Thanks to James for tagging me with this rather simple and quick but interesting meme! Seriously, thanks. I wanted to do this. Yay!
FOUR JOBS YOU'VE HAD IN YOUR LIFE
Um... doormat? LOL.
FOUR MOVIES YOU COULD WATCH OVER AND OVER AGAIN
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Billy Elliot, Chungking Express, Mean Girls.
FOUR PLACES YOU'VE LIVED
Town of Niagara and Niagara Falls. I'm so boring.
FOUR TV SHOWS YOU LOVE TO WATCH
30 Rock, Gossip Girl, The Fairly OddParents, Mission Hill - I fucking love that show.
FOUR PLACES YOU'VE BEEN ON VACATION
Toronto, New Jersey, Chicago, Washington D.C. All twice! But never anywhere else.
FOUR WEBSITES YOU VISIT DAILY
Facebook (seems to be a cliched answer but I'm honestly addicted LOL), My New Plaid Pants, Rants of a Diva, Fataculture.
FOUR OF YOUR FAVORITE FOODS
...food? Overrated.
FOUR PLACES YOU'D RATHER BE RIGHT NOW
01. With someone (they know who they are) doing stuff (they know what).
02. In NYC. Yes, I've gotten over my phobia.
03. Watching Australia again. *sigh*
04. Honestly, in a WKW movie. Even when things for his characters aren't ideal, everything else IS. Maybe I should've just said a Christopher Doyle-shot film? He's done more than WKW. I mean, Paranoid Park, duh.
FOUR BLOGGERS YOU'RE TAGGING
Caitlin @ 1416 and Counting, Matt @ From the Front Row, Mischa @ Mischa in the Midwest, Fox @ TRACTOR FACTS.
ETA: And Doug @ RacsO Ledger since he asked so nicely. :)
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Thursday, November 27, 2008
What Am I Thankful For This Thanksgiving?
-FINALLY- seeing Australia on the big screen yesterday was one of the most glorious experiences of my entire life. It's truly one of the most majestic films I've ever seen, no hyperbole. I was not disappointed. Sure, it's not Moulin Rouge! (nothing really can be), and post-Red Curtain Baz may be even more erratic than ever before, but the whole thing was beautifully realized and executed. The random comedy, the sprawling vistas, the utter BIGness, Brandon Walters, all of it. My reaction is very much visually reliant, so I'm not real able to say more than this. Just see it. If anything, your eyes will explode. ★★★★★
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Ponyo's English Voice Cast Announced
Via ComingSoon.net:GhibliWorld.com has learned that the English-language version of Hayao Miyazaki's Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea will be produced by Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy. It will feature a voice cast including Matt Damon, Tina Fey, Cate Blanchett, Liam Neeson, Lily Tomlin, Betty White, Frankie Jonas, Noah Cyrus and Cloris Leachman. The animated adventure centers on a 5-year-old boy and his relationship with a goldfish princess who longs to become human. The movie is expected to come to North American theaters in 2009.ahgdgjagdjswevghjhhahgdikwojdnmhiwqfdesvgfOMG!!!!!
I've always had a thing for the Disney Ghibli dubs. They're always so random and reputable. But to have Matt Damon, Cate Blanchett and TINA FEY to join that group?! I am in heaven right now. Though, I could do without the Jonas and Cyrus brats. But w/e.
Labels:
Amazingness,
Cate Blanchett,
Matt Damon,
OMG,
Studio Ghibli,
Tina Fey
VD's Updated Oscar Predictions!
Apparently I haven't done any Oscar predictions since August -- I didn't think it was that long. You may notice how there is one film that is completely MIA from these. I can't bring myself to say it anymore... *sniffles* Anyway, here are my predictions, as of November 26:
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Penélope Cruz | Vicky Cristina Barcelona Ugh, I wish the random early buzz stays till the end. She was beautifully insane.
Viola Davis | Doubt Two scenes and the one the reviews are pointing out above the rest. Locked? I'd actually say yeah.
Vera Farmiga | Nothing But the Truth Ugh, I don't know. She kicked ass in the trailer, and she deserves fame and respect, and that's all I have to justify this. "You are going to walk off the plank into the bowels of hell, you know that?" Sweet Jesus.
Marisa Tomei | The Wrestler Stripper with a heart of gold.
Kate Winslet | The Reader I've said it before, Hanna Schmitz is a character easy to nominate, lead or supporting. Winslet totally seems like she brought her all the role, and I can't see her missing a nom, either way.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Josh Brolin | Milk Dan White is an incredibly baity role, and Brolin has gained a lot of goodwill over the last couple years (including being the protagonist of the last BP winner). The only real problem is who among Milk's supporting cast will get in, because SOMEONE is getting in at least.
Robert Downey Jr. | Tropic Thunder I really hope they have the sense to realize his brilliance. I'm not sold that they'll actually listen.
James Franco | Milk So, I'm betting on both Brolin and Franco getting. He's also on a goodwill rise (being perfect in Pineapple Express and all), and he has a fair amount of bait himself. Plus, pornstache!
Philip Seymour Hoffman | Doubt Why not? He actually looks really good. Which is something, considering I hate his guts.
Heath Ledger | The Dark Knight Can I get a DUH? Amen.
BEST ACTRESS
Anne Hathaway | Rachel Getting Married If she misses the nomination, I may have to explode Los Angeles. She deserves it vigorously. I hope the buzz survives, and the rest of the film too (especially DeWitt).
Sally Hawkins | Happy-Go-Lucky A Mike Leigh performance by a leading actress was why I first predicted her at the beginning of the year. Now I'm predicting her because her name is already engraved on the Chloe. Will the Oscar be the same? Only time will tell.
Meryl Streep | Doubt I'm hesitant all of a sudden?
Kristin Scott Thomas | I've Loved You So Long The British-French masterclass has locked herself in. She ain't goin' nowhere, except if it's up to the stage.
Kate Winslet | Revolutionary Road Like I said earlier, I really doubt that she's not getting nominated for The Reader. I mean, right? We saw the same trailer. But RR could happen just as much as it could not at this point, her and all. So, filler, sorta. Hell, Blanchett might take this spot. But a Winslet double nom would kick. ass. no?
BEST ACTOR
Frank Langella | Frost/Nixon Mostly a filler right now. The entire movie is weird, so until the reviews come out very soon, I'm going to treat is as weird.
Richard Jenkins | The Visitor The lead indie actor from the first half/two-thirds of the year seems like a standard at this point. And since there only seems to be one per year, it'll be either him or Leo, dontcha think? I'm going with Jenkins, because he seems more overdue and underrated as an actor, and because The Visitor seems easier to rally behind. (I still need to see it, ugh.)
Sean Penn | Milk *lock*
Brad Pitt | The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Hmm... I'm not... eh, sure. IDK though. Will it actually, like, happen?
Mickey Rourke | The Wrestler "Witness the resurrection" is already one of the greatest critic's quotes I've ever seen. And basing your entire campaign around it (because it seems like a universal shout of acclaim) is definitely not unwise. He may win it.
BEST DIRECTOR
Darren Aronofsky | The Wrestler See Picture. In fact, I doubt this will happen. Maybe I'm keeping his previous films too much in mind, but Aronofsky has never seemed like a filmmaker that could get this far? Even if this seems simpler and more conventional.
Stephen Daldry | The Reader I can see The Reader happening. So many things are falling out, and it still hasn't, DESPITE the release scares. It's being released in a couple weeks, and the reviews should be coming soon. For right now, I'm predicting Daldry as a sort of place-marker for those thoughts. He's been nominated for 100% of his films to this point, lest we forget. Even Billy Elliot, which still reeks of weirdness to me (I'm not complaining). This is me being a maverick.
David Fincher | The Curious Case of Benjamin Button If the film is happening (which is seems to be), he'll get in. No doubt about it.
Christopher Nolan | The Dark Knight His nomination is sorta up in the air for me. I used to think he was more likely to be nominated than the film, but with so much gone, it seems inevitable that it will be nominated. But in the Director race, it's harder to clear things away. He may lose his spot to a lone nominee. There are some serious flaws voters might keep in mind. But for now, I'll take the quasi-risk.
Gus Van Sant |Paranoid Park Milk Yup.
BEST PICTURE
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button It really seems freaking possible now, doesn't it? I mean, what happened? I was doubting this for so long because it never seemed like it could not only win awards, but actually make it's budget back. Yet...
The Dark Knight This is going to happen. It still got exceptional reviews, will probably have the strongest fanbase of any film in the race, and is, like, the second highest grossing film of all time.
Milk It opens today, so the reviews are pouring in, and they've all been uniformly great. Plus the outlying factors (the political climate, misplaced BBM guilt, etc), and we might have a winner here. Or, so I hope.
Slumdog Millioniare LMFAO, I don't know. Honestly - I. don't. know. I'm still not 100% on what it is. But if y'all are predicting it so much...
The Wrestler I'm not sure. It could happen, and I'd be glad, and for right now I'll go with it. It could easily not happen, depending on what happens after it's released.
So, did these come out coherent enough for you get what I'm saying? And what are you predicting, for that matter? This year is so disappointingly bonkers. And I have an HTML headache.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESSPenélope Cruz | Vicky Cristina Barcelona Ugh, I wish the random early buzz stays till the end. She was beautifully insane.
Viola Davis | Doubt Two scenes and the one the reviews are pointing out above the rest. Locked? I'd actually say yeah.
Vera Farmiga | Nothing But the Truth Ugh, I don't know. She kicked ass in the trailer, and she deserves fame and respect, and that's all I have to justify this. "You are going to walk off the plank into the bowels of hell, you know that?" Sweet Jesus.
Marisa Tomei | The Wrestler Stripper with a heart of gold.
Kate Winslet | The Reader I've said it before, Hanna Schmitz is a character easy to nominate, lead or supporting. Winslet totally seems like she brought her all the role, and I can't see her missing a nom, either way.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTORJosh Brolin | Milk Dan White is an incredibly baity role, and Brolin has gained a lot of goodwill over the last couple years (including being the protagonist of the last BP winner). The only real problem is who among Milk's supporting cast will get in, because SOMEONE is getting in at least.
Robert Downey Jr. | Tropic Thunder I really hope they have the sense to realize his brilliance. I'm not sold that they'll actually listen.
James Franco | Milk So, I'm betting on both Brolin and Franco getting. He's also on a goodwill rise (being perfect in Pineapple Express and all), and he has a fair amount of bait himself. Plus, pornstache!
Philip Seymour Hoffman | Doubt Why not? He actually looks really good. Which is something, considering I hate his guts.
Heath Ledger | The Dark Knight Can I get a DUH? Amen.
BEST ACTRESSAnne Hathaway | Rachel Getting Married If she misses the nomination, I may have to explode Los Angeles. She deserves it vigorously. I hope the buzz survives, and the rest of the film too (especially DeWitt).
Sally Hawkins | Happy-Go-Lucky A Mike Leigh performance by a leading actress was why I first predicted her at the beginning of the year. Now I'm predicting her because her name is already engraved on the Chloe. Will the Oscar be the same? Only time will tell.
Meryl Streep | Doubt I'm hesitant all of a sudden?
Kristin Scott Thomas | I've Loved You So Long The British-French masterclass has locked herself in. She ain't goin' nowhere, except if it's up to the stage.
Kate Winslet | Revolutionary Road Like I said earlier, I really doubt that she's not getting nominated for The Reader. I mean, right? We saw the same trailer. But RR could happen just as much as it could not at this point, her and all. So, filler, sorta. Hell, Blanchett might take this spot. But a Winslet double nom would kick. ass. no?
BEST ACTORFrank Langella | Frost/Nixon Mostly a filler right now. The entire movie is weird, so until the reviews come out very soon, I'm going to treat is as weird.
Richard Jenkins | The Visitor The lead indie actor from the first half/two-thirds of the year seems like a standard at this point. And since there only seems to be one per year, it'll be either him or Leo, dontcha think? I'm going with Jenkins, because he seems more overdue and underrated as an actor, and because The Visitor seems easier to rally behind. (I still need to see it, ugh.)
Sean Penn | Milk *lock*
Brad Pitt | The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Hmm... I'm not... eh, sure. IDK though. Will it actually, like, happen?
Mickey Rourke | The Wrestler "Witness the resurrection" is already one of the greatest critic's quotes I've ever seen. And basing your entire campaign around it (because it seems like a universal shout of acclaim) is definitely not unwise. He may win it.
BEST DIRECTORDarren Aronofsky | The Wrestler See Picture. In fact, I doubt this will happen. Maybe I'm keeping his previous films too much in mind, but Aronofsky has never seemed like a filmmaker that could get this far? Even if this seems simpler and more conventional.
Stephen Daldry | The Reader I can see The Reader happening. So many things are falling out, and it still hasn't, DESPITE the release scares. It's being released in a couple weeks, and the reviews should be coming soon. For right now, I'm predicting Daldry as a sort of place-marker for those thoughts. He's been nominated for 100% of his films to this point, lest we forget. Even Billy Elliot, which still reeks of weirdness to me (I'm not complaining). This is me being a maverick.
David Fincher | The Curious Case of Benjamin Button If the film is happening (which is seems to be), he'll get in. No doubt about it.
Christopher Nolan | The Dark Knight His nomination is sorta up in the air for me. I used to think he was more likely to be nominated than the film, but with so much gone, it seems inevitable that it will be nominated. But in the Director race, it's harder to clear things away. He may lose his spot to a lone nominee. There are some serious flaws voters might keep in mind. But for now, I'll take the quasi-risk.
Gus Van Sant |
BEST PICTUREThe Curious Case of Benjamin Button It really seems freaking possible now, doesn't it? I mean, what happened? I was doubting this for so long because it never seemed like it could not only win awards, but actually make it's budget back. Yet...
The Dark Knight This is going to happen. It still got exceptional reviews, will probably have the strongest fanbase of any film in the race, and is, like, the second highest grossing film of all time.
Milk It opens today, so the reviews are pouring in, and they've all been uniformly great. Plus the outlying factors (the political climate, misplaced BBM guilt, etc), and we might have a winner here. Or, so I hope.
Slumdog Millioniare LMFAO, I don't know. Honestly - I. don't. know. I'm still not 100% on what it is. But if y'all are predicting it so much...
The Wrestler I'm not sure. It could happen, and I'd be glad, and for right now I'll go with it. It could easily not happen, depending on what happens after it's released.
So, did these come out coherent enough for you get what I'm saying? And what are you predicting, for that matter? This year is so disappointingly bonkers. And I have an HTML headache.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Monday, November 24, 2008
I've Seen It All Nothing
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Endings Reminder
Just to remind everyone, on the 28th of next month, The 2nd Annual Endings Blog-a-Thon begins here at Valley Dreamin'!*few claps scatter the auditorium*
Fuck y'all. Anyways, I just wanted to remind everyone. Which I've already said. I am a horrible public speaker. Oh, last week (I think) I created a FW where I put up all the banners I've made so far for the public to use in promotion of the blog-a-thon. I know, right? I'm a creative whore. I was wondering how many of them are actually genuinely spoiler-y. Like, everyone knows at least Casablanca, Psycho and Sunset Boulevard, so they're above spoilality. But the rest? Not sure. There is no point for this. Damn.
Also, I have a lot of time on my hands, so if you want me make one of a specific film, tell me! Make sure it's before Interpol catches me, and not after, okay? Those bastards are quick. :)
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Stuff I'm Anticipating (That Aren't Australia)
Less than a week, y'all. The immediate reviews may not be amazing, but honestly, when were they ever gonna be? Stupid critics. ANYWAY. I really do want to see other stuff. Honestly. Here are a few of them.
~@~@~@~@~@~@~
A Christmas Tale looks glorious, doesn't it? An excellent ensemble in apparent top form, bitter heartwarming dramatics, FRANCE AT CHRISTMASTIME. All those things are cause for celebration. I also want to mention that I'm randomly excited by Anne Consigny, who was distressingly underrated in The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. I love the way her face... exists. She's very beautiful. [/off topic] I should see Kings & Queen before I see this, shouldn't I? I'm thinking I should. Right? Yeah.
~@~@~@~@~@~@~
Does anyone know when The Brothers Bloom is actually coming out? Last time I checked it was placed in the dead zone of December (pushed back from October!) but is that still happening? Because I seriously just want to see the picture already. CAN SUMMIT GET THAT THROUGH THEIR THICK, TWILIGHT-OBSESSED SKULLS, PLEASE? Rachel Weisz being funny! Adrien Brody and Mark Ruffalo playing brothers! RINKO KIKUCHI BLOWS UP STUFF!!!! Jesus effing Christ, people. It's release should be a national fucking holiday. I just wanted to remind everyone. *grumbles*
~@~@~@~@~@~@~
And lastly, Gus Van Sant's Milk would probably be, if Australia weren't happening, my most anticipated film for most of the year. When the trailer was released, I couldn't stop thinking about it. I kept watching it, and even cried a few times. It's like a punch to the sustained stomach. A film like this was always going to be resonant in today's society, and now especially in a society that can allow something as hateful as Prop 8 to pass. Alas, 'tis not my major concern about it... that would be that I'm not sure I'm going to see it. It's rated R, of course, so I need my mom to take me because I don't know anyone else who's nice enough to take me to movies occasionally. But I haven't actually brought it up with her, at all. I have this sort of tic where I just keep talking, and movies come up a lot, and I usually cover everything on my mind. Except Milk. I'm too terrified to even say his name around her. It's irrational and maybe a little paranoid, but I think if I bring something gay up, she'll bring my gay up, and I'm not ready for that yet. So I always end up just sitting there looking sad. Ugh. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to bring the movie up? And the first person who says "just say it" or the like gets hit with a chair. *screams in frustration, runs up to my room and slams the door, sulks*
~@~@~@~@~@~@~
So, is there anything you're anticipating at the moment?
A Christmas Tale looks glorious, doesn't it? An excellent ensemble in apparent top form, bitter heartwarming dramatics, FRANCE AT CHRISTMASTIME. All those things are cause for celebration. I also want to mention that I'm randomly excited by Anne Consigny, who was distressingly underrated in The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. I love the way her face... exists. She's very beautiful. [/off topic] I should see Kings & Queen before I see this, shouldn't I? I'm thinking I should. Right? Yeah.Does anyone know when The Brothers Bloom is actually coming out? Last time I checked it was placed in the dead zone of December (pushed back from October!) but is that still happening? Because I seriously just want to see the picture already. CAN SUMMIT GET THAT THROUGH THEIR THICK, TWILIGHT-OBSESSED SKULLS, PLEASE? Rachel Weisz being funny! Adrien Brody and Mark Ruffalo playing brothers! RINKO KIKUCHI BLOWS UP STUFF!!!! Jesus effing Christ, people. It's release should be a national fucking holiday. I just wanted to remind everyone. *grumbles*
And lastly, Gus Van Sant's Milk would probably be, if Australia weren't happening, my most anticipated film for most of the year. When the trailer was released, I couldn't stop thinking about it. I kept watching it, and even cried a few times. It's like a punch to the sustained stomach. A film like this was always going to be resonant in today's society, and now especially in a society that can allow something as hateful as Prop 8 to pass. Alas, 'tis not my major concern about it... that would be that I'm not sure I'm going to see it. It's rated R, of course, so I need my mom to take me because I don't know anyone else who's nice enough to take me to movies occasionally. But I haven't actually brought it up with her, at all. I have this sort of tic where I just keep talking, and movies come up a lot, and I usually cover everything on my mind. Except Milk. I'm too terrified to even say his name around her. It's irrational and maybe a little paranoid, but I think if I bring something gay up, she'll bring my gay up, and I'm not ready for that yet. So I always end up just sitting there looking sad. Ugh. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to bring the movie up? And the first person who says "just say it" or the like gets hit with a chair. *screams in frustration, runs up to my room and slams the door, sulks*So, is there anything you're anticipating at the moment?
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Basic Thoughts on Rachel Getting Married
Okay, so I finally saw Rachel Getting Married on Friday. And it's... Wednesday, now. I've wanted to see for, like, ever, and as a lifetime Annie fanboy I should have a 10,000 word essay on why the movie rocks. Yet... I just haven't been able to think of anything substantial to say. Or, even, what I thought of it all. I'm thinking I need a second viewing to figure it all out, which I hope happens.BUT, I can say some basic stuff I'm sure of, I think. First off, it's incredibly hard to swallow. The dramatic scenes are surprisingly intense, and the less melodramatic they were the more vulnerable and uncomfortable I felt watching it go down. Between the loony non sequiturs and the naturalistic come-togetherness, there's this raw, vital core that is damn hard to brush off. Demme's directorial hand loves smacking us to make sure we're paying attention, I guess. It works.
Now, performance-wise, this may feature some of the best ensemble work of the decade. The film lives and dies by how much hostility and denial it's actors put into their interpretations. And for the very most part, they do whatever the characters are screaming for, sometimes more so. Thankfully, despite their group dynamic, they shine brilliantly individually. Debra Winger was great in her few scenes, if a little... disturbingly batshit. On the other parental hand, Bill Irwin was 100% adorably awesome. He was also wonderfully subdued at times, and even painfully heart-wrenching (if you've seen it, you know the scene I mean). And Rosemarie DeWitt... ugh. She's sort of crazy-loose, and very whiny, for someone about to get married, and I seriously loved the way she played her. Magnificent desolation, yo. Actually, I think Rachel could've easily been worse than Kym, but you never hate nor love either enough for them to be on different levels. They're sisters, and it's about the two of them together.
But it's really about Anne. O. M. G. Anne.
I have seriously loved her for most of my life, and always fervently. From her amazing breakthrough turn in The Princess Diaries, into the underrated storm of fierceness known as Ella Enchanted, passing by her random involvement in Brokeback Mountain, and through the BS the BAFTA people pulled in deeming her supporting for The Devil Wears Prada... I was there. I was ALWAYS there. And I am SO glad I stayed long enough to see this day. My beloved Annie has given what is irrefutably her greatest performance. Probably forever and always. Yes, I'm making assumptions - she's THAT amazing. If she somehow gets snubbed, I may never be able to forgive the Academy. Not just 'cuz I'm biased, but because she actually deserves to win it if she can.
She's perfect. I'm still stunned by her perfection. The dedication she shows is superb, and she's so in tune with Kym that it's almost annoying. I probably love her more now!? The universe is magical sometimes.
So... I guess I loved it. Not entirely, perhaps, but I definitely saw a lot of greatness. Sometimes it's frustrating, and disinteresting, and contrived, and maybe a bit confusing... but then again, so is that whole fricking family. Bunch of escaped mental patients. ♥
VD Grade: ★★★★ (out of 5; preliminarily)
(LMAO, I have no idea. Just go with it, everyone.)
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Sunday, November 16, 2008
The Most Important Thing About Quantum of Solace?

That's about it.
I predict Bond 23 will be as convoluted and over-the-top as a Bond movie has ever been. Casino Royale totally created something wonderfully fresh and exiting for the series, and Quantum sort of destroyed that, at least quite a bit. It's good -- in fact, really good -- but disappointing, if only because Royale was so great.
I will admit that I liked Olga Kurylenko. But, honestly, Vesper is really too perfect to me to escape from my mind for even a second. So throughout the entire film, I kept thinking of her. And of course the film wouldn't let me forget, mentioning her in every other scene and all.

I still have nightmares of her premature ejection from life. *sniffles*
I'm sure most of you have already seen it, so what did y'all think?
Labels:
Daniel Craig,
Eva Green,
Hotness,
James Bond,
Olga Kurylenko
Friday, November 14, 2008
High School Musical 3 for Best Picture!
And not only because it deserves to be nominated! Disney is actually FYCing it, evidently. So it has a shot! Okay, it doesn't. Can't you just let a boy dream? *sigh*Yeah, Disney put up their 2008 FYC site yesterday or so, and High School Musical 3's section is obviously my favorite part. The BP thing is really only the tip of the iceberg -- they're also campaigning it for, among other things (ZAC!), Best Actress. We now have a studio-endorsed Vanessa Hudgens performance in the running. That makes me feel sort of numb. BUT, they showed enough reason and/or sense to FYC the glorious Ashley Tisdale. Of course, they were always gonna, because even they must know she's the best part of the series. The studio has our back, James! We still shall have our day in the sun.
On the Original Song front, they've decided to campaign only four of the film's eleven originals -- "Can I Have This Dance", "I Want It All", "A Night to Remember" and "Scream". I'm surprised "Now or Never" isn't there, but there's probably a good reason for that. I just feel so happy that Disney listened to me in regard to the songs, LOL. All those years of blind, juvenile devotion have finally paid off! Huzzah.
In celebration, here's something I saw today that I hadn't before:

I should probably rename this place to Australia Valley High School Musical Dreamin' of Zac's Hottness or something. It perfectly encapsulates all I seem to talk about as of late! What do ya think? ;)
Labels:
2008 Oscars,
Ashley Tisdale,
Hotness,
HSM,
OMG,
Vanessa Hudgens,
Zac Efron
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Monday, November 10, 2008
And Once Again, Keith Olbermann is Right
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Of the Songs of High School Musical 3
Best Original Song has always been one of my favorite Oscar categories, for better or worse. If you're gonna blame anyone for that, blame the animation domination in the '90s - especially "When You Believe" from The Prince of Egypt, my favorite Oscar win of ALL TIME. Hell yes!!! So my own Original Song category is one of my favorite to determine. I usually have a very warped and innocent taste in film music, and it reflects that. Especially when I only nominate songs from musicals and Disney movies.2008 is no different, apparently. We're not even done with the year and the category is already a bloodbath. Why? Two movies -- Love Songs and High School Musical 3: Senior Year -- BOTH original musicals, are battling for the five spots with about twenty different songs. And that's before you add in the lone rogues (single original songs from non-musical films).
BUT, thank god, I have a plan to alleviate this contemptible back-up: list-making! Or, more precisely, ranking all the songs from each film so I have a point of reference when trying to figure out the general Chloe line-up. During the week I'll cover Love Songs, but for now, we're doing HSM3 (which, btw, may never get a proper review from me). I discounted "Senior Year Spring Musical" because medleys, even though I love them, aren't really fair to include when judging original material. Yes, I'm being analytical. Get used to it.
Also, as per my agreement with the devil, I was gonna put pics in this post, but did you know it's impossible to find good pics from HSM3 that aren't frickin' HUGE? Ugh. Anywayz...
I don't really like it beyond the sequence in the film. And since I'm not ranking those, I can't be generous.
The chorus is oddly catchy, but it's a little vapid, and definitely forgettable.
It gets points for letting Olesya sing more than a few lines, even if it's not even that long (and in a duet). Then Zac and Vanessa take over and it becomes typical, if bouncy. Good or not, it gets completely owned by Ashley and cutie Matt Prokop's reprise in the "Senior Year" medley, and that doesn't leave much for me here, unfortunately.
The prerequisite sad Gabriella song. Thankfully, it's better than "Gotta Go My Own Way" at least. Actually, it really sounds like it could've come out in '98/'99, and recorded by B*Witched or something... which, of course, completely appeals to me, being practically raised on that kind of pop and all. Baby V's vocals are too high and don't really work enough to make me blindly nostalgic, but the song itself works.
Hooray for eponyms! Also, I guess turning "We're All In This Together" into a sober ballad for this one forced them to make the peppiest semi-poignant finale song they're ever created. I really like it, though?
Now, the songs I would officially FYC if it were wise to do that for myself...
When Zac puts all his power into his singing, you can hear the sound of 10,000 tween boys and girls exploding. Or at least I can. And that may be because I'm exploding myself.
This is genius. Needlessly repetitive, granted, but genius. I can't really describe it more than that, LOL.
Epic is the best word I can use to describe this. Like, it really defines what these movies can do to me. The cheerleader parts are quite inspired, to be honest. Plus, making Vanessa sound sincere is an accomplishment in itself. The "TRROOOOOY..." thing is STILL amazing in context.
As cynical as I try to be sometimes, I really am a gooey sentimentalist above all things. So, like, no amount of dark thought can make me love this song any less. Zac and Vanessa sound as good as they've ever been together. I know, right?! The music is my favorite part, though. Ugh, love.
And undeniably the best song from the film?
On a theatrical level, this is like, perfection. It's probably the best written song in all three films, too. BRILLIANCE. Ashley and Lucas have great chemistry in general, but it amplifies incredibly when they sing (which doesn't happen for either of them as much as it should). They always pack their voices with levity, but never overly so, and an understanding of their characters that no one else in the cast seems to have. Saying the films would be nothing without them (and their songs) is an annoying understatement. And yes, they ARE something in the first place. Also, FYI, the sequence is the single best thing anyone involved with HSM has ever done. Period.
I can't think of anything else to say now, LOL. Thank you for listening?
Labels:
Amazingness,
Ashley Tisdale,
HSM,
Lists,
Lucas Grabeel,
Music,
Original Song,
Vanessa Hudgens,
Zac Efron
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Pain, Begone, I Will Have No More of Thee!
Okay, I just wanted to post that. How utterly perfect is Rosemary's Baby?! I saw it for the first time last week and it's still buzzing around in my brain. Greatest horror movie ever made? Probably.Anyways, am I the only one who thinks I should stop doing those ridiculous week-long sabbaticals from posting? They suck, IMHCTO. Yes, I just said "in my humble, crazy, teenaged opinion." That's not important right now.
I want all of you reading, especially my long-term readers, to tell me what you think of Valley Dreamin' and how I run it. Anything you wanna say, please say it. Even the most slanderous, disgusting stuff you got - I don't mind. Well, I don't mind now, but that's because I don't know what you'll say, so that was a tad unfair to you. But seriously, tell me what I'm doing right, doing wrong, and what I could better. Even suggest stuff! I like being told if what I'm doing works or not. Like, honestly. If you can't take a little bit of criticism every now and then...

Wednesday, November 5, 2008
The Alphabet Meme!
The other day, Fletch tagged me and about 7,000 other people to do this meme he made, which is basically an A-to-Z of your favorite films, or your favorite film of each letter. I knew this style of meme was familiar, because I did it well over a year ago. LOL. Oh well. The rules:
Atonement
Billy Elliot
Children of Men
The Dreamers
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Fanny and Alexander
The Graduate
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
If....
Juno
Kill Bill Vol. 1
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Moulin Rouge!
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
Orlando
The Prince of Egypt
Queen Christina
Rear Window
The Sweet Hereafter
Three Colors
The Umbrellas of Cherbourg
V for Vendetta
Witness for the Prosecution
X-Men
Y Tu Mamá También
Zodiac
Some of those are fillers, especially towards the end, and it ain't exact, but I'm really loving it overall. It really looks like it's a good representation of me. It's like a young, depressing, overlong, confusing, overtly sexual rebellious mess. Just like me! Okay, maybe not the overtly sexual part. :-\
Now, lets see, who should I tag? Hmm...
Marcy @ Because I Saw the Film
mB @ A Blog Next Door
Matt @ From the Front Row
Joe @ Low Resolution
James @ Rants of a Diva
I'm glad I live in a world where random.org can make all my decisions for me! And if you're insulted that I didn't tag you and/or would like to do it anyways, please do it! I'm just some random teenage idiot that you're paying attention to at this moment. I don't matter. xoxo.
1. Pick one film to represent each letter of the alphabet.Wow, those are some long ass rules. Anywayz, here's mine...
2. The letter "A" and the word "The" do not count as the beginning of a film's title, unless the film is simply titled A or The, and I don't know of any films with those titles.
3. Return of the Jedi belongs under "R," not "S" as in Star Wars Episode IV: Return of the Jedi. This rule applies to all films in the original Star Wars trilogy; all that followed start with "S." Similarly, Raiders of the Lost Ark belongs under "R," not "I" as in Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark. Conversely, all films in the LOTR series belong under "L" and all films in the Chronicles of Narnia series belong under "C," as that's what those filmmakers called their films from the start. In other words, movies are stuck with the titles their owners gave them at the time of their theatrical release. Use your better judgement to apply the above rule to any series/films not mentioned.
4. Films that start with a number are filed under the first letter of their number's word. 12 Monkeys would be filed under "T."
5. Link back to Blog Cabins in your post so that I can eventually type "alphabet meme" into Google and come up #1, then make a post where I declare that I am the King of Google.
6. If you're selected, you have to then select 5 more people.
Billy Elliot
Children of Men
The Dreamers
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Fanny and Alexander
The Graduate
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
If....
Juno
Kill Bill Vol. 1
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Moulin Rouge!
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
Orlando
The Prince of Egypt
Queen Christina
Rear Window
The Sweet Hereafter
Three Colors
The Umbrellas of Cherbourg
V for Vendetta
Witness for the Prosecution
X-Men
Y Tu Mamá También
Zodiac
Some of those are fillers, especially towards the end, and it ain't exact, but I'm really loving it overall. It really looks like it's a good representation of me. It's like a young, depressing, overlong, confusing, overtly sexual rebellious mess. Just like me! Okay, maybe not the overtly sexual part. :-\
Now, lets see, who should I tag? Hmm...
mB @ A Blog Next Door
Matt @ From the Front Row
Joe @ Low Resolution
James @ Rants of a Diva
I'm glad I live in a world where random.org can make all my decisions for me! And if you're insulted that I didn't tag you and/or would like to do it anyways, please do it! I'm just some random teenage idiot that you're paying attention to at this moment. I don't matter. xoxo.
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