Another Challenge Post

I think it's time for another challenge post. This one comes from the ever charming Lee from Quit Your Day Job, a talented artist and all-round nice bloke.

His suggestion is if you had to describe yourself via a film, which one would it be, and why?

That's actually a REALLY tough question. I've actually been thinking about it for a couple of weeks trying to pin down a film that actually describes me in any way, and I'll have to admit, I am absolutely stumped.

However, I can think of a couple films that have actually shaped who I am as a person, so perhaps those will suffice (Lee? I hope so!)

The first one is a movie that I have loved for many, many years. The Colour Purple.

I actually can't remember the first time I saw it, I think I was in my early to mid teens. The reason it speaks to me so much is because Celie maintains her dignity despite the horrific way she is treated her whole life. I was inspired by her strength and the beauty that shines from within Whoopi Goldberg in this role too. I guess the outwardly funny-looking woman who has suffered at the hands of many people in her life just spoke to me.

Another that really resonated with me was Amazing Grace starring Ioan Gruffudd and Albert Finney.

I saw this one a couple of years ago at the cinema and was so deeply moved by the story of abolitionist William Wilberforce that I needed some quiet time afterwards to digest all the lightbulb moments that I had throughout the film. The one big thing I got from this movie was that greatness isn't about grandiosity. Strong, steady convictions are worth just as much as huge grandiose gestures... if not more. It also spoke to me a lot about my spirituality and belief systems.

So there you go, a couple of films that made me think about who I am and what is important to me.

Movie Review - The Hangover

Today I saw one of the funniest movies I have ever seen.  It is called "The Hangover".  I'll kick you off with the trailer for it:

Now I know, some of you may be thinking "Oh another bromance road trip movie, full of puerile sexist jokes, no thanks."  Thinking along the lines of all those other tacky sexist movies aimed at the fellas.  But you would be very, very wrong.

Yes, this is a movie about four blokes who got completely fucked up at a bachelor party in Las Vegas.  Yes, there is some puerile humour in there.  But that's where the stereotype ends.  I have to tell you, while the trailer is good, it is only the absolute tip of the iceberg with the humour in this movie.  As it is rated MA15+ in Australia, there is a lot of it they can't show in the trailer.  Not that it's offensive or crude or violent - it's just adult humour.  Particularly as there are scenes that Zach Galifianakis is without pants.  And there's lots of drinking references of course.

I saw it today with my friend Elizabeth, and seriously, it is a long time since I laughed so hard at a movie.  It's well cast with three very, very funny guys Zach Galifianakis, Ed Helms and Bradley Cooper.  It has a good, solid storyline.  It has a heart.  The mystery of what they got up to the night before is one that keeps you hooked into the story.  And I will tell you, the cameo by Mike Tyson is bloody brilliant.  Don't get me wrong, Mike Tyson is a nutcase animal, he just is one that has been a good sport for this film, and his cameo just works perfectly.

Zach Galifianakis and Ed Helms really stand out for me too.  Ed Helms carries the frantically panicking, henpecked, geeky dentist so well, his absolute freak-outs throughout the film are just brilliant.  Zach Galifianakis looks like he'd play a total foul-mouthed, unlikeable animal, but his character Alan is strangely endearing in is oddness, what with his polite manner (he never swears once in the whole movie) and his affinity with the baby, a dog, the hooker (Heather Graham) etc is adorable, but not the rude chubby kid with the mobile phone!

And Bradley Cooper isn't a chore to look at either.

Honestly, this movie had me laughing so hard I was struggling to breathe, my face hurt, my throat is sore tonight and I am going to buy the DVD.  Because I truly think that it's going to be one of those movies that everyone quotes at each other, and tells each other that they just HAVE to see.  

Go see it.  I doubt you will regret it.  And that means you too girls!

Free Comic Books + Hugh Jackman!!!!!

Oh ladies and gentlemen, it doesn't get any better than this.  Free comic books AND Hugh Jackman!  I was only going to do one blog post tonight, but I saw this over on Brisbane Blog and had to share!

Enjoy...

Hoooooooo BABY!!!

I actually saw X-Men Origins: Wolverine last night.  I won free tickets to the MySpace "Black Curtain" premiere at the Regent Cinema in the city.  I took my friend Kylie (*waves to Kylie*) and I tell you, I found X-Men Origins: Wolverine a million shades of awesome!  Not only was Hugh Jackman so hot I think I ovulated at least half a dozen times, he's uber-cool as Wolverine, it's chock full of action, special effects, stunts, awesome characters, and a fast paced story.  Plus a few laughs peppered in.  Liev Schrieber is super creepy as Sabretooth, and Will.I.Am quite steals the show in a few scenes as John Wraith.  Go and see it and don't listen to the snobs who whine that it sucked, cos it didn't.

Anyhoo, as well as the opportunity to get Free Comic Books this Saturday May 2nd, it's a really good cause in getting folks to read (especially younger males).  I'm quite sure if you do a Google search on Free Comic Book Day + your city, you'll find somewhere that is participating.  For those of you in Brisbane, do go and check out the post at Brisbane Blog for details.

Now go back and watch that promo and trailer again.  Hubba hubba!

The Boat that Rocked

Just got home from the movies with my friends Elizabeth and Leanne.  We went to see The Boat that Rocked at South Bank cinemas (cheaper over there, $8.50 instead of like $14 or something).

What a fun movie!  A great rocking soundtrack of 60's music, lot's of fun characters with some great laughs, and a really solid cast (Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy, Emma Thompson, Kenneth Branagh, Jack Davenport, Rhys Ifans, Nick Frost, the very pretty Tom Sturridge and many more.)

For me the movie was completely stolen by "Thick Kevin" played by Tom Brooke.  He got the best laughs out of the whole movie.

If you love 60's music, British humour and a good laugh, check this one out.

Thankful Sunday

Is it really Sunday already?  Another week of my holidays has passed so quickly.  Why do work weeks not pass this quickly?

Let's see, what am I thankful for this week?

Well, I've had a really mellow week, just chillin' and enjoying my holiday.  I've been feeling so relaxed and mellow, it's done me the world of good.

I'm also thankful that I got to go and see Watchmen on Friday with my friend Kylie.  It's a bit hard to follow (as was V for Vendetta for that matter) but really enjoyable.  Awesome costumes, well cast, a good meaty story (around the bits that lost  me a little) and great sets and special effects.  Plus hanging out with Kylie is always cool too.

Friday was a big day, because I also went out to see Adam Hills on Friday night, at the New Farm Powerhouse.  It was the opening night of his new tour "Inflatable", and we were the second ever audience.  Better than the first, because he was all warmed up for us.  God he was funny, I think I burst a kidney.  No really, I think I damaged a kidney laughing so  hard!  My favourite line from the whole night.  It is thus:

"Going to Starbucks for coffee is like going to prison for sex.  You'll get some but it will be rougher than you're used to."

Brilliant line Mr Hills!

Thinkin' About the Fellas

I watched the Sex and the City movie this afternoon.  Wasn't really that into it.  I liked the shoes and the New York City bit, but I just couldn't get into it.  On further discussion with the lovely Girl Clumsy this evening, I realise what has stuck in my craw.

It's the attitude to men in it.  It felt to me that every man in it was either a piece of man flesh, or an arsehole.  With exception perhaps to the dark haired woman's husband (I know, I don't know their names except for Carrie and Samantha) who really was a bit of a shadow through the whole movie, he had about three whole lines and wasn't given any substance.

It's got me thinking a bit about how men are portrayed in film and television.  Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that how women are portrayed is any better, but at least we all speak up about that regularly.

But when it comes to how men are portrayed, it is open season.  How many ads can you think of on TV at the moment where it centres around a doofus male who just can't find something or asks a stupid question, or makes a big gaffe doing DIY etc?  Can you imagine the uproar if a woman was portrayed like that?

When we see a movie and the women in it are all either portrayed as tarty bits of flesh for the men's amusement, or complete bitches that make a man's life hell, don't we all get horrified at it?

Now I'm not saying that all movies should be touchy feely and everyone nice.  What I'm getting at is that when a whole gender is negatively portrayed, it just feels really wrong.  Sure, have your bad guy, but also have the hero who helps save the day.  Have your bitch queen, but have another woman who is cool.  Go for the bit of sexy  man flesh, but give him some depth of character.  Make your gals sexy AND smart.

I'm also not saying that men can't be arseholes and that women can't be shallow bits of fluff.  But to tar a whole gender with the same brush in a film or television show just makes me feel uncomfortable, you know?

I know ladies, I know, we've all been treated REALLY badly by a man or men in our past.  Some of us in our very recent past.  But does that mean they're all bastards?  You know we all have heard the thing where women are somebody's daughter, somebody's mother, somebody's sister?  Well the guys are somebody's son, somebody's father, somebody's brother.  And like women, guys deserve a chance before they're all written off.

Two wrongs don't make a right is all I'm sayin'!

A Totally Girlie Blog Post

I can't let the Golden Globes slip by last night without posting a commentary on the fashion.  I just can't do it!

I'm not really interested in the awards or the movies nominated or anything, but I do love the frocks and suits and accessories of all of those big red carpet events.  The best and worst dressed of the night, the dodgy make-up jobs and the hair that looks divine.  So I've collected some pictures from various sources online to share with you.  I think I'll start with the best bits.

My favourite of the night was Anne Hathaway:

Total old school glamour, a colour that suits her milky complexion and dark hair and eyes perfectly, and she was rocking some delicious curves.

My second favorite was Drew Barrymore:

Before I saw the photos, someone described her as looking like she'd been drinking.  I will agree that she's got the whole tousled bed head thing going there, but when you look at her close up, she looks divine!

Fresh, youthful, fun and she's totally rocking that Marilyn Monroe-esque hair style.  Love it!  I also really love the lush red clutch purse she's carrying.

Melissa George got a bit of a caning for this one:

But I like it.  It's retro, very art deco, the makeup and hair is soft and glamorous, she works the black and white well and it has a lovely shape.

Another who did understated glamour really well was Kate Winslet:

But then Kate always does.  I love the detail of the bow on her waist with the jeweled piece.  Just gives it a bit of bling for a special occasion.

Then there was Salma Hayek:

Actually the dress wasn't anything special, she's just GORGEOUS and carries her curves better than any other woman does!

Another one I heard really slammed was Jennifer Lopez:

Ok, I will admit, it does look like she's just taken a length of fabric and expertly (and carefully) draped it around her body.  But you can't tell me she isn't carrying it PERFECTLY.  The lady is a true diva, she just works her thing like no other.  Look at her:

She simply carries herself like a goddess.  Her makeup is soft and fresh, she's glowing all over the place, she's let her dress and skin carry the outfit without over accessorising (look at the rock in her earlobe!) and her hair is sleek and understated.  She's gorgeous.

Now for the bad.  First cab off the rank, Lisa Rinna:

Baaaaa!!!  Mutton dressed up as lamb if I ever saw it.  Too much collagen in the lips, botox in the brows, fake tan and she needs to pull those boobs into line.  Age gracefully honey, beauty isn't about trying to look younger than you are.

Speaking of mutton dressed up as lamb, Cameron Diaz is heading rapidly into that territory too.

I couldn't get a decent close up shot, but the makeup looks like slap, it's really pasted on, heavy around the eyes and the wrong colours.  Soft makeup flatters the signs of ageing far better than a ton of slap does.  And the dress looks like a doona cover, even if it is a pretty colour.

Speaking of doona covers, what was Rachel Griffiths thinking?

She's a really beautiful woman, always regal looking and has a fantastic figure, but this looks like a cheap 70's sateen sheet.  Her hair and makeup is lovely though.  I bet she had nice shoes on too.

One of the weirdest outfits of the night goes to Marisa Tomei:

It's like she just threw on anything from her wardrobe that she could lay her hands on.  It just looks all wrong.  Yet there is a lovely shape underneath that.

But the WTF?!?!? award definitely goes to Renee Zellweger:

I mean between the fright wig hair and that BIZARRE bodice of her dress, what the... frak was she thinking?  I remember how gorgeous she looked in that yellow vintage dress at the Oscars a few years back and then I see this monstrosity... who told her this was a good idea?

Now don't think only the ladies get a mention in this post.  I wanted to post a picture of Mickey Rourke for you all, but it was too frightening to actually paste into the blog.  Go search for it yourself, but make sure you don't let any children, pregnant women or the elderly see it.

Instead, here's the prize for the most ludicrous skin tone of the evening...

I think Pierce has been bathing in carrot juice again.

Happy New Year!

Welcome to 2009. It's my aim to post at least 365 blog posts here this year. Every little bit of creativity helps me expand my skills and abilities, so I'm going to keep working at it. Even if it's just to share a video or photo, at least one per day. Cheer me on folks, leave comments!

I don't have my word of the day calendar here at home with me, so I will just have to use two words on some days. I took it to work so that I could share the word of the day with my colleague and friend Marlene, who is a book lover and word collector like me.

One of the great joys of New Years Day for me is cracking open all the new diaries and calendars. I love them. I've got a gorgeous purple one that looks like it's coated in purple spun sugar as my personal diary. On my desk here at home is a "Cupcake a Day" calendar that my friend Janna gave me for Christmas. I have a big calendar with lovely big squares for each day so I can write stuff on there. It's going on the wall in my room. I also have a big planner thing that came from the local MP, which I am going to cover the boring (ugly) bits with stickers and stuff. At work I have the word a day desk calendar, as well as a rather dull BCC issue diary. And a SeaWorld calendar by the desk. I love cracking open a new diary or calendar and sitting down to write birthdays and holidays and other important dates in there. Of course, I NEVER open a calendar before January 1st.

I started to watch I Am Legend today. But it got too scary so I bailed out on it. I don't do scary movies. I went back to watching Mythbusters, which is more my bag.

Hey, wanna hear something cool? Stephen Fry is following me on Twitter. I think he found me through Girl Clumsy.

It's bloody hot again today. 8.30pm at night and I'm still sweltering. I think I'm going to move to Canada.

TGIF!

Oh Thank God it's Friday!

It's been a crazy busy week. With this new Web 2.0 training programme at work, which I am the technical support for, I am being run off my feet. The phone never stops ringing, and my email inbox is just chockas, all the time. I answer one, three more come in.

It is good, it means people are taking up the training and that I'm getting my teeth into something that gives me lots of challenges, but Cheese Louise, does it leave me buggered! I am so ready to just crawl into a ball tonight and not surface until Monday morning.

But then, that wouldn't leave me with any social life, and I need a social life. As it is I'm opting to have tonight in, spend tomorrow just chilling and leave socialising for Sunday. I plan to see The Mummy with a friend and probably do lunch.

I do have a lot of things coming up though. The Brisbane City Romp is next weekend and I'm part of a team for that one. Hopefully we'll raise some money for the Burnet Foundation and have a lot of fun doing it.

Then I've got a big weekend the week after that. Friday night is the "Girls Night Out" being held at the old QLD Museum, that should be a big night with friends, and then on the Sunday is the Brissie Cysters meet up. Aye caramba, what have I signed myself up for with all this stuff on? Plus I have various lunches, dinners, catch up coffees and even a breakfast scheduled in over the next fortnight. All on top of the massive workload I have at the moment.

Oh by the way, a couple of weeks ago I saw Hell Boy 2. It's brilliant fun! I'm still saying "Ohhhh crap."