Movie News and Randomness

Time for another installment of movie news and blather, where I bring you all the movie news that’s fit to print (or at least what I find interesting).  Without further ado or preamble, let’s get right into it!

1. Trailer for Much Ado About Nothing is AWESOME.

The trailer for Joss Whedon’s adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing is full of Whedonverse favorites and looks to be quirky, funny, and totally awesome.  I can’t be the only person who’s really, really excited about this one.  I can’t wait.  CANNOT WAIT.

2. Emma Watson to star in Cinderella adaptation?

Emma Watson is in final talks to star in Kenneth Branagh’s adaptation of the classic fairytale Cinderella.  This is actually kind of cool, because I like Branagh as a director and really like Emma Watson, despite her inability to do a decent American accent.  Cate Blanchett is slated to star as her evil stepmother. (Variety)

3. There’s a documentary about the real Amityville Horror

So, that’s happening.  I’d definitely check this one out on DVD.  I’m mildly curious, but I’m not shelling out money to see it.  I don’t know.  I feel mixed about this one.

4. Keri Russell joins Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

In news of the UGH variety, Keri Russell has joined the cast of the next totally boring and disappointing Planet of the Apes movie.  She’ll play the female lead, and I’ll try to pretend to care.  (Comingsoon.net)

5. Trailer for Rapturepalooza is silly, kind of funny

I don’t know about this one, but I’m including it because of my love for all things Anna Kendrick.  The movie’s about the end of the world, rapture-style, and it looks pretty silly.  The trailer’s redband, so be careful about where you watch it, but it’s got some moments that are actually kind of funny.  I don’t know.  I’ll see this one, I’m just not sure when.

 

Movie Blather and Randomness

Time for another installment of movie news and blather, where I bring you all the movie news that’s fit to print (or at least what I find interesting).  Without further ado or preamble, let’s get right into it!

1. Is anyone else embarrassingly excited for Monsters University?

I’m not going to lie: I’m not a big animated film person.  For a lot of reasons.  But I really loved Monsters, Inc., and I’m really excited for the prequel.  This trailer looks cute.  I can’t wait.  What do you think?  How do you feel about a prequel?

2. The Academy Awards are this weekend

And I’m pumped up, as per usual.  It’s a big day in my world.  We do it up right and throw a party with themed food and ballots and a pool of money I’m intent to win (running champion something like 4 years in a row).  I’ve got our ballots all printed, my food all planned out, and have even done a practice ballot.  That’s how much of a dork I am.  I love the Oscars.  Love them.  I doubt that will ever change. (Metacritic)

3. It’s a Disaster Trailer looks funny, dark

I hadn’t even heard of this movie before stumbling across the trailer, but it looks pretty great.  It’s got some of my favorite people, including America Ferrara, Julia Stiles, and David Cross.  It looks funny and weird and dark and full of the kind of awkward humor I really like.  It’s being released on VOD before hitting theaters in April, so hopefully I’ll get a chance to see it soon.

4. Lauren Graham and Joel McHale will star in a movie together

It’s called A Friggin’ Christmas Miracle, which doesn’t exactly inspire confidence.  The film centers around the duo who are a married couple going to visit McHale’s grandfather.  The grandfather is played by Robin Williams, which basically means the movie is doomed.  (THR)

5. Room 237 has a trailer now

I wrote about this documentary a few weeks back, and I’m happy to say there’s a trailer now.  Check it out for yourselves at the playlist.

The ALA Youth Media Awards

…were announced yesterday.  Book nerds all over the place have been all atwitter with the news.

You can check out all the winners here.  It’s a mixed bag of the expected and the unheard of.

I haven’t read a ton of them, to be honest.  There’s some talk about what John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars didn’t make the cut, but I’m not surprised at all.

The thing I’m most excited about?  An honor mention for Laura Buzo’s excellent Love and Other Perishable Items in the Morris Award.

Lists and Procrastination: 5 Things I’m into for the Moment

Gentle Readers, welcome!  It’s time for another installment of Things I’m Currently Obsessed With.  Previous installments can be found here, here, here,here, here, here,  here,  here, here,  here, here, here, here, here,  here, here, here,here, here, here, and here.

1. Pink – “Try” Video

I’m actually not super into the song–I think it’s kind of boring (sorry, Pink), but the choreography in the video is super awesome.  I love that she did all of it herself.  Plus, her hair looks dope (even if she is sort of copying my girl Robyn).  I actually watch the video with the sound off (that’s how much I don’t care about the music).

2. Tiny Tower for iPhone

Yeah, I’ve become that person.  I finally caved and got a smartphone, and the result is that I am now obsessed with a totally silly game called Tiny Tower.  (It’s getting to the point where J. feels like he’s competing for attention with this game).  The game is simple: build a tower, move people in, and keep providing new stores and restaurants for them.  It’s totally addictive and totally stupid.  LOVE IT.

3. “Best of” booklists at Chicken Spaghetti

This is a great place to track all the best of booklists being published as we approach the end of the year (it’s coming up fast!).  Bookmark it now; peruse at your leisure.

4. Nicki Minaj featuring Cassie – “The Boys” (NSFW)

The video is as tonally off as the chorus to the song.  I’ve listened to this thing a bunch of times, and I still can’t figure out what they were going for exactly. I just know that I like it, and I love watching Minaj and Cassie interact.  Quick question: which lady got the better boob job?

5. Cookie recipes

Call me obsessed.  I’m super into figuring out what cookies I’m going to make for Christmas-cookie exchanges this year.  Pinterest, you will be the death of me.

What are you into at the moment?

Lists & Procrastination: 5 Things I’m into for the Moment

Gentle Readers, welcome!  It’s time for another installment of Things I’m Currently Obsessed With.  Previous installments can be found here, here, here, here, here, here,  here,  here, here,  here, here, here, here, here,  here, here, here, here, here, and here.

1. Kendrick Lamar – Swimming Pools (Drank)

I don’t know what it is about this particular song that I find so interesting, but I do know that I can’t stop listening to it.  Kendrick Lamar’s album is probably the best new album I’ve been listening to a lot, and this song is one of my pump-up songs before I go out.  There’s something completely voyeuristic about listening to Lamar’s whole album, and this song definitely showcases his talent at creating songs with soul-baring lyrics.

2. Wanelo.com

This one is embarrassing because it’s so consumption-driven.  I like to troll the websites pictures because they have some ridiculous stuff for sale.  They also have some really cool stuff.  I’m not going to lie: I want the sweatshirt with the mermaid dance quote on it from Pitch Perfect.

3. Crafting a decent holiday gift list

I’m not going to lie: I have a hard time picking out presents for people, whether it’s birthdays, parent days, or the holidays.  I try to start fairly far in advance so that I can get what I need to get for the people closest to me.  This year, I’m spending a lot of time trying to figure out what to get people that isn’t a total waste of time or money.  I also value giving gifts that the person will actually use.  In order to do this, I’m making liberal use of Pinterest, Wanelo, Uncommon Goods, and Evernote (to track it all, duh).

4. French Bulldog Puppy

I stumbled across this while doing searches for stupidly cute animals.  I don’t know what it is about this short video I find so endearing or affecting.  I just know that it makes me stupidly happy.  How can you not love it?  I just want him to get up at the end.  YOU CAN DO IT.

5. Stacked Books hosts Contemporary YA Week

Have you checked out Stacked Book’s Contemporary YA week?  If you haven’t you should.  They have tons of great recommendations, discussions, and information about my favorite genre.  There are great lists of books (my favorite thing in the world) for any YA fan to geek out over.  This is a blog that consistently delivers some of the best content on the internet (in my humble opinion).  GO AND SEE.

What are you obsessed with this week?

Movie Blather and Randomness

Gentle readers, it’s time for another installment of movie blather and randomness, wherein I give you the latest (or latest-ish) news relating to all things movies.  Without further ado, let’s get to the news!

1. A second trailer for the Silver Linings Playbook

This is fast-becoming one of my most-anticipated movies.  The buzz surrounding it continues to be really good, and I love Jennifer Lawrence so much, that I’m afraid I’ll see pretty much anything she’s in (I’ll wait for the DVD of HATES, though).  What do you guys think about this one?  Does it look as good to you as it does to me, or does my insane love for Matthew Quick make me totally biased?

2. Danny Strong will pen the Mockingjay movie script(s)

Danny Strong, who is fresh off of winning a screenwriting Emmy for the excellent Game Change, has been hired to write the screenplay for the third (and fourth) Hunger Games movies.  I can’t be the only person who knows Strong best for his work as the morally relative Jonathan on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and that’s basically why this news is as exciting as it is.  I did like Game Change, though.  This is exciting. (Variety)

3. Mindy Kaling wrote a romantic comedy

Mindy Kaling wrote the script for a romantic comedy that Anne Hathaway is attached to. The movie is called The Low Self-Esteem of Lizzie Gillespie (yeah, it’s awful), and I will see it based on the fact that Kaling co-wrote it alone.  I also secretly like Hathaway even though we still aren’t speaking because of her involvement in Love & Other Drugs.  I’ll forgive you eventually, girl.  The movie is exactly what you think it will be: a lady who has no self-esteem dates losers until a hot guy pursues her.  Gross, but also I’m totally there because that was my life until I was about 25, only it wasn’t a hot guy so much as…well, that’s another story entirely.  (Videogum)

4. 28 Hotel Rooms Trailer is mesmerizing

The movie stars Chris Messina (MY PERFECT MAN), and so you know I’m going to see it.  If I can sit through An Invisible Sign for Messina, I can pretty much do anything.  However, this one looks super compelling and interesting and probably really depressing.  I love stories like this, where there’s a lot of grey area and a lot of questions.  Can’t. Wait.

5. Just when you thought your childhood boardgames were safe after Battleship bombed, Hungry Hungry Hippos is a thing

No, seriously.  It’s like a real thing that is happening.  They’re also developing a movie based on Monopoly and “Action Man,” which I can’t even be bothered to google.  Why is this happening?  That’s not a rhetorical question. (LA Times)
What about you?  What movie news are you excited about this week?

Cybils Announcement

I probably could have posted this earlier in the week and closer to the announcements on Monday, but I had a bunch of posts already scheduled and hate posting twice in one day.  So I’m doing it now.

I’m thrilled to have been selected to be a Round 1 judge in the YA Fiction category of the Cybils this year.  For more information about what the Cybils are, be sure to check out their website here.

Nominations don’t open until October 1st, but it’s definitely time for you to start thinking about what books (released in the last year) you’d like to nominate.

I can’t wait to get started reading and talking about books with my fellow judges:

Round 1

Leila Roy
Bookshelves of Doom
@bkshelvesofdoom

Sarah Gross
The Reading Zone
@thereadingzone

Kellie Tilton
The Re-Shelf
@thereshelf

William Polking
Guys Lit Wire
@Polking

Kendall Kulper 
Blogging for YA
@Kendall_Kulper

Kirstin Fearnley
Sprite Writes
@spritewrites
What YA fiction books do you think should be nominated this year?  Start thinking about it, and get ready to get busy nominating on October 1st.  I’m so excited!

Movie Blather and Randomness

Gentle readers, it’s time for another installment of movie blather and randomness, wherein I give you the latest (or latest-ish) news relating to all things movies.  Without further ado, let’s get to the news!

1. For a Good Time, Call… Trailer is raunchy, silly, and kind of awesome?

I didn’t really think much of this film when I saw the posters for it, but I finally watched the trailer, and I have to say, I wouldn’t be opposed to watching this one.  It looks like it might be a total raunchfest, which I’m okay with.  There have been a slew of articles over the past week or so comparing this one to the (terrible) movie Bachelorette, saying that these are the movies that Bridesmaids paved the way for.  I’m not sure about that, but I’ll still see this one.

2. Metacritic’s Fall Movie Preview

The site has all kinds of goodies, from trailers to release dates.  I love the start of each season, because it means that someone, somewhere, is creating a list of movies/books/music being released in that season.  Metacritic is my favorite resource for movie and music news, so this round-up of what’s to come is a great thing to have at your disposal.

3. V/H/S trailer is terrifying

Have you guys seen the trailer for this? I’m a total sucker for things like this, and unfortunately I don’t have a lot of brave souls in my life who will watch these sorts of movies with me, but I’m determined to watch this one (it might have to happen in the middle of the day in a brightly-lit room).  It’s certainly not genre-defying, but it looks like it might be satisfying in that really-scary way that so few movies are.

4. The Brave Little Toaster is getting a reboot, studios continue to rape our childhoods for profit

Word on the street (which street, I’m not sure) is that The Brave Little Toaster is getting another reboot.  This time, the film will be a “CGI/live-action hybrid,” and that sound you heard was me dry-heaving.  I don’t understand what the point of remaking a movie like this is, because surely there can’t be that much demand for it?  Will I see it?  Probably, but I’ll hate-watch it like a CHAMP. (the Wrap)

(Also, does anyone remember that scene with the quicksand or mud or whatever? Still terrifying.)

5. The To-Do List redband trailer is live

This movie stars Aubrey Plaza as a girl determined to lose her virginity.  It boasts a fairly impressive comedic cast and is garnering good buzz.  I personally can’t wait to see this, as I love Plaza and this is the type of movie that I not-so-secretly love.

Anything I missed this week?  Movies you’re most looking forward to seeing?

Movie Blather and Randomness

Gentle readers, it’s time for another installment of movie blather and randomness, wherein I give you the latest (or latest-ish) news relating to all things movies.  Without further ado, let’s get to the news!

1. 10 Years Trailer doesn’t look terrible

The movie, which aims to be a reunion comedy, doesn’t actually look terrible. Sure, there are plenty of cliches to be found here, but the cast is fairly impressive, and the movie looks like fun.  This is the kind of thing that I not-so-secretly love.  Plus, it’ll be interesting to see Channing Tatum act against his real-life wife, Jenna Dewan-Tatum, again.

2. Disney’s The Rocketeer might get a reboot

Despite the fact that the 1991 film was kind of a dud, I totally loved it (I used to pretend to be Jennifer Connelly and wish for one of those white silky dresses).  There are things about the film that could work in a reboot, to be sure.  I just…I kind of love the original, just for the camp-factor alone.  At any rate, Vulture’s got the whole run-down, and it’s worth a look.

3. Trailer for Butter is part Election, party crazy

Just in time for the State Fair circuits (which is what I thought of immediately) is the much pushed-back release of the trailer for Butter, a movie starring Jennifer Garner, Ty Burrell, and Olivia Wilde.  The film looks to be a dark, quirky look at some people in the south who like to make statues out of butter or something.  I’m not quite sure, and honestly could go either way on this one.  What do you think?

4. Girl Who Played with Fire won’t get a release in 2013

This one is interesting, if only because it’s so far off my radar it’s back on it.  That made the kind of sense that didn’t, right?  I saw the Fincher adaptation of the first of the Millennium Trilogy, and it was fine.  You know, it was okay.  Because I’m not a fan of the books and because I waited for the DVD, this isn’t a franchise that I’m obsessively tracking.  However, I do find it interesting that the film didn’t do as well as expected, and it seems as though there isn’t a ton of heat on getting this one made quickly. (Cinemablend)

5. Teaser trailer for Passion will cause buzz because of the girl-on-girl action, obvi

Ever since the Toronto International Film Festival posted the teaser trailer for Brian De Palma’s Passion (a remake of a French film called Love Crime), the internet’s been all atwitter about it.  It stars Noomi Rapace and Rachel McAdams and looks to be deeply creepy…and also obviously sexy. Honestly? I think both actresses are beautiful and talented, and I’ll probably see it for the buzz alone.  Not my usual fare, though.

Lists & Procrastination: 5 Things I’m Into for the Moment

Gentle Readers, welcome!  It’s time for another installment of Things I’m Currently Obsessed With.  Previous installments can be found here, here, here, here, here, here,  here,  here, here,  here, here, here, here, here,  here, here, and here.

1. The L.A. Complex

I’ve written about my love of this show before, and I’m not stopping now.  The second season of the Canadian drama is full of secrets, scandals, and intrigue.  It’s an exceedingly well-cast show, you guys.  Jewel Staite? Is knocking it out of the park in every single episode.  The show isn’t afraid to go to some really dark places, and it doesn’t feel so much like they’re going for shock value as they are going for emotional truth (unlike, say, True Blood, which remains boring).

If you aren’t watching, can I ask why? It airs Tuesday nights on the CW (or on Much Music, if you’re in Canada).  You can also catch up online (and you should).

2. The Sweet Life e-series

I don’t really know what to say about this, other than the fact that I can’t look away, no matter how much I want to.  Because of the success of Sweet Valley Confidential (success is a relative term, I guess), Francine Pascal and the publisher decided to continue on with the lives of Elizabeth and Jessica in a series of novellas available in e-book format.

The first couple of stories are out with a compilation planned for hardcover release in October.  I…wish I didn’t care.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KleUddM2IPw

3. Kreayshawn – “Go Hard”

I can’t decide if I like Kreayshawn or not.  She’s someone who is tied inextricably to a person, and the fact that every time I hear “Gucci Gucci” makes me think of this person is kind of bittersweet.  However, there’s no denying that Kreay is one bizarre girl.  Her new video for “Go Hard” only solidifies that fact.  The track is off her upcoming (and highly anticipated) label debut.  Watch the video and let me know what you think.  NSFW, obviously.

4. Baby-Sitter’s Club through a feminist lens

This article about revisiting the Baby-Sitter’s club and thinking about it within a feminist context is really interesting and definitely worth a read.  Even though I was never as into the girl-sitters as I was those wily blonde twins from Sweet Valley, California, the books had an impact on me, and it’s worth checking out this blog post about the books and how it helped the authors develop their feminist identities.  Plus, now I want to watch the movie again.

5. The Katy Perry Eating Tumblr

I can’t quite figure out why I find this Tumblr so fascinating, but I do.  There’s really nothing else to say about it, you guys.