New things in the new year

As the old year draws to a close and a new year begins, I can't help but get excited. New year means new opportunities and adventures. Here's a few things I would like to see in the new year:
-Movies. Lots of good movies. Harry Potter, Hot Tub Time Machine, Toy Story 3, Ramona and Beezus and The Runaways are just a few.
-More James McAvoy. He should be in every movie. Seriously. Every movie he is in is awesome. And Sean Astin. He is in some awesome movies too. If they teamed up, it would be mind blowing.
-More songs from Kurt, Artie and Puck on Glee. Not that I don't love Finn, but please give someone else a chance. Ditto to Quinn and Tina.
-New stuff from J.K. Rowling. What has she been doing since Harry Potter? I know she probably helps out with the movies and all, and it is probably unrealistic to ask her to create another outstanding book. But when have I been realistic?
-Regina Spektor. I don't know how many times I listened to Begin to Hope on repeat (I'm sure I drove some people crazy). I hear she's so amazing live. I think I might stalk her around the country, like a Dead Head, but with better hygiene.
-A new story from Harper Lee. What has she been doing since 1961? Hiding out in Alabama and probably working on some awesome stories, like Sean Connery in Finding Forrester. I think 2010 is the perfect time to debut these masterpieces.
-Revival of The Muppet Show. In these trying times, the world needs a little more Kermit, Gonzo, Beeker, Fozie and (my personal favorite) Animal.
-Time travel. People have been discussing it for hundreds of years. 2010 is the year to make it finally happen.

Oh, and world peace would be nice too! I have high hopes for you, 2010. Don't let me down.

Movie Monday...er, Wednesday

So, this weekend I went to my grandmother's house for a movie marathon. Monday, we concluded our event by watching a movie I have always wanted to see: A Streetcar Named Desire.
While I enjoyed this movie, I don't think I could watch it more than once every couple years or so. I thought I might have a heart attack during it. You know from the moment she walks in Miss Fancy-Pants Blanche (Viven Leigh) is no good, but really neither are any of the other characters. Especially Marlon Brando's character, Stanley. Stanley brutally abuses his wife, although it is hard not to feel a little sorry for him. Especially when he screams "STEEEEELLLLLAAA!!" It appears that he doesn't know how to function without her. I guess Stella has some redeeming qualities, but the fact that she chooses to overlook Blanche and Stanley's bad behavior is definitely a character flaw. Blanche lives in her delusional fantasy world, and the whole time I just wanted to scream, "Wake up! That is not how the world is! You are fooling yourself!" The end is kind of a relief. Like most Tennessee Williams' plays, it's not that you don't want characters to have some sort of happy ending, but even more so, you want someone to put these poor people out of their misery. Or maybe that's just me.

Sing we now of Christmas

Without further ado...my top 20 favorite Christmas songs.

20. Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight Tonight)--The Ramones. The Ramones just want some peace on Christmas. While it's hard to imagine a group of punks doling out peace and good tidings on Christmas, somehow the Ramones make it work. And it's an awesome song to dance to.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCaaRQ149-I
19. Put the Lights On the Tree--Sufjan Stevens. Sufjan is one of my favorite artists for many reasons, one being that he has one of the best modern Christmas albums. Put the Lights On the Tree is a Sufjan original about why you should call your grandma. Just another reason I love him.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gKzXlqsOeE
18. I'll Be Home for Christmas--Elvis. True confession: I used to hate this song, but as it becomes more and more apparent that I may miss a few Christmases with my family, I grow to love this song more and more.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdwahHnfa3w
17. Welcome Christmas--the Whos down in Whoville. It's not Christmas until the Whos welcome me.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKagQWqr87Q&feature=PlayList&p=22D807033CE7E750&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=17
16. Wonderful Christmastime--Paul McCartney. How could your spirits not be brightened after Sir Paul describes the wonderful parts of Christmas?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWuKimtUEas
15. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas--Judy Garland. I have a strong desire to visit the great city of St. Louis. Why? 1. It is the 1st city in the western hemisphere to host the Olympic games. 2. To re-enact key scenes from Meet Me in St. Louis, starring Judy Garland. My favorite part of the movie is when Judy tries to comfort her little sister by singing. How delightful.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5g4lY8Y3eoo
14. What Christmas Means to Me--Stevie Wonder. I cannot hear this song without having the urge to run through the mall a la Will Ferrell in Elf.
http://www.last.fm/music/Stevie+Wonder/_/What+Christmas+Means+To+Me
13. Do They Know It's Christmas?--Band-aid. I like things that make a difference. Apparently, so does Bob Geldolf, which is why in the 80s he decided to use his fame to help starving children.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jEnTSQStGE  
12. I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day--Harry Belafonte. I really feel like Longfellow and I would have been friends, had I lived in his century. He manages to put into words all the things that I feel. Add a little Harry Belafonte, and you have Christmas perfection.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-O-ENqlJiI&feature=related
11. Silent Night. Who could have known that a little song written at the last minute for a Christmas Eve service in Germany would be one of the most celebrated Christmas songs of all time? I love so many versions of this song, but my favorites are acapella.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNIFYgGTDHM
10. Happy Holiday (Beef Wellington Remix)--Bing Crosby. Love the original, but love the remix a little more. I like to put this on, pretend like I am Ginger Rogers and dance around my room, but maybe that's just me.
Remix: http://www.last.fm/music/Bing+Crosby/_/Happy+Holidays+(Beef+Wellington+Remix)
Original: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3k_q_UMI3tQ
9. A Great Big Sled--The Killers. It's hard to capture the nostalgia of Christmas in 3 minutes, but somehow the Killers manage to pull it off.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzMeZI7fNJg
8. White Christmas--Bing Crosby. Yet another Bing song. I think I could make a list just of his songs. White Christmas stands head and shoulders above the rest though.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Mjb4yLMeK8
7. Sleigh Ride. For a song written on a hot day in July, Sleigh Ride conjures the feeling of winter like no other song can. While it technically never mentions Christmas specifically, the images that it uses are usually associated with the holiday season, making it, in my mind at least, a Christmas song. There are so many awesome versions of this song, but my faves include Ella Fitzgerald, Boston Pops and Relient K.
http://vimeo.com/2208095
6. Blue Christmas--Elvis. This was number 1 on my melancholy list, but I just can't help loving this song. Christmas just isn't the same without your loved ones!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUyuGFoiWJ0
5. Happy Xmas (War is Over)--John Lennon. Christmas is a time to reflect on the year that has been and the year that is to come. Who better to reflect with than John Lennon?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRBcwufAuQw
4. Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming. A traditional German carol, I think the English edited version of the song is far more beautiful and compelling. While the literal translation "A rose has sprung up, from a tender root," makes the same point, "Lo, how a rose e'er blooming, From tender stem hath sprung" has a much nicer ring to me. I love many, many versions of this song, but Sufjan Stevens does one of my favorite.
http://www.last.fm/music/Sufjan+Stevens/_/Lo!+How+A+Rose+E'er+Blooming
3. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. We all knew Dasher and Dancer and all those other guys, but Robert L. May introduced the world to Rudolph the lovable reindeer who saved Christmas, despite being a little more than different. Although not my favorite version, I am a huge fan of Regis and love this video of him singing Rudolph.
http://www.spike.com/video/regis-philbin-sings/2798021
2. Auld Lang Syne--Straight No Chaser. I love acapella so much, so when I discovered Straight No Chaser, I was ecstatic! Their version of Auld Lang Syne is so awesome. Like really, really awesome. And I love Robert Burns sentiment; it's a new year, let's forget about the past and get ready for the future.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUTeICtsQJA
1. The Christmas Song--Nat King Cole. There are certain songs that I could listen to on repeat. And this is one of them. I don't really know why I like it so much, except that it is so honest with its message. There are thousands of ways to say Merry Christmas, but the sentiment is always the same.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_W7p35SzuI

Movie Monday: The Princess and the Frog

This weekend, I went to see The Princess and the Frog, a movie I have been desperate to see since I first heard about it. But, I won't lie: I had my doubts about this movie. The last Disney 2-D cartoon I saw was Lilo & Stitch, which was sub-par when compared to other Disney offerings. And also, I heard from a source that shall remain nameless that the movie was horribly racist and relied entirely on stereotypes. Needless to say, I was equal parts excited and skeptical.

I am happy to say, this movie was awesome. I thought the message of the whole movie was different from most Disney princess movies. It actually reminded me a lot of Mulan. Tiana is a strong woman, working towards fulfilling her dream of owning a restaurant. Tiana is portrayed as smart, funny and has a good moral compass. While I would not say it compares to Beauty and the Beast or The Lion King visually, it was so nice to see a traditional cartoon on the big screen. The cartoons are definitely an under-rated medium, but their beauty is awesome, especially on the big screen. I would recommend this movie to all young girls, because of Tiana's positive influence. I also recommend it to anyone who loves fairytales and the bayou. And this movie was legitimately funny, including adult humor with the goofy kiddie stuff. 5 stars and 2 thumbs up from me!

P.S. I am going to make "Movie Monday" a weekly-ish part of my blog. I hope you like it.

TV specials rock my socks.

It's Christmastime and that means TV shows try to get into the spirit with holiday-themed episodes, and Christmas specials make their annual appearance. I have some personal favorites.

5. Chanukah--Rugrats. If Rugrats taught me anything, it's that babies are more cunning than you think, and the story of Chanukah.

4. The Office. Every time the crew from Dunder-Mifflin gets together to celebrate Christmas, you can expect hilarity. This year's double Santa was awesome. http://www.nbc.com/The_Office/video/clips/the-office-secret-santa-sneak-peek-4/1182795/

3. Winne-the-Pooh and Christmas Too! Pooh thinks Santa won't come to the Hundred Acre Wood because everyone's letters get lost, so he takes matters into his own hands. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIyzeLokbmA&feature=related

2. The Best Christmukkah Ever--The O.C. The episode that first introduced me to the concept of combining holidays. It blew my mind. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_H9MQtPPtD0&feature=related

1. A Charlie Brown Christmas. Charlie Brown has the Christmastime blues, but thanks to his friends, he learns the true meaning of Christmas. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKk9rv2hUfA

Melancholy Christmas

Apparently, Christmas can be a bummer time for some people. I don't really get that, but I will admit that some people's sadness makes for a great song. So, here are my top 5 melancholy Christmas songs:

5. Christmas Lights--Paul Baribeau. It's the end of a rough year. Paul Baribeau is trying to get over his loneliness by spending his Christmas at home. But still everything looks blue, except for the Christmas lights shining on the snow.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNjr6Vh6oNg
4. Christmas, Why Can't I Find You?--Taylor Momsen. Cindy Lou Who can't remember the meaning of Christmas, and in a Charlie Brown-like moment of frustration, asks (in song) what Christmas means. While the Faith Hill version is awesome (albeit slightly over-produced), the movie version with a pre-Gossip Girl Taylor Momsen bravely belting out her off-key version could melt the heart of even the meanest Grinch.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc7XixGmQt8
3. That Was the Worst Christmas Ever!--Sufjan Stevens. Remember that time your parents threw all your toys into the fire? No? Well, Sufjan does, and he's pretty bummed out about it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGVZwi4VbvY&feature=related
2. Last Christmas--Wham! What's worse than having your heart broken on Christmas? Apparently not much. This song has been covered by hundreds of people and has even spawned a blog dedicated to track anything and everything to do with "Last Christmas" or its original singers, Wham!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3354flS1KJs
1. Blue Christmas--Elvis Presley. Another broken-hearted Christmas song, but unlike Wham! who vow to give their heart "to someone special," Elvis just can't seem to get over his lost love. So, he sends her out a love letter about how he can't celebrate Christmas without her. Bummer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUyuGFoiWJ0

Honorable mention: We Need A Little Christmas--Cast of Mame. Sometimes life is rough and everyone just "needs a little Christmas."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8eCAhAo12o

10 Christmas movies

So, for the next couple of weeks leading up to Christmas, I thought I would make my entries Christmas themed. Mainly because I love Christmas. Like a crazy wear-a-sweater-to-Publix-in-70-degree-weather-and-look-like-an-old-lady love. I thought I would start with my favorite Christmas movies.

10. Fred Claus. I first saw this magical little movie as a wee freshman with my lovely roommate. I'm not sure why it hasn't become more popular. Starring the always hilarious Vince Vaughan, Fred Claus tells the story of Santa's older brother and complete opposite, Fred, when he spends a Christmas at Santa's workshop trying to earn $50,000 to build a casino. Jail, gambling, Chirp-Chirp and a trip to Siblings Anonymous? Yes, please.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4LCqnxIsmI&feature=related
9. Miracle on 34th Street (both versions). Natalie Wood and Marla Thomas both play the little girl, Susan, who is too smart to get duped into believing Santa Claus is real. When a man shows up claiming to be the real Santa, it forces Susan and her equally cynical mother to re-evaluate what they believe in. Slightly corny, but always delightful, Miracle on 34th Street raises the question: what do you believe?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IZr_SvCcXc
8. It's a Wonderful Life. I cannot believe I did not see this movie until I was 12. George Bailey, played by my all-time favorite actor Jimmy Stewart, is a down-and-out businessman contemplating suicide. The angel Clarence is assigned to save George's life. As Clarence shows George what the world would be like if he had never existed, George is forced to ask himself: should I really throw it all away? I'm pretty sure I cry every time I see this movie. I can't help asking myself, what would I do if I was in George Bailey's shoes? (for the 5 people in America who haven't seen this movie: spoiler alert)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErrzjGCi3gY
7. Holiday Inn. Say what you will about White Christmas being the best Christmas movie of all-time: I disagree. Holiday Inn exceeds it in everyway. 1. It has a much better plot. 2. It has Fred Astaire dancing. Bing Crosby is a performer looking to retire in the country with his sweetheart singing partner. When his lady leaves him for long-time friend Fred Astaire, Crosby goes to the country and discovers...he hates it. So, he decides to open up an inn, that's only open on holidays.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3k_q_UMI3tQ
6. The Nativity Story. Directed by Catherine Hardwicke of Twilight fame (weird), The Nativity Story is an angsty look at the birth of Christ. It's probably pretty accurate too, when you remember that Mary was probably only 16 when she gave birth.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G78OdmY32IM
5. A Christmas Story. Deck the hall with brough o horly fa rah rah rah rah, rah rah rah rah. This is one of my favorite movies to quote. I was trying to think of a favorite scene, but they are all so, so good that I just couldn't pick one. Plus, I totally relate to Ralphie's desire to get a Red Rider BB Gun.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mjruvE310Y
4. A Christmas Carol. The story that supposedly made Christmas the largest holiday in the world. There are so many good versions of Ebenezer's midnight visits, but my personal favorite is the Mickey version.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLQWq26G2q8
3. Elf. Buddy is a human raised by elves in search of his real father. Do you need any more?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvtmsqyOkhc
2. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen, but Rudolph is by far my favorirte reindeer because he taught me what it meant to be myself, even though I may be a misfit. A very good lesson, indeed. Rudolph pairs up with fellow misfit Hermie the elf on a self-imposed exile in the tundra. But then the storm of the century comes, and Santa needs a shiny nose to save the day.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xqACmJvqaU
1. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (cartoon). This is probably my favorite movie of all time. I can quote it from beginning to end (songs and music included). All the Whos down in Whoville like Christmas a lot, so the Grinch decides to steal it and ruin their fun. Will he be successful or will he have a change of heart?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYRnwWmteac

I like change.

I thought I needed a new look.

Do you yoo-hoo?

About a month ago, I rediscovered the amazing chocolatey drink Yoo-hoo. I couldn't help but wonder, why do I like Yoo-hoo so much more than other chocolate milks? At first I thought it was because it comes in a yellow wrapper (I'm a sucker for good packaging). The more I think about it, the more I realize that the reason I like Yoo-hoo so much is it reminds me of my childhood. Everyday in elementary school, at recess I would go to the drink machine and purchase a Yoo-hoo. After a rough day of sitting still through all of my classes, Yoo-hoo represented freedom and joy to my 10-year-old self. I think it gives me the same feeling now. Because there's nothing better in the world than coming home, sticking a straw into a cold box of Yoo-hoo and relaxing. Granted, as soon as I finish my drink, I have homework, resumes and other "adult" things to worry about, but for five blissful minutes, I am a carefree 10-year-old, enjoying a Yoo-hoo.

P.S. Another thing that reminds me of my childhood: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aI4JLa0hbUw