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On My Watchlist

Recently, I have been looking through my IMDB account and I started watching the trailers of upcoming movies and I really looking forward to what I've found so far from the site. But there are those that I saw from watching other movies too, I just decided I'd add them here too. These all range from drama to comedy and for you to better understand why I am looking forward to these films, I find that it will be much easier if you watch the trailers.

• The Hobbit

• Les Misérables

• Oz: The Great and Powerful

• Wreck It Ralph

• Beautiful Creatures

• Safe Haven

• Any Day Now

• Quartet

• Struck by Lightning

• Flight

*Note: The list does not have a specific order that show the rank of these films reflecting my interest in movies.

The fall of childrens' tv shows

Hey moms and dads! Haven't you ever wondered what your kids are getting exposed to on TV? Just think about how much crap they're being fed. I am not a mother yet but I do plan on having a collection of former kids shows aired in the 1990s and early 2000s to show my kids in their developing years. Let's have a look at what's in store for this generation, shall we?

• Yo Gabba Gabba!

For some reason, it happens to attract children but when you see for yourself what it contains, you might end up thinking whether or not the creator was high on drugs or something.

• Back at the Barnyard

I'm not sure if you want your kids watching some ring-leader cow persuade everyone to perform mischievous tasks and in the end find their way out of it without the truth coming out. With this embedded in their minds, they may or may not realise that the next time they decide to go one way or another, it might be something that would be regretful and probably too late.

• Lazy Town

I don't know about you but the guy is freaking creepy, just the way he looks says it all. There is nothing appealing in this show and your kids won't learn anything other than to be big-headed, but if that's what you want then by all means go right ahead.

• Shake it up!

Sure it's nice to have some fashion idols but to the point that the idols don't even know how to bring a point and ending up to rely on exaggerated facial expressions is not a practice that they should do. They may end up doing exactly what their idols in this show do that in the end they grow up without having to realise how it's unacceptable at certain engagements in the future.

• Sonny with a chance

When I was channel surfing 2 summers ago, I had to stop at Disney of course to see what's on because I usually watched cartoons from there or on Nickelodeon. However, this show came up and I saw Demi and thought oh Camp Rock, I was able to tolerate that, so I was willing to give it a shot. 3-5 minutes later I immediately switch the channel to Nick, not because my fave show there was on but because the show there was much more tolerable than watching Demi act even more shallow than on Camp Rock.

• Goodluck Charlie

Same with "Sonny with a chance". I saw this show and noticed that Bridgit Mendler was on it and I thought she was good on The Clique. But I couldn't stay on the channel whenever this show was on because the acting was stupid which made the story boring.

You know what would be nice? If we could just speak up and start spreading the word about how much the entertainment industry has gone down in producing worthless children's tv shows since the early 2000s. Help us to help you. Follow us on facebook or on twitter and share our posts to your friends and families. You'll never know, we just might get what we need to get the kids of this and the future's generation back on track.

1990s versus 2000s

We've reached a point wherein we start to argue whose childhood is or was better. We see images of what 90s kids used to have and what kids today have. The biggest argument is about the old shows and music. The thing is time is constantly changing and so is every individual in this world. It happens via the change in our environment and the most influential form of media has been the television and magazines. It is where we get our inspirations from in terms of style and even the way we speak. Who would have thought that you would label a casual look Outfit of the Day (OOTD) when they're merely clothes you put on for the sake of covering your body.

Music, films, tv shows, and fashion editorials are our ways of knowing what is in and what is considered old school. How much have we changed? That isn't even a question anymore because we very well know that you can't even wear a simple ponytail going out when we want to look good. In this post, I will be comparing the music, film, and tv shows of the 1990s and 2000s and from there we can weigh what year is the best.

TV

Being a 90s kid, I might end up becoming biased but I do have my reasons. I am now 19 and yet I still look for the old shows I used to watch. I suppose it's because of all the memories I've had when I saw them but I simply cannot get enough of them, which is why I'm inclined to say that the 1990s might be the year that has the best kids shows.

Cartoon Network:

• Popeye
• The Flinstones
• The Jetsons
• Captain Planet
• Power Puff Girls
• Dexter's Laboratory
• Power Rangers
• Ed Edd 'n' Eddy
• Cow and Chicken
• Johnny Bravo
• Pokémon
• Power Rangers

Nickelodeon:

• Hey Arnold!
• Rugrats
• As Told By Ginger
• Spongebob Squarepants
• The Amanda Show
• All That
• Kenan and Kel
• Clarissa
• Aaahh!!! Real Monsters
• Roco's Modern Life
• Kablam
• Blues Clues
• Max & Ruby
• Drake and Josh
• Naturally Sadie

Disney:

• Madeline
• Disney Buzz
• Studio Disney
• Sabrina
• Untalkative Bunny
• Bear in the Big Blue House
• Are You Afraid of the Dark
• Pepper Anne
• Recess
• Rolie Polie Olie
• Art Attack
• PB&J Otter
• Bananas in Pajamas
• Stanley
• That's So Raven
• Lizzie Mcguire
• Kim Possible
• Proud Family
• Even Stevens
• Tiny Planets

Although I would make an exception for Phineas and Ferb, which is an amazing Disney kids tv show about Phineas Flynn and his English step- brother Ferb Fletcher who spends their summer vacation doing remarkable projects that last for a day and annoy their older sister, Candace. Alongside their story is their pet, Perry the Platypus, who is an undercover agent fighting against Dr. Doofenshmirtz who himself is a doof, hence the name. But that is the only kids tv show today that I like whereas everything else is obsolete. They are either just a re-make of the same concept, which sometimes turn out great but if it can't be delivered good enough for the viewers then they just don't deserved to be aired.

Kids shows today:

• Sonny with a Chance
• Jonas Brothers
• Big Time Rush
• Lazy Town
• The Naked Brothers Band
• Ben 10
• Chowder
• Fanboy & Chum Chum
• Danny Phantom
• Mr. Meaty
• Avatar: The Legend of Korra
• Goodluck Charlie
• Back at the Barnyard
• True Jackson, VP

Music

What I love most about 90s music is that the lyrics have meaning and the voices of the singers didn't require the use of autotune. I still listen to them in my iPhone and I haven't gotten tired of listening to them.

• Shaggy - Boombastic, It Wasn't Me, Angel
• Zhané - Hey Mr. DJ
• Weezer - Island on the Sun
• Fugees - Killing Me Softly
• Madonna - Ray of Light
• Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit
• Oasis - Wonderwall
• Goo Goo Dolls - Iris
• Cranberries - Zombie
• Michael Jackson - Black or White
• Bryan Adams - (Everything I Do) I Do It For You
• MC Hammer - U Can't Touch This
• Green Day - Basket Case
• Destiny's Child - Say My Name
• Metallica - Nothing Else Matters
• Natalie Imbruglia - Torn
• Blink 182 - All the Small Things
• Puff Daddy - I'll Be Missing You
• Britney Spears - Oops I Did It Again, Lucky, Baby One More Time
• Creed - Higher
• Savage Garden - Truly Madly Deeply
• Moffats - Miss You Like Crazy, If Life Is So Short, I'll Be There For You
• Westlife - Uptown Girl
• A1 - Like A Rose, Take On Me
• Backstreet Boys - I Want It That Way, Don't Want You Back, Incomplete
• Run DMC - Walk This Way
• Bon Jovi - Living On A Prayer

Yes it's a lot but I do have songs that are modern-ish and I like all kinds of music. Although, there is a limit as to how far I can go to accepting songs because there are songs that I don't like but it doesn't mean that I don't like the genre, it's just that particular song that I dislike.

• Foster the People - Pumped Up Kicks
• Scooter - J'adore Hardcore
• Ellie Goulding - Guns and Horses, Starry Eyed, Lights
• Bahama Soul Club ft. Pat Appleton - Bossa Bop (Valique's Hop Bop Remix)
• All In - Dubba Jonny
• De-Phazz - The Mambo Craze
• Dub FX - Fly With Me, Sooth Your Pain, Wandering Love
• Daft Punk - One More Time, Digital Love, Stronger
• Gym Class Heroes - Stereo Hearts
• Don Omar ft. Lucenzo - Danza Kuduro
• Sean Kingston - Fire Burning On the Dancefloor
• LMFAO - Party Rock Anthem, Champagne Showers
• Loona - Vamos A La Playa
• Hyper Crush - Kick Us Out
• Inna Modja - French Cancan
• Nicki Minaj - Super Bass
• One Republic - Secrets, Apologize, Good Life

As you can see, I have quite a spread of interest with music genres but what I dislike is the use of too much autotune and voices that sound unnatural like Rihanna. I just can't seem to like how her voice sounds but I like the lyrics of her songs so I still sing them.

Film

Majority of the films I know growing up are mostly children's movies. Some I have seen with my parents for the sake of my sanity because of the violence it contains. Nevertheless, I enjoyed watching all of them and I still watch most of them.

• Schindler's List
• Saving Private Ryan
• Forrest Gump
• Titanic
• Toy Story 1 & 2
• Jurassic Park
• The Lion King
• Edward Scissorhands
• Home Alone
• Selena
• Little Women
• Pretty Woman
• Clueless
• American Pie
• Bring It On
• Ghost
• Sister Act 2

What I like most about today's movies are the graphics and music. I am more of the person who prioritizes the story of the film than the graphics or how the scene was shot. Unfortunately, there aren't that many movies that prioritizes the story so I'm lucky enough for the current existence of a few.

• Lord of the Rings 1-3
• Harry Potter 1-7
• Narnia
• Monte Carlo
• Freaky Friday
• Aquamarine
• Mean Girls 1&2
• Wild Child
• It's A Boy Girl Thing
• Sydney White
• Just My Luck
• She's the Man
• Juno
• Step Up
• LOL (French version)
• American Wedding
• Not Another Teen Movie
• Disaster Movie
• Meet the Spartans
• Scary Movie
• Pans Labyrinth

There are lots more that I can mention but then the list will be long. And so I can say that the best kids tv shows are from the 1990s because of their plots even if they didn't have such a high quality production as today. I would say both music from the 90s and 00s are good in their own way but it's the ones from the 90s that we remember in the long run. Just like the tv shows, movies in the past had more flavor in their stories whereas today they concentration on how the movie is made such as their graphics.

We see too many remakes like Batman, Spiderman, Xmen, etc... Can you say that they're really amazing? If the quality was the same as before then it would just be average so we only watch to be entertained by their image and sound quality more than their plot. I would say that both generations have certain characteristics that make them great but I do choose the story over the quality and I think even today there are some films that provide that so it's pretty equal for me.

Photo sources:
http://www.funnyjunk.com/funny_pictures/2099265/Why/

Re-imagined Beauty and the Beast film

Photo from Tumblr

This is not going to be a movie review. Rather, it's more of a "What's new?" or "What's in my head?" sort of post. This is going to be all about Guillermo del Toro's upcoming work Beauty and the Beast. I have been researching and what I've learn't so far is that he is working with Emma Watson to play the role of Belle. On the storyboard, he'll be working alongside Denise di Novi, Ed Wood and Andrew Davies who is the script I am a great fan of del Toro and Emma Watson and that's why I think this new interpretation of a Disney princess movie is worth writing about.

Thinking about the works of the team, del Torro's Pans Labyrinth is an amazing film and my favorite on top of that. Unfortunately, making a movie review of it will make my post long because of how much detail I would put into it and it might be tiresome to read for those who merely want to know what its about, generally.

Denise di Novi worked on a few Tim Burton films such as Edward Scissorhands and The Nightmare Before Christmass. I am a Tim Burton film lover apart from Edward Scissorhands, which I still love watching during the Christmass season, the Corpse Bride too is a film I cannot stop watching. You can ask my sister how much I watch it and how she wonders why I never get tired of watching it. Not to mention that I also learned the piano pieces and watched the film so much that I practically memorized it word for word and could practically watch it in my head. Edward Scissorhands is a great film that is a mix of disturbing yet sweet moments that you'll have mixed feelings and probably feel sad in the end. I don't think the ending is happy but something that I can be content with.

We all know who Emma Watson is and what films she starred in. I'll give you a clue, it starts with Harry and ends with Potter. Yes, you've guessed it, Harry Potter's Hermoine Granger will be playing the sweet, gentle, and loving Belle. This actress also starred in Ballet Shoes whose character aspires to be an actress in the theatre and in the end lands a job as a Hollywood actress. Did I say I am a big fan? I think I did but I'll say it again. I'm a big fan of Emma Watson. I would say that there are movies coming up that I would always think of her as the one to play the part because she has the appearance as well as the ability to perform the character perfectly.

I grew up with Disney princess films and knowing the thematic styles of Guillermo del Torro, there's no doubt that the latest interpretation of Beauty and the Beast will be darker annd it actually suits the current generation, what with the zombies, vampires and wolves taking centerstage. We are definitely seeing more and more dark elements in films except for the romance genre. I would say that having dark elements in a children's fantasy film will give the traditional story a twist and it might be a surprise. Just think about the new interpretation of Little Red Riding Hood in the film Red Riding Hood featuring Amanda Seyfreid. Weknow the classic Red goes to granny's house to bring her a basketfull of goodies only to find the wolf on her bed, oh my what a fright you've given me there granny.

We are now facing the age of special effects that give aid to making fantasies appear before our eyes, when details to events in our bedtime stories were not so obvious becausewe started nodding off, the age of wanting to make entertainment makes sense of our past even if it wasn't like that at all. You never knew that your bedtime stories could lure you into visiting their pages once more with the development of technologies that entertain us. If there is one thing I'm going to do about this new movie, it would be not to hope for something over the top and keep myself updated on the progress. I look forward to it. Enjoy

your day.

Mildred Pierce miniseries review

I know that this isn't a movie but I do believe that it deserves to be talked about. It is a 5-part miniseries that lasted an hour and a half per part. It does sound long but it was worth it. It is based on the Novel by James Cain, which depicts a mother during the Great Depression stuggling as her husbands leaves he, taking care of their children and finding her place in the working class. A few themes present that I find important are of Capitalism, Power,  Loss, Tragedy, and Female roles. They are the most evident all throughout apart from many more in the film.

It is set in Glendale wherein Mildred's husband, Bert, leaves her for another woman and begins a new life. She cares for her daughters, Ray and Veda. At the beginning, she has too much pride that she does not want to accept that she can only do what she knows how to do, be a domestic helper. For Mildred, it is embarrasing for her eldest daughter, Veda, to know that it is the only way for her to put food on their table. She works as a waitress taking tips while earning 0.25 cents an hour. She is also overprotective of her daughters, perhaps due to her husband leaving them and as for their feelings not to get hurt, she fends of anything that appear to be harmful for their upbringing. She becomes a success when she starts her own business by having her very own restaurant but is later blinded by how she does not see how Veda truly is as a person.

Veda however is a stumbling block in Mildred's life because of her want of a lifestyle where she can have anything she wants at a given time. She wants to be prominent and acts as if  she was a royal with an attitude. She talks like she's one of the so-called accomplished women who can speak several modern languages, skilled with textile crafts, and has the exact air and manner of walking, yes I am referring to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. She is very ambitious and does not show respect to anyone who is not in the same social standing as her or higher. She is a diva and grows up becoming a primadona as her voice is discovered by the one conductor who rejected her as a pianist. She betrays her mother when she sleeps with her second husband, Monty. She is let go by her mother in the end when she decides to move to New York, presumably moving in with Monty. Exactly as her voice instructor said to her mother about her being a Coloratura inside and out. She is brilliant in singing but as a person she has nothing to be proud of.

There is a constant war between Mildred and Veda after Ray dies from a high fever. When Monty enters their world, Veda is even more determined to achieve excellence in almost everything. She becomes a social climber as Mildred's business becomes successful and the tension becomes great on Christmas day when Veda is disappointed to see that her mother got her a wrist-watch. They get into an argument and a slapping battle and Veda wins and starts smoking. Their relationship disappears as time passes by and when Veda moves out, Mildred becomes keen in knowing how her daughter is doing without her, wanting know if she is in god health.

Money is the source of almost every problem; the food, the business, music lessons, etc... Mildred refers to this when she disciplines Veda about snooping in her closet and making the help wear Mildred's uniform. Veda criticizes her mother's choice of work and how she was making thei situation even more worse by working like a lower-class citizen. Unfortunately, it is the only option for Mildred because it is the only thing she is qualified to do. She does not have a background on a particular profession other than domestic work. That is the only way for her to cope with everything that is happening.

I don't know how it goes in the novel but I am planning on getting a copy myself. Overall, the stoy was great. The actors portrayed their characters well. Every seen made me feel what was supposed to be felt, sad when it's dramatic and happy when it's funny. The way the themes are presented through dialogue and actions is suited to make their points.

ParaNorman movie review

I'm not a fan of zombie movies or series, which means The Walking Dead is not something I would jump for joy. Bad memories when I first watched it and it was a marathon with my boyfriend. Don't ask what happened to me because you might think that I'm a sissy and I wanted to try seeing it to know the story myself. I do like Zombieland however and I was excited to see this film after seeing the trailer a few weeks ago.

ParaNorman is about a boy, Norman Babcock, who can communicate with the ghosts who are still roaming about with the living. His life is not an easy one because where he lives, in Blithe Hollow, those who are different aren't socially accepted. What makes it more difficult is that even his family doesn't believe his in his ability and thinks of him as mediocre (not referring to the image on the below specifically but it is funny too). It is only until Neil Downe befriends him that he finds someone who believes in his ability and doesn't have a problem with it. Everyone needs someone to back him up even if solitude is what's appealing for the person. 

During the rehearsal of his school's play, a commemoration of an event that took place 300 years ago of the execution of the town's with, he suddenly has visions of being in the woods but not as himself but as the witch. One of the schoolgirls was right. Witches don't always wear a pointy hat and completely ugly looking.

On the way home, he and Neil are spoken to by Norman's uncle, Mr. Prenderghast, and is told of his duty to protect the town as his uncle has been doing for years. Its both weird and funny how Neil manages to scare Prenderghast away when he says, "Don't make me throw this hummus... it's spicy!". But Norman is left to do exactly as instructed but upon failing on his first attempt and the zombies come to life it appears to be more of a reverse of role.

Instead of the zombies attacking the townspeople it was the reverse. Even I felt sad about it. It is quite an adventure that even his own enemy helped him along with his older sister Courtney, his eccentric friend Neil, and Neil's older and buff brother Mitch.

Norman comes to realize that he shouldn't be following the ritual but to right the wrongs of the old citizens who executed the Agatha by sentencing her to death because she was thought to be a witch because like Norman, she can communicate with ghosts. It was an unfair judgement. They were afraid of her and didn't know what to do but eliminate her thinking that it was the best for their town. Instead of reading the book to Agatha he confronts her and narrates her story to her tells her that it's up to her how the story ends. He manages to convince her to remember the good times because life is not all downs but it has its ups too. This is definitely important for all of us because if we do think about it, we get carried away when we have our sad moments. We should be able to look passed the wrongs done to us or we did ourselves but recall the good times and look into making ourselves happy once more.

Photos taken from:

• http://www.into-the-dark.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/size300_original_paranorman_poster.jpg 
• http://content.internetvideoarchive.com/content/photos/7247/00000110.jpg
• http://www.filmofilia.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/ParaNorman_Still4.jpg