Zacgasms

We here at Valley Dreamin' are a bunch of horny teenagers with weak inhibitions. So when something, um... unbelievably smokin' comes across one of our desks, we just cannot avoid posting it, even if everybody's seen it already. We try to mark our individuality on what we do. And this... this is one of those times. Ppl: more Zac Efron. Sigh...

WHY IS THIS BOY SO FUCKING HOT?!?!
Just so you know, I never intended this place to go softcore, but I turn into an airheaded teenage girl when it comes to L'Efron. Well, even more of one. I know I should probably post other more... relevant, important and/or film-related stuff right now, instead of this drooling over what is essentially a girl with AMAZING abs. But...

I really don't want to live in a world where I can't post that, alright?

En Sång Från Notre Dame

I have absolutely no pretense for posting this, but sometimes you come across things so amazingly spectacular you HAVE to share them with as many people as you possibly can. This is certainly one of them. It's like a lost, radical Bergman film now. Which is awesome.

Life Sucks

I think I'm gonna be blogging even less for the next few days. Life's crashing down piece by piece, but not on top of me. I'll probably watch a lot of movies because I have A LOT of movies here with me now. I really hope to do a revamped and reimagined MMM next Monday, so please pray with me for that to actually happen. LOL.

How are you today? The lines are always open.

She Walks Into Mine

Slightly less than a month to go!

Tag, I'm It

So the ridiculously awesome James over at Rants of a Diva tagged me with this random meme, which I think I did at JMC like over a year ago, in which the basic premise is to list seven random things about yourself to help your readers get to know you better. Simple. Then the also completely amazing mB of A Blog Next Door tagged me too. So I guess have to do it. Now y'all know I'm all about teh random, but random as an assignment? It's tougher than you'd think for me. Which is why it's taken me a few days to get it done! But we're here now, so.

1. The first DVD I ever got was the 20th Anniversary edition of E.T. The Extra Terrestrial. I hadn't even seen it when I got it (Christmas 2002) and I don't think I've seen it since. And now we're going to Blu-ray already... *nostalgic sigh* Also, my DVD player then was a PS2, and it broke 5 months later. Santa misses as much as he hits.

2. My favorite track of the Atonement soundtrack is actually "Come Back". Seriously. It has most of the film's themes contained and reprised to an overly effective level, and it segues through them beautifully. And then, WHAM, the church organ blares. I'm left about as stunned usually as Briony herself is in that scene, LOL.

3. My cat is named after Alyson Michalka. And her scratching post is named AJ. Okay, not really. But I coulda done that!

4. I am, like, allergic to interior darkness. I know that sentence doesn't make any sense, but it's true. I can stand the outside night excellently, but when it's dark in my house, my skin just feels like it wants to rip off my body, and it always feels REALLY hot. I have to turn on every light I can to make it feel better and cooler. Yup, I just said that darkness is hotter than light (especially the sun's, whose warmth is brilliant). It's one of my weirdest but most prevalent quirks.

5. I don't like candy. Outside of the standard (but amazing) chocolate stuff, I just don't like candy. Never have. So Halloween is very bittersweet for me. Especially 'cuz I was basically a candy whore for my mom, LOL.

6. I was diagnosed with oppositional defiant disorder when I was 11. It honestly seems like a bogus name for anti-authoritativeness in children. If you're gonna call it something stupid and specially generalized, just call it "future revolutionary in training disorder" or something. Because I actually do call it that, and I'd like it be official. Please? *cocks shotgun*


7. I prefer this live acoustic version of "Nobody's Home" by Avril Lavigne to the album version. Sure, it's from MADtv, but it's very bare and emotional, and I really appreciate it better.

Okay, now I'm supposed to tag seven people, but most of the people I would normally tag have either already been tagged or done it already. So I guess I'm just leaving it open for anyone to do? That should be fine. Plus, it means I'm not an elitist! Randomness ahoy!

Goodness, Zac, You're Giving Me the Vapors!

I apologize for my teenness here, but OMGILOVEYOUZAC!!!!!!! *ahem*

Speaking of HSM3, I told my mom that I wanted to get advance tickets to it this afternoon, and she just stared at me with a WTF face until she said "...you seriously want to see that?" Apparently she perceived the last three months of non-stop giddiness as sarcasm. Then she called me a dark and cynical brat, and then added that she was glad that little boy she raised still exists somewhere inside me. The little boy who was bubbly and sweet and worshiped Britney Spears. My god, I was a gay little seven year old. You'd think she'd be immediately accepting. Alas. But that's future tense, so lets not worry about that now...

Who else is excited for the cinematic event of the... weekend, OMG?!

Une Godard est une Godard

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and geriatrics: I officially love Jean-Luc Godard now. I know, right? But let me explain.

I first saw Band of Outsiders, which I think I would've really loved it if the Criterion DVD's sound quality was just a tad... less buzzy. Then I saw Breathless, his most famous work, which, despite it being a great film that I loved, I wasn't like in love with it, ya know? So I had two passive OMGs with his films. To be honest, I've almost become obsessed with him the last couple of weeks, and I'm not sure why. Like, I've been going through his filmography and noting which I'm most interested in - Pierrot Le Fou, Masculin Féminin and La Chinoise most of all - and even planning a festival-like schedule of them!? But then I forsook that and bumped A Woman is a Woman up my queue, because it was such a random thing to do at the time and I liked the cover art. Or maybe because I read that it's a musical romantic comedy, and that kind of freaked me out in a good way.

Rambly story short, this morning I watched it. And now I can say I completely fell in love with a film by Jean-Luc Godard. Yay!

I cannot say the film was what I expected, like at all, but from the second it started I was freaking smitten. It immediately jumps through all sorts of its styles and themes in ways only Godard could do them: like a basket of colorful, promiscuous, lovesick puppies running from responsibility. Like, honestly. Though it could sometimes be randomly melodramatic, the giddy effervescence it charges through your brain is well worth any little lapse in sense. The plot is simple - Angela (Anna Karina) wants to get pregnant, but her boyfriend Émile (Jean-Claude Brialy) doesn't share the same ambition, and his friend Alfred (Jean-Paul Belmondo) is also in love with Angela, which is pretty much it. Godard really gets fanciful with the visuals, as he usually does. But the way the colors burn the screen! WOWZA! Michel Legrand's fantastic score is also a major highlight, especially considering it's active for most of the film and a very defining aspect. Karina pulls off a performance of arguable grace, but her skill and worth are undeniable. She was seriously the epitome of love throughout it. Brialy and Belmondo were also fun and lively, and totally hot as well. They all worked so well together, and especially in Godard's abstractions and pre-moi randomness. That could be why I love him so much now, because he really is a very random filmmaker. Despite any subject matter he's trying to convey, his films always come out random and jittery. Not that that's a bad thing - quite the opposite. I mean, we're talking about me here.

I wish it went on forever, instead of only 84 minutes. That's way too little time to spend with something this wonderful. *sigh*

VD Grade: ★★★★★

It's All Ending... Again

The Endings Blog-a-Thon is going on now!

This time last year, when I still had JMC, I announced a blog-a-thon that would later turn out to be a good idea. A couple weeks ago, as I was searching through my favorite blogs for any mention of me (because I'm narcissistic like that), I came across a post by JA of My New Plaid Pants in which he linked to it! It's what he added, though, that's important:

It was a terrific topic perfectly placed on the calendar so here's to hoping JD makes it an annual thing. Ahem. Hear me, JD?

As soon as I finished reading that, and about four days of unrelated thought, I knew what I must do now. Make a sequel at a different studio!

So I'm announcing the announcement of The 2nd Annual Endings Blog-a-Thon, which is slated for December 28-31 of this year. I moved the start and end date down by a day each from last year's, and I think it's probably better this way. More time to prepare, and hey, now you get till 2009 to do one!

I should probably say what the 'thon is actually about, even though it's freakishly obvious -- for the discussion of film endings. Any sort of film, any sort of circumstance, any sort of ending. You can critique, analyze, simply post screencaps or whatever you want to do. Make it long, short, simple, complicated, loopy, epic, quirky, full of adjectives, or an apology for not remembering to do it in time, WHATEVER. Also, I implore you all, the idea of "spoilers" should not exist while one is writing their contribution. It's open season! So bring lots of ammo. Plz don't shoot the messenger tho. He takes enough shit.

If you'd like to join in on this fun little blog-a-thon, please do. If you'd like to tell me that you want to and/or actually will, you can comment on this post, or e-mail me at iheartziyi@yahoo.com with the subject "Endings" (or something like that) with your name, blog name and blog URL. And maybe some nice things about me. The bonuses of doing the latter are updates, reminders, spamming, and general annoyance on my part! And maybe a few presents, bouquets of roses, late night phone calls of deep breathing, and a court-ordered restraining order for me. I can get obsessive. OMG jk! :-\

And yes, that pic above is the first graphic I've made for it. I thought 4 Months was a good starting place. Since I get bored pretty easily online and do even more useless stuff, I would love to make s'more. So, like, if you're joining and already have a specific film in mind, tell me so I can make you a neat little banner for your post when you write it in two or so months. I'm generous like that! Or even if you just want to shout-out a movie you want to see as a banner. I'll have a page with all the ones I've made up soon, so watch out for that (pointless extra).

ETA: Here it is.

So, like... are you in? Or not? Or... moo? It's moo, isn't it? *sigh*

While, Like, Everything Else is Dropping Out...

A-N-G-E-L My A-S-S

I basically said I love Natasha Bedingfield last week, and I really meant it. I can't tell you how many times I've listened to Unwritten in my life, and Pocketful of Sunshine is getting there. She does so many hopeful and endorphin-raising songs that uncontrollably attract me to her, even if she's not the most subtle songwriter. And her voice is always so beautiful. She's probably my favorite artist right now for the fact of being so perfect for me.

So when I heard "Angel" would be the thrid U.S. single for Pocketful of Sunshine, I FLIPPED. It's definitely my favorite song on the album and may be my favorite of hers overall (if "Unwritten" didn't put up a fight for that title). But can someone explain to me why the radio version sucks so much? They remixed the vocals sort of subtly, but since I've heard the album version a billion times, I caught it immediately. Plus, what's up with the changed lyrics in the bridge? It doesn't work whatsoever, and it sounds more awkward than anything else. Were the album lyrics like, naughty or something? Because I didn't catch that.

And why is the video is so, um, WTF? Since it won't embed, you can watch it here. *waits until you finish watching it* You see what I mean? I mean, WHAT DOES IT HAVE TO DO WITH ANYTHING?! I never thought it could be just a random, pulpy attempt at '80s-ness, and not, like, related to the whole deal about devotion and love. I'm sort of in shock because how embarrassing it is. And by how sad it makes me. Ugh.

Sorry, I needed to vent this bitterness. And I've been listening to the ALBUM version the entire time I've been writing this. So suck it.

Love Me, Love Me, Love Me... Say You Do...

I am still alive! So yay for you. My problem with not posting for long stretches of time is that I can't think of stuff to post, and when I do, I forget them or lose steam within an hour usually, btw. I wanna be a unique voice, which I think I may be, but I also want to be a nice and sane one. Is that too much to ask, God?!

Yes. Yes it is.
Oh, okay then. As long as I know I deserve this limbo!

Like, I know my niche, and I know it's not gonna change if I sit and stare at it all day. So I should take my being this side of the blogosphere's resident whiny twerp in stride. And I shall!

Yeah, this is all this post is about. I know, right?

The Youth of America Have Fallen and They Can't Get Up, Part 4: We Have a Dishwasher!?

Did you know Paranoid Park would be easily available at Best Buy after being at, well, nowhere else?

Did you know Natasha Bedingfield makes me feel ethereally happy?

Did you know Faye Dunaway was achingly beautiful a billion years ago?

Did you know I suck at coming up with material for my supposed "act"?

If you answered 'yes' to any of these questions, you're smarter than I am. Because I didn't expect any of those things to actually, um, occur. Except the last one. But we all know that by heart, because I never shut up about my suckness. What can I say, I have no self-esteem. *sniffle*

Also, since I'm idiotically superstitious, I blame this dry week on that random reprimanding I did on Monday. So, to make amends, here is some notably bulgy evidence of Jamie Bell's hottness. For karma. Yes, karma.

And because I like looking at... well, his butt. Which is amazing. Sue me.

Jamie(s) Say No

Or maybe something witty. Blah.

No MMM this week. I have no clue why I can't do it two weeks in a row, but it hasn't happened very often, has it? Yes, I did one last week. Only Douglas noticed, apparently. Thank you Douglas, BTW. I know this is sorta high and mighty of me, but where were you people?! *SCREAMS*

Well, since there's no MMM, there'll be no reviews for Dear Wendy and The Chumscrubber (which I had already almost finished), so I have no reason to proclaim Jamie Bell as the best actor of his generation and post hot pictures in his honor. Because I would've done that. He's brilliant, and totally hunkalicious, in both. His perf in Wendy is practically on the same level as Billy Elliot - if they weren't totally different.

But NOOOOOO, I won't give you the satisfaction.

So have you learned your lesson, children? Comments don't make me use the belt. Now get to bed, you brats. [/bitter and potentially neglectful parent who regrets not using protection on that crazy night with some guy 12 years ago]

Well, Blindness Bombed...

It was inevitable, but it still sucks. How many people were gonna see an apocalyptic thriller based on a Nobel Prize-winning allegoric work of apparent genius starring Julianne Moore that received, at best, very middling reviews, anyway? Stupid general public and their love of chihuahuas. Only $2 million, though? It definitely doesn't deserve that. Neither does it deserve people laughing at the most inappropriate times while they're watching it. At least that.

So, yeah, I actually saw it... *gasp* ...and I loved it. *GASP!* I haven't read the book (because books are evil), but I felt it really worked as a film. It is perhaps the bleakest thing ever, even if it gets optimistic towards the end, but it's so amazing. It was more of an experience than a film to me, to be honest. The subject matter and many individual scenes were so terrifyingly uncomfortable to watch that I couldn't help from loving it. Society crumbles and people suffer! Yay! I have issues. I will admit that the screenplay was distressingly mediocre and it was probably not adapted in the best or most appropriate ways, but Fernando Meirelles' visceral directorial hand and the BRILLIANT cinematography make up for it tenfold. He's so beautifully bold with his films. To add to all the depressing goodness, Julianne Moore gave an incredibly committed and engrossing performance that easily ranks among her best. It'll most likely end up as one of the best of the year, too. Alice Braga is also very notable, strangely. I just really loved her for some reason.

I guess I made that into a bit of a review? Whee. It was hard putting my thoughts into words, and I definitely won't be seeing it again in theaters to double-check them, LOL. But I'm very glad to have contributed to it's pathetic gross at all, though! I'll be sure to tell my grandchildren how I was one of the only people who saw this future cult masterpiece in its original release who didn't roar like an idiotic hyena every time somebody knocked into something. Yes, I'm bitter. Ugh, people.*

So, did anyone else out there see it this weekend? I'm seriously asking.

* - Wow, this got snobby quickly.

Also:

VD Grade: ★★★★ (out of five)

Elizabeth Banks is in Everything Now?

I don't know what happened, and why it happened so suddenly, but it really seems like it. At least to me. Spider-Man 3, Fred Claus, Definitely, Maybe, Meet Bill and Meet Dave (WTF?) were all in a nice successive order of spaced time, but now she's got three movies (all comedies) coming out in the next MONTH -- which are Zach and Miri Make a Porno, Role Models, and W.

W. for frick's sake. That ain't normal, even in these days of Apatow.

She's also in a romantic drama (I think?) starring Martin Landau and Ellen Burstyn that comes out next year apparently, and the latest stupid and unnecessary Americanized remake of an Asian horror movie, The Uninvited, as Violet Baudelaire's evil stepmother. Well, like, at least it's something different. And she's all villain-y!

Now, I like her, but dayam, her agent must LOVE her. Sorry, I'm just thinking out loud. It's still majorly weird...

I Need Some Help Choosing My Best Post

I really want to participate in the upcoming Best Post Blog-a-Thon being held over at He Shot Cyrus... but, like, I don't know what to do. Sure, in theory it's ridiculously easy -- pick one post you think is the best you've ever done and submit it, and the work's already done! -- but that's just it. I can't think of a post!!! I was able to narrow the field down to five I feel would be really good choices (in chronological order):

• Has Anyone Actually Seen Youth Without Youth?
• Nicole Kidman Sucks
• The Ekdahl Pavilion
• Love. At Any Cost.
• Taylor Momsen Makes Me Feel Old

But I can't break it down to just one of those. So, I'm letting you decide. Is there any post I've done (not just the ones I spotlit) that you'd love to see in the blog-a-thon? I didn't put up a poll for this question because, I swear to god, I want you to COMMENT. All posting and no comments make J.D. a psychotic loon. Sometimes I even get rather, well...

I'm sorry, but it's true. So, PLEASE, humor me. I love you all. Mwa.

ETA: My "ode" to Taylor Momsen, it is!