'House at The End of The Street' Review

Hey guys! So, I know it has been quite a while and I can explain why! You see, I have been working and interning and going to school and doing a million other things that unfortunately, my blog has fallen off the map! However, the good news is that I miss it and I want to really get back into it on a weekly basis like I did a little while ago. So, at the risk of sounding too ambitious, I plan on picking things back up!

For my first post back, I have decided to post a review I wrote for The House at The End of The Street starring Jennifer Lawrence of The Hunger Games fame. It never got published in my school paper because someone else wrote the review when I was assigned it. Anyhow, I'm taking it easy for this week, but this weekend, I will have another post up...I promise!

Enjoy!
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It’s October, which means it is the time of year when the best and worst horror movies and thrillers get thrown into theaters for all to see. A movie that has been hyped so far this season is House at the End of the Street starring The Hunger Games’ Jennifer Lawrence and The Pacifier’s Max Thieriot.

The story revolves around a young girl, Elissa (Jennifer Lawrence) and her mother who move into a home surrounded by woods. In the house at the end of the street, a young girl murdered her parents year ago and the rumors run rampant through the town. The girl’s older brother, Ryan(Max Thieriot), still lives in the house to try and maintain a connection to his parents. When Elissa meets him, she feels instantly connected to the broken boy despite her mother’s obvious reservations. As she becomes closer to the boy, she learns that the story of what happened at the house at the end of the street, may not be over just yet.

This movie is one of the best thrillers that has hit theaters in a long while. It has its typical moments and guessable plot points that any movie goer could point out in a second. However, there are twists in the movie that no one could call. When one thing happens in the story and you think you know which way they are going to take the story,  something else entirely seems to take shape and turn the movie on its head.

Jennifer Lawrence proves that she is not just the girl who won the 74th Annual Hunger Games. She puts on a great show as a typical teenage girl with a quick wit and a sharp tongue. She even sings a little bit in the movie and not surprisingly, this actress has quite the chops. The movie is a far cry from the blockbuster that is The Hunger Games, but it holds its own thanks to the great writing and acting. Max Thieriot is also believable as the misunderstood boy who Elissa befriends. He hasn’t done too much in the past but this movie definitely brought him back into public consciousness.

The acting was great, but by far what made this movie was the ending. There are no words for how this movie ended up. The final scene had everyone in the theater gasping for air and shocked into submission. If there is one reason to see this movie, it would have to be the crazy twists and the turns
that lead into the ending scene.

Now, that being said, I do have to say it wasn't the best horror movie I have ever seen...and I have seen a lot!! It is kind of typical of the genre and nothing too earth shattering happened. Mark Olsen of the Los Angeles Times said, "What could be so bad about a new Jennifer Lawrence movie that its distributor opts to keep it away from critics and release it with minimal ad support? Please, allow "House at the End of the Street" to answer that question."

Overall, it may be no Psycho and it certainly does not have the ferocity that Paranormal Activity had in its heyday, but it is definitely worth a watch if you are into thrillers with a great plot and even better actors! Definitely one to see this fall season!

Big Time Movie!

Let's go big time!

If you remember back in November, I had done an album review on the Nickelodeon band, Big Time Rush's new album, "Elevate." I told you how much I loved the album and could not stop blasting every song as I drove around with my friends. Well, four months later, and I am glad to report that absolutely none of that has changed. In fact, I'm pretty sure we blasted a few tracks last night!

Well, since that moment my admiration for the popular boy band has grown tenfold, which is something we don't really need to get into. Anyway, their new TV movie, aptly titled, "Big Time Movie," premiered on March 10th, and yes, I did watch it. So now, I am here to tell you how ridiculously cute this movie was!

Starring James Maslow, Kendall Schmidt, Logan Henderson and Carlos Pena Jr., this movie is one of those adorable movies that you want to watch everyday! LA Times said, "And the leads -- Kendall Schmidt, James Maslow, Logan Henderson and Carlos Pena, roughly the Smart One, Cute One, Clever One and Wacky One, in their early 20s now but typically meant to read younger, which is to say, suitable for tweens to dream upon -- are quite charming."

(From left to right: Carlos Pena, James Maslow, Kendall Schmidt, and Logan Henderson)

A good looking crew, no?

Basically the band, Big Time Rush, are going on their first world tour. They get sent to England first and have very strict instructions to do nothing and get into no trouble. This being a Nick movie you can bet that didn't last long. The boys soon find themselves thrust into a spy movie with only a few hours to not only save the world and a "princess", but to save their first world tour from getting cancelled! The guys described the movie as a mix between James Bond and Austin Powers; and it definitely had those elements in there!

The movie is filled with some great action scenes and some legitimate laughs. There's even a little love interest in there! And, as I have so kindly pointed out about five times in this post already, this movie does not lack those, "Aww," moments. The boys acting was so good in this one, too. Their comedic timing is perfect, their chemistry is flawless and their expressions are priceless.

Carlos pretty much plays the adorable and kind of gullible one; he is the one who is initially convinced they are in a spy movie. James is the dumb, yet lovable ladies man, who admittedly, in real life, would be the kind of guy I want to punch in the face repeatedly. Lucky for him, in real life he's charming and his character is too funny to hate. Kendall is the leader and the most solid of the group; his adorable scene with his little sister, Katie, made me melt like nothing else. And finally, Logan is the smart one...oh and he's cute too.

In my opinion, the best part of this movie was the music. Two words...THE BEATLES! Yep. They covered a whole bunch of songs by the fab four, and did a fantastic job. Even my mother the  eternal Beatles lover said they did the songs justice. Some of the popular tunes they covered included, "Can't Buy Me Love", "We Can Work It Out", and "Help." They didn't try to overdo it with the vocals, and they really let the original songs shine through. They kept the integrity of the music and didn't try to make it their own too much. I think that's where people mess up. It's a BEATLES song...no one can top them...so don't try. I totally have these songs on my iPod, and I regret nothing.

So remember my admission to a undeniable love for boy bands? Yeah, well, this is where that comes in. I loved this movie, and so did my friends. It reminded us of "Spice World" from the 90s, and that is not a bad thing. That movie may have made no sense, but to hell if I don't know every word and watch it whenever it comes on cable!

Anyway, this movie gets two adorable and effervescent thumbs up from me! It rocked...BIG TIME! Too much?

Call Me Maybe?

Back from a couple weeks of school, and work, and a long and relaxing, yet stressful spring break, here I am with a short music post about something that has been on my mind...or iPod.

Ever sit in your car wondering what song would be the perfect song to roll down the windows to and just belt out at the top of your lungs?

Lucky for you, I think I have helped to solve this plaguing question.

Carly Rae Jepsen has just recently a new single called, "Call Me Maybe," and it is quite possibly the most addictive song out right now.

Never heard of Carly Rae Jepsen? Well, neither had I before this song. But so you are all caught up, here is a little background on the Canadian songstress. She came in third place on the reality television show, Canadian Idol. She released her first album, "Tug of War", in 2008. Her second album, "Curiosity," was released in February of this year. She recently came to the U.S. and signed with Interscope and Schoolboy Records. Something tells me, this won't be the last we hear of this girl.

I admit, when this song first graced my ears, I was quite skeptical about the overtly pop tune. The lyrics were a little ridiculous and frankly, it gave me a solid case of the giggles. However, the tune was infectious and soon I found myself tapping my toes to the beat and fist pumping like the best of them.

The song soon disappeared from my mind, until one day, a video showed up in my subscriptions on YouTube. Ever heard of Carlos Pena from Big Time Rush? No? Well, how about Justin Bieber? Now I got your attention, huh?

The two pop stars are good friends and they made a music video to the upbeat song. The video features the adorable boy-bander, the teen sensation, and a few other celebs, like Selena Gomez, Samantha Droke and Ashley Tisdale, to name a few. The video is one of those adorable, I-was-bored-one-day-and-decided-to-sing-into-my-Macbook-type, of music videos. Check it out here:

Now, my two best friends seriously are obsessed with this little video and the song in correlation. And I will admit to you, that it started to get to me, too. And finally, the other day...I caved. I purchased the song off of iTunes, which was in the Top 10 songs!! From then on, well, it was all downhill.

With the lyrics, "Hey, I just met you, and this is crazy, but here's my number, so call me maybe?," this song quickly became one of those anthems you just can't shake. Not only is the melody of this song very upbeat, but with this smooth chorus; everything about it makes you want to scream out your windows and try to pick up strapping young men you just met and get them to call you maybe!

Personally, I think you should check it out. If you're like me, at first you will literally scratch your head in wonder; but after a few more forced listens by your best friends, and a few of your own Photo-booth music videos, you too will be playing this song all night long!

And look, I know this is fast, but I think I can say this to you...

...here's my number, so call me maybe? (new pickup line? I think yes!)

MAY THE ODDS BE EVER IN YOUR FAVOR.

Let's talk The Hunger Games...shall we?

But first, the book...when the movie comes out...we'll discuss the cinematic version of one of the best young adult series ever!!


Today, I decided to bring the book with me to work, as I love re-reading my favorite parts of it and I am ridiculously excited for the movie to come out.


So, I started reading it and decided that this is one of my favorite series and books right now, and that I should share a little review or something with all of you lovelies who actually sit here and deal with my craziness on the daily.


THE HUNGER GAMES.

What do I say? Where do I begin? Well, to start, I wrote  review on this novel back when I first read it over a year ago, so I will bring some of that on here and just kind of edit it along to how I am now. If you feel that this is recycling material..well you'd be right! But, it's all my opinions and writing, so same diff...besides, I literally hardcore edited it, so only 1/3 of the original review is left!

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is all about what feels like a post-apocolyptic sort of version of North America.

The entire plot feels like a mix between an episode of Survivor, Day After Tomorrow and I don't know, perhaps, Romeo and Juliet. Now the funny thing is, I usually don’t read these types of books. Despite my constant cynicism, I tend to lean more towards those types of sappy romance novels, coming of age stories or, yes, vampire books. But, this book was amazing!

I read it last year out of pure curiosity, and I am so glad I picked it up at Borders that night. It is a book that takes a little bit of time to get into; so for those of you who give up if a book is hard to get into, be forewarned. Once you hit the action, this book could not move any faster if it had legs and drove a racecar...funny joke? No? Okay, moving on.

It surrounds a girl named Katniss Everdeen and her life living in this society called PANEM. There are 12 districts and she lives in the saddest and poorest part of them all, District 12. In order to show the distcricts just who owns the,. .every year they have these games that they compete in. Can you guess the name? Well anyhow, these HUNGER GAMES(there's that name),  is meant as a means of pure entertainment for the Capitol which is the head of Panem and kind of like the big bad wolf in this case. 

What are the hunger games you may ask? Basically a boy and a girl from all 12 districts get randomly chosen to literally fight to the death on national television. Think one of those Road Rules challenges MTV puts on but way more violent and cruel. 

This novel has so much suspense, my heart was literally beating like crazy the last couple of chapters. When the games actually start, the book moves fast. There is so much that happens within a few short hundred or so pages, and you literally can not read it fast enough. Then there’s a little bit of romance, which perhaps is one of my favorite parts, because like I said, I like those types of books. Peeta Mellark is the baker's son who is picked as boy tribute for District 12. He is literally Katniss' antithesis. He is sweet and kind and strong, while she can be cold and well, she is a survivor, so. Their romance starts off in an unorthodox way, and for those of you who haven't read it, let's just say it may not be what it seems...even to Katniss or Peeta themselves. Thinking about the cute scenes and the heart ache of the games makes a tear slowly roll down my cheek as I type. I kid, I kid.

Reading  this book, I can’t help but think I would never survive The Hunger Games, myself. This fact, both makes me laugh and scares me a little...maybe Suzanne Collins was on to something? 

So in conclusion? The book may not be what normally jumps out to me on the shelves of B&N, but I could NOT be happier I chose to read this! I laughed, I cried, I literally bit my lip off in anticipation and when it ended I literally screamed! As for the real meat of the book, I won't really give anything away...I want you all to experience it yourself. And, unlike my friends, book spoilers are one of my big pet peeves, so I won't do that to you either!

For Danielle's book review, I give this novel, 4.5 out of 5 stars! Yes, I loved it THAT MUCH! And I usually only reserve those high ratings for Morganville Vampires books(OBSESSED...next post?) and anything and everything BTR related.

The cast of The Hunger Games

As for the movie...let's just say...I am counting down the days! It looks incredible and so true to the book, I might cry!

See...a non movie post...I'm doing better! =P

Too Many Movie Reviews...Time to MIX IT UP!

So, I apologize, because it seems that this blog has turned into a bit of a movie review blog. That was not my intention, but when your brother works at a movie theater and you can get into almost any movie you want with only having to pay for your small fishbowl sized diet soda and cookie dough bites, you tend to see a lot of movies that could use a bit of a review.

Anyway, I am in a "write-y" mood right now, so I am going to mix it up!

This post is the pre-cursor, if you will, to the next post, which will be the actual mixed-up post...if that makes sense?

Basically...this was a prologue to explain why I have so many movie reviews up, and that the next few posts will be different...

So, now that that is straightened out...ON TO THE NEXT!

The Vow is Heartbreakingly Adorable

The Vow starring Channing Tatum and Rachel McAdams came out in theaters on February 10, 2012.


The movie was deemed the perfect Valentine's Day movie and I can see why. It was full of sweet moments that made you go "awww," and moments that made you want to call up that special someone and make sure they remember you...no joke intended.

Channing Tatum plays Leo and Rachel McAdams plays Paige. They are one of those cool and adorable couples that seems to cherish the small moments and have fun everywhere they go. Their relationship reminds me of the type I would love to have and the kind anyone would be lucky to be in. When they get in a car accident, luckily they aren't harmed physically, but Paige wakes up with a different kind of injury. Paige doesn't remember anything from the past few years of her life and doesn't remember her marriage to Leo. The result is a movie full of sadness while Leo tries to get her to remember him and to fall back in love with him.


Without giving too much away, I just have to say that this is a big tear jerker, but not as much as one might have originally thought. I was preparing for a huge sob-fest or some big ugly crying, but what I got was a few tearful moments and movie that just made me smile.


The acting was flawless in my eyes. Channing isn't someone who you would think could pull off such an emotionally charged role, but he does it with such believable vulnerability that I think he did a great job. Rachel McAdams is always amazing. She makes you love her no matter what the role is, and this one is no exception. The supporting characters just add some color and character to the movie, but they aren't the focus at all. And the whole plot, while completely true, is heartbreakingly beautiful. I mean, a woman who falls in love again with her own husband...it's like you can't write that stuff(even if you did).


The New York Observer said, "This movie is not for pessimists who consider sentimentality a subtle form of subversive manipulation, but I embraced the feel-good heart it wears on its sleeve. At a time when we’re surrounded by a surfeit of cinematic pretentiousness, depression, vulgarity and mean-spirited violence, The Vow is a welcome antidote to cynicism, and a bracing tonic that proves love hasn’t disappeared from the film experience completely."


Basically, I agree. The movie gives hope in a hopeless situation, and shows that love can prevail, even if it seems that there is no way in hell it can.

I went with a group of my girlfriends and we found ourselves constantly saying, "aww," and making inappropriate comments whenever Channing Tatum would show up on screen. As a complete cynic and hopeless romantic(yes I know the two are not exactly compatible traits), I actually really enjoyed the movie. Despite myself, I kept smiling and tearing up when the sad moments came up.


I say to go see it. It may be no "The Notebook", but it was definitely a good romance movie with a great true story and phenomenal acting. I think the movie really shows us all how easy it is for something you love to be gone within a moment, and how moments really shape us more than we know. I also think movies like this show everyone out there, what true love and a true relationship should be...even if it fictional.

RIP Whitney Houston

Since this a blog about all things pop culture, I think it is only fitting that I throw in a post about this.

On February 11, 2012, Whitney Houston was found dead in her hotel room in LA.

The news quickly hit the web and twitter-verse and people were going crazy.

I happened to be out with my best friends when I first heard the news. A friend saw Drake's tweet saying something about RIP Whitney, and all of us immediately were taken aback. Is it another hoax? Is he joking? If he is joking, why would you joke about something like that? We all logged onto twitter on our respective smart phones and saw the flood of tweets and trends about the issue pop up. Then, that fateful tweet that confirmed she was dead at 48. Disbelief was all we could muster up. I mean, she was WHITNEY HOUSTON! It just seemed unreal.She was a pop icon and her songs are legendary.

For me, it probably meant something different than for other people. I loved Whitney's songs and one of my favorite past times was blasting, "I Will Always Love You," in my car with my friends and screaming it at the top of our lungs attempting to hit those crazy notes she hits. As a senior in high school, we did a dance to a whole mix of Whitney songs, so it just brought me back to that moment, too.

It is just very sad and unbelievable. It reminds me of when Michael Jackson died and the entire world just kind of stopped for a minute.

The trending topics on twitter were surrounding Whitney's death for hours and the number one song on iTunes was immediately Whitney's greatest hit, "I Will Always Love You." People still love her and will continue to listen to her music forever.

Her songs will live on and my friends and I will continue to belt out her tunes the best we can, which admittedly isn't that good.

RIP Whitney Houston. You will be missed and my thoughts go out to your family.

Journey 2 was quite the Journey

Sorry for the delay in posts, I have been admittedly busier than I had previously thought...But, the show must go on!

This past Valentine's day, my best friend and I decided to go see "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island." You see, we hate Valentine's day. I don't really know why, we just kind of think it's overrated. We usually celebrate what we have come to call, "Anti- Valentine's Day." Basically, we wear black, go get wings and eat at sports bars, we make fun of mushy couples and see some sort of non romantic, usually horror and or adventure movie as to step away from the stereotype of going to a romantic movie. And before you say anything, yes we are single, but even when I wasn't, Valentine's Day just isn't that big of a deal to me. I like Arbor Day better.

Soooo, we ventured to see this sequel to the popular, "Journey To The Center of The Earth." It was the only non romantic movie we could go see and I am a big fan of Josh Hutcherson so we figured it'd be a good choice.

The movie centers around a young guy named Sean who is on a mission to find his grandfather and the "mysterious island," hence the title. He doesn't like his step father and would rather be anywhere than where he is at the moment. Soon, his step father and him go on a trip and low and behold, they find the mysterious island and things get intense from there.

This movie is full of action and adventure and it is a definite must see for any fan of this genre. There a lot of references to historical things and myths such as the lost city of Atlantis. The movie has a bunch of cool twists and turns that keep you guessing. Josh Hutcherson as Sean is the perfect antagonist of the movie. He is believable as a young man on a mission to find the truth and his action filled moments give me great hope for his action scenes in "The Hunger Games."

The Rock, or Dwayne Johnson, plays Sean's step father, and he was just plain great in the role. I love how The Rock went from playing harsh roles like "The Scorpion King" to acting in more family oriented movies. My favorite was when all of a sudden he showed up in that Disney movie, "The Game Plan," wearing a football jersey and a ballerina tutu (that whole tough and scary wrestler image quickly subsided). Also, does anyone else love the fact that whenever he is in a movie, the trailer usually calls him, DWAYNE 'THE ROCK' JOHNSON? For some reason I always chuckle to myself remembering the days of playing wrestling video games with my brother and when WWE was WWF. Well, anyway, he was hilarious in moments and personally, I thought a great fit for the movie.

Michael Caine played the long lost grandfather and all I can say is, Michael Caine can do no wrong, I mean "Miss Congeniality" anyone? I'm quite partial to the moment in the movie when he walks through the streets of New York swinging his hips saying, "Don't I feel pretty!"...CLASSIC.

Finally, there was Luis Guzman and Vanessa Hudgens, who played a father daughter duo who got dragged along on this adventure. I thought it was a little odd that Luis Guzman played her father, as my friend sarcastically said at the theater, "Yeah, like I'm supposed to believe they are related." However, their relationship was sweet and endearing. As for Vanessa, ever since her days of "We're All in This Together," I haven't been the biggest of fans. In fact, she kind of annoys me...like a lot. Anyway, the cast, for the most part, pulled off the sci-fi-esque(yes I made that up) movie perfectly.

Truthfully, my favorite part of the movie was Josh Hutcherson, who is beyond adorable and will be playing Peeta in the highly anticipated Hunger Games movie. I just can NOT wait for that movie and anything this 19 year old does makes me giddy and excited like a five year old on Christmas Eve. However, the entire movie was cute and I liked all the twists in it, it wasn't the best thing I have ever seen, but trust me when I say, it was not the worst either.

The New York Post said, "You know we’re in serious trouble when even old pros such as Michael Caine and Luis Guzman can’t do anything with the uninspired and unfunny script"

I'd say go see it. Josh is adorable. The Rock is hilarious. The story line is a cool mix of mystery, action, science fiction and adventure. I give it two thumbs up. Although, let me just say, I never saw the first movie, but don't worry, you really don't need to, to follow this one. So go check it out.

Next movie on my list...THE VOW! Stay tuned for a full on sob fest review coming at you soon!!

XO

"Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close" is Extremely Emotional & Incredibly Heart Wrenching

A story about one of the most infamous days in the 21st century, "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close," is a heart wrenching and powerful movie about the human spirit and the love between a father and son.

The story centers around a nine year old named, Oskar Schell, who has autism. He is a smart and curious boy with many fears and reservations about the outside world. His father, Thomas Schell, tries to get him to open up and explore the world in new and interesting ways. Along with his mother, Linda Schell, the trio play a happy little family just living their lives in New York City. When his father dies in the terrorist attacks in September 11th, 2001, Oskar tries to find any way he can to stay connected to his father and not let his memory die. He finds a key and is adamant about finding the lock that it fits, convinced it's a sign from his father. He travels the streets of New York and searches for some meaning in his father's death.

The movie is long as it is about 2 hours, which makes shelling out the $11.50, worth it. It dragged at points, and certain resolutions could have came sooner in the film. However, the acting was impeccable. Tom Hanks as the father and Sandra Bullock as the mother, were the perfect match in this movie. In the few scenes they were together, their chemistry as a happy and in love married couple was not only believable, but endearing. With other supporting actors such as Zoe Caldwell as Oskar's grandmother, and Max von Sydow, who earned an Oscar nomination as The Renter, without even uttering a single word, the film was filled with emotional scenes filled with heart.

However, the true star of this movie was Thomas Horn, who played the key protagonist, Oskar Schell. In his first film, Thomas not only captured the emotions of the nine year old autistic boy, but he brought the entire movie to life. He was in almost every scene and carried this story to fruition. His emotional outbursts were believable, and his eery disconnection from the outside world was haunting. He was the star of this movie, and it leave one wondering if any other child star could have pulled it off as seamlessly as he did.

The movie deals with some powerful issues like autism, death and fear. An important part of this movie was the setting in which it took place. The attacks on September 11th, are something that everyone can relate to. The movie captured the sadness and overwhelming fear the world felt at that time in 2001. It was emotional to relive the day ten years ago that brought the United States to its knees, but the movie handled it delicately enough, that it wasn't inappropriate or too much.

The movie's resolution was heart warming and the movie in it's entirety reminds one of the impact a devastating event can have on a young child. The movie is definitely worth a watch; if not for it's impeccable acting, but for it's emotionally charged message.

Jane by Design is Designed to Pretty Entertaining

So, I admit, when the commercials first popped up for this show on my TV, my initial reaction was to laugh it off. It looked like another one of ABC Family's attempt at original content that was so completely different from anything else out there that it would be like I don't know, groundbreaking (may I remind you of The Nine Lives of Chloe King?).

However, the other day, on a recommendation from a friend, I reluctantly opened the ABC Family on Demand and started to watch the series from the pilot on. And, my thoughts on the television drama? Actually pretty entertaining.

The show centers around a high school student named Jane Quimby (played by Erica Dasher), with a sunny disposition, a quriky personality, and a keen eye for fashion(serious, I am jealous of almost everything she wears). Basically through a mistaken identity, she goes in for an internship and comes out as assistant to one of the head honchos at that fashion company. Not only does the mix up and the fact Jane needs to pretend to be an adult even when she hasn't graduated high school yet make for an interesting dynamic; but the fact this young girl has landed her dream job (and may I say a job that many people would kill for) and it willing to do whatever and whenever for it, is kind of refreshing. She juggles school, work, the fashion life and her high school drama, and literally pulls it off amazingly.

The show has a cute plot line and I love the whole "Devil Wears Prada," aspect of it. Who doesn't love Anne Hathaway, frumpy assistant turned glamazon? The only difference here is Jane knows who she is and she knows what she loves, and that's fashion. And as someone who considers herself a fashionista in training(emphasis on training), I can appreciate her pure love for all things cloth.

The relationships are nicely developed in the show as well. Jane with her brother Ben, have an adorable sibling love and dependency that would make any parent swoon. Her best friend, Billy, is like a pet, he does everything for her, and yet, I kind of love it. Their best friendship would give Turk and JD a run for their money(except not really because I mean, GUY LOVE, hello? Also, that was a SCRUBS reference for those of you who are unaware). She of course has an enemy, which all protagonists do, and in a crazy twist her arch enemy is kind of in love with her best friend. So.Much.Drama.

The show is also not lacking of romance. Jane has got two guys she kind of has eyes for. There's Jeremy, the uber talented and cute British designer who works with her at the company. Then there is Nick, your typical high school jock with a god complex and cute hair. Girl has got her work cut our for her; yet having two guys pining over you doesn't seem too horrible, now does it.

Anyway, the show is only a few episodes in, and I actually really like it. It's fun and upbeat with just enough drama. The fashion is probably my favorite part of the show and I love seeing the "inner workings" or the fashion industry(even if it is fictional). So, my verdict is to check this show out; you may just be surprised at how entertained you actually are.

And, on a related yet completely random and ridiculous note, Jane balancing two insane lives and running from high school to a high profile job, all in a day, makes me feel so much better about my insane schedule right now. In a weird way, Jane has reminded me that, if there's something you want, it doesn't matter how insane life can get, you go for it no matter what, and enjoy the ride.

Jane By Design airs on Tuesdays at 8pm.

The Devil Inside: 1 Hour and 23 Minutes I will Never Get Back

The Devil Inside premiered on January 6, 2012 to less than stellar reviews. And, if my title is any indication, you can probably guess what kind of review I am about to give it.

The Devil Inside is shot in a sort of faux documentary way, think Paranormal Activity and The Blair Witch Project, with the editing being deliberatly shotty and the quality of the footage being something you could see on any home movie VHS you have stored away in your attic. They have attempted to give it that, "could this be real" appearance, and it really doesn't do it for me.

Now, as I have posted before, I am quite the fan of horror movies. I don't really know why, I am just thouroughly entertained by them. One of my favorite past times, is to go see a really horrible horror movie with my best friend and literally dissect everything that happens in the most ridiculous way ever. A little back story on that, is that we went to go see Drag Me To Hell our senior year of high school, and well, if you didn't see it, don't. Unless, you really want a good laugh at a possessed goat and a haunted button(not kidding). Anyway...we decided to see this movie because we had hear mixed reviews and we love horror movies.

All I have to say is thank god my brother works at the movie theater and got us in for free, because if I spent ten dollars on that movie, I wouldn't have been too happy.

The movie surrounds a young woman named Isabelle Rossi who sets off to find out if her mother was really possessed when she killed three people. She goes to Italy to learn all about exorcism. She heads over with a camera man to find out the truth, and well, in the process some ridiculously ridiculous things happen. Other people get possessed, bodies get thrown across the floor, exorcisms take place and oh, there was a barking dog at one point(which was the only part that scared anyone in the theater).

Rolling Stone said, "Ripping off The Exorcist while adding the "found footage" scam from the Paranormal Activity franchise, The Devil Inside manages not only to scrape the barrel's bottom but to drill a hole in said bottom and funnel deeper into the scum."

Forget about the fact that this type of movie has been done over and over again to try and acheive the same effect "The Exorcist" had on audiences in 1973. This movie was poorly executed and the plot was shotty at best. In all honesty, the movie went from bad to worse as it progressed. I don't think they really thought this thing through, because as my brother, his girlfriend, and my cousin (all film majors) pointed out, there were way too many holes in the story.

But, by far the worst part of this movie was the ending. You are left with no resolution. You are left with a dramatic end to a dramatic movie that really gives you no sense of conclusion. The initial reaction of the packed theater was shock; not in the plot points the movie ended on, but in the way the movie ended. It literally cut to black, leaving one reminded of the whole Sopranos finale. If they let it go on for a tiny bit more, perhaps explaining what was to happen next, at the climax of this movie, then perhaps I wouldn't have been as dissappointed as I was. As one patron said when the credits started to roll, "Really? That was it!"

Entertainment Weekly said, "The Devil Inside's biggest shock arrives when it abruptly ends — just as it hits its stride."

The movie left me feeling unsatisfied in my quest for a good scary movie, but boy was it a great one to make fun of. Plenty of gold in that department. Honestly, I'd save your money and wait until this plays on TV in a few months. It's not even worth the hype, which is unfortunate because the commercials gave me some sort of hope. Although, when she visited her insane mother, it did sound like her mother was muttering the word, "Conneticut," whilst talking to her daughter; leaving me and my friends curious as to what the state that is home of Mystic aquarium had to do with a devil possession.

So, that was an hour and 23 minutes (the running time of the movie), that I will never get back; that's time I could have spent catching up on the newest episode of Jersey Shore or season five of How I Met Your Mother.

Fashion Inspiration: Pretty Little Liars PART DEUX

So, this time around for my "Fashion Inspiration" post, we will talk about the other half of the PLL girls: Emily and Spencer. Like my last post, this one will have example outfits and a little bit of my opinion on what their style really means.

Now, we will talk about Spencer Hastings(played by Troian Bellisario), of Pretty Little Liars.

Spencer is the most grounded of the group. She knows how to handle herself and her style, seamlesssly. She is preppy and always looks perfectly styled and put together. Even when she deals with boy drama and a ridiculous family that always expects perfection, she looks great.

Here is my idea of a Spencer-like outfit:

This outfit is a more dressy version of a Spencer outfit. The tailored pants and polka dotted cardigan top are the right amount of preppy. The heels are something I could see Spencer wearing to a dinner or function, but if this was for school, swap out the tailored pants and heels for riding boots and a pair of black jeggings or skinny jeans in a nice olive green. When she's more casual, Spencer throws in surprising pieces that are unexpected and really complete her look. I added the pearls because something about Spencer just screams sophistication. And a nice bag so she can throw all of her super sleuthing and SAT prep into it and go.

If you want to dress like Spencer; preppy is the way to go. Be sophisticated, but remember to dress for the occasion. And one thing that Spencer never does, is not know how to make sure an outfit is complete. I love her style a lot, and I really love Spencer in season 2!!

And finally, it's time to talk about the last of the Pretty Little Liars!! Let's talk about Emily Fields(played by Shay Mitchell).

Emily has to deal with coming to terms with who she is and everything that goes with that. She is the sporty one of the group and the most casual. She is always down to wear a tee shirt and jeans, and she always rocks a killer pair of boots. Also, her hair is always fabulous!!

So here is a very simple way to end this...with Emily Fields:

A simple loose tee shirt in a nice striking color will make a casual look a little different. Emily always wears a nice pair of jeans and simply wears boots to pull everything together. A small accessory is all you need to be like Emily. She doesn't overdo it with anything. She does often rock a leather jacket, so if you want to dress or funk it up a little, throw on a leather jacket!

I'd wear this to class or a simple day of running errands. Emily is a no fuss fashion girl. If your more glam, you can go for Hannah. If your more funky, go for Aria. And if quiet sophistication is what you're after, than Spencer is the girl for you. 

Each girl has a different look, and regardless of what your style is or what you want it to be, there is a girl's style you will fit into. 

I absolutely love this show and you should definitely check it out!!

So, this was the second part of my long fashion inspired post. I definitely want to do more like this, mostly because I love playing with polyvore!!

I hope you enjoyed!!

Xo

Fashion Inspiration: Pretty Little Liars

So, orignally, this little "segment" was four different posts, but the layout of the posts being back to back and all that jazz, annoyed me...so instead...I have decided to combine them for two awesome long posts about everything fashion from PLL! So, onward HO...(I think that's the saying).
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Pretty Little Liars is one of my favorite shows on TV right now. The show has a perfect blend of mystery, scandal, romance and of course, one of my favorite parts, fashion. Ever since the show started, I have found myself not only being enthralled by the constant questions that arise, but by the amazing and sometimes head scratching ensembles the four main girls wear.

The first girl I am going to delve into, is none other than miss fabulous herself, Hannah Marin(played by Ashley Benson). Hannah has to deal with some crazy and intense drama. Not only that, but the whole time, she is just trying to maintain this perfect image and be the best she can be. Her outfits always drip with young sophistication. She is what I would call the glam of the group. Sometimes, she overdoes it. Other times, she gets it just right. In my own style, I happen to dress the most like Hannah. Blazers are a favorite of hers, and I have been known to rock a few in my day. She always just seems to know how to look put together and fashionable, and I love her for it.

Now, for the "fashion inspired" part of this, I am going to show you a few examples from my favorite fashion procrastination tool, polyvore. These are just things I could see Hannah wearing, and honestly, these are the types of things I try to wear when I am feeling particularly Hannah-esque. So, without further ado...

Hannah always looks girlie with the right amount of edge. A top in a pretty color like a blush is flattering on everyone and gives the outfit a nice feminine touch. This top is a trendy sequin crop top. I paired it with skinny jeans because as much as Hannah loves dresses and skirts, personally I think jeans are just easy. The boots are my favorite part of this outfit. The heel makes it very Hannah and it has pretty accents on the side. A nice string of pearls is a simple accesory, and doesn't overwhelm the outfit. Finally, I topped it off with a great green bag to mix it up, and Hannah's signature blazer to keep the look polished.

Basically, if you want to be like Hannah, choose something very trendy, add some cute heels, some accessories, and a killer jacket, and you're ready to own the halls of Rosewood High.

This is my idea of a big Hannah outfit. It's something that I would wear to school or my internship. And it's definitely something you could get away with wearing on a night on the town. Just switch the boots for some cute pumps or booties, and the bag for a clutch.

Next, I am going to jump to Aria Montgomery(played by Lucy Hale) of Pretty Little Liars.

Aria is definitely the most unique of the girls. Her drama is all over the place, from cheating fathers to teacher boyfriends. One thing she doesn't let slide, however, is her fashion. She dresses how she wants and never seems to apologize for it. Many of her outfits are, out there, to say the least. But there's something so cool about everything she wears, even if it makes me scratch my head.

A funny little coincidence to this all, is that my style is like Hannah's and my best friend's happens to be more Aria. I just thought that was kind of funny, since they are best friends in the show, and she;s my best friend in real life, and no? okay, moving on...

For this outfit, I decided it was really about mixing patterns and textures. I started with a cute body-con leopard skirt. Aria loves her prints, and leopard is fun and actually quite versatile I paired it with a graphic tank top; the idea of mixing something as casual as a graphic shirt with a tight skirt is a funky twist. Aria always has cool tights or leggings to pull together a dress look, so I paired the skirt with lace tights with knee pads. This is definitely edgy, and Aria is all about fashion risks. Finally, a tan leather jacket to give it that tough feel. One feather earring because Aria is seriously in love with feathers(but then again, who isn't?). A pair of cute wedge booties to give you height and keep the look a little more dressy. And to finish it off, a very bohemian feeling bag with fringe. I think this outfit is really like what Aria would wear; a bunch of mixed pieces that together make up one really great look.

If you want to dress like Aria, don't be afraid to mix patterns and textures. If a piece doesn't look like it goes with another, try it anyway, you could be surprised. Don't skimp on the bohemian accessories, and feathers are a must. Aria loves fashion risks, and if you want to dress like her, don't be afraid to go out on a limb!!

That's all the time we have for today folks. Next installment, we will discuss the final two girls and what their style is all about! I love doing these posts...mostly because they are a great way to pass the time at work.

Until next time,
DC

Awards Season Fashion Dissected: 2012 People's Choice Awards

So, like I posted before, I took a long break from this blog, but I'm hoping to use the many boring hours at work to write some clever posts for you all to read. This time, I've decided to go back to the award shows that have been going on, and pick out my favorite and least favorite fashion looks. For this fashion dissection, I will be tackling the 2012 People's Choice Awards. So, at risk of making this post ridiculously long, I'm just going to jump into a few stars that stood out to me.

Miley Cyrus in David Koma:

The former Disney star really rocked the red carpet at the awards. The dress is age appropriate, which is something Miley doesn't always get right. The length is perfect on her and the pop of red with the shoes is just enough. The sheer paneling in the front gives off a subtly sexy vibe and with her hair pushed to the side and her makeup clean and simple, she truly was able to let her natural beauty shine.

Lucy Hale in Cengiz Abazoglu:

 Normally, I love everything the Pretty Little Liars star wears. However, I was not a fan of this side mullet-eque dress. If there was no side train, it would be an adorable asymmetrical dress with just enough interesting detail to make it fashion forward. Instead, I think Lucy tried to go forward but just didn't know where to stop. Fortunately for her, she is still unbelievably gorgeous, so she could wear a paper bag and she'd look good.

Ginnifer Goodwin and Jennifer Morrison:

Not a fan of either of these looks. I appreciate the fashion risks, but I just don't think it completely worked. Ginnifer's hair and makeup is adorable, but the dress is too bright and the sleeves are trying to be couture or peasant-like or something. I just think she has done so much better and could have done somethign different. Jennifer's just kind of remidns me of a ball of yarn. I like the nude dress with the nude heels, but something about the dress is off to me. I like the idea she was going for with the top knot and red lip, because let's face it, a great way to wear a red lip perfectly is with a great top knot.That being said, I think there's too much to the top knot and it looks like a hat or a bird's nest. Either way, both ladies are gorgeous, so it's fine.

Emma Stone in Gucci: 

This is how you do formal wear without wearing a dress. The green color is amazing with her skin and hair. The jacket is tailored perfectly with just enough interesting detail. It gives her a kind of effortlessly pulled together look. It's clean and stunning at the same time.

Obviously, there were a ton more outfit choices that I could have dissected. But, I want to keep this post short and simple with only a few selections. If I kept going, this post would be way too long and even I would get bored reading it. Overall, there were hits and definite misses. Thank goodness it's only the People's Choice Awards. Hopefully some of the fashion faux pas won't be repeated during the bigger awards shows, like the Oscars.

Until my next fashion dissection, stay classy. (insert BBM tongue face here)

Beauty and The Beast in 3D

It's a tale as old as time. Song as old as rhyme. I think you know where I am going with this one...

"Beauty and The Beast" was released in 3D on January 13, 2012. Originally released in 1991, this 21 year old classic(hey, I'm almost 21, so I guess I can call myself that...) was received with open arms. According to Box Office Mojo, as of January 20th, the movie has made: $26,931,000.

After the success of the 3D version of "The Lion King", Disney decided to release a few other classics in 3D. This was a very smart business move, but should we be that surprised? I mean, considering it is one of the biggest companies of all time; you don't make stupid business decisions to become such a huge conglomerate. But, I digress.

"Beauty and The Beast," surrounds a young woman named, Belle(which just so happens to be a name synonymous for Beauty. Do you think that was a calculated move on the part of the business that dons mickey ears?). She lives in a small town in France with her father who is a crazy inventor. She, of course, is not your typical beauty and she loves to read, and of course because it is not a norm, everyone in her town thinks she is weird; like there's no such thing as beauty and brains in the same person.

Anyway, her father goes off to a fair and through some mishaps with a dark forest and a horse that should seriously go to training school or something, he ends up at a mysterious and completely ominous looking castle. The castle, of course, is home to none other than the Beast, whose name is, well, I don't know, Beast? Come to think of it, they pretty much call him Master and Belle doesn't really refer to her furry counter part as anything in particular.

When Belle finds our her father is in trouble, she runs off to the woods to help the distressed old inventor, who has been locked up by the Beast.She trades her own young life to save her father and ends up becoming a prisoner.

Some other stuff happens including a ridiculous drinking song, where every man at the bar apparently has a man crush on Gaston: the older more, burly fellow who wants Belle's heart.

Oh, and did I mention the entire castle is stocked with loads of colorful characters, and those characters just so happen to be talking inanimate objects like a candelabra and clock? No, well, yeah, there's that. It has to do with a curse that was put on the Beast when he was a young prince to try and show him it's all about inner beauty. And before I keep going, it's obviously a love story, and by the title you can pretty much tell everything else that happens.

So, listen, there is a lot of things that I will let slide when it comes to movies, music and pop culture in general. Don't know the name of Kim Kardashian's second husband? Don't worry, in about two months time, no one else will either. Haven't seen any of the Paranormal Activities? It's cool, horror movies aren't for everyone. Not a fan of Demi Lovato's amazing vocals and melodic tunes? Well, it's your loss, but to each his own. But, haven't seen "Beauty and The Beast"? Well, I'm sorry but that is just unacceptable, and quite frankly, a down wright crime. This movie wasn't nominated for a bunch of awards, including an Oscar nomination for Best Picture in 1992, for nothing.

As I stated in my review of "The Lion King," my favorite Disney classic is in fact, "Beauty and The Beast." I think there is something quite quaint about the entire movie. The songs are so catchy and adorable, you can't help but sing along and bop your head to the beat. Entertainment Weekly said, "The songs unleash a chemical reaction of happiness."

I also think that the entire thing is far more realistic than any other Disney movie. And no, I don't mean because there are such things as talking tea kettles, magic curses and beasts. What I do mean however, is that the entire love story and message of the movie is something much more firm for young people to grasp on to, at least that's how I think of it. 

The idea is that beauty within is something much more powerful than what we see on the outside. Unfortunately for us, society doesn't see it like that. Belle saw past the Beast's appearance and saw something even greater. She fell in love with him, despite him looking scary and disgusting. It just so happened that when she said she loved him she broke the curse and he ended up being a gorgeous young man with golden flowing locks and arms that could snap a whole tree in zero seconds flat. I also like the idea of seeing someone for who they are and not what they are. Also, there is a little beast in all of us, is there not?


And a side note: can these Disney princesses' have better hair? I mean it's flowing, no frizz and has neatly placed curls. Granted, it's drawn in, but seriously, if there's something I can say for Disney movies,it's that they gave me completely unrealistic expectations in not only love, but in the ability to ride a horse through the forest whilst it is hailing outside, with a hood on, and still be able to walk into a castle with a perfectly styled up-do.

"Be Our Guest"

And, a completely irrelevant lesson I learned from this movie, is that out of every beast, a young Fabio-esque young prince can emerge(kind of like kissing a frog thing, except no kissing of an amphibian required).


So in my personal opinion, this movie is amazing. When I saw it in 3D, I was completely over taken by the 5 year old in me(I even wore my Beauty and The Beast sweatshirt). The 3D was okay, it honestly didn't do much for me. I still saw the same characters and places I love, albeit a little clearer.

Inside Pulse said, "As the movie progresses, the 3D only gives a little more dimension. It’s really noticeable during the bigger production numbers such as “Be Our Guest”, which is utterly joyful and enchanting, and also during the ballroom scene “Beauty and the Beast”, where every detail of that already gorgeous ballroom is enhanced. The climactic fight between Gaston and the Beast on top of the castle is heart-pounding, and when Gaston falls to his death, the 3D effects make him look like he is shrinking away from the audience."

I definitely recommend seeing this re-release before it goes out of theaters. It definitely beats trying to find a working VHS player and rewinding a tape all the way to the beginning(which I have not done since I purchased my first DVD, which was the first Harry Potter movie!).


So, as I did with my review of "The Lion King," I shall give this review two paws up (the Beast had paws so I feel as if this is not only completely relevant, but also clever).

Yeah...

Almost a month since a new post.

I had every intention of spending the short and boring days of winter posting about random popculture happenings...however, I spent a lot of that time sleeping and seeing friends and just having some fun before the craziness of second semester started. So, I am sorry that I didn't keep up with my original plan. And, not that my second semester shuffle has started that consists of classes, internship and two jobs...I fear I may not post as much as I would like. However, I will attempt to use my boring weekend job as a time to post fun and random posts of pop culture. For now, I am sitting here watching "Kourtney and Kim Take New York,"(I know, I don't know why, either) and typing up this update...and honestly, I hope I can keep up with my plan and post more. Because, as much as it was an annoying thing to do for class, writing about things I love is kind of a great way to spend my random free moments whilst browsing the internet aimlessly.

Until next post(which will hopefully be soon), 

DC