Guess What? (hint: not chicken butt)

So a week from today I will be in New York City seeing my favortie modern musician in the world, Billie Joe Armstrong, on Broadway. Basically I am oozing excitement from every orphus of my body. (For all you dirty minds out there, that was a totally harmless sentance). Anyway, back to the point: Billie Joe will be starring as Saint Jimmy in the Broadway production of American Idiot. I saw the show back in Berkeley during its early days and I am thrilled to see it come so far. For anyone wondering, it is pretty much one big, extravagant telling of Green Day's 2004 album American Idiot. Definitely worth seeing for anyone who enjoys their music. I can't wait to see it on the big stage and will be blogging about it as soon as I return from my lovely trip. Although I will be freezing my little San Diego ass off in the big apple, I'm sure seeing the show will be one of the best nights of my life.

Next to Normal: A Powerful Piece of Theatre

Last night I had the pleasure of being blown away by the Pulitzer Prize winning musical, Next to Normal. It was the most vivid and emotional piece I've seen in a long time and is one of the few shows I've seen that has a strong message for the audience. The show focuses on the effects of living with someone with Bipolar Disorder and how it can tear a family apart. Sounds cheery, right? I was blubbering like a baby at the end of the play. I loved the fact that it was so innovative and actually left you with something to think about unlike, let's say, A Chorus Line or Shrek: The Musical. But most of all, Alice Ripley's performance as Diana (the woman suffering from the disease) was absolutely stunning. She originated the role on Broadway and won a Tony for her outstanding portrayal of the character, which I would say was extremely well deserved. The entire cast was lovely and the music for the show by Tom Kitt, the mastermind behind Spring Awakening's tunes, was phenomenal. If anything, I will have "Super Boy and the Invisible Girl," stuck in my head for the next few weeks. I would definitely look up the soundtrack and see the show if you ever have the chance because it is theatre like you've never seen it before.

                            Alice Ripley as Diana and Curt Hansen as her son, Gabe.
                            God, it doesn't get any more heartbreaking than this.

It's Almost That Time of Year Again...

If you couldn't already tell by my blog, I am a crazy movie obsessed teenager that retains infinate (and half the time, useless) knowledge of the film industry. Ever since I was young, the Oscar's have been for me, what the Superbowl is for most middle-aged men: my magical haven that comes one night a year. I love my feeble attempts to see all the nominated films, I love predicting the winners, I love the speeches, the glamourous fashions and the excitement of it all. Currently, I have seen very few of the nomination front runners (actual noms aren't announced until the end of the month) including Black Swan, Inception, True Grit, and The Kids Are Alright. This means that I will be having an "Oscar cramming session," during the next few weeks starting with my goal of seeing The Fighter and The King's Speech this weekend. I am legitimately excited to see these films and even more excited for the Academy Awards next month! Movie lovers unite!

GREEN HORNET

Before I say anything about the movie itself, just a fair warning: DO NOT SEE THE MOVIE IN 3D. It's absurd how many things are filmed in 3D that don't even display the effects. Green Hornet being one of them. I find it absolutely ridiculous that I have to pay 6 extra dollars to the already sky rocketing movie prices so I can watch a cartoon hornet fly out of the screen during the credits. Unfortunately, the quality of the film doesn't make up for this either. I mean you can't go in to a Seth Rogen movie expecting anything spectacular, but it was a disappointment. Don't get me wrong, Rogen was his usual ridiculously witty self and Jay Chou was also a bit of a character, but nothing special. James Franco's suprise appearance in the beginning was as equally entertaining. Movie as a whole: good comic fun, but not worth $15.50

                                ** Rent it

                               Although the movie did not meet expectations,
                               Rogen at the San Diego Comic Con Green Hornet
                               panel was absolutely adorable

By the way, I am a MAJOR Comic Con geek so when July comes around I will be doing massive blogging on the epic convention. I am volunteering this year, so great stories should be in store. (For those not in tune with your inner nerd, Comic Con is an annual convention held in San Diego in which movies, music, art, video games, toys, and of course, comic books come together into one amazing place).

TRUE GRIT

Oh God. I can't believe I didn't blog about this immediately after I saw it. As most people around me know, I was, and still am, on a major Jeff Bridges kick. After seeing Tron...three times....I saw True Grit and then watched him do a marvelous job hosting Saturday Night Live (in which I am a faithful follower of). Seeing Jeffy in all these different aspects only added to my deep, unconditional love for him. The performance that truly amazed me in True Grit, however, was 13 year old Hailee Steinfeld. She was so perfectly edgy and rough, and delivered some insane dialogue, which from an actor's perspective, must have been extremely hard for such a young girl to memorize. Oscar worthy? Maybe not qutie, but she really is a riot and a pleasure to watch. Despite the ending I wasn't too jazzed about, the entire film is so humorous and fun and I think the Coen Brothers did a wonderful job resurrecting this Western.

                               **** Stop what you're doing and see it now!

My beloved Jeff Bridges as Rooster Cogburn

BLACK SWAN

Black Swan is absolute insane, disturbing, beautiful, madness and I loved every single minute of it. If you're not into strange thought provoking films then see it for nothing, but Natalie Portman's performance. I literally wanted to reach into the screen and hand her an Oscar. She does complete justice to the film as does Mila Kunis and, really, the entire cast. The movie is a great workout for the brain and eventually you won't be able to separate dreams from reality (in a good way). Black Swan is a well deserved front runner for the Academy Awards and will leave you thinking well after the movie is over.

                    ****Stop what you're doing and see it now!

TRON: LEGACY

Fabulous. Tron has left my mind bamboozled. I have dreams about the grid and have found myself buying countless merchandise from the film. Like Avatar, it doesn't possess incredible plot, but it sure as hell is visually pleasing. You won't be able to keep your eyes off the screen. Plus, Jeff Bridges is a riot. He gives off that lovable comic relief I believe every film should have. And me oh my, the soundtrack is so much fun! This movie was totally up Daft Punk's alley so their scores were PERFECT (not to mention their awesome little cameo as DJs in the movie). This movie was definitely special so I have to give it two ratings...

       1. This is for your average movie goer:
       ***See it in theaters

       2. This is for your Jeff Bridges obsessed sci-fi loving movie goer like myself

      (or those who loved the old Tron):

       ****Stop what you're doing and see it now!

                    This was definitely a breakout role for Garrett Hedlund

                    as Sam Flynn, but I think I was more focused on his abs

                    than his acting...