2007: A Year in Review

2007 was a great year not only in the world of movies and television but also for me personally.

For my job, I got to travel to Shanghai and I loved the experience of going to China and I also became an Aunt.

But this year, the movies and television also brought me much joy. I usually save the best for last but in this case I'll start with what was the highlight of the 2007television season for me and that was that I found the ONE. The one version of Jane Eyre to truly love thanks to Masterpiece Theatre's January 2007 presentation of Charlotte Bronte's classic tale. I have already blogged my thoughts on it when it first aired but I cannot reiterate I much I love the latest BBC version and the performances and chemistry of Ruth Wilson and Toby Stephens.

Other TV loves include my continued love for the Amazing Race and continued enjoyment of How I Met Your Mother. In terms of new shows this year, I am thouroughly charmed by Pushing Daisies and beguiled by Lee Pace as Ned the pie maker. I am also crushing Zachary Levi as Chuck in NBC's Chuck. A great and funny comedy/spy show.

In BBC land, I am in love with the second series of Robin Hood (I believe North American audiences will get it in 2008 but thanks to You Tube I am seeing it now). Things to look forward to in 2008 is the end of the writers strike so I can get new episodes of Chuck, Pushing Daisies and How I Met Your Mother. On January 13, 2008 is the start of Masterpiece Theatre's presentation of the Complete Jane Austen with Gillian Anderson hosting it. I am most looking forward to seeing Andrew Davies' take on Sense and Sensibility. He did such a great job with Pride and Prejudice and I am curious to see what he does here (as I think Emma Thompson did a fantastic job with Sense and Sensibility in 1995 -the movie that first introduced me to Kate Winslet). Also this year on Masterpiece Theatre is a new version of A Room With A View and My Boy Jack starring Daniel Radcliffe.

Speaking of Radcliffe, Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix in IMAX is one of my cinematic experience highlights of 2007. Seeing the final 20 minutes of the film in 3D made the movie awesome.

As for my favourite films of 2007, there were many (and I saw a lot this year) I don't know if I have a list of top 10 films as I don't think I saw enough to make a top 10 list but I can do a list of the films that captured my heart and that I want to add to my DVD collection.

The number one movie that did that to me was Once the independent Irish film about a busker and Czech immigrant who meet and make beautiful music together. It is simple film making done very well and I love the songs to it. After seeing the movie, I immediately went home and bought the soundtrack on iTunes.

Ratatouille was also another one of those movies that had me at hello. As soon as I saw Remy and Patton Oswalt's voice coming out of him, I loved the film about a rat in Paris who loves to cook.

The Simpson's Movie was another delight this year. I saw it theatres and laughed my butt off. I chose to see it on a flight and still laughed and saw it for a third time as my flight had that as the movie and still laughed. After seeing it three times and I still laughed, you have to own that movie.

Then there was Juno. The funny, sharp and sarcastic dialogue was great. Ellen Page's delivery of them was awesome and the fact that it was filmed in Vancouver was also awesome.

In terms of 2008, there is only two movies I am for sure going to see in theatres (I am sure there is going to be more but right now there is just two). The first one comes out May 16, 2008 and that is Prince Caspian, the second film in the Chronicles of Narnia series and then on November 21, 2008 is Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

As some people may know, I am not much of a reader and I usually only read a book if I know a movie version is coming out of it but a literary highlight for me was standing in line for the midnight release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, It was something I had to do since it was the last book and it was an amazing experience to be surrounded by Harry Potter fans. It was also surreal for me to stay up pretty much all night reading about 200 pages (I only started at 2am then slept for a bit but started reading again at 6am to about 8am) In total I finished the novel in 24 hours (with a break to work and sleep). I didn't want it to end but I was satisfied with how JK Rowling ended the series.

I hope everyone had a great 2007 and 2008 will be just as awesome.

The Amazing Race 12 Dec 23, 2007

Merry Christmas Amazing Race fans!

I am really sorry for not blogging lately but as it is the holidays, I've been enjoying my time with friends and family.

Well, my brother and I were worried that the Goths were as good as gone considering we heard that there were no non-elimination rounds for this season of the race so imagine our surprise (and relief to my brother) that the Goths were saved but now must face something called a speed bump. Will be interested in seeing what impact that will have.

My father/daughter team is still in it and still working well together (but next week looks like things are back to normal as teams visit India).

Intereting product placement for Blackberry and I thought for sure that TK and Rachel would be out because of the lost clue but the Goths getting lost helped them out.

As for the road block, I would have done because apparently as someone who wears glasses I have the better eyesight. The detour my immediate thought was to do the invention as I am the most uncoordinated person I know.

The Fast Forward was interesting but neither my brother and I would have done it as my brother doesn't like needles and I would rather go up on the ultralight. And I am fed up with Jennifer always complaining how they haven't won a leg yet. Too bad that you don't win a trip or a boat. I rather make sure I am still in the race in order for me to come in #1 where it counts and that's at the end and your prize is a million dollars.

Looking forward to next week. Happy Holidays to one and all

The Amazing Race 12 Dec 2, 2007

Apologies again for not blogging last week but I was out to dinner and taped it. Even after watching it, I didn't blog because I was recovering from foot surgery and was really able to move around too much. But I am back this week, ready to offer my thoughts on this week's AR.

I have to say that I did like the U-Turn twist this year. Better than the Yield as you never know how long it will take you to do the other detour, which can put you further behind than the 30 minutes the Yield did.

Anyways, it was a good episode. I was a bit worried that the father-daughter team were going to be last because of the flight mistake but in the end with all the wrong turns the other teams took (and we knew thanks the gong sound effects) they ended up in third. What would we do without all the gonging!

But I am getting ahead of myself. I was watching the show with my brother and I do agree that the brother and sister team, while good, there is something a bit off with Azaria in the way that he treats his sister (the way he violently pulled her back to the curb at the beginning was uncalled for).

I thought it was interesting that the Grandson/Granddad team didn't get a good flight because it was supposedly all sold out but the other teams got on, I guess maybe knowing a few phrases in French would have helped.

When the teams touched down in Lituania, every team took off right away, while the Goths (my brother's pick to win) took their time to ask directions. They were one of the few teams to get to the church without getting lost. Ronald and Christina were smart to pay a taxi driver to lead them the way (as other past racers have done). As for the Road Block, Justin would have done as he says he is a good listener and would have done well.

The detour was interesting as I would have liked to have stayed and enjoyed the festival (maybe after teams have checked in they got to go back and had some fun). The detour, my first instinct was to do the stilts as I think I have pretty good balance and as long as you were patient and took it slow, it could be done. I was very happy that Ron and Christina finished, especially Ron considering he has a hernia. I see a lot of myself and my Dad in their relationship, which is why I am rooting for them. Counting would have been difficult but if you were methodically about it, it could be done.

I am glad those blondes are gone. They had no teamwork and always blamed each other and second guessed decisions. I knew going in they weren't going to be like another certain blonde team of races past (i.e. Dustin and Kandice -my all-time favourite Amazing Race team next to the Bowling Moms).

Here's to next week, where we see another meltdown to Nate and Jennifer.

The Amazing Race 12 Nov 18, 2007

Sorry for not live blogging last week but I was out of town and only arrived back home literally minutes before AR 12 started. But if there was one thing to be said about that episode was that I really didn't like the father-daughter team especially the way the dad treated his daughter but I know that if my Dad and I were to do the race, we would be arguing the exact same way.

But poor Ron, a hernia -ouch. Anyways, I am chuckling at the plight of teams at the Roadblock. Somehow if you treat the animal with kindness and calm instead of freaking out and frustration, you will succeed. I really believe that Justin would be well suited to this as animals can scare a me a little and when I get frustrated, let's just say it ain't pretty.

The detour choice was obvious. I would want to learn it. You can't really control how fast the kids will learn English words and some might not even catch on and you could get frustrated at why they aren't learning them. If you learn it, you can control how fast you learn and I would take the same approach that the brother-sister team would, take five words each and memorize it and I have an excellent memory and if I have to memorize something you bet it will be memorized. Thankfully, each team member didn't have to take it in turns the 10 words so that was another in that detours favour plus I always want to know new languages.

And nice hair Phil, all spiky like a porcupine and didn't know there was that baby behind that local greeter. Too bad the sisters are gone but they were not memorable enough for me to miss them.

According to next week's previews is the only thing that the Blondes did that pissed people off is that they Yielded Jason and Lorena but I don't know what is so controversal about this as it is part of the game.

Until next week

The Amazing Race 12 Nov 4, 2007

Bye Bye Viva Laughlin, hello Amazing Race 12. I don't know why CBS just didn't schedule AR 12 at the beginning of the TV season in the first place.

The teams I am cheering for in this edition are the one with the familial relationships so I am rooting first for the father-daughter team, then the brother-sister team and then the grandpa-grandson team then the sisters.

But this will all change as I get to know the team as the season wears on.

I am excited that they are going to Shannon, Ireland. I think I went there 9 years ago when I did a tour of southern Ireland but I don't really remember. What I am concerned about is the lack of narration from Phil about the flights. Usually he tells us about the flights available and what is good or bad about them but no such thing and it almost looks like the teams who didn't get on the British Airways flight now have to find their own flights, which I think could be an interesting twist. But there was that Irish airline flight

Another thing I read that there was supposed to be no non-elimination but Phil said that 8 out of the 11 legs were elimination legs so it will be interesting to see what the thrre legs are all about.

One of the reasons why I love the Amazing Race is that I love to travel and it gives me a way to see the world in such a hyped way and the show was the inpiration as to why I decided to skydive. My work allows me to travel and even though it is only to places around North America (and the one time to Shanghai) I always feel like I am on the Amazing Race.

So far no much action but the titling of the teams were off. I mean it was the LA blondes but they called them one of the dating couples.

The roadblock, I think I would do, I am not that afraid of heights so I think that Justin would just be along for the ride and I'll put the peddle to the metal.

But I couldn't help laughing when the donkeys wouldn't move for those two couples. Very funny. You definitely needed to be a donkey whisperer in order to get those donkeys to move. As long as you were kind and encouraging to the donkeys, you were successful unlike Ari and Staella and Nathan and Jennifer who realized too late what to do. And indeed karma bit you in the butt Ari for stealing the Dad and Daughter team's taxi.

So far my familial teams are all in it with the brother/sister team on top. Yeah! I am so glad that AR is back.

Pushing Diasies -October 3, 2007

I was lucky to see this show one day before it premiered in the U.S. Since CTV has bought too many shows, they had to show this one on Tuesday instead of Wednesday. I wasn't going to watch it at first but I have heard many critics saying that this is the best new show. I saw a bit of it last night at 8pm but decided to watch it on Rogers Time Shifting at 11pm since I had nothing else to watch. Right from the first moment I heard Jim Dale's narration and seeing the stunning visuals, I was hooked.

The storyline was quirky but charming (a word that is used very often to describe this show). The premise of pie-maker Ned (an adorable Lee Pace) being able to bring back the dead with one touch, only to have them die again if he touches them again is very original. In addition, he can only bring back the dead for a minute or someone else in close proximity has to die. He only realizes this after he brings his mom back to life that after a minute, the father of his next-door neighbour pal Charlotter "Chuck" Charles (a winning Anna Friel)dies.

Now as an adult, he uses this "gift" to help solve murders with his business partner/PI friend (Chi McBride) to collect the reward. On one of these cases, Ned and Emerson go to solve the case and collect the reward of lonely tourist who was murdered on a cruise only to discover it was his childhood sweetheart Chuck, who was also his first kiss. The impact of their encounter has left Ned an emotional cripple since he was sent away soon after his mom passed away.

Anyways, he brings Chuck back to life to find out who killed her but she doesn't know. Unable to part from her again, he lets her live beyond the one minute and as a result the funeral director dies. So they set forth to solve her murder. Which I am not sure they quite do. The reason why Chuck got whacked was because she was transporting a briefcase with two monkeys in it, which allowed her to be on the cruise for free. This case was sent to her two shut-in aunts that raised her after her dad died. The killer goes after the aunts but Ned and Chuck save the day but we never really find out who it was. Is this one of the over arching mysteries or is it solved? Not too sure.

What really sold me on this show was the chemistry between Ned and Chuck. They are adorable even though they can't touch but do so via proxy hugs or holding their own hands but pretending they are holding each others hand.

I am looking forward to more and hope that ABC doesn't cancel it. I can't imagine that they would. I can't think of anything really to compete against except maybe Deal or no Deal.

Private Practice -October 3, 2007

Ok the second episode was a little bit better. It was still boring in spots and didn't really like the whole stripper thing at the beginning and we never did find out what she had.

But still bugs me about this show is that all of sudden these characters are all hanging at Addison's. Granted she lives right across from Sam (Taye Diggs) but still, it was almost as if she was part of their gang for years and has known them forever.

The only story line that I was emotionally invested in without being bored was the baby switch one and I think that was the right story line to get everyone involved. Judging Amy had a point, the dude from Prison Break had a purpose and so did hospital administrator lady (no idea what her character name is) as well as Audra McDonald and Addison. I did get a bit teary-eyed when the baby's were given to the correct parents. It must be very difficult to get emotially attached to a baby that biologically is yours but not emotionally. It reminded me of a season one Veronica Mars episode in which two characters were switched at birth. In that case, the parents decided to keep the babies and not switch back but I think in that case the children were 4 years old and would know the difference whereas in the Private PRactice case, they were only a few months old.

Anyways, that was the only story that I actually liked. So I am giving it another chance.

Grey's Anatomy -September 27, 2007

Four words as Grey's Anatomy kicks off season 4: Lexie Grey is awesome.

She is the anti-Meredith. Not whiny and not self-centered. I love what she did for George at the end. All those interns fawning over him and in awe of him. I am looking forward to more of the developing friendship between George and Lexie. I do hope that eventually Meredith and Lexie get to know each other and perhaps bound over the trouble their father seems to be going through.

Speaking of fawns, I really disliked that whole deer thing with Izzy. It felt really stupid and annoying. And please, Shonda Rimes break-up George and Izzy. I really don't like them together at all. I love George and Callie, I hope that it is not splitsville for them.

I do feel that the show was missing something and their names were Addison and Burke. I think the whole baby/severed arm lady would have been nice if Addison was around. I somehow miss the energy her character brought to the show and the natural knack for OB/GYN that she brought out of Alex. As for Alex, I detect that we will be seeing Ava/Rebecca real soon.

As for Burke, it just felt weird that he wasn't there. But I am sure that we will eventually get used to all the changes afoot at Seattle Grace.

Private Practice -September 26, 2007

TV spin-offs can be a tricky beast. They can be classics like The Jeffersons, Frasier and Law & Order: SVU or turn out to be colossal failures like AfterMASH and Joey. So when I heard that Grey's Anatomy was going to spin-off Kate Walsh's Addison Montogomery, I was a little skeptical and excited at the same time. Excited because I love Grey's Anatomy and like Addison but skeptical because I was unsure if her character could hold a show.

After watching the back-door pilot in May as part of a two-hour Grey's episode, I came away unsure. Private Practice tried very hard to emulate the quirkiness of the Mother Ship but with less successful results.

Even after some re-tooling like replacing Alias' Merrin Dungey with Broadway star Audra McDonald as Naomi, Private Practice could still use some work.

Watching the first episode last night actually bored me to tears. I only managed to sit through the whole hour out of devotion to the character of Addison. What I found lacking in Private Practice is frankly drama. There was no drama. I was not invested in any of the storylines and felt that characters were dropped into certain situations for no reason. For example, Paul Adelstein's Cooper helping Amy Brennman's Violet. And Dell (Chris Lowell) helping out during Addison's surgery. It is as if Shonda Rimes needs all characters to be doing something in all the story lines but it was just pointless. And as much as I love Taye Diggs, I don't reall buy what he does on this show.

Aside from the lack of drama, another reason why I can't get into this show is the fact that I associate some of the actors with their previous TV roles. I am talking about you, guy from Wings (Tim Daly) and Judging Amy (Brenneman).

At the beginning of last night's Private Practice, the Chief of Surgery from Seattle Grace (James Pickens, Jr.) told Addison that he will see her in a month once she realized she has made a mistake quitting. If Private Practice doesn't succeed, I have a feeling that we will be seeing Addison back in her Seattle Grace scrubs.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows launch party

All good things much come to an end. I am in denial that Harry Potter's saga is over. I don't want it to be.

But at 12:01am on July 21st my saga into the end was just beginning. However, before we must take the time turner about three turns back to about 10pm on July 20th. All decked out like Cho Chang (the only Asian character that I could be) I attended the book launch party that was held at the Indigo at Bay and Bloor in Toronto. The streets were backed with large inflatable slides and a bouncy castle and a double decker bus that acted like the Knight Bus. There were balloon dragons near the front entrace of the store. Getting into the store was tricky, throngs of people going in to get their bracelets to be one of the first people in the story to buy the book at one minute past the stroke of midnight. I thankfully preorderd the book and avoided that crowd to pick-up my bracelet at the special orders desk. After my friend and I took several pictures around the store. We settled ourselves in the pre-order line-up at around 10:30pm. We were near the beginning the line-up so I would get my book fairly quickly. While waiting, the line-up snaked longer and there was general excitement in the air. I think that it is amazing that it was all for a book. As midnight drew nearer, girls were screaming as if this was a rock concert or that JK Rowling herself had entered the store. People were also counting down as if it were New Year's Eve. Then balloons fell from the sky and you knew it was the Witching Hour. The line moved and I was nervous with anticipation, I reached the head of the line, my wrist band cut off and I proceeded to get my copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

It was about two hours later at around 2am that I final cracked open the book to beginning reading Harry's last adventure. Let me tell you that I am still exhausted after just finishing reading the novel about 24 hours ago (This is Monday July 23). At the same time, I am also exhalirated and still on a high after reading the book. No spoilers here but let's just say that I got the answers to all the questions that I had.

Now that it's over, I am in mourning. I just watched the trailers to the movies again. And I cried because I have finally come to the realization that there will be no more Harry Potters and watching the films will take on a whole new meaning now that I know the fates of the characters that sometimes puts a smile on my face or a tear in my eye.

The only thing to look forward to now are the two movies then after that I truly will be mourning.

As for what I will read next after Harry Potter, I don't know. A friend of mine had mentioned a news story about a boy who said that he might not read a book ever again after Harry Potter. Part of me feels the same way. I don't think that I will ever find a book again that had captured my imagination and my heart. Harry Potter is truly my liteary love and I will miss you.

Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix +IMAX= Awesome

I normally never see a movie twice in the span of a week but I had a friend in town that wanted to see Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and when I suggested that I wanted to see it again in IMAX, she said she wanted to see it with me.

After seeing it a second time, I have to say that I love the movie now. The first time, I wanted more but now that I know what they cut out, I go to appreciate the film better. The same things still bug me about the film the first time I saw it but I have accepted it.

However, in IMAX, the movie is magnificent and incredible. I have never seen a movie that big before. The climactic battle scene in the Department of Mysteries was awesome, especially in 3D. The 3D scenes begining as Dumbledore's Army (Harry, Ron, Hermione, Luna, Neville and Ginny) are flying the Thestrals. An amazing scene and so cool. The battle in 3D was also amazing with the flying glass from the prophecies showering on you.

I recommend people seeing the IMAX experience. There is nothing like it. I know that when Half-Blood Prince comes out in November 2008, I will see the movie first on a regular screen so that I know what has been cut out then see it again in IMAX.

The Harry Potter phenomenon

I have two literary loves. For those that know me, one of those loves is Jane Eyre and the other of course is Harry Potter.

I would never have guessed that when JK Rowling released the first adventure of the boy wizard back in 1997 that it would be such a pop culture phenomenon.

I have discussed in a previous blog why I love Jane Eyre, so I won't go into any detail why I love that book. But I am here to discuss how I came to entraced by the world of Hogwarts and its inhabitants.

Now, I was never fond of reading, even if I loved Jane Eyre. I have never really finished any novel that I was assigned to read in school (elementary, high school and university). I can probable count on one hand the books I actually read from beginning to end for school: Hiroshima, Great Expectations, A Farewell to Arms and In the Skin of the Lion. All the usual suspect of required reading for English class such as Lord of the flies, I just read half way through and just BS my way through the tests. Sometimes teachers would make the mistake of showing us the movie version of the novel prior to any tests that helped me get by.

Fast forward to post university. I did want to read more novels. Don't get me wrong, I have read for pleasure -how else would I have fallen in love with Jane Eyre if I didn't read the book -but granted I fell in love with a screen adaptation first before I read the book. I digress. How did I get hooked on Harry. Picture it, the summer of 2000. Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story was going to be aired and an online forum popped up on the Internet so people can discuss the miniseries and all things Anne. A section of the forum was called the AOGG Book Club. One monthe the club suggested reading Harry Potter and the Philosopher Stone. I have heard a bit of the buzz around this children's book but I didn't want to read it because it was a children's book and I am an adult. Relunctanly, I bought a copy and proceeded to read it for the club not thinking I would love it. I did. It really shocked me that Rowling made a book for kids and adults alike. She comes up with twists that I never see coming in all subsequent Harry Potter tomes.

What really surprises is me that now almost 10 years since the first book came out that people still get excited over this series. I am listening to the PotterCast that are put on by the folks at the Leaky Cauldron and it so great to hear people of all ages passionate about these books. They really care about the characters and I have heard the craziest theories about what will happen in Book 7.

I am also amazed at the movie versions. I have loved all of them. I recently saw Order of the Phoenix (see my review in a recent blog) and even though I wanted more, one day after seeing it, I really loved it. And I still can't get over Imelda Staunton as Umbridge nor Evanna Lynch as Luna Lovegood.

I remember seeing the first movie way back in 2001. A couple of fellow Potterheads (one that I can actually hooked onto Harry Potter) saw the film and quite excited to see it. After our showing there was a long lineup to the theatre for the next show. Six years later, people are still lining-up (like I did and for the fourth one too) to see a Harry Potter movie. And the audience ages were from young and old.

For the first time ever, I am going to a midnight release party for a Harry Potter book. Since it is the last one, I might as well. I have pre-ordered it from Indigo and I can't wait to read it.

Here are the things that I want most to happen in Book 7:

1. Harry lives while the Dark Lord dies
2. Ron and Hermione finally get together (but early on in the book and not the last few chapters)
3. We find out what exactly is up with Aunt Petunia
4. Harry and Ginny stay together
5. And that Snape really is a good guy

What are your thoughts on Harry Potter? Love it as much as I do?

Movie Review: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

At two hours and 18 minutes, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, left me wanting more. I wanted more scenes of Ginny Weasley (Bonnie Wright), more Tonks and Lupin (Natalie Tena and David Thewlis), more Order of the Phoenix, more scenes of the Dursley's that closely hews to the book, more Luna Lovegood (Evanna Lynch) and more Kreacher. That's not to say that I didn't enjoy the 5th film of JK Rowling's title hero, quite the opposite. I enjoyed it quite a bit. It was pretty faithful to the book and made the rights cuts. The casting was perfect as usual. Imelda Staunton as Dolores Umbridge, the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher was absolutely fabulous. She captured Rowling's vision of Umbridge to a tee. Lynch was equally well cast as Luna Loony Lovegood. Her Irish lilt gave her character that extra spaciness that it needed and was very endearing. And Helena Bonham Carter as Bellatrix, very evil in her short screen time. Looking forward to more of her in movie six.

What really impressed me about this adaptation was the climactic battle scene at the department of mysteries. It was a wonderful amazement of wand duelling that made me think of the classic lightsaber fights of all the Star Wars movies. I also enjoyed all the DA scenes. It was great seeing Harry become the teacher and I think screenwriter Michael Goldenberg captured those scenes perfectly. And Goldenberg has to be commended for taking an almost 800 page novel and condensing it to an almost two and half hour movie. Again, the right cuts were made but one. As mentioned, I wish they expanded the Dursley scenes especially the bit about Aunt Petunia (Fiona Shaw) knowing more about the Wizarding World than she lets on.

I am glad that they gave Gary Oldman more to do in this movie than he did in Prisoner of Azkaban (my favourite amongst all the film adaptations and my favourite Harry Potter book). Oldman was excellent in this movie as Sirius Black, Harry's Godfather, and his fate equally heartbreaking as it was in the novel.

The kiss between Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and Cho Chang (Katie Leung) was whatever but a little more hot and heavy than I thought it would be. If no one noticed, I liked the bit just before the kiss as people were leaving the DA lesson of Ginny looking behind at Harry looking at Cho -clearly indicating that she still fancies Harry. There were sprinkles of the hints of the Ron and Hermione romance (Rupert Grint and Emma Watson) in there too as there has been in every movie since Chamber of Secrets. I thought they might foreshadow a certain romance that takes place in book 6th in this movie but alas they didn't.

This movie was well directed by David Yates, it was quite political in tone. Something that Yates is known for having directed such politically themed dramas like State of Play and The Girl in the Cafe.

Since I am a movie score aficionado, I enjoyed Nicholas Hooper's score. He had some nice memorable and moving score that I probably will get the soundtrack.

Overall, I enjoyed Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and I look forward to the DVD to see the deleted scenes. And I look forward to Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince next year. Here's hoping more Bonnie Wright -for those that have read book 6 you will know what I mean!

And only 10 more days until we find out what happens to Harry!

A night with Moira Brooker

Don't know who Moira is? Then you are not a fan of the BBC comedy called As Time Goes By that starred Judi Dench and Geoffrey Palmer as a couple who reunite after 38 years apart.

Moira played Judi Dench's daughter who also happened to be called Judy.

The show was on for 9 series and two reunion specials. I first encountered the show in the mid 1990s on my local PBS station and loved it the first time I saw it. It was very funny and Palmer's Lionel Hardcastle so reminds me of my dad. Dench's Jean Pargetter is hilarious and the situations that the characters get into are so funny.

My evening with Moira happened because of a $60 pledge that I made to my local PBS station. As a fan, I knew I wanted to go and hear stories about the series. I was the youngest person in the room and a lady sitting in front of me was happy that everyone there was her age then she pointed to me and said "except for this child". Another person commented that my parents must have forced me to watch the show but no one forced me. As I said, I loved it from the beginning.

The evening started off with Moira telling us about herself, what she is doing now, her family and upcoming projects.

Talk turned to As Time Goes By and it was interesting to learn that there was no ad-libbing, that they used the same house in Holland Park throughout the entire series even after the home changed ownership and the BBC had to woo the new owners. Even the neighbours had to be wooed because of the inconvenience filming caused.

I found it interesting that the show was originally to be called Winter with Flowers but Judi Dench and Geoffrey Palmer didn't like it at all. After filming of the first series, the episode where Judy, Alistair (Philip Bretherton), Jean and Lionel were having a picnic, a cake was presented by the crew with the Winter Flowers title on it and the cast said they wouldn't touch the cake until they changed the name of the show.

It was good to know that they had the same crew from camera men, to wardrobe and make-up all throughout the 14 years the series was filmed. Except for the specials when they had a different lead camera man because the original one retired.

Before each series, they would film for two weeks all the exterior shots then would do a week of rehearsals on each episode then film in front of a live audience. No laugh track. Very rare that they did retakes unless a technical glitch or a goof happened. Moira shared that sometimes they would ask the audience to laugh again at the same joke during a retake. Sometimes they would edit in the first laugh and insert with the second take.

There was a goof that shut down the set for 20 minutes. There was a scene when Alistair first asks Judy to marry him and she is making coffee throughout the proposal. The coffee press she was holding was filled to the brim with coffee and when she set it down on the table it went everywhere, on her, Philip, the table. The next time the scene saw the coffee pot with less liquid and this time her being ever so gentle.

She said that there was no chance that another series would happen, especially since Frank Middlemass, who played Rocky (Lionel's Dad) has died. She said that the sets for the specials had to be rebuilt because after the series ended the sets were destroyed. Moira said that they knew things were different as it just wasn't the same.

Moira also talked about the two Harry's. The only reason why they changed actors was because the other actor, David Michaels wasn't available. She said it was either change the actor or not do it at all. She talked about the specials and the joke they wanted to do about the actor switch and said that Sandy (Jenny Funnell) was coming back from Australia with her husband to England. When Moira said Australia, everyone in the audience said that it was Canada that they were coming from. She was horrified that she made the error since she was giving the talk in Canada and realized that it was Canada because Harry went to the RCMP.

Moira mentioned that Judi Dench was the practical joker on the set and her on-going joke would be to get everyone to hide whenever someone left a room. It went for a while until one day Geoffrey Palmer left and said that he hopes no one will hide. She said that everyone in the cast are similar to their real selves and that Geoffrey Palmer is a curmudgeon but a lovable one.

Moira lives in Brighton, close to Jenny Funnell with her family and made a joke that you had to live in Brighton in order to be in As Time Goes By because Judi Dench lives near Brighton, the 2nd Harry lives in Brighton and the actor who played Lionel's "son" in the special also lives in Brighton. She told a story about how the BBC wouldn't spring for a driver to get her from Brighton (they would only do so if she lived in London) to bring her into work. Moira said that she was always tired because at the time her daughter was very young and she had to get the set early, so she would drive herself in and was tired all the time. Judi Dench noticed this and asked why wasn't the BBC giving her a driver and Moira said they wouldn't spring for one. Judi didn't want to make a fuss so she got the driver that the BBC provided for her to pick Moira up from Brighton and pick Judi Dench up on the way. Dench didn't live in London but the BBC gave her a driver because she is Judi Dench. Word got around that this was happening and the BBC finally paid for a driver to pick up Moira. That was pretty cool.

As for the final two episodes of As Time Goes By, Moira was quite frank about being disappointed with the results. She said that the script could have been better instead of trying to tie all the loose ends and getting everyone in from Penny and Stephen, Rocky and Mrs. Bale, who she said is quite a fashionable lady in real life and enjoyed driving the motorbike her character drives around on the show.

Speaking of Stephen, she said that she loved all the episodes that he was in and that he gets way more laughs than they expected from rehearsals.

During the Q&A, I got to tell her how much I loved the show and how the episode where Judy, Jean, Lionel and Sandy are all in the living room planning how many people can fit into it after Jean and Lionel's wedding. Moira said that we should have seen the rehearsals for that scene. Anyways, I said that my dad couldn't stop laughing at the scene to point that he was crying. Then I mentioned that my dad was in a car accident a few years ago and that he has dementia and doesn't really react to anything anymore but when I put that episode on or any episode of As Time Goes By, my dad still laughs. And I told her I love the show more because of that. She seemed very touch by that. I then asked her what her favourite episode was. She said that it was the one with the dog and in fact they wanted to keep the dog as the dog for series but it was decided against as it would become a distraction. But the episode she really loved was the one where Jean and Lionel come back to England after being in LA. I love that episode too because of the scene were Judi Dench is stumbling out as if she were drunk but in reality was jet lagged.

It was interesting Moira would steal the custard tarts from the set because she was the one who loved them and Geoffrey Palmer was not. If you watch the show, you will know that Lionel loves custard tarts.

As for what the cast is up to now, Moira just finished filming a drama, Judi of course is always busy doing films and theatre, Geoffrey is fishing, Philip is always working and Jenny does a lot of voice work for British television and raising her family. The cast gets together twice a year for lunch and one time both Harry's came!!!! Moira said that she and Judi Dench are close and talk once and awhile on the phone and Dench sends her kids presents. Because she and Jenny live close together and Moira's youngest is close in age to Jenny's and that they live in Brighton they do see each other often. She doesn't hear from Geoffrey that often because he fishes so much and is a solitary figure but talks sometimes on the phone. her and Philip talk once and awhile and he visits her kids often.

To me the highest point of the evening was just being able to hear all these stories about As Time Goes By and being able to tell her how much the show means to me was great.

There is talk of her coming back but this time bringing Philip (Alistair) or Jenny (Sandy). I think that would be cool.

No Opportunity Wasted

This fall the CBC will be showing Phil Koeghen's new show No Opportunity Wasted. The show that lets ordinary Canadian face their fear and live a N.O.W. life.

Phil recently came to Vancouver for a book signing of his N.O.W. book and to audition folks for the TV show and my brother and I decided to meet him. While waiting for him to show, I got the N.O.W. book and when we finally got to him, he graciously signed it and he wrote that I should start writing my N.O.W. list. When I did meet him I had to say how much we loved the Amazing Race. Anyways, wanted to get that in.

I only recently started reading the book. And it got me thinking about my fears and what I want to do with my life. I think I have started to live a fairly N.O.W. life since my Dad's accident. That really woke me up to realize that life is short. So recently, I've done things I've always wanted to do: archery, skydiving, ziplining and travel to Asia.

But there are still more on my list. So here is my N.O.W. list:

1. Visit a dog park to get over my fear of dogs


2. Walk the Great Wall of China


3. See the pyramids of Egypt


4. Visit every Canadian province and territory (so far I still need to do the Maritimes, Nunavut and NWT)


5. Go bungee jumping


6. Go to the Niagara Ice Wine Festival


7. Go rappeling


8. Visit Australia


9. Go scuba diving


10. Go on more roller coasters -I don't really like them

According to the book there should be no more woulda, coulda, shoulda. And I don't want to live my life with regret, which is my I think I skydived when I turned 30 and why I ziplined earlier this year.

I want to be able to know that I lived a life without regret. What is your N.O.W. list?

Let's blame the CBC

Ok, my attempt to avoid the winner of American Idol lasted all about 12 hours. The show ended at 10pm last night and I found out the winner close to 10am ET (the winner is Jordin Sparks). I blame the CBC. I thought that it would be a safe Web site to visit as the CBC might not care who wins this reality show but no I was wrong. So I could not avoid the winner not matter how hard I tried. It is futile. But I will try again next year and totally avoid everything AI but it is such a media juggernaught and as a follower of pop culture it will be very hard to do as I have come to realize.

The winner is announced.....

for American Idol and I don't know who won, thankfully but unfortunately I know who is in the final two. It was hard to avoid as a pop culture addict because I visit TV Guide.com and EW.com and Canoe.ca/jam everyday that I found out. I know it was a woman named Jordan and a guy named Blake or was it the other way around. That I don't know. But I am going to avoid those sites for a week and hopefully by then the news of the winner won't be listed but I am so tempted to go to them because I want to read about Lost and what happened there. We will see if I can avoid it by using my cookies where I can go directly to the area of the site that I want to.

And I will be truthful with you on whether or not I find out or not. Heck, I even admitted that I knew who the final two are.

Amazing Race All Stars April 29, 2007

The pneultimate episode of the Amazing Race All Stars and I can't wait. We will see if my prediction from last week's blog is right or not. To refresh people's memory I said that Charla and Mirna will be eliminated. As long as the BQs and Danny and Ozzy make it to the final three then I am happy.

Also on TV tonight, at the same time as AR, is Game 3 of Vancouver Canucks vs the Anaheim Ducks, so you will forgive me if this blog isn't as detailed as it can be as I will be flipping over to the game during commercial breaks to check on the score. Go Canucks!!!!

The detour choices were interesting. It was obvious that you would scrub the plane as the care package one did take too much time but the airplane ride looked cool.

So yeah by Beauty Queens are in the top 3. I just need Oswald to find that pilot, get to the landing then get to the pit stop ASAP and at least have a 30 minute cushion.

The roadblock was a bit blah but exciting once they got to the landing area.

Ok so I was wrong. Charla and Mirna are racing for the million. Oh well. But I am so sad that Oswald and Danny are gone. I loved them so but now it's on and I want Dustin and Kandice to win. They play the game so well.

Next is another hour season finale. I am not going to be in town to watch it so I am getting someone to tape it for me and will watch it when I am back in town so I probably won't be writing a blog for it. But, I hope when I watch it that I will see the Beauty Queens crowned the winners of the Amazing Race.

And Go Canucks.

Amazing Race All Stars April 22, 2007

So this promises to be a good episode according to the previews from last week and John Vito and Jill when they were on the Finish Line last week. Looking forward to seeing if this is true. If it goes in my beauty queens and Danny and Ozzy favour then I am down with that.

When I heard two teams got together to yield someone, I never thought it would be the BQs and Danny and Ozzy so who knew when I typed the above it would be just that. And I agree that yield is a tool to be used in the game. You do whatever it takes to win and the yield is what it takes.

But that road block was awesome. So would want to do but if Justin wants to do it, since I already sky dived and zip lined, he can have that adrenaline rush but I would be afraid initially to drop over 600 feet. It is scary since you are relying pretty much on an elastic band to make sure you make it down. Kudos to Charla for doing it.

That noodle detour was so funny the way the teams were bouncing on that bamboo stick. I laughed everytime I saw a team. Now I am worried about Danny and Ozzy that was or could be a bad detour choice as I am not at the end of the episode yet. And Eric and Danielle are catching up but here's hoping that the BQs come in first so that Eric and Danielle still have that 30 minute penalty but we will just have to wait and see.

Those Mini Motes are cute but I can understand that they can be difficult to drive. I am not good a driving a stick so I think we would be like Charla and Mirna.

Phew! Glad that it is another non-elim so that Danny and Ozzy are still in it. And if I were to base what I saw from the teams at the end. I think that Charla and Mirna will be eliminated next week. Why? Because out all the clips of the teams during their interviews, theirs looks like one that was filmed at the Pit Stop in Malaysia and the rest looked like they were at new places. See if I am right.

Until next week!
Like I said as long as Danny and Ozzy/BQs are in it then I am happy.

Getting harder to avoid the American Idol juggernaught

This week when I got my latest issue of my favourite magazine in the world, Entertainment Weekly, on the cover were the contestants for American Idol. Now, whether you believe me or not, when I saw the words American Idol on the cover, I immediately ripped off the cover and tore it into pieces and put it in the recycling bin. I haven't read or will read the accompanying article and when I flip through that issue I just avoid those pages.

Now I think it might be easier to avoid AI now that Sanjaya -it was hard to avoid who this person was no matter how hard I tried -is off the show now. So no more in your face media coverage that would have been if he remained. So now, I will hopefully live blissfully ignorant for the rest of this season.

If you want to test me on the names of contestants, go ahead such as name who sang what song on a certain theme night and I bet you that I won't know or care to know.

What I really care about is the Amazing Race and I hope that Dustin and Kandice or Danny and Oswald win. That is a reality show that I can get behind because despite AI's tremendous success, it has never won the Emmy for Reality Show Competition. Who has one that Emmy the most? Well, it's the Amazing Race!!!!!!!

Amazing Race All Stars April 15, 2007

I am scared for my Beauty Queens. I hate how the editing is making us think that the BQ's are going all this talk about karme biting them. I hope that is not the case because I think that they are playing the game and yielding is part of it. On their original race they yielded 'Bama and it bit them back so let's up it doesn't happen twice.

Flights again seems to be playing a big role again. I really hope that the BQs make it on and get to Hong Kong, a place I've always wanted to visit.

The fast forward was fun and I would totally do it and Ozzy and Danny are entitled to go for it despite them going for the other one with Uchenna and Joyce. The last race David and Mary could have done two fast forwards because of the intersection rule

And if I could have read Chinese maybe lost in translation would have been good but Kung Fu Fighting is the one I would have chosen as it is fun and something you normally could do. If I wanted to be lost in translation I'll just go to Chinatown here in Toronto. But it didn't seem to challenging the kung fu fightening, I thought maybe those fighters would be bugging you as you climb but they didn't seem to bother anybody but it was funny seeing Dustin and Mirna doing karate moves when it was unnecessary.

How cool was that road block? A great way to let off steam and frustration by kicking down doors.

I know this is a non-elimination, so who will get the 30 minute penalty? I think it still will be Eric and Danielle even with the editing. And there should be no more fast forwards so next will be interesting.

So Eric and Danielle are marked for elimination. You never know what is going to happen next week but one thing I am glad is that the BQs didn't come in last so they aren't marked for elimination.

According to next week a yield but what is interesting when they said two surprising teams team up to yield another. Makes you think. We know the BQ's can't use their yield and it wouldn't be a surprise if the other teams gang up to yield the BQs so my guess that it isn't them that get yielded. But we will see because, I hope it isn't them because it puts them out 30 minutes and may get them eliminated if Eric and Danielle catch-up. Damn those producers figuring out a way to giving Eric and Danielle a way to come back!

We are almost near the end!!!!!

Until next week!!! Go Canucks Go!!!!!!!!!

Amazing Race All Stars April 8, 2007

Happy Easter all!!!!

We are down to five teams. And it is so interesting how flights have played a significant role in team placement this year. Charla and Mirna again look like genuises with flights. Uchenna and Joyce took a gamble so we will see if it pays off. I hope it does and I hope that Danny and Ozzy and the Beauty Queens make it too. But there has to be an equalizer somewhere along the race so that the Cousins don't have another huge lead.

So Uchenna and Joyce are going to get eliminated because of that missed flight, which is too bad.

As for the yield, I don't like all the name calling for Dustin and Kandice. It is a game and they had to yield somebody. I am sure Eric and Danielle would have yielded them. Think of being yielded as a compliment,

The detour is interesting. We will see who finishes first before we know which is the better choice. I didn't quite hear how many licorice centres were in the cookies but 600 boxes!!! It is a needle in a haystack task and maybe artistic impression is the better choice.

So artistic impression was the better choice. Despite the yield and what the other teams have said about them, I still love Dustin and Kandice and so glad that they came in #1. I hope they make it to the final three. But my dream final three of Danny and Ozzy, Dustin and Kandice and Uchenna and Joyce may not happen unless it is a non-elimination.

The key to the roadblock and Kandice and Mirna got it right was to get too much. My goodness the people of Kaula Lampur sure love to hold on to their papers. Did you see that one house that Mirna went into? It was almost as tall as me!!!

So Uchenna and Joyce are gone. I am sad but they did win before so it is ok that they went not thrilled just ok. I still want Charla and Mirna to be gone and Eric and Danielle. Between those two, I think I rather have Eric and Danielle in as they are less annoying but Charla and Mirna in the top 3 would be nice as it would be the first time two all-female teams race in the finals (if the Beauty Queens are part of that). Season is getting interesting.

Until Next Week.

Go Canucks Go!!!!!!

My continuning quest to avoid American Idol

So I am trying real hard not to know what is going on in American Idol land. So far, it is becoming difficult because all the sites I love to visit details what is happening on that "talent" show. So I have heard about this contestant called Sanjaya that I assume from what I colleague who watches the show tells me he can't sing. Now I told my co-worker my quest not to know anything about AI so she didn't name names but told me about a contestant who can't sing but is still on the show, so I assume she is talking about Sanjaya since I see that name all over EW.com and TV Guide.com. I still don't know the names of the contestants or what they look like and I hope to keep it that way but it is hard when you have People magazing have them as your cover story, a publiclation I like to flip through in the bookstore so I had to avoid flipping through it while on my break at work the other day. But my beloved Entertainment Weekly already started doing odds on the contestants and I am sure as we get down to the wire, those odds will be revised but I will have to be sure that I avoid that part of the issue. Thank goodness I stopped watching Access Hollywood and those type of shows so at least I won't see any of that.

So it's been about two weeks and so far so good. Only got about a month until AI is all over and we will see how will I do.

Amazing Race All Stars April 1, 2007

Happy April Fools Day! And on this special day we get a 2 hour Amazing Race spectactular.

Live blogging again. So let's see if this episode will be a joke and Charla and Mirna continue to dominate or the stars align again and they get eliminated.

Now that Teri and Ian are gone, I really want Dustin and Kandice and Ozzy and Danny to win. Wouldn't mind Uchenna and Joyce to be part of the top 3. The other teams can go.

Now since it is two hours you know it is a double leg.

Another interesting flight situation. Glad that Dustin and Kandice are free and clear. And seven hours in a travel agency, that is one slow agent!!!!! But it is interesting that the Guidos and Eric and Danielle can't get on the flight that was provided for them but the connection was tight.

The detour. I would have chosen "Perfect Pitch" because as a piano player I know that I could do this task and Dustin and Kandice did it very well. I think it helped that Dustin had that background. And do think that just before commercials, Charla and Mirna had it but it looks like they are going to switch up with Danny and Ozzy. It is all about not pulling too tight at to not break the string,

And I was wrong, it wasn't a double leg. Once the clue said check in at the pit stop and saw the the greeter then you know it wasn't but it might still be as the second hour could kick off the double leg.

Glad that Dustin and Kandice came in number one. They are my team that I want to win. I really just hope that it isn't a non-elimination. I am ready for the Guidos or Eric and Danielle to go. For the CTV contest, I guessed that they would come in first and I was right but does that mean they have to come in first for the next hour in order for me to win?

Uchenna and Joyce came in third despite their flight problems and I think it is weird to have one team start the next leg while two teams haven't finished the previous one. I am curious to see if it is an elimination or not.

It is incredible that the teams are so spread out. I mean the Beauty Queens are starting the leg at 10:54pm and I guess this is where the Guidos and Eric and Danielle are at.

But I think it is going to be a sobering experience going to Aushwitz. I felt quite emotional when I visited the National Holocaust Musuem in Washington, DC. It will be sad indeed to actually visit a site of such human horror.

Now back to the race. With the bus leaving at 1pm, this gives Ozzy and Danny, Uchenna and Joyce and Charla and Mirna to catch-up.

So it was a non-elimination. It actually pisses me off that it is. I want the Guidos gone. I never liked them in AR1. We will see if they can catch up and not get elminated. There has to be an equalizer somewhere that will make this all moot.

The moment at Aushwitz was emotional. I really cried, Glad that they didn't make them search for clues there.

But now the Intersection, as my brother said bloody brilliant. It is, but sucks for Dustin and Kandice the team I am rooting for the most. We will see who they end up teaming up with. Let's hope that it's not Joe and Bill. But glad that The Guidos aren't get Fast Forward. The Fast Forward looks straightforward.

So happy that Danny and Ozzy and Uchenna and Joyce came in number one. They are such great teams that have fun and work well together.

Now the detour. Too bad that the Beauty Queens are stuck with Charla and Mirna but they had too. And it is a good thing they chose "Eat It" which was what I would have chosen. Even though I have recently attempted to be a vegetarian for my health, I would be willing to eat meat and damn my cholesterol for a million dollars. I can eat two feet of sausage. I am that hungry. Plus, Kandice did a sausage road block in AR10 so this was perfect for them. Here is really hoping that the Guidos are so lost with Eric and Danielle that my Beauty Queens don't get eliminated.

Bad break that Charla had a hard time eating the meat while the others had no problem but I really want Charla and Mirna gone. Her shrieking is getting on my nerves. I rather have them gone than the Guidos because I will say it, at least they are not as annoying and actually I'll admit they are better here than they were in AR1.

But glad Dustin and Kandice broke free and are so far in third. Hope that holds up.

Yeah, Dustin and Kandice came in third and it was a cool road block to be in a suit of armour. But darn it to heck that shrieky McSkriekerson Mirna is still in it. When are they going to go away? The Guidos are gone, which is good. Next has to be Eric and Danielle or Charla and Mirna. Then I am happy with the Top 3. There will be an equializer next week that will bunch them up.

American Idol

Now, I haven't seen a full season of American Idol since season 3. You know the one. The one were Fantasia won but more importantly featured future Best Supporting Actress winner Jennifer Hudson.

Even though I haven't watched a whole season of AI like I have watched all full seasons of the Amazing Race and Survivor, I still have managed to find out who has won in all subsequent seasons and their runners-up. So Season 4 we had Carrie Underwood besting rocker Bo Bice and Season 5 had Soul Patrol Taylor Hicks who beat Katherine McPhee.

But my problem with American Idol is that I don't think it really makes someone the music star it is supposed to. Except for Kelly Clarkson, who I think rocks, no winner has been the success that AI is supposed to bring the in world of pop. I stress that because Kelly Clarkson truly is an American Idol in the genre that the show is supposed to bring success. But have you heard from Ruben Studdard since he was the second winner? No, and because he was an R&B artist and not a "pop star." Same goes for Fantasia and it is country for Carrie Underwood that it almost seemed like she won Nashville Star and not American Idol and I don't exactly know the genre for Taylor Hicks but considering his moniker during his season was "Soul Patrol" one can assume it's soul music. I will grant that it gets all these young musicians a start.

And don't get me started on Canadian Idol. That is just a waste of summer air time. Not a single one of the winners have maintained longevity since winning. Ryan Malcom. where is he now? Same with Kalan Porter and Melissa O'Neil and the same fate will befall Eva Avila. So I too will avoid Canadian Idol like the plague.

Now to my point about this current season of AI. I am making a point to avoid all press about it. I don't want to know and I don't even know any of the names of the people in the top 12. Ok, I lie, I know some names and I was flipping through my Entertainment Weekly last night and came across the name something Doolittle and Chris Sligh. But my point is that this show is such a media juggernaught, I want to see if I can avoid knowing who got eliminated each week and who will be the winner and I don't even want to know what the contestants look like. So far, I have been able to avoid names and faces. I have heard one of the first people voted out on Regis and Kelly before I made this vow but now I can't even remember her name.

Wish me luck on that because a pop culture addict like me cannot avoid reading/hearing about American Idol.

Amazing Race All Stars March 25, 2007

Live blogging the episode again.

Well, it looks like Charla and Mirna are genuises with the flights. We just have to wait and see if there is an equilizer. As for the rest of the teams, who knew that Dar es Saleem (sorry if this is the wrong spelling) is very popular destination! But glad that Dustin and Kandace and Ozzy and Danny got on. Pissed that Teri and Ian didn't. Don't quite understand why Eric and Danielle were given tickets when they were supposed to but as I am indifferent towards that team we will see if this will help Uchenna and Joyce not get eliminated and not get Teri and Ian eliminated.

So Teri and Ian and the Guidos still didn't make the next day fight. They can't get a break. I really need tTeri and Ian to make it and not come in last. But the ferry ride looked lovely.

The detour was an interesting choice. My initial thought was to do the logs as it was just two logs and you could find people to tell you where the shipyard was. My thought with the puzzle was that the pieces could go in any direction but after looking at people do the puzzle it was obvious that each piece went only in one way so the puzzle was the way to go.

And I like any challenge where you can use a weapon and since I did some archery in the past and even got a bullseye in one my archery things, I would love to do this road block.

And I thought it was so funny that Charla and Mirna had no idea that they won a boat, too funny. I never thought that they would come in #1 again but they lucked out with the flights. glad that Ozzy and Danny came in second and soon will see Dustin and Kandice check-in. Just got to see if Uchenna and Joyce gets eliminated or the Guidos or Teri and Ian

I know editing likes to play tricks on you but I was so hoping that Teri and Ian could pull it off but yet I knew that was not the case.

I really wished that Teri and Ian weren't eliminited. I grew to admire them so much during AR3 (their season where they came in 2nd) so I really wanted them to win but as I said before the team I am really rooting for is Dustin and Kandice, I want them to win because an all-female team has never won and I want them to win but wouldn't mind that Ozzy and Danny win too.

Glad that there also wasn't a fast forward to help Uchenna and Joyce and because of the whole flight situation the 30 minute penalty didn't hurt them at all.

Next week is 2 hours and it looks like Splitsville for Eric and Danielle and how cool is it to waer a suite of armor, wonder where that is, England maybe? It is about time that they get out of hot climates into cold ones.

Well, looking forward to next week and it is April Fool's

Cheers.

Amazing Race All Stars March 18, 2007

The first race without any of the racers having to worry about Romber. Let's see what happens when no one has to worry about what is happening to the two reality show whores!

Just a brief mention of Romber, which is fine. At this moment of the race, I am not too worried for my Ozzy and Danny. They may be in last place trying to find their clue in the snow but I think an equilazer is on its way. And it was stupid of the blondes to miss their avalanche gear. They really have to play better.

What a interesting road block. The rats were huge but cute and their purpose was interesting. Who knew that rats could be trained to sniff out landmines. For my team, it really doesn't matter who does it, it all comes down to whether or not you like rats or not. And since I thought they were cute, I guess I would have done it.

The detour pamper or porter. If the racers knew that men would be successful in the pampering then they would have gone for it. It would seem obvious to for porter but my gut told me to go for pamper because of the fact that you have to fill 10 bags of coal, which not only it looked like it hurt to fill but had to sew up all ten bags then take one, it just made more sense to do pamper.

And I can't believe that Charla and Mirna were number one. But glad the teams that I love the most came in 2,3 and 4: Dustin and Kandice, Teri and Ian, and Ozzy and Danny.

Glad that Uchenna and Joyce were not eliminated but are marked for elimination for the next leg. But I have this feeling that there is going to be a fast forward on it. But the previews would indicate that there is none or that another team took it to stick it to them.

Until next week

Amazing Race All Stars March 11, 2007

Sorry for not blogging last week. I was tired from live blogging the Oscars the week before!!!

If there is one thing that I am sure of over the last two episodes is that I am so over Charla and Mirna. I liked them in season 5 but this season they are so shrilly, whiny and annoying and put on some fake accent while in a pressure situation.

I want them out soon and I hate to say it but I don't think they will win it all because of Charla. She is a detriment to her team because of her size. Mirna was right in saying that she does all the work but I don't feel sorry for them one bit. The way they appear on TV is just annoying to me.

So when I saw the detour, my gut told me to go for navigate it. It was the right choice as teams struggled with "Sign it"and it is spelled "Philipines" Rob not "Phillipeans"

I am live blogging as I see this episode so we are at the road block, which anyone can do no matter who is on the team and I love that other teams from their season wrote them a letter, it gives us a chance to "hear" from them

Since the previews promised that this was going to be a finish that we will all be talking about I have a feeling that at 8:47pm that Rob and Amber will be eliminated, this is not knowing anything no spoilers or anything, If any other team but them got eliminated it would be whatever but I just got this feeling. Let's see if I am right.

As long as Dustin and Kandice don't get eliminated I am happy since Teri and Ian and Ozzy and Danny have already clocked in.

8:57pm Ding dong Rob and Amber are gone!!! Yeah!!!! I would've have been pissed if it was a non-elimination round but it wasn't so yeah. I was right

Next week should be interesting now that the main competition is gone so let the real race begin.

Cheers

Live Blogging the Academy Awards February 25th, 2007

Hey there folks. It's Oscar time and I can't wait to win my Oscar pool with my brother. Because I love movies, the Academy Awards are like my Super Bowl. I watch it now with pizza and booze. My friend Lynette back home always hosted a kick-ass Oscar party with an awesome spread but alas, I am in TO and she's in Victoria and I miss those parties. Anyways.....

8:27pm: The road to the Oscar's just finished up. It's almost time for the big show. I am really hoping it doesn't go beyond 12:15am. If all goes well, it's supposed to end at 11:30pm. The reason why I want it to end before 12:15am is that I need to finish my taping of the new Marple mystery on CBC time shifting, This Marple mystery features Ruth Wilson. the wonderful actress that recently played Jane Eyre, in my favourite adaption of the story.

8:30pm: Here we go it's show time. It starts with a video about the nominees. Intereting but it doesn't really make sense. Okay maybe not so interesting, already I am feeling it is running too long. Where is Ellen?

8:34pm: I think we are getting somewhere, there is applause so maybe this is the end. Yes it is. Now they are showcasing the nominees. Ok, enough get to the show already.

8:36pm: Finally Ellen!!! No funny entrance, keeping it nice and simple. Nice! Applause should be had for the most international Oscars ever. Kudos. But so far Ellen not so funny.

8:39pm: I know its her schitk bur ramblings is a little annoying. If she was a bit funnier, it might be ok.

8:41pm Jennifer Hudson got rid of that spaceman jacket that was part of her dress. She said an Al Gore joke, thunderous applause ensues. Leo goes red. Steve Carrell perplexed at the diversity joke.

8:44pm: Ellen's celebration of the nominees. I think a little lame, please get to the first award, I like to know if I am going to kick my brother's ass not only in our family hockey's pool but the Oscar pool as well.

8:45pm: The first award, art direction -one of the six awards that bro and I differed. I do love Nicole Kidman's red dress and 007 is lovely too. The Winner is: Pan's Labyrinth. Score one for me!!!!!!!! Brother guessed Dreamgirls.

8:48pm: The scientific awards at this point. It's never this early but good to get it over with. You would think that Maggie Gyllenhall could sell her lines better.

8:49pm: Strange. People cartwheeling to form the Oscar statue

8:53pm: Will Ferell, guaranteed laughs. Singing about a comedian at the Oscar's. Jack Black!!! John C. Reilly now, singing about being in both Boogie and Talledega Nights. I am not exactly sure where this number is going. Like the line "Helen Mirren and the Oscar's coming home with me" and Jack Black saying Tivo that.

8:57pm: Make-up: doesn't matter who wins here. Bro and I chose the same. The Winner: Pan's Labyrinth. Take a swig of your drink Vanessa (every time I get a category right, I take a swig from my drink!)

8:59pm: Abigail Breslin and Jadyn Smith, my guess animated short film they are presenting. They are so cute together. Again bro and I gussed the same: The Little Match Girl. The Winner: The Danish Poet. We got that wrong but a Canadian won as it was a National Film Board movie, so I don't mind getting this one wrong. I thought about picking that but went with what Entertainment Weekly chose.

9:03pm: Live action short. Another category where me and bro differed. The Winner: West Bank Story. We both got that wrong, I guessed: Helmer and Son, he guessed Eramos Pocos. But those two kids are so cute.

Can we get to a major category please?

9:06pm: I like how they are presenting the best picture nominees, much better than having an actor read off the teleprompter about the film then show a clip, rather hear from the film makers or cast about it.

9:11pm: What?!?@!! Bill Conte is not conducting the Oscar orchestra!!!! The sound effects choir, interesting again but why? I want a major award darn it!!!! Are all those people really making those noises and if so they look stupid doing so. I don't get it.

9:13pm: Steve Carrell and Greg Kinnear. Sound Editing. Another category where Justin and I guessed the same: Pirates of the Caribbean. The Winner: Letters From Iwo Jima.

At the 9:16pm mark I am winning by one category. But don't get too excited. We pretty much guessed wrong on categories that we predicted the same and the other one that we predicted right, we picked the same film.

9:17pm James McAvoy, saw him on the Red Carpet and love his Scottish accent. It is so damn sexy. Category is Sound Mixing, Justin and I guessed Dreamgirls. The Winner: Dreamgirls.

9:20pm: A major award. The lovely Rachel Weisz and Justin's twin, she was born on the same day as him. We differed on Supporting Actor. He: Alan Arkin. Me: Eddie Murphy. The Winner: Alan Arkin. We are tied!!!

9:26pm: Great interperative dance of the nominated movies, just what we need! but it is actually interesting.

9:29pm: So far I am not impressed with Ellen. I had high hopes for her but so far disappointing.

9:30pm The first nominated song. Randy Newman again singing a song from a Pixar film. I think he should have won for the Toy Story 2 song: When She Loved Me, sung by Sarah McLaughlin and not for that Monster Inc. song. Anyways, Randy Newman is a great score composer and loved his score to Pleasantville in which the Notebook trailer sampled some of it.

9:31pm: Here is really hoping that the show ends on time. I really want to know who did it on that Marple mystery!!

The song was ok, a little sedate for me at least Randy Newman didn't sing. Now Melissa Etheridge singing her song from an Inconvenient Truth. I like Melissa Etheridge, love the rawness of her voice. Song is nice, she might win but I think that a Dreamgirls song will win but which one. The award show seems to clipping along at an interesting pace.

9:35pm: Leo and Gore. Interesting pair. He didn't announce whether or not to run for President. What do they mean that Oscar's have gone green? Oh! they are explaining it now. Funny, it looked like he was about to announce his intentions but the orchestra played him off. Nice.

9:42pm: Best Animated movie. Justin and I both guessed Cars. The Winner: Happy Feet. I thought about it but again listened to EW. This is awful, out of the eight categories announced I only got two right so far but the same can be said for Justin.

9:49pm: Adapted Screenplay. We both guessed The Departed. Loved Helen Mirren reading the screen directions, she somehow brought class to Borat. The Winner: The Departed. Three right and a swig.

9:55pm The first real laugh of the night courtesy of Tom Hanks. Wasn't paying attention of that Chris guy backstage until he was awkwardly in the way of Tom, Helen Mirren and the winner of the Adapted Screenplay award. But then he said something about fun and Tom chirped in.

9:59pm Best Costume, we both guessed Marie Antoinette. What the heck is Meryl Streep wearing, it looks like is going to some hippie party afterwards but did like her deadpan look. Presenting the costumes on stage, interesting. Cute dog. The Winner: Marie Antoinette and it is true everything does sound great with a British or Scottish accent. Sigh! James McAvoy!!!

10:05pm: We are at the humanitarian award, a nice award but it interupts the award show. I hope her speech is short.

10:11pm: Getting Steven Spielberg to take hers and Clint's photos was funny.

10:12pm: Best Cinematography presented by Apple's and Moses mom. Our guesses were Children of Men. The Winner: Pan's Labyrinth. Damn you EW, love you but damn you!!!

10:20pm: I think Naomi Watts' dress is awful, don't like those sleeves. Best Visual Effect, Justin and I both guessed Pirates of the Caribbean. The Winner: Pirates of The Caribbean. I think we are still tied, yes we are tied.

10:23pm: Has to be Best Foreign Language film but alas it is a look at 50 years of Best Foreign Language film. What is with my screen cutting off half of these titles. I need to get a flat widescreen TV.

10:30pm Now are we getting to the Foreign Language pick. My pick: The Lives of Other. Justin's: Pan's Labyrinth. I took a gamble on this category and this will break our tie. The Winner: The Lives of Others. Score one for me. I wouldn't have minded that Water won, would love to have another Canadian film win an Oscar. 7 out of 13 right so far out of Justin's 6 out of 13.

10:33pm: Pretty impressive the Snakes on a Plane. Now finally George Clooney to present Best Supporting Actress. We both guessed Jennifer Hudson. The Winner: Jennifer Hudson!!!!! Great for her, what an increndible story she has. American Idol reject to Oscar winner. She is officially the most succesful person from that show.

14 categories down, ten to go and about an hour and 25 minutes before where I left off of the Marple mystery comes on.

10:42pm: The documentary short. Me: The Blood of Yingzhou District Justin: Two Hands. The Winner: The Blood Of Yingzhou District. That was a wild card pick on my behalf. I was going to listen to EW but changed my mind after reading all the descriptions of the short and felt that this was a meatier Oscar-type documentary.

10:45pm Jerry Seinfeld presenting Best Documentary Feature. Justin and I both guessed Gore's documentary An Inconvenient Truth. Get to the damn award Seinfeld, I want to see my Marple mystery conclude. The Winner: An Inconvenient Truth.

10:50pm The Honorary Oscar to a film composer. Gotta love that. Ennio Morricone. I don't think I have any of his scores but he has done memeroable scores for such films as The Good, the Bad and The Ugly and the Mission. Movie scores are one of the music genres that I love. I have about a hundred movie score soundtracks. John Williams and Patrick Doyle I count as among my favourite composers. My Ipod is filled with their scores.

I love how they are letting his scores tell the tale of his career. There is always something so emotional when hearing a great score, I love it when it tugs at your heartstrings and makes you feel certain emotions. Example: Rob Lane's recent score to Jane Eyre made me feel passion and love. I do have one of Ennio's score: I have Hamlet, the Mel Gibson version. Now Celine Dion is singing a song, I can only guessed composed by Ennio. I know a lot of people don't like her but I do. I think she is a great performer plus we haven't seen her at the Oscar's for a while. And besides the song is lovely. Give the man a standing ovation. Movies are never the same without the music.

11:03pm Come on Oscars, you've got 1 hour and 12 minutes to end before the Marple mystery. I think I am going to eat a Kit Kat and an Aero Bar right now, the new thin ones that are only 80 calories.

11:06pm. Best Original score. Always my category. Our picks: The Queen, Alexandre Desplat. The Winner: Babel. That guy won last year for Brokeback Mountain. This is one of my worst years in trying to predict the Oscars. It doesn't help that I haven't seen that many of the nominated movies. At least I am #1 in my hockey pool.

11:10pm love the speed-up version of the usually boring Academy president speech. But so far this is a ho-hum telecast. So far nothing that matched the smear Best Actress campaign from last year.

11:11pm: Peter Parker and Mary-Jane doing Original screenplay. We both picked: Little Miss Sunshine. The Winner: Little Miss Sunshine

11:20pm That was a stupid hi-def joke about J-Lo. Jennifer Hudson performing "I love you, I do" a great song from Dreamgirls. Beyonce singing Listen, which Justin and I think is going to win. Interesting that Jennifer Hudson and Beyonce are dueting as it is not the case in the film on both the songs so far. And why do I feel that their boobs are going to fall out. Keith Robinson is singing Eddie Murphy's part of Patience and is dueting with Anika Noni Rose and the other Dreamgirls on this one, as believe it is done in the film but I don't remember. That was nice but then again I love musicals.

11:27pm: John Travolta and Queen Latifah, soon to be seen in Hairspray, to present the Best Song award. The Winner: Melissa Etheridge for An Inconvenient Truth. I did say it might win after listening to her song.

So we still have Film Editing, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director and Best Picture. Five categories and 45 minutes to do it before my Marple mystery. And I've had enough about the promos of "On the lot"

11:36pm and the Oscars are already over by six minutes. Did they really think it was going to be only 3 hours? Yeah right. Get back to the awards already. I know Hollywood love to honours themselves but come on.

11:40pm Kate Winslet. Love her. Born 20 days before me. Best Film Editing. Me: Babel Justin: United 93. The Winner: The Departed

11:44pm: Jodie Foster I bet is doing the in memorium. I am right.

I have a solution to my Marple mystery problem, I have my mini TV that I will use to continue on watching the Oscars while taping the remaining of my Marple mystery!!!!!

11:50pm So far I still got only 10 right. This is really bad prognasticating on my part. But I now know that I won because even if I lose on Best Picture, I still got one more right than Justin!!!!!!

11:52pm: Phillip Seymour Hoffman presenting Best Actress. We both said Helen Mirren. The Winner: Helen Mirren. She better have won, I mean she won every single award. How awesome is she, great speech, eloquent and beautiful.

11:57pm This backstage guy is awful, just oozes cheese that is just rank!

12:01am: Reese Whitherspoon for Best Actor. We both said Forest Whitaker. The Winner: Forest Whitaker. For a great actor, Forest is a quiet man in real life. Sorry Peter O'Toole, my guess is the honorary Oscar is all you will get. And Ryan Gosling, you are one hot man!!!!

12:06am: Spielberg, Coppola and George Lucas presenting Best Director, nice touch to have these three directors present. Funny. Our picks: Martin Scorcese. The Winner: Martin Scorcese. Finally!!!!!

12:12pm Best Picture. My pick: Babel Justin: The Departed. Sorry no pithy comments it's getting late in the evening. The Winner: The Departed. That's all folks. The telecast itself was blah. But I won the Oscar Pool by one. Me: 14 Justin: 13. Another close one, like last year but I won the bet.

Until next year folks. Now back to my Marple mystery.

Amazing Race: All Stars February 18th

Happy Chinese New Year all in this year of the pig.

And what a way to start the new year with the Amazing Race: All Stars. When I heard there was going to be an All Star edition, I was excited looking forward to seeing what teams are going to be in it from its over 10 seasons. The one team I was looking forward to was the Bowling Moms. I was really disappointed to learn that they didn't make the cut.

But here are the teams that I am rooting for that did make the cut:
1. Dustin and Kandace: The strongest and most competitive all-female team I've ever seen on the race
2. Oswald and Danny: Loved them in season 2
3. Teri and Ian: Book it Teri! Loved them in Season 3
4. Kevin and Drew: Best part of season 1
5. Uchenna and Joyce. Good karma should still be on their side
6. Charla and Mirna: Still rooting for Charla, want her to succeed

Teams I am not rooting for: Rob and Amber -can't stand them., Their 15 minutes of fame should be over by now.
Joe and Bill: Never liked team Guido and still don't

The other teams I am indifferent towards.

So of course Romber would come in first. Typical. But glad that Ozzy and Danny came in second followed by Teri and Ian and sorry Justin, Ian didn't say book it!

Glad that my beauty queens came in sixth and got a little worried for Charla and Mirna but glad they tied for 8th with Kentucky, who I predicted would come in last because of their lies to the Beauty Queens thought karma would bite them in the butt.

Was really worried for Kevin and Drew but so happy that they overcame injury and a flat tire to come in 2nd to last.

As for John Vito and Jill, was indifferent towards them but a little sad to see them go because I kinda wanted to see if they did get back together, guess I'll find out when i watch the Finish Line tomorrow. But, it was their fault for driving to the wrong entrance. You know when Phil emphasizes something it is going to bite one or two teams as it did JV and Jill and the cousins.

As for the tasks, of course you do wrangle it, you got the guys to wrangle the horse for you. Never chose a needle in a haystack clue, what made Romber think it was better is beyond me. Maybe that can be their downfall chosing wrong detours.

It may look like next week the Intersection comes back as it does look like the cousins have to work with the Beauty Queens.

The race is just getting started and more excitement is bound to happen. As long as my top 6 teams are still in the running, I will be happy.

Until next week.

Masterpiece Theatre - Jane Eyre, Part Two

There are five scenes that I look forward to the most when it comes to any version of Jane Eyre:

1. The fire rescue scene


2. The proposal scene


3. The courtship scenes post proposal


4. Rochester's pleas for Jane to stay after the aborted wedding


5. Their reunion

Four out of the five appeared in part two of Masterpiece Theatre's wonderful version of Jane Eyre.

Out of all the versions that I've seen (and I've seen eight of them) this one has hit all the parts I love best exactly right.

Of course my thoughts on the fire scene was said previously but if not I loved that part. The way it was shot in shadows with those two so close together that you felt their chemistry and you wanted them to kiss and the scene afterwards where Jane believed that Mr. Rochester might actually return her feelings for him.

And you know he did in the proposal scene. Ruth Wilson and Toby Stephens were wonderful in that scene: painful, emotional and passionate.

My absolutely favourite scene in this production was the morning after the proposal and credit goes to Wilson for making it such a wonderful scene. It is the scene where Jane is lying on her bed with the sunlight softly illuminating her face as thoughts were on the night before. She rises takes a look at her face in the mirror, she touches it and her mouth scarcely believing what has transpired and then she spins around like a schoolgirl in happiness before she plops back down on her bed. That scene was so beautiful and punctuated by an emotional score by Rob Lane -I wish a soundtrack would come out for this production.

Now I come to screenwriter Sandy Welch. What she has done to this version is miraculous, bringing passion to this tale that has been sorely lacking in past versions.

Her best job came tonight during the St. John scenes which are usually slow and boring. The reader and audience are just waiting for Jane to hear Rochester's voice across the moors and reunite with him.

In all other versions I have seen, Rochester's pleas for Jane to stay are usually before the St.John bits but what Welch has done is mix those scenes in with her time with the Rivers making that part of the production way more interesting. The scenes with Rochester and Jane, while not exactly following the book, were sizzling. I love those scenes. You see both their despondence and their passion for one another. Stephens was magnificent in these scenes the passion and desperation in his voice and the way he touched and kissed Jane would have convinced me to stay or in his words would have "tempted me in a life of sin."

As for St. John, Andrew Buchan has been one of the better ones I have seen in recent versions. He is handsome but a cold fish as he was written unlike the St. John's of 1996, 1997 and the musical.

The final scene where Jane and Rochester have married were a nice glimpse into their married life and you get to see the full transformation of their characters. Jane, who started the story with no family or love has finally found love and a family. Rochester, who throughout was brooding and unhappy at life, is joyously happy with his life.

I read in the production diary that the man paiting their portrait was the same man who did the Reed's portrait. A nice connecting piece there but too bad you didn't see his face.

Four final words to close my thoughts on this: Best. Jane. Eyre. Ever.

Movie review -The Queen

It is hard to believe that this August will mark 10 years since the unexpected and tragic death of Princess Diana, the Princess of Wales. It is one of those moments in history where you remember where you were when you heard the news. And while watching The Queen, the docudrama the recreates the behind the scenes drama of how the Royal Family dealt with the tragedy, brought back all of the memories of the summer of 1997.

The most amazing thing about this film is the exquisite and amazing performance of Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth II. She brings humanity to the role of the only monarch I have ever known and someone I consider sometime stoic but emotionally unattached when I see her appearances at Christmas. She makes Queen Elizabeth a person like you and I and not some monarch just sitting on her throne waited hand and foot. She drives a Range Rover! (albeit not wearing a seat belt).

I don't know how true it was in real life but it was fascinating to see the Queen's struggle on how to deal with it and it almost seemed as if she was being bullied into doing what was ultimately the right thing to do by the British people and Tony Blair (Michael Sheen in his second go around playing the Labour PM after TV's The Deal). I really did feel sorry for her but at the same time you wanted to yell at her to get off her high horse and do something.

We all know now that she did misjudge on how the public wanted her to address the people and I really got teary eyed as Stephen Frears used a mixture of archival and re-enactments of how the people reacted to Diana's death. I remember feeling what the people felt at the time but not necessarily about how the Queen should have reacted.

Sheen is also a revelation as Blair. He was amazing and should have been nominated for some sort of acting award. There is a scene towards the end of the Queen where after all the frenzy surrounding Diana's death and funeral had passed, they meet again (very similar to their first meeting earlier in the film when Blair first got elected) and discuss how the Queen's reputation was damaged by the way she handled things while Blair's popularity soared. Blair countered that the Queen saved her rep by addressing the people on the eve of Diana's funeral but she added that Blair may soon feel what it was like to have one's reputation damaged. This was excellent foreshadowing how Blair's rep was damaged by joining forces with President Bush to invade Iraq to find no existent weapons of mass destruction.

When the lights came up, I thought that the Queen was one of the most amazing fillms I have seen in a while. The performances were excellent and the screenplay by Peter Morgan was well written.

Come Oscar time I know that Helen Mirren is the one to beat. She embodied the Queen not only physically but emotionally as well. This is her third time playing a monarch after Queen Charlotte in the Madness of King George (her first Oscar nomination) and Queen Elizabeth I in Elizabeth I and you know what they say third time is the charm.

Oscar Nominations are out

This morning I got up to watch the Oscar nominations. There were many surprises about what movies were left out of certain categories and some surprises at who were nominated.

The first surprise was Dreamgirls being shut out of Best Picture and Best Director despite winning the Golden Globe and racking up eight Oscar nods (three alone in Best Song). I saw the movie over the weekend and I thought I was watching a potential Best Picture nominee (I try to watch all the Best Picture nominees before the ceremony so that I can make my predictions better). But I was happy to see that Jennifer Hudson, who was amazing in the film, and Eddie Murphy, also great, get nominated.

A welcome surprise was the nominations for Canadian Ryan Gosling. I am happy for him and sure goes a long way from his days on Breaker High! And I am happy to see that Abigail Breslin got nominated for Little Miss Sunshine and the film got nominated for Best Picture too! (Guess what I am renting this weekend!)

So the Best Picture race is this: Babel, The Departed, Letters from Iwo Jima, Little Miss Sunshine and The Queen. I didn't know what I was going to this Saturday but now I know, I am going to watch The Queen.

An interesting race and from the looks of it no clear front runner. If I were to bet money on it (but won't) I think it is going to be Babel (and that is only because it won the Golden Globe -but then so did Brokeback Mountain last year) So what do I know.

But I am willing to bet money (but I won't) that these three people will win the Oscar in their respective categories: Helen Mirren, Forrest Whittaker and Jennifer Hudson.

Looking forward to February 25th as the Oscar's is my Super Bowl.

Cheers!

Masterpiece Theatre - Jane Eyre, Part One

Words cannot describe how much I love this story. It was way back in the early 1990s when I first became exposed to this incredible love story by Charlotte Bronte which is when I saw the 1973 BBC version that starred Sorcha Cusack and Michael Jayston as Jane Eyre and Edward Rochester on a Sunday afternoon. I completely fell in love with the story of a plain governess looking for happiness and thinking she found it with her employer but learns of his dark secret.

After watching that mini-series, I read the book (something I never do) and I instantly became a fan. But I soon forgot about Jane and her Rochester until 1996 when flipping through a movie magazine I noticed a new version by Franco Zefferilli and starring Charlotte Gainsbourgh and William Hurt. I rushed to theatre when it opened and I became entraced with the story all over again and its magnificant score but it was an incomplete version. I soon was on a mission to find a complete version again like the 1973 version but with better production values.

While watching A&E's version of Emma, I came across a commercial for a new version of Jane Eyre that would air in the fall of 1997 and starring Samantha Morton and Ciaran Hinds. I fell in love with that version, while incomplete in its telling of Jane's story, had the right production values, a great score, awesome chemistry between the two leads and while not perfect thought I found the one.

By now, I sound obsessed with the story and I think it must be in my genes as my paternal grandmother really loved the story. To further my obsession, I discovered that Toronto in 1996 was holding the world premiere staging of Jane Eyre the musical starring Marla Schaffel and Anthony Crivello. Unfortunately, I never got to see that staging but managed to buy what is now the rare cast recording of the Toronto production and was entranced by Ms. Schaffel's and Mr. Crivello's performance and the music was awesome for a lack of a better word.

Even after discovering the Samanthn Morton version, I came across the 1983 production of Jane Eyre (thinking it was the 1973 one) that starred Timothy Dalton and Zelah Clarke. I loved this version too because a) it was complete b) loved Timothy Dalton, he, up until that point, was the best looking Rochester and loved how he delivered his lines. But what bothered me was a) the production values -real exterior, fake interior (you can tell it was filmed on a soundstage and not at a real stately home) and that Zelah Clarke was really short and there was no chemistry between the two.

So now it became my mission to see every single version of Jane Eyre. Up unti this point I've mentioned four versions that I have seen. The next version that I got to see was when Jane Eyre the musical moved to Broadway and I got to see it twice in NYC still with Marla Schaffel in the title role but now with the handsome James Barbour as Rochester. Their singing conveyed the passionate nature of the two characters very well and Schaffed deserved her Tony nomination and should have won.

Then I saw the 1944 version with Orson Welles and Joan Fontaine and I disliked that version because it totally didn't follow the book at all. Then the 1970 version had a great score by John Williams but Susannah York was way too old as Jane and George C. Scott was awful as Rochester. And the look of the story was washed out because of the age of the film.

Yes I am getting to Masterpiece Theatre's version of Jane Eyre. What lacked in every single version that I've seen, even the 1997 version was the intense, romantic and passionate chemistry between the two leads and the Masterpiece Theatre/BBC version has that in spades.

When Ruth Wilson and Toby Stephens are on screen together it is electric, I feel their attraction to each other. And after seeing part one over and over again on tape, I still feel it. What is also superior is the fact that there is no narration. All other versions depended on Jane's narration to tell us (the audience) what she is feeling. But the great thing about Ruth Wilson's performance is that we don't need narration to tell us what she is feeling, we see it on screen. We feel what she feels. Ruth Wilson is the best Jane Eyre I have ever seen and I think she is more beautiful in this role than she is as Jewel Diamond in Suburban Shootout.

And Toby Stephens is very sexy as Rochester and we see his pain of his past. The production values of this production is superb. I love that fact that the filmmakers used Haddon Hall for Thornfield as it is the second time it has played host to this literary household after the 1996 Zefferilli version. The music by Rob Lane is moving and while the production short changed her childhood (I mean they got Georgie Henley -of Narnia fame- to play young Jane that they could have used her better) But so far they got the core love story right and I am so looking forward to part two next week as it looks totally awesome.

I think I have found my one Jane Eyre, the version that I love above all else as it is so far complete (as long as they get the Rochester/Jane part right, which they have so far), excellent chemistry between the two leads, great production values and great score.

I gave up watching Battlestar Galactica to see this and would do it again next week and anytime a version of Jane Eyre is on.

Yes I am obessed but I can't help but relate to her story.

Looking forward to part two next week.