Thursday, October 08, 2009

The Launch of Theater Thursdays

I was really excited when I got Theater Thursdays for our theme week each month. Not only do I have an innate love of the theater (having been involved with a local theater group when I was younger) but it gives me the opportunity to talk about movies, tv and even concerts. So if there's something that you want to see discussed here please let me know! I'm very open to suggestions.

Since I haven't had a chance to attend a play recently, I'm going to focus on movies this month. This weekend I dragged SP out to see Fame with me. She wasn't overly enthusiastic about the prospect - she wanted to see Zombieland - but she's a great friend and went to the movie I wanted to see. Besides, I don't do blood and gore which includes flesh eating undead even if the dialogue is supposed to be funny.

I have to say I was disappointed. I mean, Fame was a cute, feel good kinda movie but in my mind it didn't compare to the original. Perhaps that's because I'm remembering the original through my adolescent (and ballet crazed) mind. I'll admit that when I was younger I wanted to be a dancer (unfortunately, my body just wasn't cut out for that career) and therefore could really identify with the teenagers struggling for their dream...my dream. This time maybe I was watching them through adult eyes. The eyes of a person who's achieved a dream of her own now and realizes that the struggles just don't end there.

To me the individual story lines just weren't developed enough. While I loved the dance numbers I would have liked more character development. It almost felt like they'd shoved in some dialogue because they had to have something between the soul belting songs and flashy dance numbers. Not to mention that several of those dance numbers seemed pointless to the entire plot of what little storyline was there. It was good. I think it could have been better. But maybe I was just expecting too much.

The girls also went to see Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs with my mom over the weekend. They absolutely loved the movie. They thought it was cute and talked to me for an hour, giving me the rundown of the entire thing.

I asked my mom for her take on the movie. She said it was cute but that she had a hard time staying awake through it. That might just be her exhaustion from trying to keep up with my rambunctious kids though. She did say that there was an overall message to the story...about overeating I believe. And while in theory I think it's probably a good message I'm not sure how I feel about an entire movie devoted to it. She did say that the message went completely over my girls' heads. I'm okay with that.

I think in the next month or so I'm going to be taking the girls to see Where the Wild Things Are. As much as I'm not sure how they can sustain a 2 hour movie from that short book it was always one of my favorites and I really want to see it on screen. I was also intrigued by a movie called The Men Who Stare at Goats that's coming out in November.

Have you seen either of the movies? What did you think of them? Any others you'd recommend? Any you'd tell us to stay away from? Anything that you want to see me review in the future? One commenter will win a signed copy of Afterburn so be sure and tell me your opinion!

Instigator

P.S. I'm talking about my shoe catastrophe on the Blaze Author blog today. Come over and tell me about your shoe addiction. http://blazeauthors.com/blog/

14 comments:

Jane said...

I haven't seen any new movies in a while, but I think I would enjoy "Zombieland." I've been hearing a lot about "Paranormal Activity," but I'm too scared to watch it in a dark theater. I am really excited about "Where the Wild Things Are." It was one of my favorite books, too, and the trailer looks good. I have faith in Spike Jonze.

Andrea Laurence AKA Smarty Pants said...

The problem with Fame was that they were trying to cram the storylines of 7 or 8 kids over 4 years of high school into one movie. Add 5 minute song and dance routines with no real purpose, and all you have time for is really shallow stuff.

They should've made a franchise and just made this Fame: Freshman Year.

(Zombieland was probably better.) :)

Andrea Laurence AKA Smarty Pants said...

And for the record - you're theater logo is creepy as hell.

Playground Monitor said...

I saw the previews for Fame when I saw Julie and Julia and thought it'd be something worth seeing. After reading this, I believe I'll pass on the movie. I too remember the original plus the wonderful TV show with Debbie Allen as the dance instructor. Some things just should be left alone and not re-made. What next? Gone with the Wind with Britney Spears as Scarlett O'Hara?

Playground Monitor said...

And for the record, Zombieland is nowhere near my "to be seen" list of movies. I don't do scary films at all.

Angel said...

SP: I'll go see Zombieland with you!!!

Hmm... Paranormal Activity. I'll have to look that one up. I love scary movies, but most of the time I watch them at home. I am afraid of screaming like a girl in the theater. :)

Angel

Kira Sinclair - AKA Instigator said...

You think it's creepy? I just thought it was more colorful than the plain white masks that only seemed to pop up on google.

I saw the commercial for Paranormal Activity last night...so not seeing it! They didn't even show anything but I was creeped out.

Instigator

Andrea Laurence AKA Smarty Pants said...

I guess you can add masks to my list of things that creep me out. Too closely associated to clowns and puppets. All the same to me.

Problem Child said...

I'm with SP on the creepy factor of that photo.

Movies? Gosh, I never get to go to the movies anymore. Yay for Netflix!!

gigi said...

I haven't seen Fame. Like you, I don't think it can hold up to the original I loved when I was a teenager.
My daughter saw Zombieland at a midnight showing on opening day. She loved it. Part of it was filmed at Wild Adventures, Valdosta, GA that is about an hour from where I live. She said it was more cheesy and like Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz. I did like Hot Fuzz.

I am waiting for the Proposal to come out on DVD next week.

Angel said...

Speaking of creepy masks, when I went through the Halloween aisle the other day I found those clear masks that have makeup painted on them. Now THOSE totally freak me out. Ewww!

Gigi, loved Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz!

Angel

catslady said...

My first thought too was Where the Wild things Are couldn't possibly be enough story to make a movie that long. But I must admit they did a good job on the way they look. I haven't been to a movie in ages either and Netflix is my friend too lol. And I love your masks :)

Katherine Bone said...

I want to see Zombieland!! (raises hand to be included) It's supposed to be better than Shawn of the Dead. Paranormal Activity looks uber cool and is supposed to be scarier than The Blair Witch Project was way back when.

By the by, Instigator. I LOVE your theatre icon. It reminds me of the masks and opera houses of Italy and Carnivale. They sell those everywhere over there and they are porcelain and oh, so delicate. Excellent choice!! Everyone is just going to have to face the fact that you have European flair. :)

Anonymous said...

I don't do scary movies, blood & gore, no thank you. I want to see the movie Tyler Perry currently has out - I can do bad all by myself.
robertsonreads