Diary of a Fangirl: Stand By Me

I just watched "Stand By Me" for the first time ever a few days ago.

I liked the film, but the ending just...well at first I thought it sucked.  Gordie/the Writer talks about how his friend Chris, who looked out for him and was wanting a way out of the life he was in and the path he was on, ended up sticking with Gordie, going to college and becoming a lawyer.  Sure, the four friends weren't friends anymore, but Chris, who tried so hard, made it!

Until he tries to peacefully end a fight at a bar and gets stabbed in the neck, nearly dying instantly.

But, after some pondering, I recalled the scene where Gordie tells the story of the kid with the gland problem's revenge at the pie eating, and Teddy said he didn't like the ending.  Gordie seemed to really ponder this, and I think, after decades of experience in writing, he thought the ending of his tale would be better suited to end in tragedy, and that the real ending is that yes, the four friends drifted apart, but they were all still breathing.  He took the Joss Whedon of endings and decided that one of them had to die, and, since it couldn't be the lead protagonist [him], it had to be the kid who the audience would feel most for--Chris.

So, with that in mind, I loved the film!

    

Diary of a Fangirl: Whedon World--the boy band

So, I can't even recall how this idea even started, but I had the thought that there should be a boy band featuring some key players from Whedon's television 'verses.

ETA: Okay, I do now recall how this started and snowballed into this--I made a comment that I thought Nick Lachey looked like a bootleg David Boreanaz, which lead me to think that David in fact should have been in a boy band, and...

Thanks to Tammy for the lovely [fake] CD Album cover.

What started as a joke has now fully evolved into the plot bunny for a film--a spoofy thing based on boy bands of yore--NKOTB, N*SYNC, Backstreet Boys, etc.  But let me make this clear--not a parody (ala 2Gether), just...a re-imagining of the bands that have already existed.  Like "Dreamgirls" was for The Supremes.

The film would be about a band who was huge in the early to mid 90s that grew up and broke up, and find themselves in the entertainment industry like bits of flotsam.  Something is missing.  They end up on various reality shows or do shitty spots on TV.  And then, one of them comes up with a grand idea of a reunion, playing on the hearts of their old fans who love a bit of nostalgia, and reclaim their throne in the music world. Or something.  There'd be drugs and sex and bromances and misunderstandings.  It'd be sweet.

Nicholas Brendon would be the Joey McIntyre character--the young heart throb all grown up.

James Marsters would be the token blond (and he can actually sing).

J. August Richards would be the token black (which doesn't exist in boy bands, but it totally will in this film. Plus he can really sing).

David Boreanaz would be the sexy bad boy.

Christian Kane (also a real singer) would be the sweet, [Southern] gentle one, who could have been the young heart throb, but was too old for that part in the band.

Alexis Denisof would be the one who doesn't sing much, but is basically in the background to look good--like really good.

Yes, this is totally what I do in my spare time.

    
    

Diary of a Fangirl: Boy Bands Galore

So, I was watching The View this morning, and their guest of the day was New Kids On The Block.

NKOTB has been on tour for awhile with Backstreet Boys, but announced today that they would be parting ways for the time being, and tour alone.  But then, Donnie Wahlberg announced that they'd be bringing along some friends--98 Degrees and Boyz II Men.

My inner fangirl FLIPPED.

Damn, now if only they can get N*SYNC (sans Timberlake cause I know he'll never do it, but could still work because J.C. was the other main voice) to go on that tour as well...either way, I am so ready to get a ticket when they come to town.  Huzzah!

    

Diary of a Fangirl: The Real Husbands of Hollywood

Last night was the premier of The Real Husbands of Hollywood, and while I was greatly anticipating this comedy spoof of reality TV sitcom, I have found it...lukewarm.

It's true, often during the first season, even during the pilot, a show has to find its sea legs, so to speak.  This pilot, however, felt as if the legs were swept right from underneath it.

The focus is on the caricature of Kevin Hart, with such supporting actors [who also portray caricatures of themselves] as Nick Cannon (who I think the real focus should be on), Boris Kodjoe, Duane Martin, J.B. Smoove, and the token white guy, Robin Thicke.

The story line for this ep was both weak and contrived--a good portion of it (which carries into episode two) was a fight between Kevin Hart and a nine year old, who Hart now wants to sue.  I know that the story lines of "reality" TV are often ridiculous and loosely scripted, but this?  Even for a parody of shitty TV programming, is sub-par.  Perhaps the writers of this show should study story lines from Dynasty, Flavor of Love, The Celebrity Apprentice, and The Bernie Mac Show just to name a few.  The key here, I think, is to have a culmination of places to draw inspiration from as opposed to The Real Housewives of Whatever brand.

I suppose what it boils down to is this: Because we know it's not a reality show, and it is in fact a scripted parody, they have to try that much harder and be superior to that style of television.


    

Diary of a Fangirl: 2013 Oscar Nominations

Well, I have to say that this is a disappointment.

There were several people who should have been recognized that weren't: Samuel L. Jackson and Leonardo DiCaprio for Best Supporting Actor, and Ben Affleck and Quentin Tarantino for Best Director.

But let's move on.

Of the given nominees, here are my predictions for the winners:

Best Picture: "Django Unchained" or "Life of Pi."  I'm leaning towards the former, however.

Best Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis, the Meryl Streep of nominees.

Best Actress: Emmanuelle Riva or Quvenzhané Wallis, simply because of their vast differences in ages.  Just my guess, of course.

Best Supporting Actor: Tommy Lee Jones.  Brilliant performance.

Best Supporting Actress: Anne Hathaway (may she never host The Academy Awards ever again. Ever).

And, Best Animated Film: Didn't see any of these, but my guess is "Frankenweenie."

    

Diary of a Fangirl: Deception

I'd been looking forward to Deception for quite sometime now.  The promos several weeks back, and after this pilot, the show tentatively has my attention.

The show starts out like a Law & Order: SUV ep, with a young woman hurrying to her car because someone is following her, only to look up and see that it's someone she knows.  The viewer doesn't get to see this mysterious man, of course, and she invites him in.  The next scene is of the woman dead with a beat up face in a flea bag motel.

Enter the dead woman's [Vivian's] former BFF Joanna, a cop who's been out of touch for the last seventeen years.  There's something shady about Vivian's family, so much so that they're under intense FBI investigation.  Joanna's former partner (and one week boyfriend) asks her to go undercover and investigate the family.  After a few vehement "no's," she agrees.

During the course of this [limited] season, I suspect that Joanna will get in too deep with the people who used to be part of her extended family, and may even find herself in bed with her former lover/Vivian's brother/possible killer.

For now, I'm going along for the ride.  The teaser for next week's episode looks to be promising.

Notes: The casting for flashback!Joanna is awful.  They didn't even try, and I find the flashbacks distracting because of this.  Also, I think that Joanna's hair could be better matched with her hair piece...just saying.

Also, Victor Garber--happy to see him on the screen again.  Also, this just may end up being like Alias, but with less spy stuff.

    

Diary of a Fangirl: This is the End

So, I saw "Django Unchained" for the third time this evening with the family, and saw the trailer for "This Is The End" for the second time.

I really, really cannot wait for this upcoming Rogen/Franco collaboration (and Rogen's directorial debut), with most of the company in tow.

Faces from the Appatow camp who won't be seen in this film (or perhaps, not seen for very long) include Jason Segel, David Krumholtz, and (with a jokingly "good riddance" from Danny McBride) Michael Cera.  Faces who we will see?  Franco and Rogen, of course, Jonah Hill,Craig Robinson, Danny McBride, Jay Baruchel, Paul Rudd, Martin Starr, and the less recognizable Evan Goldberg.  Methinks this will be the ultimate bromance film, and hella hard to top.

Box Office Smash--here they come.


    

Diary of a Fangirl: Best of 2012

Happy New Year, gang!  Hope it was a great one.

Here are some of my fangirl favorites of this year:

TV Shows: Breaking Bad, Arrow

Films: (in no particular order) Argo, The Dark Knight Rises, The Avengers, Django Unchained, Lincoln, Looper, Cloud Atlas

Actors: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Tom Hiddleston, Keanu Reeves, Samuel L. Jackson, Bruce Willis, Christoph waltz, Daniel Day Lewis, Charlize Theron

Favorite Convention: San Diego Comic Con 2012

Favorite Fangirl Moment: Talking to Chris Meloni, squeeing on the mic.

Favorite book: "Fangirl," of course.

Favorite Characters: Jesse Pinkman, Daryl Dixon, Shane Walsh (sans last couple of eps before death), Walter White, Oliver Queen, the Hulk, Detective Benson

Favorite Directors: Whedon, Tarantino, Nolan, Spielberg

Things to look forward to in 2013: "This is the End," the new season of Psych, the series finale of Breaking Bad, Seth MacFarlane hosting The Oscars, "Twelve Years a Slave," San Diego Comic Con 2013, my new novel "The Tigress."