realize that MA has been taking items from the guests who come and party. Haley noticed the bracelet MA was wearing belonged to a friend of her's who asked if MA would be okay with hosting a birthday party. Maggie and Haley both have jewelry missing and Haley is convinced Ma has stolen her grandmother's ring. So they do the only logical thing they can think of doing, they break into Ma's house.

Ma had one rule, do not go upstairs and into her home. Haley already broke that rule when she decided she had to go up stairs to use the bathroom. We all know what it's like when you're super drunk and you have to pee. It can take forever. Well in this case it took long enough for MA to find them and kick them downstairs. Apart from the fact breaking into someone's home is always a bad idea, the person's home they're breaking into has already displayed disturbing actions, but Haley was determined to get her grandmother's ring back.

The discovery of what was hiding in that house was not what the girls were expecting. They found a room covered in photos of all of them and their parents. And without warning they met Genie. Who turns out to be Ma's daughter who can in fact walk. It seems like there is some sort of Munchhausen by proxy going on, but it seems to be a plot point that is introduced but never actually explained. This is the turning point of the movie. The secrets out and there's no turning back. We end with three people dead, a house burnt down and scares to last a life time. 

I enjoyed this movie. I didn't really go into it with any sort of expectations. I was just looking for something to watch. I was surprised that I  walked away with a deeper meaning within this movie. The reality is bullying is a major problem. Some could argue that in today's world bullying is wore than ever, and perhaps their right. We live in a world where social media is king. Between Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter there are number of platforms out there for people to pass around their hate and dislike.

Bullying has been around likely sine the dawn of time. It's a basic Darwinian theory. The strong survive and the weak do not. Perhaps Darwin didn't realize just how advanced we as a society would become, or how much the world would change that his theory like many would shift as we evolved. But this movie paints a clear picture of how the actions of our past can become the scars of our future.

What MA experienced is something I would hope never happens to anyone, but I am a realist and have a feeling MA's pain is something that is very real for many people today. The truth is, there will always be those who are less popular, and those who seem to walk on water. And this is not just something children in school struggle with, it's something humans struggle to get through. However, we can't let our hate for someone eat at us. We also can't just sit back and watch someone be bullied and harassed. We need to actively  work towards making changes. Teach people it's okay to dislike someone, you are not going to like every person or thing you come upon. But we need to teach tolerance and respect. You can dislike someone but have enough respect for yourself to leave that person alone.

Overall, this movie was decent and worth a watch. So check it out!

The Magic's Back!

  I was going to start this post telling you how I felt about the five Oscar Best Picture Nominations I saw Saturday night.  However, as the 2012 Oscar telecast comes to a close I decided to take a different approach.  I'd like to start by saying, "thank you Billy Crystal, thank you!"  You brought back the magic of the Oscars!

  Why do we watch movies?  What's the appeal of going to the theatre and spending two and a half to three hours in a dark room when you could be doing something more productive?  The answer in my opinion is simple, we like to get swept away by an incredible story.  A story that can not only move us to tears and laughter, but can inspire us.  That was the point of this years Oscar's.  To bring us back to the basics and remind us of the golden days of cinema.  Like Gil (Owen Wilson)  in the movie "Midnight in Paris" we all yearn to return to a time when things seemed simpler and life was an ongoing party.

  "The Artist" brought us back to a time when movies were simple.  Black and White, no sound and well there were no special effects.  I truly believed I was watching an old silent film and it did a great job embodying classic cinema, however this movie was lost on me.  I would love to say it moved me and had me wanting more, but I can't I was glad when it ended.  Maybe I'm just not artsy enough to love this movie.  I can see why the Academy nominated and awarded this film Best Picture, Director and Actor.  This was a truly "Artsy" film.  But was I moved, did I feel a connection to the characters, no.  I just felt like I wanted it to end and I wanted to see a move in color with sound.

  Like I said in the beginning I am not going to go on and on about what I liked and didn't like.  Because to be completely honest, I could have done without most of the Best Picture nominees this year.  But the show was spectacular.  Billy Crystal did a wonderful job.  He along with a sloo of celebrities told us why they like movies and why we are moved to tears and laughter!  And regardless of how I felt about all nine Best Picture nominees I cannot deny they all had one thing in common.  They reminded us why we go to the movies and why we will continue to go to the movies.

  We are all looking for an escape even for those short two and half to three hours. And even if we get it once a week or once a month we are all expecting the same end result, to be entertained.  I might not have been completely entertained by the movies this year, but I was very entertained by the Oscar's.  I can only hope Billy returns next year and the magic continues.  And for all those film makers and film lovers out there, lets remember the past and hope we can continue to embrace the new while infusing it with the old.

It's the whimsical world of fairy tales!

Who doesn't love a good fairy tale?  They are wonderful stories that not only take us away from the harsh reality of life, but can also offer us hours of mindless entertainment.  

As we all know Hollywood has always embraced the wonderful world of fairy tales, I mean HELLO Disney has made millions off of these fun stories.  And now we not only get one new live action Snow White movie but two, "Mirror Mirror" staring Julie Roberts coming out March 30th and "Snow White and the Huntsman" staring Kristen Stewart and Charlize Theron coming out June 1st. But for those of us who love this type of fantasy entertainment and have watched "Buffy" and "Angel" over and over to the point you can quote the episodes in your sleep, we now have "Grimm" and "Once Upon A Time."

So lets get to the point of this post, which one really shines when it comes to entertainment.  Both shows are great in their own right, but I think "Grimm" out shines "Once Upon A Time."  I find "Grimm's" premise to be much more original than "Once Upon A Time."  It simply asked the question: what if the Grimm Brothers were not just writing down stories to teach us morality lessons, but what if, in fact they were taking a detail inventory of all the evils in the world and how to kill them? The show focus around Detective Nick Burkhardt (David Giuntoli).  Nick works for the Portland Police Department solving what are normal everyday cases until his aunt comes to visit.  She tells him she's dying and needs to tell him about his past and what really happen to his parents.  However, before Nick and his aunt can have a  heart to heart chat she's attacked and ends up in the hospital.  While fighting off his aunt's attacker Nick notices his face changes and a monster is revealed.  Nick is able to get some information out of his aunt before she dies, most importantly that he is a Grimm and is the last in the Grimm bloodline.  It is now his job to help fight off the evils of the world and keep humanity safe.  Nothing like having the weight of the world on your shoulders and no one to help you out!  Luckily Nick's aunt left him her trailer filled with all the resources a Grimm might need, oh and his best friend happens to be a Bluebod or a Big Bad Wolf.  Now what those normal everyday cases are anything but, and the world of "Grimm" is crossing over into the "real" world.  It's up to Nick to make it right.

"Once Upon A Time" takes a look at what happens when an Evil Queen cast a spell transporting all the fairy tale characters to our world! Here's the problem no one remembers who they are.  They only know the life they have been living in our world, however, most of them seem to lack a strong understanding of their past.  So now Snow White (Ginnifer Goodwin) is a teacher, her daughter is a bounty hunter, Prince Charming is a coma patient and the Evil Queen, well she just happens to be the Mayor is this lovely town they all live in, a place ironically called Storybrooke!  We meet Henry (Jared Gilmore) who happens to be the biological son of Emma Swan (Jennifer Morrison). Henry explains to Swan that she is his mother and he needs her help to free the resident of Storybrooke from the prison they are unknowingly living in! Swan has a hard time dealing with the fact her son has just shown up seeing she asked for a closed adoption, but she take pity on the boy and lets him tell her the whole story.  Henry explains that Emma is Snow White and Prince Charming's daughter and she is the only one who can save these characters from this evil curse.  We soon find out that Henry's adopted mother is none other than the Mayor of Storybrooke and he truly believes she is the Evil Queen!  As the show continues Emma stays in Storybrooke becoming the Sheriff.  Show by show more is revealed about each character blending flashbacks between the fairy tale world and our world.

Both shows have their strong points.  Clearly "Once Upon A Time" is more light hearted and whimsical.  Also the flashbacks revealing who each character was in the fairy world is a neat aspect of the show.  I think that's my favorite part of the hour long show,  the fantasy angle.  I would classify "Once Upon A Time" as a show the whole family can enjoy.  "Grimm" is much darker, usually focused around a strange murder somehow intertwined with a fairy tale.  For those who are "Buffy" and "Angel" fans this show might just be up your alley. The show is written by "Buffy" and "Angel" producer David Greenwalt.  Sean Hayes of "Will and Grace" fame is also an Executive Producer.  And although the cast may not have as many famous names attached to it as "Once Upon A Time" it's cast can hold it's own without a list of famous names to help it in the ratings race!

Luckily for those who might find both show intriguing you don't have to pick one over the other.  "Grimm" is on Friday night on NBC 8 o'clock cst. "Once Upon A Time" is on Sunday night on ABC 7 o'clock cst.  So why not watch both and decide for yourself which one is better!

  

The Secret World of Arrietty

Tonight I decided since I was going to be watching a friends nine year old daughter I would take the opportunity to see a movie that was more kid geared. So upon the request of said nine year old we adventured out to see a 7:35 showing of "The Secret World of Arrietty." Now let me be very clear when it comes to watching children's movies I really do prefer seeing them after they have come out on DVD or weeks after the release in order to avoid the small children who can't sit still or stop talking, so this was a big gamble for me. However, I was rather intrigued to see another movie by director Hiromasa Yonebayashi and writer Hayao Miyazaki. I rather enjoyed both "Howl's Moving Castle" and "Spirited Away."

So after going through the normal riga ma-roll of taking a nine year old to the movies, popcorn with just the right amount of butter and salt the extra napkins and a quick run to the bathroom we found our seats in a semi packed theatre. It wasn't one of the biggest theaters in the place but for it's size it was filling up nicely.

Shortly after about 7:38 the movie began and I settled in with the nine year old munching on her popcorn and waiting wide eyed for this fun movie. Now as I mentioned before I am a fan of Hiromasa Yonebayashi and Hayao Miyazaki, they were the reason I wanted to see this movie (besides it being a request from a friend), but I really did not know anything about this movie except it seemed very close to the 1997 John Goodman movie "The Borrowers." Upon looking into this movie I realized in fact the 1997 movie and this movie was based on the same story. I did not however, know this move and the one in '97 was based on the "Borrowers" book series by Mary Norton. I did not read this series so I am not going to even try to compare them. I did however see "The Borrowers" and I was never a fan.

This time around I have to say I honestly enjoyed this movie. Now I am not saying it was the greatest movie this director and writer have ever done but it was rather enjoyable. The story focuses around a family of borrowers who are about 4 inches tall maybe less and live under the floor boards of a house. We meet Shawn (David Henrie) who is going to stay with is Aunt at her house out in the country to get some rest and relaxation. Upon his arrival he notices something or rather someone in the bushes. As Arrietty (Bridget Mendler) rushes off back to her house the adventure begins. Arrietty's journey begins that evening as she heads out with her father Pod (Will Arnett) for her first Borrower experience, it's there she meets Shawn for the first time face to face. This interaction leads Shawn to seek out the little people living under the floor and forces Arrietty and her family to make tough decisions about their future.

When I walked out of the theatre there were a few things that hit me. One, the music in this movie was one of the best parts. It was beautiful and helped move the movie along. I thought to myself "I wouldn't mind downloading this soundtrack it would be great relaxation music." Second I was extremely impressed with the drawing and painting in every scene. As my little nine year old friend said, "Every scene looks like a portrait." I could not have agreed more with that statement! It was truly brilliantly illustrated, not that I'd expect anything less from Miyazaki and Yonebayashi. And the third thing that crossed my mind was wow for a kids movie that was rather long and it kind of felt long too.

So if you're a parent looking to take your kids to see this movie I suggest taking the older kids. Even my nine year old friend had issues towards the end, squirming in here seat. It is, however, a very family friendly movie and can be enjoyed by all. The shinning star award goes to Amy Poehler who voiced Arrietty's mother Homily. Her vocal expression and inflections were spot on. She made a cartoon very likable and relatable. In my opinion she truly stole the movie!

"The Secret World of Arrietty"

Run time: 1 hr. 35 min

Will Arnett

Bridget Mendler

David Henrie

Amy Peohler

Carol Burnett

In theaters everywhere, check your local listings for show times.

Fast and Furious

So I decided to go with a friend and see the latest installment of Fast and Furious franchise. Let me state for the record I was okay with going I liked the first one and knew this one was going to be a continuation of the first one. So I went into the show thinking this should be fun and exciting.
Now please understand I consider this movie the sequel to The Fast and Furious. And it does a good job of picking up about 5 years after the original. I will be the first person to tell you these types of movies are never watched because the acting is just amazing and the plot lines will just blow your mind. Hell they are movies you watch because they are FUN!!! They make you go man I wanna do that!
So when the new one came out that's what I was looking for. But sadly this time around that is not what happen. I cars were cool and flashy and the action was great, but the plot was weak. I know I know these movies you watch for a good plot, but in this case a strong plot could have really made the action even better.
I have to say what made this movie work was the chemistry between Paul and Walker and Vin Diesel. The two of them really know how to bounce off each other. The two of them seem to work the bad ass persona very well.
Over all the movie was decent. If makes for a evening that does not require you to t think too hard and you can relax. However, this does fall into the category of don’t waste the 10 dollars on the ticket and wait for it to come out. Hell watch The Fast and The Furious and then Fast and Furious. Might just be fun!