The D Is Silent, Hillbilly

I didn't make it in time to the theater to see "Django Unchained" after work on Thursday as planned, because of an accident on the freeway.  Stupid other drivers.  But I did make it just in time on Friday night, even with the showtime being 10 minutes earlier.  Yay, me!

• Just like with other Tarantino films, there is a LOT of blood.  I'm used to that by now.
• I'm also used to the fact that I dread the bloody scenes, but QT really is talented, and I like what he's done here with his version of a Western...errr, Southern.
• I'm convinced that Christoph Waltz needs to be in all of QT's films.  He does an amazing job here, as he did in "Inglorious Bastards".  His Oscar nomination is well-deserved.  I mean, I even love the way he would fix his facial hair.
• Tom Wopat?!  That's who that was? No wonder he looked familiar.  Don Johnson, too.  Hey, that's Amber Tamblyn in the window.  I didn't catch her dad, though.  I love that Tarantino loves his pop culture idols.
• "You mean, you wanna dress like that?"
• The scene with the white bags was hilarious! "No, nobody brought an extra bag!"
• Dude, Leo, you are not a good dude in this movie.  
• "I'm sorry, I couldn't help myself."
• Also, I think this is the first movie wherein I actually hated Samuel L. Jackson's theater.  What an a- hole.
• "Alexandre Dumas is black."  Loved the reaction.
• So, um, I guess that I've now seen Jamie Foxx's man parts.
• I like this soundtrack!
• I knew it!  According to Quentin at Comic-con, Broomhilda's last name is a reference to "Shaft".

This movie is not for the squeamish, but I liked it.  I could watch that white bag scene many times.  That and listen to Waltz recite all of his lines.

C'est Vrai

I saw "Amour" at the Laemmle theater as part of my quest to see all of this year's Oscar Best Picture nominees.  Since the film isn't being shown in very many theaters, there were quite a few people there to see it, and I arrived just in time, so I sat in the second row.

• Sometimes I try not to read the subtitles when I'm watching something in another language.  I didn't need to read for all of the film, but there were a lot of words that I didn't know or didn't remember.  I need to brush up on my French.
• The film opens with the end of the story, so I'm glad that I was on time, or I wouldn't actually know what was happens since they didn't show it again at the end of the film.
• I liked the banter between the two leads (before she was too ill to speak, of course).  Just like an old married couple should be: sweet and  funny.
• I'm guessing that he's the cook, because he still kept eating pretty well after she got sick.  Then I thought of French cooking and got hungry, crazily wishing my popcorn would be replaced by haricots verts.  That would be messy, though, since I didn't have a fork.
• Ohhhhh...she was a piano teacher.
• So....what did he do with that last pigeon?
• Where did he go when he walked out the door at the end?
• I felt like she was selfish for not allowing him to take her to a hospital or a nursing home.  But his devotion to her was incredible.  It made me wonder about my parents.  I know that my mother would not want my dad to take care of her like that, but if he needed to, he would.  And here I am, crying again.  It's like his story about seeing a film and not crying about it until he told someone about it later.
• A woman arrived late to the movie and sat 2 seats away from me.  She had mannerisms that annoyed me (they were mostly audible mannerisms), and afterward, she felt compelled to tell me that this is why she loved French films: because they are so real.  Ergo, the title of this post.  
• I can see why both Trintignant and Riva are so beloved in France.  Wonderful acting.

The Obsession That Started It All

My friend Cindy gave me the book "New Kids On The Block: Five Brothers and a Million Sisters", the authorized biography by Nikki Van Noy.  Thanks, Cindy!

I finished reading the book this morning, and I really liked it because it told the story from the guys' points of view, as well as from that of the fans.  I wasn't as young as most of the NKOTB fans were when they got big.  I'm about their age, less than 5 years older than them, so my experience wasn't like a lot of the other fans whom were going through adolescence at the height of the madness, but I was still obsessed.  Many of them looked at NKOTB as the escape from whatever was wrong at school or at home.  I was done with college, so I could drive myself to venues and not look as obvious when I was stalking...er...looking forward to running into them somewhere.  I bought the teenybopper magazines with money I earned while they used their allowance.  It was different, but my level of obsession was just as crazy.  They screamed at decibels higher than what many animals can hear, and I had my alto-flavored "whoo!". Oh, Mercedes.  Such memories we had, girl.  I wonder if you think of me whenever you hear about NKOTB these days, like I think of you, wherever you are.

When NKOTB made their comeback, the fans got to feel young again, scream again, and cry tears of joy again.  Now all of us are 20 years older, and the guys are more accessible, and they've gotten to know a lot of their loyal fans.  

As I was reading, I thought of Rockapella and how thankful I am that I've been able to talk to them (kinda) at the beginning of my fandom, or at least when I started following them around to different venues.  I remember telling Barry once that I hope they never get so big that we don't get to talk to them, and he said that he felt the same way.  I'm at the point now (and I'm sure a lot of the diehards are) that I'm confident that even if Rockapella became huge, they'd still remember me and wave from the stage and smile.  But NKOTB is such a worldwide phenomenon that I'm amazed at how they remember a lot of their fans and know their stories and have reached the same intimacy that we Rockapella fans have with our guys.  It's been a lot more difficult for NKOTB because they were mobbed so much, and I admire how they all still tried to get to know their fans by reaching out to them, before at meet and greets at the malls, and now through Twitter and Facebook and their VIP tickets.  (Actually, they interact more with their fans on the social sites more than Rockapella does).

It also interested me that many of the NKOTB fans have gotten to know each other through the years and have become lifelong friends because of the group.  That sounds very familiar.  I wouldn't know some of my wonderful-est friends today if not for the Pella.  Our mutual love for the guys has allowed us to be crazy together, to cry together (in happiness and sorrow), and to have memorable trips that I'll cherish forever.  I know that the Rockapella fan community is minuscule as compared to the Blockheads, but the parallels are intriguing to me.  

I'll be seeing NKOTB in July, and I'm even thinking of seeing them twice because they've added a show in the area, but I won't go the VIP route, because that kind of money goes toward Rockapella shows.  :)  I'm excited to see them and Boyz II Men.  I'm ambivalent toward 98 Degrees, as I was toward Backstreet Boys, which is why I didn't go to the last tour, but I'm really excited about the B2M thing.  I have a much longer wait before I see Rockapella, and it makes me crazy.  But at least when I see them, I'll have a better chance at talking to them and spending time with them in my own PellaPusher way.  Until then, I'll keep myself preoccupied with my first 5-guy obsession.  And at least I'll still get to see my Posse a few times before then, too.

Here Comes the Sun Bros?

Well, you know me.  I'm all about the Pella.  Rockapella members, past and present, I love them all.  Today I received, as probably some of you also did, an email from CSL4 alerting of this new project, Sun Brothers.

Take a look at the website, and view the video.  You'll see 2 familiar faces, and the other two, not so much.  But their voices meld wonderfully together, and I am looking forward to the next installment.

It looks like they'll be singing on the same day and same venue as Rockapella on February 10 in New Bedford, MA.  Oh, how I wish that I could be there, not just to see my guys, but also possibly my new additional guys!  (I do like to support all of their extracurricular projects, because it keeps a fire in the creative belly for Rockapella Proper).  But I'll be walking briskly in Santa Monica that morning, and that would be an expensive trip anyway.  

So to those of you that are going to the show: let me know how it goes!  

Website:  http://sunbromusic.com/

Oh, Scott.  You're so dreamy with all of that yellow and blue and Tampa-ness.  :)  I miss you!  Also, Steve, thanks for smiling at me through the camera (in my imagination).  Miss you, too!

I shall go to bed now and dream of my boys, playing in the sun, singing a cappella to me....maybe while they are all wearing capes.  And Speedos.  ACK!  Now I can't sleep at all, because I'm giggling as I type.

Good night!

In The Bayou

"Beasts of the Southern Wild" is no longer playing in any movie theaters near me, so I rented the DVD from Redbox today.

• My goodness, it's no wonder this child was nominated for an Oscar.  Quvenzhane Wallis has the eyes and the talent of an old soul.
• I'm trying to understand these folks that were stranded in the Bayou.  Their lives are just so very different from mine, and I don't understand why they wouldn't want better ones if offered.  I guess they're afraid of that which is different...or they just can't bear to leave what's left of their homes.
• "Once there was a Hushpuppy, and she lived with her daddy in the Bathtub."
• I was ready to smack that father many times, then he ended up breaking my heart toward the end.  Dwight Henry sure had me feel sympathetic for him.
• Loved the part where the beasts bowed to Hushpuppy. "You're my friend, kinda."
• Since I was watching this at home, I became easily distracted, and thought that I might need to watch the movie again before returning it.  However, there I was, crying at the end, so I guess I actually was paying attention.
• Great.  Now I'm hungry for catfish and hushpuppies. :)

I thought that the movie was well done, but I'm biased and I wish that Ben Affleck would have been nominated for the Best Director Oscar over this one.  The images are not for the faint of heart, so be prepared.

3.14

I had some time before meeting up with friends in the OC, so I watched "Life of Pi".

• GORGEOUS.  The vibrant colors, the amazing cinematography, everything.  Just gorgeous.  I'm glad that I saw it in 3D.
• I'm a fan of Ang Lee's again.  Not that I stopped since "Crouching Tiger..", but that was the last one of his that really affected me.
• Hippo!  Aw, poor hippo.  Hippo again!
• Wow, that's a lot of damn meerkats.  Cute little things.  I loved watching them during our trip to San Diego last year.
• Oh, Richard Parker, you scary thing.  I liked watching you catching the flying fish.
• I liked all of the actors playing the different ages of Pi.  
• Is it me, or was that carnivorous island shaped like a human lying down on his/her back?  It reminds me of my recurrent nightmare of my youth, where the foothills were actually King Kong waiting to wake up.  (While reading about this, I now know that the island is in the shape of a supine Vishnu).
• Whales are really, really big.  
• Also, hyenas have creeped me out ever since I saw "The Lion King".
• Ooh, those luminescent jellyfish.  Have I told you that this film is gorgeous?
• I really liked all of the ways that the different religions were referenced.  "Thank you, Vishnu, for introducing me to Christ."
• "But Columbus was looking for India!"
• "Above all, don't lose hope."

Isn't that what life is all about?  Hope and faith?  If it's not in yours, I pity you.  Go see a wonderful movie like this one.

00:30

V and I took some time away while the kids were being watched by my parents, and watched "Zero Dark Thirty".

• Jessica Chastain is amazing.
• "I'm the motherf*&%er who found this place."
• Poor cute monkeys.
• I was scared when that desert rendezvous was happening.
• Harold Perrineau saves the day!
• It's crazy to think of how long it took them to find UbL, and how long it took until they finally took action.  I got frustrated with Maya every time she changed the number on her boss' window.
• Kathryn Bigelow really is good at these kinds of movies.  I wasn't totally in the mood to see this movie, but I'm glad I did.  Much like when I watched "The Hurt Locker".
• So what happened to the guys that blew up the downed helo?  Did someone pick them up later?
• Those really were quiet helicopters, compared to the usual noise made by regular ones.
• Wait.  Isn't Area-51 supposedly non-existent?

Great movie.  I did cry once, at the point when it is finally confirmed that they got him, and they show her reaction.

Excelsior

After having lunch for the first time at Earl Sandwich (yummy!) with Adrienne and her friend, Linda and I saw "Silver Linings Playbook".  I really had no idea what the movie was about, but it was on my list of Academy Award-nominated Best Picture nominees to watch.

• When "My Cherie Amour" played in the therapist's waiting room, Linda and I giggled.  We had just been talking about that song at lunch!
• Maybe I was really tired or something, but the camera work during some of the film made me feel dizzy.
• Loved the scene at the dinner table when Tiffany and Pat are comparing medications.
• Oh, Julia Stiles!  THAT'S who that was!  It bugged me throughout the whole movie, and I only knew from the credits.
• Wow, Chris Tucker.  Haven't seen him in a while!  I liked his role.  
• Bradley Cooper does a great job with his role and the many emotions he portrays.
• Jennifer Lawrence is awesome.  I loved how tough her character was, yet she was also vulnerable.
• So when Tiffany first runs into Pat while out jogging, I thought, "Katniss is stalking him."
• OMG, I love that short coat that Tiffany wears through much of the movie.
• What the heck with that crazy random dance, man?
• Eagles fans are crazy.  Eagles fans that are bookies are crazier.

I really enjoyed this movie, and I laughed quite a bit. Yeah, I cried, too.

DLR LotD 01/18/13

Disneyland Resort
Line of the Day

Friday, January 18, 2013

"Bananaman is such a slut." --Dodie, at Catal

DLR LotD 01/01/13

Disneyland Resort
Line of the Day

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

"I heard a 'ding ding' and I came running." -- Ryan B, responding to Cindy's servant bell

Happy New Year, everyone!  

DLR LotD 12/31/12

Disneyland Resort
Line of the Day

Monday, December 31, 2012

Special New Year's Eve Catal Edition!

Amuse Buche:
"You're really being a slut tonight." -- Sher, to V

First course:
"It's for in case you weren't here tonight!" -- Sher, to Ryan B

Second course:
"But then you had that one tasty bit. Not a person." -- Cindy, to Sherry

Dessert:
"Here, do it into my phone." -- Cindy

Happy New Year!

DLR LotD 12/30/12

Disneyland Resort
Line of the Day

Sunday, December 30, 2012

"I don't want to be here!!!!"  -- Miss O, many, many times before she finally calmed down, on It's A Small World Holiday

Barney vs. Marshall

OK, all of the Les Miz business has reminded me of this clip of "How I Met Your Mother" stars Neil Patrick Harris and Jason Segel singing "Confrontation".  I only wish that the audience would have let them finish the song, because it's awesome.

I love these guys.  I love this song.  Enjoy!

Merry ChristMiz!

When I first found out that a movie version of my favorite musical would be made, I was a bit apprehensive about it.  I was worried that they would butcher it and I would hate it.  But then they released the trailers, and announced that all of the singing for Les Miserables was done as the cameras were rolling (instead of being recorded in a studio and lip-synced on camera), and I was eager to see the movie.  So here we are, Christmas Day / Opening Day, and I made sure to see the film.  The showing that I aimed for sold out while I was in line, so I took the next time, and it seemed to have sold out, too, because the theater was packed.  I was armed with my tissues!  Here we go!  I took a deep breath, and...wow.

• The opening scene of the prisoners/slaves pulling the ship into the dock was more than I ever imagined it to be when I saw this on stage.  Their ships were that big?!  No wonder Jean Valjean was described with the strength that he had!  
• Hugh Jackman.  My goodness gracious.  His portrayal of 24601 had me crying already when the bishop saved him....and I cried in almost every scene in which he was sang.  AMAZING.  When he hit the last note in "Bring Him Home" and held it there, I wept for his triumph.
• Also:  Anne Hathaway.  I never doubted that she could sing this thing, because I've heard the quality of her voice in little things, like at the Oscars.  She hit this out of the park and into outer space!  The emotion she exuded made me love the character of Fantine more than I ever did before.
• Amanda Seyfried, with her beautifully lilting soprano voice was quite a lovely Cosette.
• Russell Crowe does not have a Broadway-style voice.  His voice is more pop/rock, so I would have preferred someone else in this role, but he held his own.
• While we're on the word "own", let me just say that Samantha Barks remained true to my favorite character of Eponine, which makes sense as she sang the part for the theatre version's 25th Anniversary Concert.  Loved her "On My Own" and everything else she did.
• I like this Eddie Redmayne guy.  He's cute.  Also, he had a great story about telling Tom Hooper a long time ago that he could ride a horse for "Elizabeth I", and when put to the test, he fell off.  It took Mr. Hooper many years to hire him again, and when he did, he placed Redmayne on a horse, probably as an act of retaliation.  I like Redmayne's voice, too.
• Ah, the Thenardiers.  Sasha Baron Cohen is hilarious as usual, and he and Helena Bonham Carter are a much-needed comic relief for the story.  I do wish that they could have done a little bit more with them stealing stuff at the wedding reception, though.  I love how, in the stage productions, she has silverware and stuff falling out of her dress.
• Aaron Tviet also has a very nice voice as the ever-earnest Enjolras.
• The new song, "Suddenly" is a nice addition to the score, and I'm glad that they shortened "Turning", because that song always seemed too long for me when sung on stage.
• Colm Wilkinson!  YES!!!  I'm so very happy that he got to play in this movie.  His voice is pretty much what made me love Les Miz in the first place, as I have listened to him over and over and over again on the CD.  
• Oh, wow, Frances Ruffelle was in this, too?  I wish I could have recognized her, the original Broadway Eponine.
• Ugh, the exit music is blech.  It was hard for me to sit through, but I stayed out of respect for the film. 
• What is up with that huge elephant statue?
• Because I'm a purist, I know how a lot of the diehard Les Miz fans feel about this cast, and the singing.  But I think it should be given a chance despite the Hollywood treatment.  The acting is top notch, the sets and cinematography are amazing, and it's still a great story.
• Bring tissues!  I cried buckets, partly because it's my favorite musical and they were doing it justice, and partly because of all of the raw emotion.  INCREDIBLE.

I need to watch something lighthearted now.  Oh, look!  "The Princess Bride" is on the Sundance Channel right now!  "Anybody want a peanut?"

DLR LotD 12/19/12

Disneyland Resort
Line of the Day

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

"She's singing again." -- Jenn and Sher, many, many times, after Sher bought her niece's birthday gift.

DLR LotD 12/12/12

Disneyland Resort
Line of the Day

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

"I feel like I'm going to fly away." -- Dick Van Dyke, at a rainy Candlelight Procession

Luscious Harmonies

Take 6 - "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year"

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Lewis Family Playhouse - Rrrancho Cucamonga, CA

As I drove to church for Mass, I saw that that the street on which my alma mater is situated was full of school buses.  It made me melancholy, because I really wanted to go to the SCSBOA Marching Band Field Show Championships taking place there that night.  (It's been 6 years since they've been in the championships, and they were competing on their home field, and, well, look at this promo!).  But it was drizzling.  And I had a ticket to see Take 6.  When I heard the rain pouring outside during Mass, I figured that it was a reminder that I really, really like Take 6, and it's inside, and I would get to see my friends.  But I did come very close to calling Liz and telling her to bring Joe with her to use my ticket.  

I arrived at the venue with plenty of time before the doors opened, so I went to the restroom to turn around my mayo-stained shirt.  Dangit, that's one of my favorite shirts!  But at least it's a turtleneck and it doesn't matter which side goes in front.  I met up with Wendy, Jeff, Aura, Aura's mom and Aura's friends, and Liz in the lobby.  Wendy and Jeff had scored front row apron seats for us (right side of house).  THANK YOU!  Liz and I informed each other about whomever were new members to us.  I told Wendy that Liz and I were at the same Take 6 concert when I saw them for the first time in the early 1990s, but we hadn't met each other yet.  Liz and I were meant to be friends.  :)  Wendy and Jeff had never seen them before.  I told her that they would have audience participation, just for Jeff.

Take 6 took the stage, and as soon as they had sung their first chord, I had forgotten all about the band championships and got into the Christmas spirit.

I did not take notes during the show, but here is the set list and what I can remember the next day.

We Wish You A Merry Christmas

Yup.  First chord.  

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

Weird not to hear Kevin Wright singing the lead on this.

Hark The Herald Angels Sing

This is one of the first Christmas songs I had ever heard them sing, from their "He Is Christmas" CD.  Claude enjoyed saying "Rancho CUC-amonga!"  What is it with the high tenors loving the name of this place? ;)

Let It Snow

Claude said that he grew up in Buffalo, which is known for snow, so he thought they should bring some musical snow to So Cal for Christmas.  He even showed us how to imagine the snow with some finger motion. 

Grinch

Claude told Alvin that he wanted to sing bass on this one, and asked if they could both sing bass.  So they each sang lead on every other verse.  Since they took it at the original tempo, I wasn't very jarred about them not being Rockapella with Santa Hats.  Their rendition is jazzy, like the original, but with much better harmonies.  Claude could hit those low notes, and the high ones at the end.  Crazy range.

The Sugarplum Dance

Mark arranged "The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" from The Nutcracker.  I was hoping that it wouldn't be like Scott's arrangement on "Simply Having..." because I try to keep the groups separate from each other.  Mark did not disappoint me one bit.  Their arrangement is amazing and totally virtuoso for all of them.  

I'll Be Home For Christmas

A tribute to our troops.  Mark was looking for mistletoe to point to, but there wasn't any.  I liked that he enunciated "presents under the tree", because it makes more sense than "presents on the tree".  Wouldn't the tree fall over if all of the presents were on its branches?

One

This is not a Christmas song, but it is the title song from their new CD.  I wish they had their actual CDs in the lobby instead of stuff that they only produced.  I have some catching up to do on their CDs.

Alvin is from So Cal, and said he's been trying to get the guys to tour here for a long time.  Thanks, Alvin!

Stand By Me

Always a crowd favorite for the a cappella groups.  Joey sang lead, and pointed to a lady that she should stand by him on stage. She didn't.  I almost got up myself.  I mean, he was RIGHT THERE!

Old School stuff that included Earth, Wind & Fire, Nat King Cole, The Doobie Brothers, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson

At this point, some of the guys shared their musical influences.  The Nat King Cole was pretty much just Claude doing an impersonation of "When I Fall In Love", all by himself, while sitting on the piano bench.  Loved their "Taking It To The Streets", and they sang Stevie's "I Wish", which is just so Stevie/T6.  Then Khristian shared that he was born in 1982 and wouldn't know an 8-Track if it hit him in the face.  His influence was Michael Jackson, and he danced and sang and talked like MJ.  He did snippets of a bunch of songs, and frightened the women sitting front and center with the crotch-grabbing scream.   Can't remember who on stage told him, "This is a family show."  He was great, though.  He also played some piano during one or two of the other songs, which, I think, is the only time a piano was used in the show.

So Much To Say

Ah, the song that I first heard them sing live.  But oh, what a change they made!  OMG, the vocal acrobatics with the scatting and the vocal percussion and the melismas!  Good golly, Miss Molly, they have arranged this song to new, explosive heights, and I am happy to go up there with them!

Joy To The World

Back to Christmas songs now.  APPARENTLY, they have 3 Christmas CDs.  Why did I only know about one?  

Sweet Little Jesus Boy

So pretty, and it's Mark's favorite.  

Lamb of God

Joey did some preaching, and we all went right there with them.  This song is gorgeous, and has a bit of the old Danish "Holy Holy Holy" in it.  Nice.

Encore:

Come On

Yeah, because we weren't all crazy enough (we were), here we go with some call and response.  YEAH!  

They announced that they'd be signing CDs.  I stole a set list from the stage, and confessed to Alvin that I did so, but he didn't mind, and they all signed it.  What's cool about their set list is that each song has the key that they used.  Aura said that she never saw anyone use a pitch pipe, and neither do I, so some of them must have perfect pitch.  They're so totally amazing!  I told Mark that he sings my favorite Take 6 song, "Something Within Me", and the first time I heard him sing it, he was sick.  I told him that I said that night, "I wish I could sing like that when I'm sick!"  They're all very nice, but I was too shy to ask for pictures.  I was kind of the same way with Rockapella, although I did get a picture with them the first time I met them at a meet and greet.  Oh, Pella, how far we've come since then!  :)

We bid goodbye to Aura and Liz.  Wendy, Jeff and I went to Cheesecake Factory, and who shows up but Aura and her guests!  Aura's mom told us that she went crazy when she saw Rockapella and they sang "Folger's".  So THAT'S where Aura gets her fangirl-ness!  Later, we ended up leaving at the same time, too, and they said that the Kibble brothers were sitting at the next table.  Cool!  I probably wouldn't have been able to eat if I saw them there.

So here I am now, feeling the Christmas spirit like I'm supposed to be doing.  It's the most wonderful time of the year!  

With Malice Toward None

I had been looking forward to seeing "Lincoln" for a while, so I made sure to see it on opening weekend.

• Daniel Day-Lewis played Lincoln exactly as I imagined he would be.  This is my favorite role of his.  I guess it helps that this is also my favorite US President.
• That idea of him may have been greatly influenced by "Great Moments With Mister Lincoln" at Disneyland.  When he talked about getting his haircut, I could almost hear the snip of scissors behind my ear, as the soldier getting a photograph taken at the attraction.
• Sally Field plays Mary Todd Lincoln quite sympathetically, and my favorite part is when she's telling off the guy at the Inaugural Ball.
• Tommy Lee!  I loved him in this role, playing a man who has an acerbic personality to go with his solid opinion of slavery and equality.
• Spader!  Wow, there is some great acting in this movie, and James Spader certainly does not disappoint.
• The opening scene, with the guys showing that they memorized the Gettysburg Address, and the other guy finishing up the speech, put tears in my eyes very early in the movie.
• Wow, how the political parties have changed since the days of The Civil War.
• Interesting to see the parallels to this day, especially with the topics of equality (which had me crying at one point during TLJ's speech).
• Liked seeing Lincoln's relationships with his sons, especially the younger one.
• Also loved David Straitharn as William Seward (whom I know chiefly from Alphas on the SyFy channel). 
• Beautiful score by John Williams.
• Oh, so THAT'S why it's smoky!  One of my co-workers was a History major in college, and said that he loved how realistic it looked for that era.  All of the smoke was due to the fact that everyone had wood-burning stoves.
• I liked that the movie showed so much of Lincoln's personality as a father, a husband, and a guy with a sense of humor.

I loved this movie.  I wonder if "A Team of Rivals" is as riveting, and will probably read it someday.

Atticus the Brave

Fathom Events held a screening of "To Kill A Mockingbird" on November 15, and Linda, Sheridan and I were excited to be able to see the movie on a big screen.  

• There was a line outside the theater, which turned out to be a line for the opening weekend of the final Twilight movie.  Kids today!  But we did see a family with kids in the row in front of ours, and I pointed them out to my friends, saying "Good parenting."  They agreed.
• Gregory Peck is just outstanding.  If I didn't have such a great dad already, I would wish that Atticus was my dad.  But then I'd be attacked by some racist drunk dude, so maybe not.
• I liked hearing the stories about the kids during casting and filming, like how Philip Alford just auditioned so that he could get out of school for the day, and how Mary Badham would flub her lines on purpose so that she could stay on set longer.
• I didn't know that Robert Duvall was even in this movie, much less playing Boo Radley.  This was his film debut.
• I always forget the meaning of the title, then I hear it again and it makes sense all over again.  
• Yay! Alice Ghostley!  This was her film debut also.
• My friends had their tissues ready before the movie even started.  Yeah, I needed the tissue, too.  We needed to sit for a while in the theater to soak it all in before leaving, because Linda was still emotional.  It was kind of weird to hear the lounge-type music from the theater while we were still sitting there, though.

Great movie.  Still.  If you haven't seen it, or if you haven't read the book, you need to do so.

A Cappella Goodness, College Style

Southern California A Cappella Music Festival (SCAMFEST)

Friday, November 9, 2012

Bridges Auditorium, Pomona College

After a long work day, I met up with Jeff and Wendy, whom I followed a little bit in the parking structure after driving around campus for awhile.  The line was REALLY long to get into the auditorium, but we were still able to sit together in the center section, albeit toward the back and on the aisle.  

• The event was hosted by The Claremont Shades, whom did little Award Presenter-type announcements between the different groups.  They also opened and closed the show.
• Mood Swing sang songs that I wasn't familiar with, so if I didn't already feel old surrounded by college kids, I felt older listening to songs that they all probably knew.
• Bruin Harmony was a lot of fun, especially with "Rehab" and "Starships".
• Ah, girl groups.  Thanks for keeping the tradition alive, Women's Blue & White.
• After School Specials has some cool vocal percussion going on, beatbox style.  I liked the soloist/duet for "Payphone".
• MIdnight Echo has funky pants.  I'm just saying.
• Wow, Reverse Osmosis rocks!  Their female soloist is amazing, especially in "Find My Way".
• Why can't I remember anything about Men's Blue & White except that they were all-male, and the oldest a/c group out here in the west?  Yes, I see their repertoire in my program.  Can't remember.  Duh.
• Yes, I remember the Kosher Chords, mostly because of that one girl's dress.  They sang a song that I love, "Carry On My Wayward Son".
• Scattertones had a really nice sound, especially in "Paradise".
• 9th Street Hooligans are obsessed with Lip Gloss.  :)
• The SoCal Vocals are an embarrassment of riches.  Seriously. They have the incredible sound, the cool arrangements, and the awesome moves.  Backflips?  Who can compete with that?!  Not that I'm surprised, because they've always been great.  "Tight Rope" just completely killed.  

The event was a lot of fun, and it was good to see some a cappella with Jeff & Wendy, although it did make me miss Rockapella even more than I already do.  Somebody needs to get me out of this withdrawal yuckiness.