This Is It

I went to see this with my son and enjoyed it.
I could have done without all those trailers of upcoming movies.
I liked the comments made by the participants in the show.
Most of the dancers said it was because of Michael's inspirations, they danced.
They felt so blessed by the opportunity to work with him. Five thousand tried out for the few dance slots available.
I would have liked to see more of the wardrobe segment.
The set was amazing and how many people it took to work together to create/develop the show to Michael's vision/standard is astounding. It would have been a great live production if it things did not turn out the way they did.
I liked the updated techno Smooth Criminal and Thriller segments.

The official CD of the This Is It contains original studio versions of the songs from the show in the order the concert would have been. There is a second CD with some demos and a poem read by Michael. Also included is a 3o plus page booklet with pics of Michael and the show.
If you have all of Michael's albums, it would be like re-purchasing the songs you have on the other albums. The second CD contains a very small amount of never released material.

The young lady who plays lead guitar in the show/film is Orianthi Panagaris. She is amazing!
Michael saw her perform on TV in Carrie Underwood's band then called her up and asked her if she would consider doing his show. She took up the opportunity. Sad that the show did not go on but more people will see the movie or buy the DVD (coming out in February with extra footage, pre-orders at Amazon) and her light will certainly shine brighter! She does have two albums out also and if you visit one of her sites, you can get a free download.

Orianthi's Official YouTube channel

Orianthi's My Space

Orianthi's Website

RIP Michael -- your talent, artistry, and generous spirit was treasured by many worldwide. Thanks for the memories.

PBS Little Dorrit

A Dickens classic -- will play over the next 5 weeks on PBS Masterpiece Classic.

Andrew Davies was one of the writers -- he blotched up the ending (changed it!) in A Room With A View. He also had all sorts of allusions in some of the other classics he updated recently -- none of these ever in print at their original time.I do not think the original authors would agree with his updated presentations.

Let us hope that in this series, he presents it as it was written but we shall see -- he seems to have many tricks in these productions that leave some of us horrified!

Here is a good article that gives an overview of Little Dorrit.

Little Dorrit at PBS.org - cast, characters, synopsis, educational resources.

Update/Review:

I had a hard time waiting for the next episode.
Yes, there were changes but I shall overlook them.

Arthur Clennam was a bit younger than in the book but it worked out ok.
His dying father had words he wanted him to keep.
Arthur worked for Clennam and Co. and spent most of his time travelling till after his father died, he went back to visit his confined mother (confined to her chair, her room, her house) and quits the business.
He helped free Mr. Dorrit from debtors prison (where Amy was born and lived serving him) by hiring Mr. Pancks (sideline detective) to do a bit of investigating. Mr. Pancks finds out the Dorrits are rich by unclaimed inheritance.

So Mr. Dorrit, his brother Frederick, and his three adult children along with Mrs. General (social expert educating Amy and her sister Fanny) go travelling abroad because they are people of "means and wealth" (Mr. Dorrit feels he is owed this social status.).

Mr. Dorrit is concerned about mingling with the high society of people of means now he is rich but finding it hard to fit in as he has missed so much over his long stay (decades) at the Marshalsea Prison. But unfortunately, and unknown to him, he loses his fortune in the Merdle banking collapse (a Ponzi scheme) when Mr. Merdle commits suicide. At about the same time, Mr. Dorrit dies and his brother Frederick dies within minutes after his brother's death in Italy.

The Dorrits are broke again after a short time of wealth. Many others are broke also.

The murdering Frenchman Rigaud -- he was scarey, creepy, funny (full of himself), and an idiot (though he thought he was clever) although, he did show a bit of kindness giving Amy the letters of truth thinking he would extort money from Mrs. Clennam, who hired and paid Amy as a seamstress prior to the Dorrits tour abroad.

Rigaud comes to collect his extortion money.
This makes Mrs. Clennam extremely mad.
Mrs. Clennam got out of her chair, stumbled about, left her dark dreary prison (room), left her dilapitated house, stumbled in the streets, and found Amy and told her to open the letters. Meanwhile Rigaud thought she was just going to the bank to get him the extortion money. Amy found the truth and forgave Mrs. Clennam who collapsed and died in the street after witnessing her house collapse. Rigaud got killed by falling beams but Flintwinch the butler and his wife lived on.

Arthur Clennam, now residing in the debtors prison (in the Dorritt's old cell courtesy of John Chivery, who was refused by Amy on a marriage proposal.) is beside himself due to fever.
Amy is there nursing him.
Before the fever, Arthur learned why Amy refused John's marriage proposal from John himself, who told him that Amy loved him (Arthur). Arthur is shocked by this news for he never looked at it that way before.

So the truth is out as Arthur and Amy compare notes (from the box) and letters.
Amy is the real Clennam, her father is the late Mr. Clennam by an affair with a dancer at the boarding house that was owned by Frederick Dorrit.
Arthur learns he is an adopted son -- so who he thought were his real parents were not his biological parents.

Amy and Arthur get married in the end.

Side stories:

John Chivery - son of the Marshalsea turnkey. He is devotely in love with Amy and has been for a very long time. She refuses his proposal and he is heartbroken with grief and sadness but will do anything for Amy's happiness and welfare.

Flora Finching, widow, - once she and Arthur had planned a future but that was canned by their coniving parents. Arthur was sent off on business to break them up. Flora married the late Mr. Finching and inherited his aging senile Aunt upon his death.
Flora's father, Mr. Casby is the slum landlord unknown to his renters. Mr. Casby hires Mr. Pancks to collect the rents, while Mr. Casby presents himself to the renters as a kind and benevolent person (double life, double lie). In the end, Mr. Pancks reveals in the street, what a scum Mr. Casby is and how he has lied to the people he robs so he can live rich.
Mr. Pancks cuts off Mr. Casby's hair and beard.

The Meagles, sensible and realistic people living a country life -- Pet (daughter) marries Mr. Gowan, the "artist" although they think Arthur is a better choice (he proposed too late to her). It seems like Pet may be abused by Mr. Gowan. She then has a baby boy which Mr. Gowan does not seem to happy about.

We later learn that Miss Wade had an affair with Mr. Gowan and loved him immensely. She hired Rigaud to follow and watch them as they went on their honeymoon travels. Rigaud poisons Lion the dog of Mr. Gowan before leaving for London. They discover this after he has left.

Miss Wade also seduces/brainwashes Tattycoram, companion to the Meagles, into living with her rather than them. The Meagles are hurt and disappointed as they took Tatty in, educated her, and treated her like family. Tatty finds the hidden box of secrets and then delivers them to Athur Clenam at the prison. It looked like she was leaving Miss Wade for the deception in the end.

Doyce and Clennam -- the business that went bust due to the banking Ponzi scheme and the reason why Arthur was in prison (couldn't pay the bills). However, Mr. Doyce comes back from Russia, richer than he could imagine and saves Arthur and the business.

Tip, Amy's brother, had a few scenes which we learn he likes to mooch off of other people and would beg for money, just like Mr. Dorritt did to his guests.

Fanny, Amy's sister, ends up with Mr. Sparkler as her husband, Mrs. Merdle's son by her first marriage. Mrs. Merdle thinks little of Fanny however in the end, Mrs. Merdle (now broke and a widow) has to obey Fanny since Fanny saved her money as a dancer and is the rich one now.

Maggy -- calls Amy "Little Mother". Amy looks after her from time to time.

Mrs. Gowan -- she feels that her son was rigged into marriage. She approaches Arthur Clennam about this and later the Meagles, who blast her out. She really did no good for the entire story.

Top 25 Teen Idols

I found this article on the top 25 teen idols of all times, well, according to the author's picks.

A rather interesting list with some funny commentary and LOTS of comments.

Top 25 Teen Idols

Cozytown

"Why Cozytown is the delightfulest place imaginable, 'though it does stand on the very edge of things, surrounded by a high, gray wall- that the name of this wall is "Facts" need not bother us, nor that to most people it is impassable. Those who know walk straight up to the wall and, taking four steps to the left of an iron ring which they will find without much trouble, they knock sharply on a stone which says BELIEVE! Presto! Immediately a little gate appears and in they go to the town itself . . . "

"The Princess of Cozytown" Janet Laura Scott, Ruth Plumly Thompson 1922

Read/download the book

Paul McCartney - The Space Within Us

Documentary of his 2005 Tour behind the scenes, performances, and snippets of commentary from the media elite airing on PBS.

My brother got to go to this concert for FREE in Boston because he knew the right people.

I had to watch it on TV a couple of years later and it looked like everyone (of all generations!) was just so happy and overjoyed to be there! As one commentator said, it would be hard to be mad at anyone after attending that concert.

It is nice to see that Mr. McCartney has the stamina to still do such a concert.
I am glad to have heard his work in my life time.

Hats off to him and a bow!

PBS Inspector Lindley

Well, just as we all thought there was hope for he and his "reincarnated" wife (new actress playing Helen) getting back together, trying to start a family, it all ends tragically . . . again for Helen (killed twice, once in the books (With No-One As Witness) by a couple of punks who shot her at her doorstep, no witnesses, and once by the Bosnian girl with many witnesses (TV Script: In the Blink of an Eye).

What a shock! Now what? Interesting how Havers is always around to save the day for him .

We shall see but of course, we may not find out for quite some time if ever since the BBC has canned the series (which by the way, does NOT follow Elizabeth George's books).

PBS Mystery Inspector Lindley Mysteries -- check your local listings for reruns since it looks like this series has been canned.

Inspector Lindley pictured with his tony Bristol 410 car and more show and episode info at the BBC.

PBS Miss Marple

Miss Marple (played by Geraldine McEwan) is back on PBS with all new shows (Season 3, not that many, but enough).

Last night she was called "nosey' and a "busy body" by other characters and I love how she eavesdrops and just comes up with the who dun it theory and why.

Geraldine McEwan is just so darling and worldly as Miss Marple compared to Joan Hickson (1906-1998) who did a more relaxed and country type Miss Marple.

It does seem amusing that where ever Miss Marple is, murder occurs and she is in the mix yet sees things clearer than the Chief Inspectors assigned to the job.

I love the costume period dramas.

Many special guest stars on this series -- Tom Baker (Dr. Who) is one with a sad and tragic fate along with Dame Eileen Atkins (funny). Francesca Annis (of Tommy and Tuppence fame), Julian Sands (George in "A Room With A View"), and Jane Seymour (Dr. Quinn) are just a few featured players in this Series 3.
Summer has just gotten interesting.

My local movie rental shop closed down. The next nearest one is too far away to travel to. This is going to be great for me!

Miss Marple -- the snoop and scoop -- at PBS

Regis Philbin

Regis Philbin (aka "The King") is having triple bypass surgery this week.

Best of luck to him from so many of his fans.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Suddenly I See

Just another earworm (spins in your head constantly) -- this is the song they played whenever a female was leaving the group on So You Think You Can Dance in 2006. I am putting the words here so when I visit my blog, I can sing along, maybe you can too.

"Suddenly I See"
KT Tunstall

Her face is a map of the world
Is a map of the world
You can see she's a beautiful girl
She's a beautiful girl
And everything around her is a silver pool of light
The people who surround her feel the benefit of it
It makes you calm
She holds you captivated in her palm

Suddenly I see (Suddenly I see)
This is what I wanna be
Suddenly I see (Suddenly I see)
Why the hell it means so much to me

I feel like walking the world
Like walking the world
You can hear she's a beautiful girl
She's a beautiful girl
She fills up every corner like she's born in black and white
Makes you feel warmer when you're trying to remember
What you heard
She likes to leave you hanging on her word

Suddenly I see (Suddenly I see)
This is what I wanna be
Suddenly I see (Suddenly I see)
Why the hell it means so much to me

And she's taller than most
And she's looking at me
I can see her eyes looking from a page in a magazine
Oh she makes me feel like I could be a tower
A big strong tower
She got the power to be
The power to give
The power to see

Suddenly I see (Suddenly I see)
This is what I wanna be
Suddenly I see (Suddenly I see)
Why the hell it means so much to me

Helen Mirren's Oscar Dress Knockoff

You can own it yourself -- special orders. priced $325.00 and shipping begins in mid-April. (No longer available.)

See it here at edressme.com. (As mentioned on The Today Show)

They have quite an assortment there including Prom, white dresses, little black dresses.

Some of their sale prices are really rock bottom if they have a few left in a few select sizes.
Look great, feel great.

Dancing With the Stars

In a few weeks, Dancing With the Stars will be back on the air March 19th. I do believe that that show conflicts with American Idol some times, which is a shame, for me.

I like those shows plus So You Think You Can Dance, Dance 360 (I don't think this is on any more.) and now Grease - You're the One That I Want, which is singing and dancing Broadway style.

I always loved Star Search and I was an expert at picking all the winners, so I was just as talented as the contestants!

If those shows are on, I am not blogging. LOL

Anyways -- here is the contestant list for Dancing With the Stars Spring 2007:

Paul McCartney's estranged wife, activist Heather Mills who will be judged just like any other contestant.

Muhammad Ali's daughter, boxer Laila Ali

Country singer and hunky actor Billy Ray Cyrus (#1 hit song: "Achey Breaky Heart")

Former NBA star Clyde Drexler

Former 'N Sync member and actor Joey Fatone

Beauty Queen Miss USA 2004 Shandi Finnessey

Former Entertainment Tonight co-host and scrapbooker Leeza Gibbons

Olympic gold medalist speed skater Apolo Ohno

From the Sopranos, actor Vincent Pastore

Super model and covergirl Paulina Porizkova

Actor Ian Ziering formally of the teen angst drama Beverly Hills 90120

Should be interesting.
Stay tuned!

Divine Design with Candace Olsen

. . . as seen on HGTV every Thursday night 9 pm EST.

I love Candice and her crew, Paul the "Hunky Carpenter", Chico the electrician, Edmund the fabric guy and Marshall the painter.
She does a wonderful job for her clients (all pay for her services and they make a tv show out of it).

I enjoy most of her designs even though some of them I would not live with but most I could.

I found this site on the net where you can watch episodes, get tips, and learn a bit more about her.

She should be considered a National Treasure in Canada!

Divine Design TV

100 Greatest TV quotes and Catchphrases

"Well, isn't that special?"

TVLand had a show "The 100 Greatest TV Quotes and Catchphrases". It aired in segments so I only saw some of it then had to go look up the list.

"Yada, yada, yada. Yeah, that's the ticket".

You can view the list here:

TVLand: "The 100 Greatest TV Quotes and Catchphrases".

Celebrity Complaints

Have a laugh at celebrity "complaints".

I like how the quotes are filed under each subtitle listed at the top of the page, "They lie to me", "My love life stinks", "I hate my job", "I have a hard job", "Life is not fair", "I made sacrifices" and more.

Brain Candy Celebrity Quotes

"Just because you like my stuff doesn't mean I owe you anything."~ Bob Dylan
Yes, Bob, ditto for me and my blog here.

"Being a sex symbol is a heavy load to carry, especially when one is tired, hurt and bewildered."~ Marilyn Monroe
I can relate, I have the same problems Marilyn.

Hello Kitty Party Ideas

I laughed when I saw someone came to my blog from a search of Hello Kitty.
As far as I know, this has not been a topic but I will turn it into one because that theme song is spinning in my head, "Hello Kitty, How are you today?" from the short lived TV series.

Hello Kitty -- so cute, and so sweet, and little girls love her and her little friends. Steve Carell who plays Michael Scott on NBC's The Office, said on The Tonight Show, that he should own stock in Hello Kitty since his young daughter seems to have every Hello Kitty item ever made.

Hello Kitty -- although animated, is a good role model for goodness, kindness, politeness, cooperation, and doing the right thing.

So let's plan an easy Hello Kitty party here with all Hello Kitty party paper ware available at your party store, WalMart, Target, KMart or online at Birthday Expressions (lots of themed stuff there and you can buy in preset packages).
Your party should be 2-3 hours long depending on age and activities planned.
Naturally -- any theme could work with just these simple general directions.

Hello Kitty Party Planning Ideas -- Think Pink!

1. Send out invites a few weeks in advance using the Hello Kitty invitations. Have an RSVP number and cut off date to respond. Call anyone who has not responded and get a reply.

2. Decorate your house Hello Kitty style and with pink and white, maybe some red streamers and balloons. If you are doing a party in good weather, you can create a May Pole with the streamers.

3. Bake a 9 x 13 inch boxed cake, freeze it, create a Hello Kitty template (can enlarge a picture at the copy shop) then cut out a Hello Kitty shaped cake while frozen to prevent crumbling and decorate appropriately. You can "color" the bow with pink or multicolored sprinkles or jimmies. Use black jelly beans for eyes, a yellow jelly bean for the nose, and black licorice for the whiskers.

4. When guests arrive, have them sign their names in the Hello Kitty Guest book and take an individual picture of the guest. Just make a book and put a picture, an extra invitation picture, on the cover which is pink.

5. After all guests arrive, take a few group pictures. You might even like to take a picture of your child and each guest also.

6. Play Hello Kitty Bingo -- Make a bingo board with only six blocks. Have kids make their own bingo cards with stickers of Hello Kitty and her friends.

7. Play Musical Kitty. You will need a plush Hello Kitty toy or pillow. Kids sit/stand in a circle (or the like) with their backs facing toward the center of the circle. The music starts (play the Hello Kitty Theme) and the passing begins. When the music stops, the person holding the plush Kitty is out. The game continues till one person is left and they are the winner.

8. Sing Happy Birthday to the honoree, blow out the Hello Kitty candles. Serve pink raspberry ginger ale (or small bottles of water) and strawberry ice cream with the cake. For easier serving before the party -- scoop the ice cream into foil cupcake liners in a cupcake pan, wrap with clear wrap and put in the freezer. You just need to pop out the liner with the serving of ice cream.

9. The birthday child opens presents. You may want to decorate a chair as a "birthday throne".

10. Have the children go on a treasure hunt for their Hello Kitty treat bags or purses. Once they find a bag, they must sit down or help another child find one. One per child.

11. After the party, have your child write thank-you notes (Hello Kitty stationary) to those who brought presents and mail them out next mailing day. Include a picture of the group.
You can also make your own thank yous by printing your sentiment onto a full sheet of card stock, cutting it in half and folding over then adding the group portrait to the front of the card.

Options:
1. Have a Hello Kitty pinata. Fill with candy and trinkets. Pull on the ribbons to release the candy.

2. Play pin the bow on Hello Kitty's head. Create a huge Hello Kitty head, color and cover with clear contact paper. Create several bows with tape on the back.

3. Balance a pink balloon on a spoon race for a set distance, can be an individual race or a team race.

4. Try a balloon alley volley -- two people facing each other but going sideways down a set distance and a set distance apart, hitting the balloon to keep it air born between them till they get to the finish line.
If it is dropped or hits the ground, they must start over. Best time wins.

5. Balloon Hop -- this can be done individually or as a team. Balloon is placed between knees and the person hops their way to the finish line. First team or best time wins.

6. Find Hello Kitty -- You will need a small Hello Kitty object. A selected person leaves the room.
You can play two ways --
1. The object is held by one person and the person outside the room comes back in and must guess who has it.
OR
2. The object is hidden somewhere in the room and the person is directed by the words hot or cold to find it.

For younger kids, try coloring sheets as an activity.Check here for a variety of themed coloring sheets to choose from.

Enjoy!

100 Funniest Movies

Bravo recently ran a show "The 100 Most Funniest Movies". Here is their list but they never said who put it together and what age group they were, which would make a difference. Most of these movies are within the last 40 years and nothing older than that. There are some older movies that are truly classical comedy (or "screwball comedies"). Today's comedies have mostly harrassment and potty humor along with tons of paid subliminal product commercials within the movie itself. (Think ET and the Reeses Pieces "addiction".)

So what additional movies do you think should be listed and what would you say should be removed or replaced, bumped up the list or put down the list?
At the time, I really liked that movie "Strange Brew", but it did not make the list as well as that camp comedy, "Meatballs". And what about Mel Brook's "Spaceb alls" or the quirky cult classic "Galaxy Quest"? well maybe they had limited audience appeal.
I also like those old Topper or Nick and Nora, The Thin Man movies (love Astra!)
that use to run on Saturday afternoons on the local channels.

100. Anchorman
99. The Birdcage
98. School of Rock
97. Happy Gilmore
96. Four Weddings and a Funeral
95. Harold and Kumar go to White Castle
94. Waiting for Guffman
93. The Aristocrats
92. Father of the Bride
91. Revenge of the Nerds
90. Clueless
89. Slapshot
88. Team America: World Police
87. T he Kentucky Fried Movie
86. Zoolander
85. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
84. Silver Streak
83. Sister Act
82. Tootsie
81. Half Baked
80. Lost in America
79. Three Amigos
78. Bananas
77. Flirting With Disaster
76. Ghostbusters
75. Dumb and Dumber
74. Trading Places
73. City Slickers
72. Moonstruck
71. Roxanne
70. Nutty Professor
69. The Blues Brothers
68. Broadcast News
67. Kingpin
66. Dazed and Confused
65. Office Space
64. This is Spinal Tap
63. Manhattan
62. The Pink Panther
61. Election
60. When Harry Met Sally…
59. Police Academy Series (more than one)
58. Private Benjamin
57. Swingers
56. Young Frankenstein
55. Bull Durham
54. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
53. Dr. Strangelove
52. Meet the Parents
51. National Lampoon's Vacation
50. The Princess Bride
49. American Pie
48. American Graffiti
47. 9 to 5
46. The Incredibles
45. Raising Arizona
44. Sixteen Candles
43. What About Bob?
42. Harold and Maude
41. Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery
40. Monty Python and the Holy Grail
39. Mrs. Doubtfire
38. Best in Show
37. Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
36. Good Morning, Vietnam
35. Beetlejuice
34. Rushmore
33. Clerks
32. Groundhog Day
31. The Big Lebowski
30. The 40-Year-Old Virgin
29. Legally Blond
28. Annie Hall
27. A Fish Called Wanda
26. Wayne’s World
25. Meet the Fockers
24. Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure
23. Big
22. Beverly Hills Cop
21. Shampoo
20. The Jerk
19. Wedding Crashers
18. Stripes
17. M*A*S*H
16. Old School
15. Fast Times at Ridgemont High
14. Napoleon Dynamite
13. Naked Gun (series)
12. The Producers
11. Pee Wee’s Big Adventure
10. Arthur
9. Blazing Saddles
8. The Wedding Singer
7. Ace Ventura, Pet Detective
6. Airplane
5. South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut
4. There’s Something About Mary
3. Shrek
2. Caddyshack
1. Animal House

I Capture the Castle

Well, another period costumed piece. "I Capture the Castle" is a novel by Dodie Smith, an English novelist and playwright. The movie stays true to the popular book (by all accounts of the dedicated fans) with only a tad of improvisied change. The book was written in 1948 and this is the first time it was ever made into a movie, and a wonderful one at that.

The movie stars Tara Fitzgerald as the nudist artsy stepmom married to Bill Nighy a writer who has suffered from writer's block for a long time. He is waiting for that spark to write another successful novel after his first one was such a hit years earlier.

The family consisits of two teenage daughters and a son, who are living in a run down rented castle and are extremely poor. The beginning of the movie has much humor (including a play on their last name Mortmain) and their dire and dreary situation.

The beginning of the movie has some flashbacks as to how they ended up in this situation. Very sad indeed and then how their prior situation put their father in this writer's block. Basically, he never got over the death of his first wife and has developed problems which affect everyone from his denial over the years.

The story focuses on 17 year old Cassandra, the younger of the two girls. She is sensible, plain, and simple, but is wise yet naive at the same time. Rose her older sister is beautiful and wants a way out of these horrid living conditions.

Along comes the new owners of the castle who show up to collect the rent long past due. Rose and Cassandra think that romance with the new owners will take them away from their dire situation. They are very funny and very naive at the same time. The humor lies in the comparisons of weathly/rich, American/British, manners, and culture.

It was very evident that Rose only wanted material things, the things she did not have while living a Bohemian life at the castle. She thought she could aquire this through marriage to someone she did not actually love. Rose should have read Madame Bovary first. (Another movie and book I recommend.)

But things don't always work out the way they imagine and this is where the reality comes in as Cassandra wrestles with her own growing up and trying to do what is right. Only she does not and the young man who has loved her since childhood takes the issue into his own hands then speaks the truth to who needs to know. I thought this was an incredibly brave thing he did, because he truly loved Cassandra and did not want to see her suffer, although she did not love him in that way.

Cassandra also has to deal with her Dad and helps him face his problems head on. This was the emotionally dark part of the movie and is very moving since this is what has affected them all over the years.

In the end, Cassandra knows what she wants but she takes the time for herself first before making any commitments to anyone.

The book and the movie are both great. Read the book first before you see the movie.
I recommend both to all young people who need to see another young adult trying to figure out life, love, while keeping a firm foot on the ground, emotions in their right place and planning goals for their future.

My favorite scenes:
When the new owners arrive at the castle.

When Rose and Cassandra find out they have inherited something from their aunt and visit the big city to find out what it is and what happens after that.

When Rose "entertains" the family and guests in the castle living room with her piano playing trying to impress Neil.

When the door opens at the Cotton's estate for the dinner guests and Rose is wearing the lovely gown Topaz made just for her to make an impression.

This was my favorite though -- A long shot of the castle and Mr. Mortmain is walking toward it and under his arm, carrying his typewriter just incase he gets that "sprark" to start his new novel at any moment at anywhere.

When Cassandra and her brother move Mr. Mortmain out of the castle to get his creative juices flowing.

Dodie Smith (1896-1990) also wrote "101 Dalmations".

More on Dodie Smith - at her official site.

I Capture the Castle at IMDB

Mrs. Henderson Presents

I really enjoyed this movie, again another period piece and a musical. my favorite kinds of movies. This one has something for everyone -- happiness, sadness, tragedy, accomplishment, singing, dancing, and social comedy.

The movie takes place prewar and during World War II.

It begins with the funeral of the very rich Mrs. Henderson's (excellent Oscar performance by Dame Judi Dench) husband. Her friend advises her to take up a hobby like embroidery because she is now a widow, which is unsuccessful. While out on a ride one day, she discovers an abandoned theatre and buys it then fixes it up and calls it "The Windmill." The theatre becomes her new hobby and enterprise.

She then hires Vivian Van Damm (played by Bob Hoskins who also produced the film) to be the theatre manager. They are very antagonistic to one another like an old married couple but their partnership and ideas for a "theatre that never closes" with tableauxs of nude women is a huge success especially among the soldiers.

Ahhhh, but the politics just to get the show going is just as much fun with the befuddled Lord Cromer (Christopher Guest) granting permission with conditions of how they can do this within the laws of Britian and be tasteful about it.

The story mostly takes place in the theatre and you see lots of behind the scenes action and brief storylines about some of the chorus girls. There are many wonderful vintage production numbers woven into the storyline.

The great thing about this movie is that it is based on actual events and real people.
The nice surprise is that Mrs. Henderson's money went on to do a great thing for British culture which exists today.

I enjoyed the featurettes and the voice over by the director to gain more insight of how the movie was made. I was amazed to learn that most of the cast had never been on a stage set before, they were all unknowns, they were absolutely wonderful. The everyday fashions, and show costumes (or not, LOL) were marvelous.

It was a great romp through that time period, the struggles of day to day life during war time, and how important people really are to each other.

Mrs Henderson Presents at IMBD

Found - Post Secrets - Overheard in NY

Found

Well, this was a most interesting site I stumbled upon a few years ago. When the book came out, I raced to the store to buy it. Have you found things, like notes, or shopping lists, pictures in places that you have been?

Davy Rothbart started a magazine of all this "found stuff" he had kept. Pretty soon people were sharing what they found with him. Next thing the magazine gets too big and he publishes a book, and then another book, and the book with all the naughty notes. Each found object is a photocopied orignal so you are experiencing the "real thing" only in a book collection form. There are found things on his website also (link below).

Some of these found things (handwritten notes, emails, pictures, half notes, shopping lists, love/hate letters, etc) and their stories are just so funny you laugh so hard you cry, and others are extremely sad. The titles of the objects by the authors are just as funny if not insightful.

The one that really makes me wonder was the little folded notes written in Polish and left at a Polish church tucked into window sills, or bushes. When found by someone, he could not read Polish and sought out someone who could, an old Polish man, a stranger in a park. The old man read the note and burst into tears and could not tell him. He found someone else to interperete the notes. A very young woman had left these little folded notes at the church because she was once again suffering from cancer and did not know if she would make it. Eventually, the little notes disappeared and we are left to wonder, what happened to her.

A funny one was the kids "Adventure Club", a secret club where one of the rules was "be nice to squrills". Their list of rules floated away and a neighbor found them. She inquired about the secret club and the kids (ages 5-8) were stunned as she recited the rules to them. They insisted she tell them how she found out. She told them that her dog Kismet had overheard everything. They walked away speechless and perplexed.

My favorite one was the poor kid sitting in an Algebra test and wrote a very clever poem on his test about his frustration with learning algebra. The teacher flunked him but gee, he was extremely creative. I would have to say, in my opinion, if he was floundering, the teacher did nothing to help him out and make him feel successful, that is the teacher's job.

These are a slice of life and a slice of someone elses problems, or issues that we can all relate too.

Davey also travels the country doing Found Readings. You can see the date and location on the website.

You can view more found objects on the fabulous website: Found

Post Secrets

Have a secret and want to tell someone you don't even know and then get it posted on the net . . . maybe?

Here is the result of an project, now ongoing, that turned into a book titled "Post Secret" by Frank Warren.

Frank went around and placed post cards with directions on it for anyone who found it and was willing to anonymously tell him their secrets and mail the card back to him. He was astounded at the results. Some are artsy, some are funny, and some reveal some very deep dark personal secrets that make you want to cry. For the most part, the secrets you read affirm your own standard of life. You can learn a lot about other people but mostly about yourself by reading the secrets.

Frank's website is updated weekly with 10 new scans of cards he has received and feels them worthy of sharing with the world. There is also a travelling show museum at the Reading PA public library for a short stint (till 10/8/06). A fair warning that some of the secrets contain foul language, violence in various forms, or are sexual in context.

Post Secret Website

Overheard in New York

There is a book (same title by S. Morgan Friedman) and a website (link below) that posts snippets of people's conversations as people pass through daily life.

There are links on to Overheard in the Office and Overheard at the Beach on the main site.

I even heard there is Overheard at College too. LOL

Overheard in New York

Ladies in Lavender

I just watched this period movie starring Dame Maggie Smith and Dame Judi Dench.

I thought is was a good period piece and enjoyed it very much since I like those kinds of films.

The film focuses more on the powerful emotion of the heart than anything else.

It is based on a short story by William J. Locke. Charles Dance (The sneaky lawyer Tulkinghorn from "Bleak House" PBS) directed and this was his first film.

Two older sisters live by the sea in Cornwall and after a storm, find a body of a young man washed ashore.
They get help and have him stay at their seaside home to recover.
He does not speak English so they try to communicate with him as best as possible.
They get attached to him, in particular one sister.
Eventually, they find out he has a wonderful talent.
The sisters learn to let him go and be on his path in life in the end.

The performances were really wonderful and moving. It is a small gem.

IMDb credit page and reviews