ROCK 102

Not to say that Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland is all bad (see previous post “Wonderland leaves us wandering”).  There are some bright spots besides just the visual aspect.

Helena Bohnam Carter is hilariously ignorant as the Red Queen.  And the fact that her head is 3 times the size of her body (hey, it worked for those cats & dogs with the big eyeballs you see everywhere) is just silly in itself.  Her delivery is quick and wicked, very much like Bellatrix, whom she plays in the Harry Potter movie series.  I can’t think of a role she’s played that I didn’t like.  Helena is brilliant once again.  God it must be nice to have Tim Burton as your partner.

And you’d have to be mad not to like Johnny Depp.  Oh my mystical grease ball monkey… How I love thee… Let me count the ways…. Benny & Joon, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, Edward Scissorhands, Sleepy Hollow, Chocolat (hey, I’m a romantic), Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (never gets old), and who didn’t love Pirates (just ask T-Bone… no wait, DON’T or he’ll bust out that damn voice again).  There’s nothing sexier than a hot, drunk, foul-mouthed, greasy, crude smelling pirate.  I like my men, like I like my martini – dirty.   OK, so back to this new hat he wears as the Madest of all Hatters in Alice.  Depp really reminded me of Gene Wilder.  Think Young Frankenstein or Willy Wonka on the tunnel boat ride.

Mia Wasikowska, who plays Alice is innocent, yet dark.  I think you’ll agree this role was cast very well by Burton.

Alice in Wonderland – go see it on the big screen!

-Lucy

For the next attempt.  This movie left me with mixed feelings.  Grew up with the stories, so maybe I had high expectations for this film.  Like Simon Cowell would say after an american idol audition, “It left me flat”. 

The look was dark, the mood was dark, the characters all dark in their own ways, but I felt the story was predictable… even cheesy at times.  I know what you’re thinking.  Predictable?  Of course it’s predictable.  It’s a story many are familiar with.  All the more reason I was hoping for Tim Burton’s vision to take it to loftier heights.  For me, this one still sits in the rafters.

But movie is visually attractive.  So if you can catch it in time on the 3D screens – I highly recommend you do.  This is a movie I will add to my Blue-Ray collection for sure.  Yes, I would see it again.

-Lucy

ps… if you’re a fan of the Alice in Wonderland stories check out “Phoebe in Wonderland“.  Excellent Film. 

pss… if you’re a huge geek about these stories (like myself) you have to experience 1985’s Alice in Wonderland with Sammy Davis Jr.

Hmmm…what should I buy?  A yacht?  Nah…an island…maybe.  I got it!  I’ll buy the WHY.  A yacht/island combo!  Why not.

For the cool, low price of just $160 million, you too could own your very own yacht/island. 

The “WHY” is the Wally Hermes Yacht.  Or at least that’s what I’m assuming it is.  It’s a collaboration between Wally Szerbiak and…oh, wrong Wally I guess.  I’m not sure who it’s a collaboration of, but I do know they have way more money than I could win with the powerball.

The concept is interesting.  Owning a yacht big enough to be a private resort.  I know I lay awake at night wondering how to solve this conundrum.

Anyway, it’s pretty sweet, even if it is something of a reality for only the elite of the elite.

Check out the story and10 pictures of it here.

The curse?  Nah. 

Joe Mauer graces the cover of the new MLB 10: The Show video game and as per the usual, also makes an appearance in a funny tv commercial promoting it.

You might remember the spot last year with Dustin Pedroia?  Funny stuff.  I may be a little biased, but the “well played Mauer” line itself beats the Pedroia spot. 

If you haven’t seen it yet, watch it here.

We all start somewhere.  Check out a very young, and politely nervous, Jimmy Page back in 1957 on the Huw Weldon Show.

I saw this clip while watching “It Might Get Loud” – which is amazing!  Expect more tidbits, videos, and interesting facts to come!  For now, view the link below…

Young Jimmy Page on TV

-Lucy

Is anyone else thinking… OUCH?!  Seriously, when you wipe out on the snow and ice pack… we all know how much a good sledding spill hurts.  Now imagine doing it with nothing more than your tighty-whities on for coverage.  Brilliant sport, I wonder when we’ll see this in the Olympics!

Click HERE to see Topless Tobogganing

WARNING:  May not be suitable for your conservative workplace.

-Lucy

So Family Guy had a character on their show recently that had Down Syndrome.  YIKES.  That is yet another eyebrow raising storyline that we’ve come to expect (and know and love) from the envelope pushing sitcom.

The stinger comes with the punchline “my mom used to be the governor of Alaska”!  Hmmm, I wonder who that would be?

Taking aim at the conservative right is almost a requirement for sarcastic, succesful animated shows like Family Guy or South Park and this was no different.  With of course the exception of the Down Syndrome inclusion.

While I usually delight in the knocking of Palin down a few pegs (even if I like the fact that she promotes hunting), this seemed a bit harsh.  Palin and her family decried the decision by the controversial show to use this bit of humor and many people sympathized.

Until now.

The people behind Family Guy are not idiots.  Along with being very creative, clever and willing to cross the line, they are very good in the ar of CYA.

The actress who portrayed the character with Down Syndrome, in fact, has Down Syndrome.  And offered her own observations on the subject: (thanks Huffington Post 

My name is Andrea Fay Friedman. I was born with Down syndrome. I played the role of Ellen on the “Extra Large Medium” episode of Family Guy that was broadcast on Valentine’s day. Although they gave me red hair on the show, I am really a blonde. I also wore a red wig for my role in ” Smudge” but I was a blonde in “Life Goes On”. I guess former Governor Palin does not have a sense of humor. I thought the line “I am the daughter of the former governor of Alaska” was very funny. I think the word is “sarcasm”.
In my family we think laughing is good. My parents raised me to have a sense of humor and to live a normal life. My mother did not carry me around under her arm like a loaf of French bread the way former Governor Palin carries her son Trig around looking for sympathy and votes.

Well, I guess that about settles it. 

Oh my god did you see that?!  Shaun White’s private half pipe practice pays off big time with big air, big tricks and a big gold medal.  Speaking of big tricks have you seen the “Double McTwist 1260″?  Just more proof that White is a legend in his sport.

Click HERE to see Shaun White’s Double McTwist 1260

USA, USA!

-Lucy