The Pop Culture Addict’s Blog

I loved Kung Fu Panda. I was really surprised. I thought it would be cute and fun. But I didn’t expect it to be a solid movie all around. It wasn’t offensive in any way. It was beautifully created and presented. The colors, the characters, the background were all captivating. I was totally impressed by the action sequences. The martial arts sequences were excellent! I really liked the single dumpling scene. Plus, I could relate to being motivated by delicious food. I liked how Po, the Panda (voiced by Jack Black), is not skilled initially, but then his innate talents are brought out and he can actually fight with grace and power. The villain,Tai Lung (voiced by Ian “Deadwood” McShane) was also memorable, and incredibly cool to watch. Seeing it in IMAX was well worth it. So color me surprised as I give Kung Fu Panda a high recommend!

The Happening

The Happening was another nice surprise. I liked it and thought it was good. I liked Kung Fu Panda better. But I still was pleasantly surprised by the cohesiveness of The Happening. I think M. Night Shymalan is always interesting but inconsistent. He has intriguing ideas I want to hear more about but sometimes the execution falls a bit short. Nevertheless, I’ve seen all of his movies in the theater so I’m still paying for his salary. The Sixth Sense still holds it all for me. When someone puts out something great their first time out, I think about how they have been preparing their whole life up until then. But everything that follows has a different (read: shorter) timeline and higher expectations. I think a good example is The Sopranos. David Chase thought about the story long and hard. He even conceived it as a possible movie so the characters were fleshed out, the storylines had full arcs. Thus, The Sopranos Season 1 remains a stand alone masterpiece. The Sopranos overall is a masterpiece. But nothing compares to season 1.

But I digress. I liked the simplicity of The Happening but I also think it worked that the “twist” we’ve come to expect from M. Night Shymalan stories was presented in a nice low-key manner and allowed to build in meaning over the course of the movie. It wasn’t a big reveal at the end. Instead, it was postulated early on and then developed by the characters and by the viewers as we watched.

Oh, if you recall, I just finished watching Wonderfalls on dvd. Bryan Fuller and Todd Holland mentioned that they had thought through seasons 2 and 3. One character they wanted to bring back was Peter Johnson (Spencer Breslin), the kid who ends up with a Russian bride (really fiance) and then takes a liking to Jaye (Caroline Dhavernas). Anyway, I didn’t even recognize Spencer Breslin (Abigail “Signs” Breslin’s older bro) in The Happening. He grew up into a teenager like Walt did on Lost. Anyway, I enjoy finding segues in my pop culture life.

Here is one last pop culture segue. I just re-watched Be Kind Rewind and then I went to see Kung Fu Panda. The common factor? Jack Black. So how did Be Kind Rewind hold up upon a second viewing? It has a great premise with Jack Black accidentally erasing all the video tapes in a video tape store and Mos Def and Jack Black thinking the solution is to re-create all of the movies on their own. I love the ideas of Michel Gondry. He is thoughtful and fascinatingly creative. Everything he does has something worth watching. But some works are more complete and compelling than others. His music videos are amazing. Dave Chappelle’s Block Party was excellent. The Science of Sleep was cute but not as well-executed as Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. His direction is stronger than his writing. Maybe he needs a collaborator to help him finesse his thoughts. Anyway, Be Kind Rewind is more consistent than Science of Sleep which he also wrote and directed. There are many endearing qualities to it and hilarious moments and concepts. I would say Be Kind Rewind stands up to a second viewing. I only wish Michel Gondry had done a commentary on the dvd. There is just a 10-minute featurette and the trailer which is probably the funniest thing through and through as it leaves the viewer wanting more.

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Saw a new Italian movie Night Bus. Chungking Express meets Afterhours with a tiny bit of Fast and the Furious thrown in. Funny thing – Richard Pena, moderator of Q&A commented on HK style of movie and first time director, Davide Marengao who had just said he was influenced by everything admitted he hasn’t seen any HK films. Night Bus was cute enough. Had a fair amount of intrigue and action but a lot of it was standard double crossing, mistaken identity, accidental bungling fare. But 1) every story has already been told so it is a matter of telling it compellingly and/or entertainingly and 2) it turns out to be based on a novel which explains all the characters and simultaneous plotlines. It also let me forgive the director a little knowing he didn’t write the script or story. And the end credits were very cute with every single cast and crew member walking out of a bus as the crawl went by on the other side of the screen.

Also, I almost forgot to watch the MTV Movie Awards. For me, I always love watching Chris Brown dance. I would’ve preferred a performance of just him but the so-called dance off with Mike Myers worked well enough. Then I liked the viral video piece with Ben Stiller, Jack Black and Robert Downey, Jr. Ditto on their award presentation schtick. Johnny Depp is just too cool. How can he stand it? It was cool he attended and he looked incredibly suave in his low key but extremely stylish way. He is always good in what he does. Those were the highlights. I really didn’t think much of the rest.

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Most of you probably haven’t heard of this little movie. Instead of seeing SATC the Movie on opening night with the masses of mostly, if not all, women, I went with the smattering of mostly guys who went to see The Foot Fist Way on opening night. So it isn’t for everyone but if you liked Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and other off-kilter male-oriented humor, you will like this one. It is an indie comedy co-written and directed by Jody Hill (also playing best friend Mike McAlister) about a Tae Kwon Do instructor, Fred Simmons, played by Danny R. McBride, living and working in North Carolina. His biggest source of inspiration is a B-level action star Chuck “The Truck” Wallace played by co-writer Ben Best and his love for his wife, Suzie, played by Mary Jane Bostic. I have to say, it was very funny and very sweet. His elementary aged assistant instructor and general right hand, er, man?, never got old for me. Patton Oswalt is a fan. And Will Ferrell and Adam McKay loved it so much, they put their names behind it (Video interview: Will Ferrell and Adam McKay).

MONGOL

Though by now Mongol has been out for a while, I did go to a preview screening and thought it was very interesting. It was beautifully shot and the story was very interestingly told. Plus, there was good food at the reception afterwards!

LOST SEASON FINALE

I’ve watched No Place Like Home Parts 1, 2 and 3 twice now. Actually, I’ve watched part 1 three times. And I may re-watch the finale one more time sometime soon. But needless to say, wowza. Also, it made me want to re-watch the previous seasons. I dug out my season 1 and it is on my list of things to watch this summer. My thoughts are not as intriguing and entertaining as EW’s Doc Jensen of Powell’s J Wood but I’ll sprinkle in a few here.

So I commented to my fellow LOST PCA, “My head is spinning…” and she wrote back:

ok I watched it (and last weeks ep, with the enhanced subtitles) and I
totally agree……wowza.

first off….when Hurley told Walt about protecting the ppl on the
island, I cheered! BUT….on the actual island, I think the way they
forced the whole revelation of “lie in order to protect the island”
was
a bit of a stretch. It was underdeveloped. why would you have to lie if
there is no island there? Not to mention, its just believable how often
Jack and Locke just accept something completely confusing and keep
moving along. I dont think Jack would see all that Orchid craziness and
just leave like that. I think Locke would want more answers before
leaving to join the Others.
also, I didnt understand Clare and Kate’s episode…..dont bring the
baby back to the island? why? it seems like life on the island was
pretty decent, lol.
Also, why does Sun blame only her dad and Jack for Jin’s death? Just
because Jack stopped Kate from getting Jin?

obviously I loved the Locke in the coffin.

but yeah, I’m massively confused.

And I responded:

I re-watched all 3 hours and I am glad I did.

I heard Walt had too big a growth spurt to be back but now that they are
3 years beyond, he can join them as they try to go back to the island.
They did a good job like you said, of answering questions and bringing
some resolution. I was totally gratified by the reunion of Desmond and
Penny. I think it was clear to both of them the “him” of Jack’s warning
“don’t let him find you” is Penny’s father. I want them to be safe
especially now that Ben is on the warpath for Penny. Someone (EW?) made
the speculation that moving the island results in Ben time-traveling 10
months into the future (october 2005) and that it seems likely the
island also got moved in time to the same. So it is still in the same
place but it just doesn’t exist in december 2004 anymore. Anyway, I
[was wondering if] Locke had to use a wheelchair when he came
back to see them…Oh, I am unsure of the Kate/Clare
encounter too.

So, we can re-watch season 4 when it comes out on dvd. Or there is always abc.com! Btw, I do see that we both wrote Claire as “Clare” but in the heat of the discussion, we got it wrong. Anyway, I continue to ponder the finale.

DOLLHOUSE Countdown, or, JOSS WHEDON is still a TV GOD

I don’t know if the last time I wrote I had finished re-watching all seven seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer but I have. Such a perfect ending awakening the power of all the potential slayers. I have also completed my re-watching of all five seasons of Angel. I would’ve liked to have seen another couple of seasons of Angel. They were disappointed to be canceled as well which means they had ideas for where to take it. They had the Illyria character played by Amy Acker (now to be seen in Dollhouse) to explore. They would’ve kept Wesley alive to see how that relationship developed. To see Connor more integrated into life on planet Earth was nice and I see how they could’ve brought his character back at least periodically. But then Vincent Kartheiser wouldn’t have done Mad Men. And that show is really impressive and engrossing. Plus, I do like seeing the lighter side of David Boreanaz on Bones. So, then I dug out my Firefly dvds and re-watched them. I did watch them when they aired originally and remember liking it and wanting more time with it when it was abruptly canceled in December of 2002. But even people who never watched Buffy, Angel or Firefly probably went to see Serenity in the theaters in 2005. Serenity was the movie based on the characters and stories Joss Whedon created on Firefly. So, to be complete, I re-watched Serenity. Next, I’m thinking of re-watching Wonderfalls which is Joss Whedon related in that Tim Minear was a big part of Angel then Firefly and now Dollhouse. Tim Minear executive-produced 14 episodes and wrote 2 episodes for Wonderfalls.

So, let us revel in the next Joss Whedon creation, Dollhouse. I’m excited to see Eliza Dushku and Amy Acker back in the Whedon ‘verse. If you want to read more, Dollverse is the spot. Oh, I actually haven’t watched the trailer yet. Let me watch it and then I’ll link it here. Be back in a few shakes… okay, apparently I missed the first trailer, but that’s okay. I like surprise. I know it will be good. Better than good. (Click here and the trailer will start loading.) In case you haven’t heard, Dollhouse is about an “Active” named Echo played by Eliza “Faith” Dushku and her world including clients, co-workers/other Actives, bosswoman played by a perfectly cast Olivia “Rushmore” Williams, and I think the Feds are involved somehow. Actives are something like cyborg spies who get programmed for each job and then have their memories wiped clean after the job. Then Echo starts to have residual memories of past personas and jobs rather than being re-formatted completely. Joss Whedon has successfully used this device of technologically built and/or enhanced beings in Buffy – Sarah Michelle Gellar was so good playing the Buffy-bot as was the original bot on that show, um, I have to look her up…Shonda Farr who played April in I Was Made to Love You. He also brought the bot back in Serenity as Mr. Universe (David Krumholtz)’s bot girlfriend/wife.

SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK 2008: HAMLET

Summer is upon us. Shakespeare in the Park in Central Park, NYC, has begun. First up is Hamlet. I have had good luck the past few years and gotten to see all of the productions. I love the quaintness of the outdoor sets. This one was a little too utilitarian for me and didn’t really incorporate nature like they usually do. But it sure was a sturdy set. There was a lot of running around on the upper level and it seemed very secure for the actors. Incidentally, they have a new feature this year, a virtual line. Attempts have shown that they don’t seem to put aside many tickets for this line, but it sure is painless. Still, at the box office, they noted that Hamlet which opened May 27th (it is June 7th today) has not been selling out. So people in the 7:30pm standby lines have had great success getting in. So I recommend that method if you don’t have all day to stand/sit in line. Incidentally, I was glad to get more use out of my little portable lawn chairs as I waited in line for vouchers. Living in the city, you don’t really find much opportunity to drag them out of storage.

So, the play itself…well, Hamlet is a classic. Many read it in school at some point. It is often performed for the public. There is a lot of expectation around it. I’ve said it before that I think I’ve seen it a fair number of renditions of it – I saw a cool one at Chicago’s Wisdom Bridge Theatre starring Aidan Quinn writing “To be or not to be” as graffiti and where Ophelia’s descent was punctuated by the Talking Heads “Burning Down the House.” So, I loved seeing Andre “Homicide” Brauer playing King Claudius. I’ve grown to appreciate Lauren “Six Feet Under” Ambrose as Juliet Capulet last summer and as Ophelia this summer. She was good in Awake and Sing too a play that didn’t quite do it for me all the way but had its moments. Call me shallow but I also got a kick out of seeing Blair Waldorf’s mom (from Gossip Girl) playing Queen Gertrude. I will give her the dignity of typing out her name, Margaret Colin. She plays Eleanor Waldorf and we should see her more next season as Jenny Humphrey got a fashion internship with her. Yes, I watch Gossip Girl. Haven’t missed an ep yet. In fact, I do believe I’ve already admitted that I read the books before they became a tv show. So the question is of course, how was Hamlet? I thought he showed a lot of stamina. They all did. Hamlet in particular has a lot of stage-time. He was played by Michael Stuhlbarg who tried to give it his own approach. The PCA’s in my group thought he was too glib and over the top. They thought he should’ve pulled it in more rather than be goofy and overt. I thought he had a difficult role to play and managed to carry it in a different way. Ralph Fiennes was most convincing. Liev Schreiber also did an admirable job. I guess the classic performance is Laurence Olivier’s. How is Michael Stuhlbarg supposed to compete with that? I give him points for effort. Other standouts, no surprise, were Sam Waterston, who played Hamlet himself in the 70’s, playing Polonius now, and Jay O. Sanders playing the ghost King, the play King and Grave Digger (the one who first pulls out poor Yorick’s skull). I loved the live musicians. The supporting players did a fine job. I guess I am wistful about sets gone by and wish they had incorporated the park more in it. But it was a cool experience as always and hope you get a chance to see it.

The other Shakespeare in the Park production this summer is Hair. I never saw it. I know some of the songs. I will try to see it and expect these shows to be more popular. I think in part, summer snuck up on us and people weren’t ready to stand in line for these tix yet. But Hamlet’s run is May 27-June 29. Let me quote the site:

Performances of Shakespeare in the Park will be Tuesday through Sunday at 8PM. *Please note exceptions below.


HAMLET
By WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
Directed by OSKAR EUSTIS

May 27 – June 29
*Added perf June 16 and June 23
No perf June 18 and June 24
Perf on June 19 starts at 8:30PM
Limited ticket distribution on: June 4, June 23,
No distribution/Stand-by line only on: June 17

With Lauren Ambrose, Christopher Bonewitz, Andre Braugher, Bruce Cannon, Matt Carlson, Kevin Carroll, Margaret Colin, W. Tré Davis, Emily DeCola, David Harbour, Stephen James King, Hoon Lee, Dana Lyn, Piter Marek, Greg McFadden, Julio Monge, Paul O’Brien, Erin Orr, Gilbert Owuor, Jay O. Sanders, Michael Schupbach, Miriam Silverman, Michael Stuhlbarg and Sam Waterston.

Scenic design by David Korins, costume design by Ann Hould-Ward, lighting design by Michael Chybowski, and sound design by Acme Sound Partners.

So, apologies for not being able to keep up my promised weekly updates. I think I can’t do it, But I will continue to aspire to keeping this schedule. This way, I store things up in my head and feel mildly guilty about not writing them down in a timely fashion. Just know I’m thinking of you (my faithful few) and my little blog even when I’m not here.

Pop music all night long

Incidentally, I wanted to remark that I am aware I missed my first Sondre Lerche NYC concert for the first time in a long while. It was on June 1 at Joe’s Pub, coincidentally at the Public Theater (who put on Shakespeare in the Park). I did see him earlier this year closer to when Dan in Real Life was out in the theaters. So, I’m still a loyal fan. I just had somewhere else to be that night and couldn’t make it work. I actually tried to stretch myself to make it happen but by then, both shows were sold out. So, I trust the lucky ones who attended had a grand ole time! EDIT: I went to the November 27, 2007 Sondre Lerche show at Bowery Ballroom where my fellow PCA talked about SL’s “heart-throb appeal” and I stood next to where SL’s darling wife sat – at least her name was on the reserved table and then a woman eventually sat there. I remember now that I didn’t write about this show because my blog was in cyber limbo at the time. Anyway, you know it was good. He’s a cutie-pie with great musical talent who likes to perform and share his stuff with his fans. And I am one of those fans. END EDIT

While I’m on the topic of music, let me tell you what new stuff I’m listening to right now. Haven’t found a summer anthem, one that I want to replay over and over, but I’m enjoying it all.

• Jason Mraz – We Sing We Dance We Steal Things. I’m a big fan of M.R.A.Z. I recognize some songs and others seem new. Anyway, he has good summer vibe.
• Elvis Costello – Momofuku. First off, the title makes me think of the restaurant by that name in NY. At any rate, let me take this moment to say again I’m sorry to see that Aliens in America was canceled. It had (What’s So Funny ’bout) Peace, Love and Understanding as its theme song. Go see it on the CW site or on iTunes. There are still reruns on tv also. It had a lot of potential to be great. I just re-watched the one where Justin “fails” his career-placement test and then decides he wants to be a stay-at-home dad. A lot of funnies in that one.
• Mariah Carey – E=MC2. I loved Emancipation of Mimi and this new album sounds along the same lines. So it is promising so far.
• Coldplay – Viva la Vide. So far so good.
• Madonna – Hard Candy, 4 minutes. She’s still got it.
• Natasha Bedingfield – Pocketful of Sunshine. Not a one hit wonder.
• Deathcab for Cutie – Narrow Stairs. I like these guys.
• Rihanna – Good Girl Gone Bad. The album came out last year I know but I’m still listening to her. Plus, there is a cd/dvd version of it coming out this month.

• Tony Bennett – Duets. This isn’t new but I just watched a PBS special about the making of this album and I realized that watching Tony Bennett perform is the best way to appreciate him and his musicianship. Watching the show inspired me to put this album back on my listening rotation.

• The Beatles – Love. I know I’ve spoken numerous times of this one but I watched a making of show of this album too and it was really inspiring. Let me see if I can find some info about that show because it was fascinating to see the process of how they produced this album. Okay, I’m not sure if this is what I saw but there is a making of dvd coming out in Fall 2008 called All Together Now. More info forthcoming.

I think I will stop before I go too far back in time. Laters.

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