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)