So, I have been [nearly] begging Kasey and Kaia to do a cover of “Jar of Hearts” by Christina Perri since I saw Billy and Kathryn dance to it on So You Think You Can Dance.
Long story short, I gave them [moreso Kasey because he had to learn to play it] a deadline at the Anberlin show on Tuesday of Christmas, and they definitely lived up to their promise.
Anyways, I love Kaia’s voice, and they did a beyond fantastic job with this song.
Please post this on your own blog, Twitter, Facebook, etc… Please.
My Chemical Romance will be releasing their fourth studio album, Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys, later this year [some sources say November 23rd]. This is a little teaser trailer for the album.
I don’t know about you all, but after going 3 years without new material from My Chemical Romance, I am so stoked. I have been a huge fan of them since about 7th grade and still listen to them on a regular basis. They are absolutely phenomenal live and their music has this sense of epic-ness about them.
I’d like to hear what everyone thinks about this upcoming album, leave your comments!
Enchanted My rating: C+. I really can’t remember why I watched this movie, and I honestly don’t remember a whole lot about it, but I remember it being somewhat funny and cute. I love James Marsden and Patrick Dempsey, so that helped. I also absoutely adore Idina Menzel. I might have to watch this again, because I really don’t even remember enough to fairly critique this movie.
Shutter Island My rating: A. I absolutely loved this movie. Huge mind-trick/twist, and it worked really well. I have part of the ending figured out about halfway through, but it definitely didn’t ruin it for me one bit. I was enthralled from start to finish and I will definitely be purchasing this once I have enough money for the Blu-Ray version [$$$]. I am still majorly debating with myself about the ending [I won't spoil it for anyone who hasn't seen it yet]. If you haven’t seen this yet, please do yourself a favor and watch it.
Date Night My rating: C-. I was pretty disappointed in this movie. I think Steve Carell and Fey are hilarious, so I though I would really enough it–wrong. I chuckled a few times, but it definitely wasn’t as funny as I thought it was going to be, at all. The film had its funny moments, but overall it wouldn’t be my “go-to” movie to laugh. Maybe if I watch it again when I am in a “comedy” mood I will react to it differently, who knows.
The Bounty Hunter My rating: D. Again, super disappointed. I love Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler, but I actually fell asleep on numerous occasions during the course of the movie. It had its “funny moments”, “cute moments” and “serious moments”, but overall I wasn’t impressed and I probably won’t give it a second shot. I think I am slowly easing out of the “lame rom-com” phase of my life.
Inception My rating: A/A+. I swear to James Franco, this movie is simply fantastic. I finally saw it on June 25th for $1 due to a great Fandango deal, but I would have happily paid full price to see it. I don’t think I can fully explain what I like about the movie without giving too much away, but my gosh, if you haven’t seen it, go see it now! Don’t watch it illegally online, it’s too good for that. Pay the $8-$12 and go see it, now. The effects were amazing, the acting was exquisite, and the casting was superb. I definitely laughed a few times, I was confused, I was upset, I was on the edge of my seat, and I was in love. I will definitely be purchasing this the day it hits shelves. I’ve been reading around online and it seems there are quite a few people who didn’t like the movie at all, which makes no sense. I think when people rant about how terrible movies like Inception or Shutter Island are, they’re solidifying that the film went over their heads.
Wall-E My rating: A-. Absolutely loved this film as well. Pixar has never failed to amaze me. I laughed, I gasped, I shed tears, and I felt like I was connected to the movie in numerous ways. I thought it was a definite “realization” as far as the future state of Earth is concerned. Hopefully people took mental notes and changed their lifestyles to save our beautiful planet. I thought Wall-E was the most adorable robot ever, and I loved how all the characters interacted with each other, and I loved how real it felt. It was definitely an adorable, funny, serious, and endearing film.
Whip it My rating: B+. I totally dug this movie. It was bad-ass without being over-the-top. Landon Pigg is absolutely adorable, and I will marry him eventually. I thought was movie was fun, serious, relatable on some levels, and entertaining overall. I would definitely recommend it if you’re looking for a movie to watch. I think it was cast pretty darn well, and all the actors did wonderful in their roles. Granted, I haven’t read the book so I cannot vouch for how well it depicted the novel, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Youth In Revolt My rating: C. I was rather disappointed after watching this. I am secretly over Michael Cera playing roles where his characters whole goal of the film is to get laid, it’s getting old. There were some funny parts, and overall it was cast very well. I enjoyed all the characters, and it was definitely entertaining for the most part, but I thought I was going to like it a lot more than I did. As with lame rom-coms, I think I am leaving my “trying to be a funny/dark indie film” phase.
Say Anything… My rating: A-. I am a sucker for 80′s “teen” movies like The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, and Pretty In Pink, and this was definitely no exception. Anymore, I’m a little tired of the same old “happy ending” with movies, but this was a bit different. The film depicted a rather normal relationship, with it’s good times, bad times, and everything in between. I really liked the chemistry between Lloyd and Diane, it was realistic without losing the appeal. I don’t know why I waited so long to watch this movie, but it was definitely worth it.
Rush Hour 3 My rating: D. I started watching the movie because my brother was watching it and I had nothing to do. It was entertaining, at least. Chris Tucker is pretty funny, but overall the movie didn’t impress me, but I wasn’t expecting much. I haven’t seen #1 or #2, so I cannot vouch for how this compared, but I probably won’t be watching it again. It had it’s funny moments, but that’s about it.
In Her Shoes My rating: B+. I really enjoyed this film. It was another one of those “I’m bored, let’s watch this” movies, but I’m glad I did. I think the whole story-line could be very relatable for many viewers, or at least many people can see a bit of themselves in the film. I love the chemistry between Toni and Cameron, they played great sisters [again, who were relatable, real, and fantastic]. I laughed during the movie, and probably came close to tears. Nothing was too over-the-top in terms of believability, which I think is so key in movies other than, say, Avatar and Inception. Overall, I enjoyed the movie and would definitely watch it again!
Lea Michele in Oscar de la Renta – A. I absolutely love this dress. Perfect color and perfect style. I love sweetheart necklines on Lea, and this is no different. I know a lot of people who would prefer that she wore her hair up more often, but I think the hair-down look works in this situation. I am usually not a fan of ruffles on pretty much about anything, but I think it’s done in a classy way this time around.
Elisabeth Moss in Donna Karan — B+. I think this dress works wonderfully on Elisabeth. I think I would’ve liked to see the same dress in a different color, such as emerald green or navy blue, to better compliment her fair skin-tone and reddish-brown hair. Other than that, I love the simplicity of the accessories and hair, and I also love the shoulder.
Kim Kardashian in Marchesa — C+.
Just so you know, I am a huge fan of Kim Kardashian [and the Kardashian family in general], but I think this was a miss for Kim. I think the dress fits her perfectly, but I would’ve liked to have seen her in a dress without an elaborate neckline. Kim is so beautiful, so anything on her neck seems to overwhelm and distract from her face. If I were to “alter” this dress, I’d make is a sweetheart neckline and in navy blue.
Tina Fey in Oscar de la Renta — C-. I have never understood the whole “gowns with sleeves” thing, and this is no exception. I think the dress fits Tina great, but it’s a bit too busy for my liking.
Sofia Vergara in Carolina Herrera — A.
Good gosh, I love this dress so much. When she first walked out on stage last night, I gasped. So beautiful. I absolutely love this color on Sofia, and it shows off her curves, which is great. Her hair and accessories are perfect as well.
Claire Danes in Armani Prive — A. Does Claire ever do any wrong? I don’t think so. This dress is so beautiful and she rocks it! I like that she opted to so without bracelets/necklaces/rings, because the dress is such a statement already it doesn’t need anything else.
Nina Dobrev in Zuhair Murad — A. Love, love, love. I think I am slowly becoming a fan of one-shoulder gowns finally. This looks absolutely fantastic on her, and it isn’t overwhelmed by accessories. Bravo, Nina, bravo.
Kate Gosselin in Carmen Marc Valvo — D. Oh Kate, I love you and your kids, but this is all wrong. I hesitate to the use the word “matronly”, but it definitely isn’t doing anything for her. I am kind of liking the top part of the dress, but the rest of it bores me.
Jane Lynch in Ali Rahimi — A. The ladies of Glee definitely outdid themselves last night. I think Jane looks absolutely stunning in this style/color. Again, I like how simple the accessories are. It’s refreshing to see Jane out of the Cheerios track suit!
Cheryl Hines in Zac Posen — A. Love, love, love, love, love! Again, love the one-shoulder! I am obsessing over the criss-cross/layering going on, and I think it fits Cheryl perfectly.
Jewel in Zuhair Murad — B. This look has been getting some poor reviews, but I think it’s absolutely stunning. Because she wasn’t nominated/presenting/etc…, I think anything else would’ve been too over-the-top.
Angela Kinsey in Romona Keveza — A. I am currently obsessed with lace, so this is perfect! I think Angela’s hair is fantastic, and the dress is the perfect fit! Of course, I love the lace detail as well.
Jenna Fischer in Versace — A. Fan-freaking-tastic. She looks absolutely precious. I like the lack of accessories and her hair is sheer perfection. I love the color and embellishments of the dress as well. This was made for her, definitely.
Emily Deschanel in Max Azria Atelier — A. I debated with myself for quite some time on this look, and I ended up loving it. The purple looks wonderful against Emily’s fair skin, and I love the depth, and the one-shoulder! I could live without the bangs, but oh well.
Jayma Mays in Burberry Prorsum — A. I think this is my favorite look of the night. The color of the dress is perfect for Jayma’s skin tone and hair color, and the gold-ness of the jewelry works wonderfully with the overall look.
Jenna Ushkowitz in Kevin Hall — B+. Overall, I am a fan. I wish she would have worn her hair up, as to not distract from the top of the dress, but it’s not a deal-breaker. I want a closer look at those shoes, they look fantastic!
Heather Morris in Ina Soltani — B. I am still debating whether or not I like the black belt with this dress. Overall, I love the dress and it suits Heather perfectly.
Amber Riley in Melissa Masse — B. The only thing I do not like about the dress is the opening in the top. I would have liked to see it either closed, a strapless dress, or a dress with wide-er straps with rested on the edge of the shoulders. I think there is too much “sparkle” going on between the accessories, but it’s not a deal-breaker.
French manicure with glitter on my left thumb. You can’t see it in the picture, but there is a piece of glitter on each ring finger.
It’s simple, but fun! I have my first day of training at work tomorrow, and I thought this was pretty appropriate!
The Crazies My rating: C.
I didn’t hate this movie, but I also didn’t love it. It didn’t really do much of anything for me. I was expecting to be really scared, but I ended up dozing off a couple times instead. I may have to watch it again, but I probably won’t. Honestly, I don’t remember much of anything about the movie aside from there is a mysterious gas that is taking over the town and turning everyone crazy? I think.
She’s Out Of My League My rating: C.
Again, I didn’t love it, but I didn’t hate it. It definitely had its funny moments, mostly due to T.J. Miller who played the ever-so-funny Marmaduke on the short-lived comedy “Carpoolers”. It was surprisingly believable most of the time, and I laughed quite often. But, it was just another romantic-comedy that lacked a whole lot of originality.
High School Musical 3: Senior Year My rating: B-.
I’ve always had a soft spot for the High School Musical movies, and I wasn’t disappointed with this one. I think this was a great way to end the saga, and my eyes may have even became a bit teary at the end. I think the transition to small screen to big screen was done flawlessly, and I really enjoyed the “theatricality” of it all. Of course, it had all the cheese of the first two, but I still really enjoyed it.
Stranger Than Fiction My rating: B+/A-. I really liked this film. I love the whole cast, and I think they worked great together. The film was a wonderful story about the writing process and human nature, and the two meshed flawlessly together. I don’t think there is a whole lot I can say about this film expect that you should watch it. Now.
09/28 – New Orleans, LA – House of Blues
09/29 – Dallas, TX – House of Blues
10/01 – Albuquerque, NM – Sunshine Theater
10/02 – Phoenix, AZ – Marquee Theater
10/03 – Las Vegas, NV – House of Blues
10/05 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Complex
10/06 – Reno, NV – Knitting Factory
10/08 – Los Angeles, CA – House of Blues
10/09 – Anaheim, CA – House of Blues
10/10 – San Francisco, CA – Regency Ballroom 10/12 – Portland, OR – Wonder Ballroom
10/13 – Boise, ID – Knitting Factory
10/15 – Spokane, WA – Knitting Factory
10/16 – Vancouver, BC – Vogue Theatre
10/18 – Calgary, AB – MacEwan Hall
10/19 – Edmonton, AB – Edmonton Events Center
10/20 – Saskatoon, SK – Odeon
10/21 – Winnipeg, MB – Garrick Center
10/22 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue
10/23 – Chicago, IL – House of Blues
10/25 – Detroit, MI – St. Andrews
10/26 – Toronto, ON – Sound Academy
10/28 – Boston, MA – Paradise
10/29 – Philadelphia, PA – Theatre of Living Arts
10/30 – New York, NY – Irving Plaza
10/31 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club
11/01 – Cleveland, OH – House of Blues
11/03 – Nashville, TN – Rocketown
11/04 – Atlanta, GA – Masquerade
11/05 – St Petersburg, FL – Jannus Landing
11/06 – Orlando, FL – House of Blues
So jazzed.
This fall is going to be amazing show-wise.
I asked some friends of mine to explain love, and here is what I got:
“I don’t know. It’s nothing you can explain, it’s something you feel. There is no way to explain it.”
“It’s friendship set on fire.”
“It’s genuine.”
“I think there is the feeling love, and the way of acting love. Feeling is just an emotion, you know? Like, you can feel happy, sad, in love. Then there is the way of acting which is basically acting in the interest of the person in question. Like telling them they’re being a bitch when no one else will.”
“Love is at the root of every good feeling you’ve ever had. Love can hurt, but only to repair something stronger.”
“Love is scary, but at the same time it’s amazing.”
I find it really interesting that the majority of people I asked talked about romantic love. I don’t think I can say that I’ve ever “been in love”, but I’ve certainly been very close. I think love stretches beyond romantic love. There is friend love, object love, etc… I love Glee, I love my family, I love my friends, and I love water. These loves are all different types. I wouldn’t die for Glee, but I’d die for my family and [most of] my friends. I need water to survive, but I wouldn’t die without Glee [even though I may say I would].
Love is a super tricky emotion. I think any type of love involves a whole lot of caring. You cannot love something without caring about it. I care about my family, therefore I love them. I care about the environment, therefore I love the Earth. When it comes to friends and loved-ones, caring is a given.
The other day my friend told me, “I’ll try as hard as I can, until the day I die, to show you how much you mean. I don’t get how those people don’t care for you this way. It’s not like I even have to try. You just pull it out of me. I can’t help it.” I can honestly say that this is one of the very few times I have actually felt loved by a friend. Sure, I’ve heard “I love you” from friends for years, but it almost seems like they say it because it’s expected. I don’t want anyone to tell me that they love me unless they are willing to throw themselves into our relationship [be is family, friend, or romantic]. I’ve only felt true love/caring from a friend a handful of times. Maybe I need new friends? Possibly. But maybe my friends need to learn how to genuinely care for someone other than themselves.
To touch on what one of my friends said in response to my question: acting in the interest of the person. To me, when you love someone, you’re honest with them. I trust that the people I love would care enough for me to tell me when I’m out-of-line, or when I’m making a foolish decision. I would never expect a random person in the store to tell me that I was making a bad decision. On the other hand, I would expect that same random person to tell me if I was about to slip on water, simply because they care enough about humans in general to do so. I recently had to make a decision of whether or not to intervene in a friends personal issue. A different friend told me to not get involved, but I knew I had to intervene because I cared about this friend so much that it would kill me to not do something about it.
About love being scary–I agree. Although I’ve never truly been in romantic love, the thought of giving your everything to another human being is a very scary thing. As for friend and family [as well as romantic] love, the scariest thing about these [to me] is to love these people with everything you have, but not have them reciprocate the feeling. I’ll leave that there, since I could go on forever about one-sided love.
All in all, I think love is a lot more than unicorn, sparkles, and rainbows. Love is scary, unexplainable, and it can hurt, but I know that love is something fantastic and not something that should ever be taken lightly, no matter the context.