Sons of Liberty Promo is out! - My Thoughts

Okay there isn't too much to go on.. and the promos/styling of "Men Who Built America" and even "Houdini" were better made... but O!M!G! I am excited. Mainly because, yes, I'm a nerdy fangirl of two of the actors in the series (Michael Raymond-James who plays Paul Revere, and Ryan Eggold who plays Dr. James Warren), and I LOVE history. American Revolution is one of the time periods I'm always curious in as it's mainly - at this point - told as legend and the facts are romanticized. So when MRJ announced his new project last... May?... I was nerding out.

This take that History Channel seems to be taking is an interesting one. We know that the Sons of Liberty were sometimes looked at as more terrorists than revolutionaries (especially by the Brits... which I guess they have every right to call it that way ha ha), but it will be interesting to see the slant the history channel gives us. It definitely sounds like they're going to be more vigilante than most history books make them out to be (including one of the books that MRJ tweeted as being his reading material - yes I went and borrowed it from the library. Remember, I'm a stalker). I think this is the first time I've ever read "The Thug" next to Paul Revere's name (um, can we say typecasting?! just once I think MRJ should play a total straight man prince charming type... something "out of the norm" for him! ha ha!) so I'm even MORE interested to see Michael Raymond-James in this role.

What's also of interest - and possible concern - is that you can hear MRJ/Revere yelling "The British are coming!" in the promo. It's been widely discredited as being his actual words - more likely "The Regulars are coming" was what Revere said that night. If he even shouted out a warning at all. (American Spring, the book I'm reading, suggests that he rode up to homes). He also was not solo in his ride, and the promoshot of apparently Revere's ride has him as a lone rider. But it's a split second shot, so we'll see.

I love teasers but I'd also love to see more! I'm sure I'll get my wish as time goes on (they just wrapped filming a few days ago). December 14 cannot come soon enough!


[[ many thanks to the Michael Raymond-James Fan Page for uploading the promo! ]]

31 Days of Film - Day 31: The "perfect" film

I reviewed Toy Story 3 when it came out in 2010. I was a mess afterwards. I've only watched it two other times. It's a tear jerking film. And it's PERFECT. It's the closest thing to perfection a film could ever get. And the shocking thing is - it's a sequel.

Both Toy Story sequels improved on the first - not just with technology but with the story itself. Toy Story 2 ripped our hearts out, but Toy Story 3 crushed them. (Yes, that is a Once Upon A Time reference.) Toy Story 3 basically perfected storytelling and CGI animation.

I don't think an animated film should make someone sob for the last 10-15 minutes of a film. I don't think it's right at all. But the ending was perfect (for the movie as well as the trilogy). I know Disney likes to milk their movies to the point of no return (see Frozen) but I really hope the rumors of Toy Story 4 remain rumors. You cannot perfect perfection.



And that concludes the 31 Day Film Challenge! With Disney coming in just two weeks I won't be doing a September challenge. I'm sure I'll find excuses to ramble on, though. (For 18 pages... FRONT AND BACK!)

And then when I get back from Disney there will be pictures... and hopefully a completed trip report (I mean, 5th times the charm, right?!)

31 Days of Film - Day 30: The "smartest" film you've seen

A lot of movie viewers claim this movie is just a mixture of Forrest Gump and Castaway - it's easy to think that considering the star of all three films is Tom Hanks, but it's so much more! The Terminal was Spielberg's jaunt into a "date night" movie, but with his classic themes of father-son bond and, of course, biopic (the story is loosely based on a real story).

This film has so much charm and heart that it's easily one of my favorite Spielberg films. The casting of Tom Hanks as Viktor Navorski is what makes this movie work. He is the perfect sympathetic character. Stanley Tucci as the stories villain is also fantastic in his role (I love him, he can play so many different characters so well). The merry band of misfits that Navorski encounters in his 9 months in the terminal round out the film in a humorous and touching way.

I remember seeing this movie twice in one day - first with my best friend Erin, and then later that night with my dad as a father-daughter date. It charmed me both times.

It doesn't talk down to the audience, and a lot of the humor is subtle in a look or gesture of the actor. It's a classic Spielberg flick. Not sure it's the "smartest" I've ever seen, but it's definitely the one that's stuck with me most.

"Do you have an appointment?"

Kenai Animal Shelter Portraits - August 27

Things are busy here, so I'm backlogged on my blogging. But I'm not complaining. This is the most I've ever blogged in all the years I've been on blogger so yay! And some of the content I've written I'm actually proud of. Haven't been able to say that really in a while!

Anyway, Kassy and I braved the rain to take photos of the dogs and kitties at the Kenai Animal Shelter on Wednesday. They've got some great animals, as well as a lot of familiar faces (which makes me sad, they're all great! why don't they have forever homes?!).

31 Days of Film - Day 29: A film that you will never tire of

I. Love. This. Movie. It's amazing. Even after so many viewings that I've lost count I still laugh hard watching this movie. I quote it more than I probably should.

In college I watched this movie whenever I had a bad day - it wasn't the humor that made my day better... it was the idea that the whole world was blowing up. My aunt always knew when I was mad at the world because I was cheering on the aliens.

I've been known to watch this movie more than once in a single day. I've marathon-ed a whole weekend of just this movie. Normally I'm sick as a dog and too tired/lazy to get up and switch out the movie - but that's a minor detail.

Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum were such an unlikely pair, but it worked. Jeff is quirky... and Will is a dork. In Smith's first major motion picture he proved that he had the chops to be more than a teen demographic sitcom star. Bill Pullman was the best choice ever for a president. And Randy Quaid always plays crazy (because he IS crazy) to perfection.

Great cast, fun story, just a great sci-fi flick.

31 Days of Film - Day 28: The "perfect" date movie

Not that I've ever gone on a date night to the movies (have to have a date to go on a date), but one of my favorite "romantic" type films (of which I don't like many) is "The Holiday". I LOVE this movie, and while it does happen around Christmas time, it's a movie worth watching year round. The four main characters are so adorable that you can't help but love the movie.

Kate Winslet's character being my favorite, I feel a connection to the character - I understand her. Even though our life experiences are no where near alike a lot of her personality I see in my own. Cameron Diaz is pleasant in the film as well, and I'm not a fan of hers (find her a tad overrated), her character is a sympathetic one from the onset when we meet her douchebag of an ex-boyfriend. Jude Law and Jack Black as the ladies' unexpected love interests make the movie sing.

And I'm not a fan girl of either of them, though if they played characters like the ones they have in this movie all the time I probably would. This movie proves there are good guys out there, you just have to be willing to see past the "good friend" stage.

Eli Wallach (RIP!) is also the charming neighbor that Kate's character befriends. He brings a charm and warmth that the movie thrives on. You can't not love him. It's a beautiful friendship. I need an "Arthur" in my life.

31 Days of Film - Day 27: A film from your childhood

Sleeping Beauty is the first movie I ever remember being obsessed with. I had it on VHS and wore that sucker out. I loved (and still do) everything about it. Samson was an awesome horse, Prince Phillip dashing, Aurora beautiful... the fairies were hilarious and Maleficent is the most awesome villain EVER. She turns into a DRAGON!

I loved the sounds that Samson's hooves made on the cobblestone. How he dumped Phillip into the water. I loved how Maleficent flew into her rages, and how she mocked Phillip in the dungeon.

That Merryweather, like me, hated pink and wanted the dress to be blue. And I laughed at how stupid Flora was trying to make a cake. (I have been known to quote her "what's a tsp" while in the kitchen.)

I've had a crush on Prince Phillip since age three. He's my favorite prince of all time (which is why I'm always so bummed that Once Upon A Time doesn't give him a good storyline... so much potential!).

And really I love everything about Maleficent. She is just so... deliciously evil. And she turns into a Dragon... that makes her pretty much the most awesome thing ever. The movie starring Angelina Jolie does not do the mistress of all evil justice. They wimpified her.

Summer days driftin' away...

Summer is winding down here on the Kenai Peninsula... and, once again, I did a poor job of documenting this time of year. I wish I had a better excuse, but the truth is I'm lazy... and broke... and my car is not reliable... so I didn't get out much.

But, the other day I did go out and take some pictures... just as the fog decided to roll in. So the photoshoot was short lived. I was shooting some stuff for our church's website (which I am webmaster of) so they were shot on the church grounds... but I actually got a little creative in a few...

Can't believe fall is pretty much upon us already! Only 19 days till Disneyland!

31 Days of Film - Day 26: The film that should never have had a sequel

Just about every Disney animated film should not have a sequel - the only exception I can think of is Lilo & Stitch (I love the second film, though I can't watch it after losing Yuka last year).

I just don't understand why Disney thinks this is a good idea. Okay, I get that they're a business and it's an easy buck - but most of these films are total throw aways! They have no real quality of storytelling, characters, or animation. They are cheaply made from start to finish. It's not just disappointing, it's disheartening.

The Walt Disney name deserves better.

I know some of my fellow Disnerds will disagree, but honestly I just don't get how they can ignore the quality factor.

31 Days of Film - Day 25: Film that makes you want to be a filmmaker

I was 10 when I saw Jurassic Park for the first time. Not in theaters, but on a big screen TV at my dad's friend's house and he had surround sound. That movie was epic. Dinosaurs came to life (they were scary man eating dinosaurs, but they were still dinosaurs). My imagination was in hyperdrive.

When in Jr. High I thought it'd be awesome to work for Lucasfilm and do the special effects for Star Wars or other films like it. But by the time I hit High School I realized that the computer graphics took a lot of science and math knowledge and those are two subjects I struggled with. It was around this time I really started putting two and two together and realized I love putting creative projects together. I love telling stories and capturing stories...

And I was getting really fangirly about Spielberg films. I was beginning to pay more attention to the credits and the people behind the film, not the ones starring in them.

Jurassic Park still sparks my imagination and is the movie that always makes me want to go back and try and get that dream of becoming a film director. I want to have an epic film series. I want to have dinosaurs or something else HUGE. I want to tell a story that generations will continue to pop into their media players and enjoy them again and again.

I want to be a director like Steven Spielberg!