There have been some amazing roles played by amazing women. As much as I love to watch them on screen part of me wishes they'd waited until now to make some of my favorite movies, simply so I could have played the lead.
6. Betty Haynes – White Christmas (1954), played by Rosemary Clooney (The aunt of George Clooney). This would not be my first choice but I love this movie. While I could definitely go without having too kiss Bing Crosby, I would have loved to be a part of this film. It’s such a wonderful Christmas movie. Another fun family fact: This was the first DVD my family ever bought.
5. Princess Leia – The Star Wars IV, V and VI (1977), played by Carrie Fisher. Yes, I am a little bit of a Star Wars geek. To tell the truth I’d rather be known as having something to do with R2D2, but seeing as this post has to do with leading ladies I’ll go with Princess Leia to get the geek out of me. Princess Leia is strong and attractive and super brave. The only thing that could improve this leading lady would be an ability to use a light saber.
4. Jo March – Little Women (1933 or 1994), played by Katherine Hepburn (1933) and Winona Ryder (1994) – Jo is such a fun, strong character. She is full of ambition and spunk and passion. She loves her family and stands up for what she believes in. What a wonderful woman to look up to.
3. Kathy Selden - Singin' In the Rain (1952), played by Debbie Reynolds (who just so happens to be the mother of Carrie Fisher who played Princess Leia) - This is my alltime favorite movie. I love it. The only problem for me playing this role is that I can not dance to save my life which is slightly essential to the role. I love Kathy Selden for her sassy sarcasm, her kindess and of course for the fact that she gets to kiss Gene Kelly...who wouldn't want to play this role?
2. Scarlett O'Hara – Gone With the Wind (1939), played by Vivien Leigh. What a fire ball! I think the main reason I would want to play Scarlett is the fact that she gets to say things like “fiddle dee dee” and go around slapping people and all the men fall in love with her. Also –again- Clark Gable…thank you God for making Clark Gable.
1. Belle - Beauty and the Beast (1991), played by Paige O'Hara - This is my favorite Disney movie. It's the one I grew up on. The one I watched all the time. The one for which I owned the Barbie (both Belle and The Beast - who came complete with a head and paws that you could take off to reveal the true prince inside), the PJ's and the Puzzle. It is because of this movie that my dream of playing the voice of a Disney character was sparked. Belle is my dream role and I would drop everything in my life given the chance to play her on stage.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Top Six Exciting Things This Week
6. Moving Home - I decided on Sunday (the day before I was supposed to move back to school) that I would live at home and commute from Langley to Abbotsford for my last semester of college. No - I did not get my driver's license. Yes - My mom is driving me to and from school every day. Don't laugh, I know you're just jealous that you don't get to spend that much time with my mom.
5. It was the first week of my last semester of college! I am SO ready to be done it's not even funny. Last semester went from bad to worse and the difficulties with friendships and the fact that I'm feeling like I'm suffocating just aren't helping my desire to be finished. 104 days.
4. Gluten Free Cooking - I bought a GF cookbook on Sunday and have made some delicious discoveries. One of them may have been that it sucks when you try to spread out pancake batter by tipping the frying pan and your pancake falls into the stove top causing a small fire and a big mess, but I'm learning and eating things that taste like normal food but won't make my stomach want to kill me.
3.Glee! - I bought the first season on DVD and the first soundtrack. I also found out that they are holding open auditions for the second season and you can submit your audition online. Look out world, I sing, I act...and I'll work on the dancing.
2. I have my own room again - I loved my roomate but it is so nice to be able to retreat into my room and be alone with my thoughts. Sure my thoughts keep me from being able to sleep, but at least my inability to sleep won't be keeping anyone but my cat awake.
1. I've got a new man in my life...okay...he's not new...and technically...he's a cat. But at least I know he's going to love me as long as I keep feeding him and the only way he'll hurt me is if I touch his stomach, and even then it's just going to be a scratch. I believe step one in my becoming a crazy cat lady has been accomplished...success.
5. It was the first week of my last semester of college! I am SO ready to be done it's not even funny. Last semester went from bad to worse and the difficulties with friendships and the fact that I'm feeling like I'm suffocating just aren't helping my desire to be finished. 104 days.
4. Gluten Free Cooking - I bought a GF cookbook on Sunday and have made some delicious discoveries. One of them may have been that it sucks when you try to spread out pancake batter by tipping the frying pan and your pancake falls into the stove top causing a small fire and a big mess, but I'm learning and eating things that taste like normal food but won't make my stomach want to kill me.
3.Glee! - I bought the first season on DVD and the first soundtrack. I also found out that they are holding open auditions for the second season and you can submit your audition online. Look out world, I sing, I act...and I'll work on the dancing.
2. I have my own room again - I loved my roomate but it is so nice to be able to retreat into my room and be alone with my thoughts. Sure my thoughts keep me from being able to sleep, but at least my inability to sleep won't be keeping anyone but my cat awake.
1. I've got a new man in my life...okay...he's not new...and technically...he's a cat. But at least I know he's going to love me as long as I keep feeding him and the only way he'll hurt me is if I touch his stomach, and even then it's just going to be a scratch. I believe step one in my becoming a crazy cat lady has been accomplished...success.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Top 6 moments of 2009
6)Concerts- So this year was a good year for shows, seeing bands like Gob and reliving my Grade 8 and 9 years was pretty hilarious, and sort of scary how many lyrics I remebered. But by far the best two shows were Coldplay and U2. I wanted to see Coldplay so bad this tour and I they didn't let me down, they get better with thye more albums they put out. U2, what can I say, the first chords of Streets of No Name get me everytime. I hate to say this but a little respect for the opening bands for doing a decent job for pumping up the crowd.
5)Summer Season 1- So this was the first summer I was home for more than 10days in about three years. All I can say it was glorious. Late night soccer and working a job with no school provided em with ample enjoyment. Even though certain jobs shut me down it was one of the best summers I've ever had. Full of good people and good times, and porch talks.
4)Homewood- So my past summers had been spent working the entire summer at Camp and this was the first summer I didn't do that. The 3 weeks I spent up there were great just sailing and taking in the sights and sounds of the ocean. Probably the best thing that happened was at a kids chapel and I had a moment of revelation, that it was time too let go of the camp life.
3)Excelling in School- For the first time this year, I excelled in university. I got good grades and put the time and effort required to succeed at a University levels and I even got into the program I wanted to get into. Ironically enough I'm no longer there but it's still a good feeling.
2)Moving to Langley- This one was out of left field and was a very hard descision to make but here I am, I'm hoping for the best and things work out, I'm enjoying it so far. I could probably write an entire post on this alone but I'll leave it at that.
1) West Coast Trail- It's been a dream of mine and some of my good friends to hike this, and we finally conquered it during the last week of summer. Thorough much toil and tears, we conqured the trail and had a great time doing it, I probably spent far too much getting ready for the trail but it was worth it, so was a $20 burger.
Special Post
0.5- The Love (with a bullet)
5)Summer Season 1- So this was the first summer I was home for more than 10days in about three years. All I can say it was glorious. Late night soccer and working a job with no school provided em with ample enjoyment. Even though certain jobs shut me down it was one of the best summers I've ever had. Full of good people and good times, and porch talks.
4)Homewood- So my past summers had been spent working the entire summer at Camp and this was the first summer I didn't do that. The 3 weeks I spent up there were great just sailing and taking in the sights and sounds of the ocean. Probably the best thing that happened was at a kids chapel and I had a moment of revelation, that it was time too let go of the camp life.
3)Excelling in School- For the first time this year, I excelled in university. I got good grades and put the time and effort required to succeed at a University levels and I even got into the program I wanted to get into. Ironically enough I'm no longer there but it's still a good feeling.
2)Moving to Langley- This one was out of left field and was a very hard descision to make but here I am, I'm hoping for the best and things work out, I'm enjoying it so far. I could probably write an entire post on this alone but I'll leave it at that.
1) West Coast Trail- It's been a dream of mine and some of my good friends to hike this, and we finally conquered it during the last week of summer. Thorough much toil and tears, we conqured the trail and had a great time doing it, I probably spent far too much getting ready for the trail but it was worth it, so was a $20 burger.
Special Post
0.5- The Love (with a bullet)
Monday, January 4, 2010
Top 6 Movies I Watched Over My Christmas Break
I watched twelve movies in the past week and a half. Here are the best half-dozen:
6. Dreamgirls - This movie had so much potential for the first hour and a bit. It demonstrated a re-occurring theme I find in movies - nobody knows how to wrap up stories anymore. That's why so many movies have bad endings.
5. I Am Legend - Not as good as everyone made it out to be, but still better than 7 of the other movies I watched over the holidays. I did some research on the book that it was based off of, and apparently it's completely different. The Hollywood film has a much lighter ending; the original book is more science-fictiony with vampires. After reading a synopsis of the book though, I don't think it would be much better.
4. Titanic - I watched Avatar over this break (which did NOT make the list) and was inspired to watch James Cameron's swan song again. I appreciated this movie a lot more now that I'm a decade older. It has its flaws, but does such a phenomenal job of making you so happy and then depressing you like you've never been before. If not for the last 30 second scene which gives some level of hope, it wouldn't have made half the money it did.
3. The Queen - This was a surprise. I had heard good things, but wondered how good it would actually be. Phenomenal character development and brilliant lines. It's not super accessible, but people who stick it out will be pleased.
2. It's A Wonderful Life - This is only a Christmas movie because of the last little bit. That's a good thing though, since that means people will watch it once a year. That whole bell-ringing angel-winging thing still bugs me though.
1. Up In The Air - Why is this movie so great? Because the character development is so great. (See last post)
6. Dreamgirls - This movie had so much potential for the first hour and a bit. It demonstrated a re-occurring theme I find in movies - nobody knows how to wrap up stories anymore. That's why so many movies have bad endings.
5. I Am Legend - Not as good as everyone made it out to be, but still better than 7 of the other movies I watched over the holidays. I did some research on the book that it was based off of, and apparently it's completely different. The Hollywood film has a much lighter ending; the original book is more science-fictiony with vampires. After reading a synopsis of the book though, I don't think it would be much better.
4. Titanic - I watched Avatar over this break (which did NOT make the list) and was inspired to watch James Cameron's swan song again. I appreciated this movie a lot more now that I'm a decade older. It has its flaws, but does such a phenomenal job of making you so happy and then depressing you like you've never been before. If not for the last 30 second scene which gives some level of hope, it wouldn't have made half the money it did.
3. The Queen - This was a surprise. I had heard good things, but wondered how good it would actually be. Phenomenal character development and brilliant lines. It's not super accessible, but people who stick it out will be pleased.
2. It's A Wonderful Life - This is only a Christmas movie because of the last little bit. That's a good thing though, since that means people will watch it once a year. That whole bell-ringing angel-winging thing still bugs me though.
1. Up In The Air - Why is this movie so great? Because the character development is so great. (See last post)
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Top 6 Most Significant Movie "Types" of The Past Decade
There was some talk amongst our StopSix writers of doing decade-oriented lists, since in a few days we will see the end of our current ten-year time period and the beginning of another. To list the Top 6 most significant movies of the past decade would be an impossible task, mainly limited by memory constraints. However, ten years ago I viewed and understood movies completely differently than I do now. Sadly, I have become one of those people who sees movies as art now, and one who has absolutely no desire to use movies as a mindless escape. Thus, I'd rather catalogue six different types (not genres) of movies and how my understanding and attitude towards them has developed over the past ten years.
6. The Comedy - I used to sneak into R-rated teen comedies because I thought they were funny. Fortunately, I grew up and not only understood the error of my ways, but the misdirectedness of my sense of humor. Unfortunately, movies did not grow up with me. There are far too few comedies that are actually funny these days. Most of them are content to run with a weak idea that would be overused in a three-minute digital short. One thing I've noticed is that most comedies are funnier after their lines are repeated a thousand times at parties where people aren't clever enough to come up with their own material. That's not a sign of good writing, it's a sign of an untalented public. I can't really blame them though, since their only example of multi-million dollar comedy is the same old jokes being put out by the same old groups in moderately different scenarios.
5. The Alpha Male - I also started the decade loving those awesome movies about soliders and war heroes that lead armies to destroy the forces of evil. It inspired me as a man and made me want to go out into the world and make something of myself. But it turns out that making something of yourself is not as simple as killing an evil army. That's because it turns out that the black and white of good and evil cannot be easily applied to other people or nations. I am not a pacifist, but I am not a fan of films that glamorize the alpha male desire to divide and conquer. War and violence may be necessary, but as soon as we see them as glorious rather than disparaging, we've completely missed the lessons of history. We're already there.
I heard somebody say they enjoyed the stylized violence of a film them saw, and another talk up a film because of its cathardic look at the greatest atrocities of the 20th century. I might have had similar thoughts - ten years ago.
4. The Acid Trip - The indie/artsy movie really made an splash this past decade. Heck, indie-everything was the buzzword of the first ten years of the 21st century. I am far from being a guy who lives and dies by ecclectic films; I'll be the first to argue that an artsy film has foregone depth for abstract presentation. Yet I will admit, that if done properly, there is certainly room for films that are at times bizzare. Really, you can do anything if you do it for the right reasons.
3. The Summer Blockbuster - Some of my old favorite movies were summer blockbusters. I used to love hype, and having to buy tickets in advance just to see a film was reason enough to do so. It also helps that many summer blockbusters of the previous ten years were based off of things I enjoyed as a young boy, or sequels to franchises I already loved. But as the years went along, I noticed that the sequels were not quite as good, or if I took away the nostalgia I had associated with the series, I found out that they really didn't have much to offer at all. Explosions, action and a well-placed score do little if the plot is completely uninspired. This disappointment in summer blockbusters found its pinnacle this past summer in the worst film I had seen in my life, which still made hundreds of millions of dollars. Maybe there's hope for these big-budget summer season flicks, but I'm not holding any out.
2. The Award Contender - In the past I have been quite into seeing what film gets what award, what acting performance was best and so on and so forth. And I do appreciate that nomination lists serve as a good filter for what movies I should watch. However, I hate award cermonies. I usually watch them and get really annoyed with the trivialty of materialistic Hollywood. Truthfully, the amount of awards a movie gets should not determine its value. That being said, like so many others I do tend to base merit along lines of tangible recognition - something I am trying to eradicate from my enjoyment of film as well as other areas of life.
1. The One About The Character - There are many things people will like about a movie. They may like the music, the action, the special effects, the lighting or the filmography. But what makes a movie timeless or a story powerful is the characters. I noticed that over the past decade all my favorite movies have involved a character or characters that I find impacting, aspire to be like or relate to. The movies people like say a lot about themselves, even in the case of an escapist film. That's because movies, like any form of human art, are made by people and are thus inherently about people. Our fascination with art is really just a fascination with persons.
6. The Comedy - I used to sneak into R-rated teen comedies because I thought they were funny. Fortunately, I grew up and not only understood the error of my ways, but the misdirectedness of my sense of humor. Unfortunately, movies did not grow up with me. There are far too few comedies that are actually funny these days. Most of them are content to run with a weak idea that would be overused in a three-minute digital short. One thing I've noticed is that most comedies are funnier after their lines are repeated a thousand times at parties where people aren't clever enough to come up with their own material. That's not a sign of good writing, it's a sign of an untalented public. I can't really blame them though, since their only example of multi-million dollar comedy is the same old jokes being put out by the same old groups in moderately different scenarios.
5. The Alpha Male - I also started the decade loving those awesome movies about soliders and war heroes that lead armies to destroy the forces of evil. It inspired me as a man and made me want to go out into the world and make something of myself. But it turns out that making something of yourself is not as simple as killing an evil army. That's because it turns out that the black and white of good and evil cannot be easily applied to other people or nations. I am not a pacifist, but I am not a fan of films that glamorize the alpha male desire to divide and conquer. War and violence may be necessary, but as soon as we see them as glorious rather than disparaging, we've completely missed the lessons of history. We're already there.
I heard somebody say they enjoyed the stylized violence of a film them saw, and another talk up a film because of its cathardic look at the greatest atrocities of the 20th century. I might have had similar thoughts - ten years ago.
4. The Acid Trip - The indie/artsy movie really made an splash this past decade. Heck, indie-everything was the buzzword of the first ten years of the 21st century. I am far from being a guy who lives and dies by ecclectic films; I'll be the first to argue that an artsy film has foregone depth for abstract presentation. Yet I will admit, that if done properly, there is certainly room for films that are at times bizzare. Really, you can do anything if you do it for the right reasons.
3. The Summer Blockbuster - Some of my old favorite movies were summer blockbusters. I used to love hype, and having to buy tickets in advance just to see a film was reason enough to do so. It also helps that many summer blockbusters of the previous ten years were based off of things I enjoyed as a young boy, or sequels to franchises I already loved. But as the years went along, I noticed that the sequels were not quite as good, or if I took away the nostalgia I had associated with the series, I found out that they really didn't have much to offer at all. Explosions, action and a well-placed score do little if the plot is completely uninspired. This disappointment in summer blockbusters found its pinnacle this past summer in the worst film I had seen in my life, which still made hundreds of millions of dollars. Maybe there's hope for these big-budget summer season flicks, but I'm not holding any out.
2. The Award Contender - In the past I have been quite into seeing what film gets what award, what acting performance was best and so on and so forth. And I do appreciate that nomination lists serve as a good filter for what movies I should watch. However, I hate award cermonies. I usually watch them and get really annoyed with the trivialty of materialistic Hollywood. Truthfully, the amount of awards a movie gets should not determine its value. That being said, like so many others I do tend to base merit along lines of tangible recognition - something I am trying to eradicate from my enjoyment of film as well as other areas of life.
1. The One About The Character - There are many things people will like about a movie. They may like the music, the action, the special effects, the lighting or the filmography. But what makes a movie timeless or a story powerful is the characters. I noticed that over the past decade all my favorite movies have involved a character or characters that I find impacting, aspire to be like or relate to. The movies people like say a lot about themselves, even in the case of an escapist film. That's because movies, like any form of human art, are made by people and are thus inherently about people. Our fascination with art is really just a fascination with persons.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Top 6 Reasons Why I Should be in Ohio
6) My Name- Mark is only one syllable, just like the name James. Put the name Bond at the end and it sounds more like James Bond, the name is Mark, Mark Bond. Sounds more like the movie.
5) I Like Turkey- I love eating turkey dinners, I could eat them at least once a week and I appreciate them for what they are, a delicious family tradition.
4) I'm Good at Meeting the Parents- I think we all know how much Alysha's parents love me and I think I could demand the same respect and fondness from Ian's parents as well. Tell a few jokes, tell them I think there son is a hard worker and they'll be head over heels for me.
3) I Know the Local Sports Teams- Mr. Bond and I could sit down and enjoy the local sporting event like watching the Cincinnati Bengals play football or the Cleveland Cavaliers play basketball. I feel like it could be some bonding moments that could once again score me points.
2) I've Also Worked at a Camp- I know both Becca and Ian have worked at a camp, but so have I. The stories I have are just as relevant as their stories. I could tug on the Bond's heart strings with an emotional story about the troubled kid or tell them a bust a gut funny story about kids wetting their beds, really, I have all the basics covered.
1) I Know American History- I've studied the Ohio River Valley, I know George Washington attacked a small French settlement which sparked the French Indian War which then sparked the 7 Years War which changed history. I could take the Bond family on a tour of their own state and tell them about it.
5) I Like Turkey- I love eating turkey dinners, I could eat them at least once a week and I appreciate them for what they are, a delicious family tradition.
4) I'm Good at Meeting the Parents- I think we all know how much Alysha's parents love me and I think I could demand the same respect and fondness from Ian's parents as well. Tell a few jokes, tell them I think there son is a hard worker and they'll be head over heels for me.
3) I Know the Local Sports Teams- Mr. Bond and I could sit down and enjoy the local sporting event like watching the Cincinnati Bengals play football or the Cleveland Cavaliers play basketball. I feel like it could be some bonding moments that could once again score me points.
2) I've Also Worked at a Camp- I know both Becca and Ian have worked at a camp, but so have I. The stories I have are just as relevant as their stories. I could tug on the Bond's heart strings with an emotional story about the troubled kid or tell them a bust a gut funny story about kids wetting their beds, really, I have all the basics covered.
1) I Know American History- I've studied the Ohio River Valley, I know George Washington attacked a small French settlement which sparked the French Indian War which then sparked the 7 Years War which changed history. I could take the Bond family on a tour of their own state and tell them about it.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Top Six Thoughts Keeping Me Awake Right Now
1- I should not drink coffee at 3pm when I have to get up at 5:20am the next morning.
2 - Why won't my hair stay clean for longer than 15 minutes after I shower? I'm going to look like a slob upon arrival tomorrow.
3 - Is my computer really an essential item to bring this weekend? How will I get it through security? Which bag should I put it in?
4 - Why is my cat snoring?
5 - If I fell asleep right now I'd get 3hrs and 10 mins of sleep.
6 - What if my plane crashes on an island that no one can find? I would stay faithful to Ian...even if Jack Shepherd was there. I promise. If my plane disappears, please look near Fiji...and beware of electromagnetic....something...I still don't quite understand how the whole Lost thing works
2 - Why won't my hair stay clean for longer than 15 minutes after I shower? I'm going to look like a slob upon arrival tomorrow.
3 - Is my computer really an essential item to bring this weekend? How will I get it through security? Which bag should I put it in?
4 - Why is my cat snoring?
5 - If I fell asleep right now I'd get 3hrs and 10 mins of sleep.
6 - What if my plane crashes on an island that no one can find? I would stay faithful to Ian...even if Jack Shepherd was there. I promise. If my plane disappears, please look near Fiji...and beware of electromagnetic....something...I still don't quite understand how the whole Lost thing works
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