The Legend of Captain Crow

 I watched "The Sea Beast" on Netflix a bit ago.

• Whoa, that water looks real.
• I love Maisie and her love of adventure.
• How many of those huge monsters are there?!!?
• APPARENTLY, a whole lot of them.
• They're so pretty!  I want a blue one.
• "You picturing us on a form or something?"

I enjoyed this movie.  Glad to read that a sequel is in the works.

Take the Baton

Time for Tar, which I watched on Peacock. 

• "You don't call women astronauts 'astronettes'."
• Interestng that student Max can't direct to Bach because he doesn't see eye-to-eye with his lifestyle.  I don't know why any musician would let that cloud their judgement.
• Not cool, Tar.  Asking principal cellist in front of the entire orchestra if she would mind auditioning for the solo?  That should have been done in private.  I know it's because she had no intent to have anyone play it other than the new girl.  That was just horrible.
• Who was wearing those big boots?  And who was screaming?  I guess she was paranoid because of Krista's obsession?
• I mean, why did she take the girl with her to NYC, knowing about the stuff they're staying about her and younger people?
• Oh, she had two places!  I was so confused.
• I laughed a lot at her reaction to the neighbor wanting to schedule apartment showing without all of her "noise".
• I don't understand.  How did he get her score?  And what the heck?!?
• "Music is movement."  I liked what that guy was saying.  I hope I can find thata video so I can listen to the whole thing.
• They're speaking tagalog!  They're in the Philippines!  That's a jeepney! Why is she there?!  (Yes, I was saying all of these things out loud, so it's good I wasn't in a theater.)
• "Is there something wrong with the water?"  "No, there are crocodiles."  <Takes hand out of water> "Oh."
• Whoa.  Filipino massages are...different.  Why did it make her throw up in the street?  Did it remind her of the crap back home?
• Oh, she's conducting her music from the film score, like when we watch at Hollywood Bowl.  I get it.
• The movie's done?

All Quiet, Redone

 I don't know if I would have volunteered to see "All Quiet on the Western Front" when it was in theaters, but I'n glad that it was available on Netflix so I could take time to watch.  I viewed it with German language and English subtitles.

• Awww... wolf pups!
• Not so awww...bunch of dead soldiers.
• I didn't know that they reused the uniforms from the dead soldiers, but that saves money.
• I like the scene on the farm when they're eating all of the stolen food.
• Cinematography is beautiful.  Lots of gross scenes, though, because of war blech.
• So naive thinking they ere going to have fun attacking the French.  
• The French have good wine, even in the trenches.
• I mean...almost made it.  Sad.

Good film.  I need to see the original one someday.

Love Me Tender

 I'm an Elvis fan.  I don't know what prevented me from seeing Baz Luhrmann's "Elvis" in the theater, but I regret that, especially once I saw Austin Butler on The Late Late Show and developed a crush on him.  I'm glad that I was able to see it on HBO, though.

• Love that blingy WB logo!
• His eyes are soooo blue.
• I would have totally been one of those girls screaming.
• "If I can't move, I can't sing."
• If Elvis could have, I think he would have been a Civil Rights advocate.
• The thing about rock and roll is that it's anti-establishment.  Sorry, not sorry, y'all.
• Love how they did the 1968 Comeback Special together with Colonel Tom thinking it was just about Christmas.
• "He's not wearing the sweater!"
• The Elvis figurine with the Christmas sweater!  I want one.
• OK, I just got the cape thing.  Because he wanted to be Superman!
• My hear is breaking all over again, just like when he died in real life.
• I did not know the story behind "Trouble".  Interesting.
• "When things are too dangerous to say, sing."

Mmmm...Austin Butler....dreamy....

Mer Na'vi

 I remember watching the original "Avatar" (not the Last Airbender") three times in the theater, because I was so amazed by the visuals that I wanted to see it in different formats.  So I knew when "The Way of Water" was released, I wanted to see it in IMAX3D.  I did!  

• I had no idea Kate Winslett was in this movie.  That's some good CGI.
• There were no mermaids harmed in the filming of this movie.  Also, there were no mermaids.
• I should have watched the original again, because I couldn't remember how the whole avatar works, and got a bit confused when they would go from real to avatar and back.
• The visuals were amazing again.  
• My favorite scenes were all of the underwater scenes. I mean, if anyone knows how to film with water, it's James Cameron, right?
• I want to swim with a tulkun!
• My favorite character was Spider.  He reminded me of Chaka from "Land of the Lost".  Is that weird?
• "I see you."
• Sullys stick together.
• Those soldiers are evil.  Why you gotta burn down a whole village?  They weren't attacking you.
• Actually, I want to ride with or on all of those creatures.  Very cool.

I won't be seeing this film 2 more times in the theater, but I did enjoy it.  Maybe I'll remember more stuff by the time we get to see the next one.

Little Wooden Boy

I was hesitant about watching Guillermo Del Toro's "Pinocchio", just because I didn't know if that was the one that people didn't like.  Apparently, that applies to the other Pinocchio movie released last year.  My thoughts as I watched on Netflix:

• I like that they look like they're made of wood.
• One song and I'm already crying.  I mean, I knew what was coming, and I still cried.
• "Model Fascist Youth" Ha!
• Is Sebastian's middle name "Jiminy"?
• That's how I am about balloons, Gepetto!  I wouldn't have taken it with me.
• Oh, I love the Ahab character!
• I was, like, "Mine, mine, mine" when I saw the seagull, and then BOOM.
• Who knew Mussolini liked puppets?  
• "This-a puppets I do not like."
• "Sometimes fathers say things they only think they mean in the moment.  But they love you."  I am a mess of tears!
• That's no island!
• "Well, I taught it to him, and he taught me right back."
• Oh, he gets his top hat!  And Ewan gets to sing!  

Well, that was beautiful and quite touching.

The Need for Speed. Again.

I remember seeing Tom Cruise's tweet "It begins." with a shot of him walking on an aircraft carrier with a fighter jet, and that I about lost my mind.  "They're doing a Top Gun sequel?!"  I've watched the original a LOT of times, and I was happy that I was able to watch the sequel, 2 decades later, in Dolby.  My thoughts on "Top Gun: Maverick":

• This movie was everything I hoped it would be.  Seriously.  I loved it and wished I could have seen it more than once, but couldn't.  I'm bummed about that, because it is meant to be seen on a big screen.  It's not just the visuals; it's also the story that I really liked.
• I told several people that if they liked the first movie, they needed to see this one on the big screen.  Some people listened to me, like my dad.  He loved it.  Some people did not listen to me and watched it on stream, so I hope they get to see a re-release some day.
• Oh, man, those flight sequences.  Incredible, especially when you realize that they used minimal green screen throughout the film, on Cruise's insistence.  Old school, like Maverick!
• I love the trivia that they all got to choose their own call signs.
• Maverick having to deal with teaching Goose's son reminded me of Luke trying to teach Ben Solo, although the outcome was very, very different.
• "My dad believed in you.  I'm not going to make the same mistake."  OUCH.
• Yay!  Beach bodies playing football!  
• ICEMAN!!!!!
• Apparently, I was supposed to know that Jennifer Connelly's character, Penny, is the admiral's daughter from the original movie.  Oh.
• For reals, though, that theme.  I love it.

Great, great movie.  Thanks for bringing it to life, Mr. Cruise!

Oscars 2023 Live Blog

We interrupt all of the non-blogging with some film stuff.

Happy Oscars Day!  I just barely watched all 10 of the Best Picture nominees, and rather than tweeting live, I'm blogging the fun of the day.  I'm also writing some of my thoughts from the Best Picture nominees separately, although the ones I saw on screen will be kind of vauge because I didn't have a notebook with me in the theater, and some I'm doing a year later.

CHAMPAGNE CARPET

3:30pm

• I feel like Ashley Graham (ABC) needs more clothing. 
• Jamie Lee Curtis clears stairways.  :)  I love her peach / sparkly ensemble.
• You go, Sarah Polley, with your tux!  I would think it would be more uncomfortable than a dress but whatevs.
• Malala Yousafi looking so gorgeous in that shiny silver dress.  I love it.
• Why is that guy so awkward?
• Zoe Saldana looking lovely as always.  I like the elegance of her Ferdi dress.  
• Ooh, I love the color of Stephanie Hsu's dress!  Lovely shade of pink.
• Is Angela Bassett wearing an Ouroboros necklace?
• I love Kerry Condon's Irish brogue.

4:30pm:

• Florence Pugh's hair is cute!
• Hugh Grant: "I can't remember my tailor."  He didn't have fun on set, so let's cut away now.
• Ke Huy Quan is adorable.  "Wow wow wow!"
• Michelle Yeoh looks like a ballerina from Swan Lake.  Beautiful!
• Wait.  Pedro Pacal's sister is nominated tonight?  Wow!
• If I was Austin Butler, I would have kept the 1968 Special outfit, too.  Sexy.  Have I told you that I have a crush on Austin Butler?
• Oh, there he is!  AUSTIN!!!  Aw, he brought his best friend instead of his girlfriend.  His best friends is also his agent.  Cute.  OMG, he says "nice to see you", and I so wish he was saying that to me!!!

So...I totally forgot that I was behind because I was watching that last film.  Hoping to catch up during the commericals.  Oy.

95TH ACADEMY AWARDS

• "Why are you like this, Tom?!!!"  Nice entrance, Jimmy.  Haha, needs to adjust his Danger Zone.
• "I'm glad to se that Nicole Kidman has finally been released by that abandoned AMC...and thank you for encouraging people to go to the theater,  to people that are already at the theater."  SPOT ON.
• "Two actors from 'Encino Man' are nominated ofr Oscars."   Should I see that movie now?
• "If you've never made love to the score to "Raiders of the Lost Ark", do yourself a favor.
• Cute story of the correspondence between Austin Butler and Tom Hanks via a typewriter by their characters.
• I love the list of people that any assailant would have to get through to get to Jimmy: Apollo Creed, Michelle Yeoh, The Mandalorian, Spider-man, Fableman, and Guillermo.
• Yay, all of the categories are back!  That was so disrespectful last year.  I hated it.  
• RRR dancing you off stage should actually be a goal.

Best Animated Feature 

    My favorite was Guillermo Del Toro's "Pinocchio".  (I haven't finished 'Puss in Boots' yet)

    Dwayne Johnson can't stop talking.

    Yay!  Pinocchio!!!  

Supporting Roles

    I'm rooting for Ke Huy Quan and Jamie Lee Curtis or Stephanie Hsu or Angela Bassett or Kerry Condon.  Clearly, I can't decide on supporting actress.  OK, if I had to decide to save my life: Angela Bassett.  No Jamie Lee.  Oh, just kill me now.  I haven't seen "Causeway" or "The Whale".

    So nice to see Tony Koster presenting.

    Whoo HOOOOO!!!! Ke Huy Quan!  I yelped from my seat.  Aw, Spielberg is giving a standing ovation.  Ooh, I like how the names of the winners are on movie theater marquees.  "Mom, I just won an Oscar!"  I'm totally weeping.  "This is the American dream!"  He thanked his Goonies brother for life, Jeff Cohen.  Go, CHUNK!!!!  "Dreams are something you have to believe in.  I almost gave up on mine.  To all of you out there, keep your dreams alive."  I'm so happy right now.

Jamie Lee Curtis!  Also a first nomination, and a first win!  I'm so happy for her!  I had no idea that she was married to Christopher Guest.  We just won an Oscar together!  Aw, the tears when she mentioned her parents, Tony Lee Curtis and Janet Leigh.  I'm a mess again.

She has a lovely voice.  Wish I could understand what was happening.  (Sophia Carson and Diane Warren for short stories about women).

Aw, cute shot of Jamie Lee and Key together!

Documentary

Nice to see Riz Ahmed and Questlove!

For Feature, I'm rooting for "Navalny", but haven't seen "All the Beauty...and "A House Made of Splinters".

Ooh, "Navalny" won!  This footage was amazing.  Very cool that they got a written statement from him in prison.

Short Live Action:

I've only seen "Le Pupille", which I really liked.

Congrats to "An Irish Goodbye" for your win.

Little Mermaid!!!  So a fancy way of showing us a trailer in the middle of the Oscars.  Interesting.  Necessary?  No.  Am I looking forward to the movie?  More than I thought I would.  Awkwafina?  Who is she playing?  No, don't tell me.   OK, I need to go make dinner. I'll play catch-up later.

Cinematography:

I'm rooting for "All Quiet..."

"All Quiet on the Western Front" wins!    

Well, a Very Merry Unbirthday to you, sir!

"One minute, you're fine, the next, your fingers are hot dogs."

I did not like the performance of "This is the Life" for "Everything, Everywhere, All At Once".  I feel like it was dissonant and weird.  I know the movie was weird, but still. 

Makeup

I had no favorites for this one.

Congratulations to the makeup team for "The Whale".

Warner Bros 100th Anniversary Tribute

The donkey from "Banshees..."!!

Costume Design

My fave is "Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris."

Julia wearing her dress from National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation 1989.

I need to go to FIDM this week at my lunch break to see these.

Congratulations to Ruth Carter for "Wakanda Forever"!  I also liked those costumes a lot.

"Do you know Naatu?  If not, you're about to."

I've been looking forward to this all day.  "Naatu Naatu" from "RRR".

Yay!  That was awesome, and not even as long as the one shown on screen.

Eva Longoria providing support to the Academy President.  

Go to the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures!  It's really cool.  

International Feature Film

Because we cannot have an Oscars ceremony with Salma Hayek, here she is with Antonio Banderas.

I have not seen all of the movies, but I'm rooting for "Argentina 1985".

I mean, I knew "All Quiet on the Western Front" would win, but a girl can hope.  I did like that movie, too.

Oh, the actors are there!  Felix was soooo good, and that was his first feature film!

Shorts were presented by presented by The Mandalorian and Scarlet Witch   

Documentary Short Film,
    I'm rooting for the elephants, but I haven't seen 3 of the movies. 
    Yay!  "The Elephant Whisperers" won!

Animated Short Film

    I didn't see any of these.

    Congratulations to "The Boy, The Mole, The Fox, and The Horse".

    "I'm British, so I"m more comfortable saying 'sorry'."

    

Lady Gaga performing with Bloodpop:  "This is a Life" from "Top Gun: Maverick"

    She could have sung that a cappella and it would have been equally as good as this was, she's just amazing.

Hugh Grant and Andie MacDowell, representing the importance of using moisturizer.  Oh, Hugh, you scrotum.  

Production Design

My favorite is Elvis.

Congratulations to "All Quiet on the Western Front"!  

Original Score presented by Mindy Kaling and John Cho.   Love the bit about pronouncing Banshees of Inesherin

    Congratulations to Volker Bertelmann for  "All Quiet on the WEstern Front".  I didn't think I had a favorite, but when the house orchestra played the theme, I remember that I did really like this one the most.

I love Elizabeth Banks.  Why is she with Cocaine Bear?  Oh, she directed it?

Visual Effects

"Tom Cruise flying around is real, but also visual effects.  Wakanda is totally real."

I'm rooting for Maverick.

Congratulations to the theme for "Avatar: The Way of Water".

Malala, when asked about Harry Styles and Chris Pine: "I only talk about peace."

The bear is crawling around!  LOL

Rihanna singing "Lift Me Up" from "Wakanda Forever"

I like her outfit!

Beautiful job on a beautiful song.  Aw, I miss Chadwick, too.

7:30pm

Hi, James Hong!  One of our great living actors, and one of our worst civil engineers.

Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield presenting the writing categories.

Original Screenplay

I'm rooting for "Everything, Everywhere, All At Once". 

Yes, the Daniels for EEAAO!!! 

Adapted Screenplay

        I'm rooting for "Women Talking".  I have not seen "Living".
        Congratulations to Sarah Polley for "Women Talking"! 

Hello, fake pilots from Maverick!

OK, I didn't understand the Robert Black in memoriam bit.  I will check socials later.

Sound categories presented by Jaenelle Monae and Kate Hudson.

Sound

I'm rooting for Maverick.

Yay!  A win for Top Gun!  Tom is smiling that Cruise smile somewhere out there right now.

Original Song

I'm rooting for "Naatu Naatu".

Yay!  "RRR"!!!

"I grew up listening to the Carpenters..." then goes into singing to "On Top of the World".  YES!

I'm now always concerned whenever John Travolta speaks at the Oscars because of past blunders.  But today, it's for In Memoriam, and I know he's there for Olivia.  So it's all good, JT.  Aw he said, "Hopelessly Devoted".  I CAN'T.  

Performed by Lenny Kravitz: "Calling All Angels".  Very nice, Lenny.

8:05pm

Avatar actors Sigourney Weaver and Zoe Saldana presenting Film Editing.

    I'm rooting for EEAOO.

    Yes!  Congrats to Paul Rogers for "Everything, Everywhere, All At Once".  I mean how could that film NOT get the award for editing?  He's adorbs.    Haha: "kind, generous, strange, sexy people".  I like him.  That's the most handsome film editor I've ever seen.  Have I seen other film editors, though?

Idris Elba and Nicole Kidman presenting for Directing.

    I'm rooting for the Daniels

    Oh, Yes!  Congratulations, Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert for "Everything, Everywhere, All At Once"!!!

    Dressing in drag as a kid is a threat to nobody.  That's RIGHT.

    "Genius emerges from the collective."  Beautiful.  I love that his son "rearranges his DNA every day".  

Jessica Chastain and Halle Berry presenting Lead Actor/Actress awards

    Actor: I'm rooting for Austin Butler.  Ooh, he's sitting next to Angela Bassett!

    Congratulations to Brendan Fraser for "The Whale"!  He's going to make me cry, isn't he?  No, I'm OK.  I'm happy for him, though.

    Actress:  I'm rooting for Michelle Yeoh, and if it doesn't happen, there will be HELL TO PAY.

    Aw, they're all holding hands. 

    YES!!!!!  Congratulations, Michelle Yeoh, for "Everything, Everywhere, All At Once"!!!  QUEEN!  I love that the hot dog fingers are in the background.  "This is a beacon of hope and possibilities" for all of the little boys and girls that look like her.  "Ladies, don't ever let anyone tell you you are past your prime!"  She dedicated to all of the moms, the real superheroes.  I love the kiss to Oscar's head.  I am crying again!

Hello, Harrison!  Aw, cut to a shot of Data!  

Presenting Best Picture

Y'all know I"m rooting for EEAAO.  Or you haven't been paying attention.

Then my TV stopped recording.  OY.  Glad I"m watching live.

Congratulations to "Everything, Everywhere, All At Once"!!!!!!!  I'm so happy!!!  Who is that guy?  "It's intimidating speaking up here."  A24 cleaning up tonight.  "No person is more important than profits."  Thank you, Daniels!  

Jimmy Kimmel apologizes to Matt Damon, says Good Morning America is already in progress.

Love the Number of Oscars Telecasts Without Incident "001" sign!

Congrats to everyone!

It's 8:40pm.  I want dessert.

Please, Be Kind

My friends and I wanted to see "Everything, Everywhere, All At Once" as soon as we saw the trailer the year before.  So, naturally, we all wanted to see it as soon as it hit theaters.  I'm blogging about it a year later, so I'm missing a ton of stuff from my memory, which is a shame because this movie had SO MUCH going on that I wish I wrote it down.  Anyways...

• I heart Michelle Yeoh, especially in this movie, with every incarnation of her character.  She is a badass.  
• Key Huy Quan still has that tenor voice, and I'm all in with his character trying to save the multiverse.  
• Love the whole love story between Waymond and Evelyn, complicated as it is.
• Oh my gosh, the dad.  James Hong made me laugh so much.
• Jamie Lee Curtis as bad guy.  Love her.
• Hot Dog Fingers.  Enough said.
• Raccacoonie.  OMG.
• This movie made me crave an Everything Bagel.  I mean, it was so big!  I'm sure they wouldn't notice my bite taken out of it.  Joy might kick my butt, though.  Stephanie Hsu was great.
• "Every rejection, every disappointment has led you here to this moment" — Alpha Waymond.  I mean, is this the story of everyone's life?  Just Evelyn's?  Just mine?
• I think I'm the Waymond in this mutliverse, wanting people to be kind, looked at as naive, but I know that this is my strength.  Even when I don't want to be kind. 
• I wonder what my rock would look like.

Brilliant movie.  I'm hoping it wins the Best Picture Oscar today.