Heyo! Long Weekend Activities

It's officially the season of shopping! My original intention was to avoid the mall, stick to supporting a couple local places instead, and just take it easy with the spending.

Then, like always, I get sucked into the idea of all those $4 movies at Target. I made a quick stop there this afternoon, when most of the hard core shoppers were already gone.

Other than falling a little victim to sale fever, I'm just lucky to have four days off in a row. Since this doesn't happen often, I want to jam pack the days with activities, truly taking advantage of the time to do things that I normally don't get to do. Like, play videos games! Or read all day! Or craft and decorate for the holidays like nobody's business!

Anyone else who has the same spirit but is not quite sure where to start, here are a few ideas for a weekend of fun:

Head Out To The Movies

It's the end of the year, so movie theaters are crammed with all those classy flicks trying to get nominated for Oscars. You could check out Birdman (which just got the most nominations at the Independent Spirit Awards), or other sure fire Academy nominees like, The Theory Of Everything and Gone Girl.

Big hits like The Hunger Games and Dumb and Dumber To are out too. Plus, don't forget comedy geniuses Bill Murray and Melissa McCarthy are both starring in St. Vincent.

Stay In With The Movies

Movies have multiple release dates now. Some services get the movies before others. Between On Demand ordering, Netflix, Redbox, and actual video stores,  it's difficult trying to keep track of which will have the movie you want, the day you want. Eventually you can track down a movie to rent.

Since Food = Thanksgiving weekend, there seemed like no better time to enjoy a movie focused on cooking. That's why the much lauded Chef landed in my mailbox earlier this week.

Craft

With some fun striped yarn and huge ass knitting needles in my possession I plan on whipping up at least one of these cowls in the next few days. Once you master the herringbone stitch, this project is a no brainer.

Ultimately it is the perfect craft for making you feel productive while also watching various amounts of trash television.

Decorate

We are in the age of the DIY revolution. That couldn't apply more than to the holiday craft decoration craze. Basically the internet is just cat pictures and instructions for how to create your own Christmas ornaments or ideas for how to turn every room (including the kitchen) into a winter wonderland. 

Interested in creating a classy holiday wall feature? A Beautiful Mess had a fun tutorial last year for a super swank swag made of pom-pom's and bells.

Read-A-Thon

I don't know about the rest of y'all, but I only made one resolution at the beginning of 2014. I came up with the idea of reading two books a month. That seems simple and yet currently I am ridiculously running behind.

In order to win this competition with myself, I'll need to read 11 books in the next 34 days. Who thinks I can do it? What is that like, three books a week? Let's place some bets. Just so you know, I'm tenacious and always finish what I start.

Dang it East Of Eden for being fantastic but nearly sucking up my entire summer of reading!

With this all in mind, I have decided that one day this weekend I will channel my ten-year-old self. Did anyone else have read-a-thon days in elementary school? It was the best day of the year. Everyone brought in sleeping bags and laid around eating snacks and reading all day. Grand memories.

Anyone who wants to join me in doing this at some point during the weekend, I suggest a pot of coffee, popcorn, sour straws, a warm snuggie, and a stack of books. I'll be finishing The Invention of Hugo Cabret, which is proving difficult since I just want to stare at the gorgeous illustrations (seen above) all day.

Whenever it seems like your eyes are getting drowsy, get up, and show off your best dance move while cranking some sweet, sweet jams.

Board Games

Yahtzee, Boggle, Scrabble, Apples To Apples, Monopoly, playing speed with your set of Walking Dead cards and getting caught up admiring Daryl - the possibilities are endless.

It's nice to give your eyes a break from all those screens and communicate with real people.

Video Games

 

So, this game Little Big Planet 2 - days can be spent just picking out your little character's outfit. He can even dress like the toys from Toy Story! This is my kind of game.

I'm a gal who spent her childhood playing video games with her brother and gaggle of boy cousins. The holidays always bring back those memories of us all playing Super Nintendo in my Grandma's living room. That's why around this time I always get a hankering to be handling some sort of controller and punching a bunch of random buttons.

Thankfully, when the urge is there, my brother has a PS3 and I get to be introduced to fun games.

Binge

People these days love a good reason to binge watch TV. A long holiday weekend is the best occasion.

Netflix subscribers might consider cranking through the first two seasons of American Horror Story. Maybe even consider a couple of my all time favorites - Parenthood, Gilmore Girls, and Friday Night Lights. New shows like The 100  are also on Netflix. That one is rumored to be pretty darn great.

Even though I'd love to watch all of my dearest shows again, in the next couple days I'll be catching up on Gracepoint, watching the final episode of Olive Kitteridge (I don't want this to end!) and trying to start an episode of The Knick.

Walk It Out

If weather allows, get out and stretch those limbs. Maybe even tune into some podcasts while you're at it.

With options like this, how can an extended weekend fail?

Until next time.

Holiday Dress Up

It's the 1st of November. All of the creepy movies have already been swept from existence on television and Christmas flicks are actually airing on the Hallmark channel. Elf also aired on Halloween night - I guess there has to be the counter entertainment for people who don't like to be scared.

I, however, can't get enough of all the spookiness that comes with the one holiday where it is deemed acceptable to wear a costume all day. To work, to the grocery store, and out in the streets - the day has no bounds for the silly and the scary.

Due to my surgery recovery I had to bail on any actual "going out" plans for the night, but with family stopping by and trick-or-treaters on the prowl a costume was still a must. One problem - going out and about hasn't been too easy for me of late, so hitting up Value Village to throw together a get up wasn't high on my list of priorities. It is in times like these where creativity can be the greatest of virtues.

Over the years I've collected quite a trunk of random accessories. Everything from a mini water gun (saved from a showing of Rocky Horror) to an assortment of hats (because who doesn't love a good hat?) has been saved just in case they could come in handy. Merely looking around my room and closet I came up with numerous great ideas for an ensemble.

Thinking through my list of random costumes, I settled on one homage to a classic flick, The Birds. I just needed a few pieces to pull it off. From my closet I pulled a 1960s feeling dress with a pencil skirt and a green cardigan to match the color of Tippi Hedren's outfit from the flick. Next was some murderous crows. Those could simply be printed out, taped on the sweater, and maybe even one could be rigged up to look like it was attacking, swooping down from above.

Earlier in the day I told my grandma (aka a classic film aficionado) all about my plans. She was excited, but came up with an even better idea. I had also filled her in about some of my other ideas, to which she replied, "Well, why don't you just change into as many costumes as you can?"

Challenge accepted!

Move over SJP. Last night was no 2000 MTV movie awards, but I did give Sarah Jessica a run for her money, and had seven costume changes. Maybe it was just the pain killers I'm on, but boy did I have fun.

All of these were quite simple to do. Each only required a few pieces of clothing, used interchangeably, some accessories, and a little make-up. Below are some fun snaps of the night. Enjoy.

The Pompous Yacht Owner

Farmer Ted

Snidely Whiplash  / 

Generic Old-Timey Movie Villain

Magician! Ooooh. Aaaaah. 

Wannabe Lounge Singer

Bonnie Parker 

For The Birds

 

To be honest, I could have done more. After awhile though I got tired of bugging people to take my picture and those rabid trick-or-treater's started coming in mass quantities making it difficult to transform.

Other costumes I had up my sleeve: masquerade ball attendee, noir film actress, flapper, 80s talk show host, Jon Snow, princess (with a unicorn), old time gym workout man, Carrie White, gypsy, fortune teller, Hunter S. Thompson, Cruella de Vil, and a pageant contestant. This list could be longer, but my brain gave up after awhile.

Twenty! That's twenty costume ideas just pulled together from things I already own. Well, with a little assistance from a computer and a printer. I never would have thought. It's funny, since every year I think that I have absolutely nothing to wear for Halloween. A fun exercise indeed.

Get collecting more props now, make a hat wall, and you too could be ready for any costume party.

Until next time.

Childhood Spooks: "It" Revisited

[Bat Girl, Halloween 1992 - That sweet face has yet to be exposed to pure fear.]

Drains. For at least a couple years in elementary school I had an irrational fear of drains.

Whenever it was time for a shower, I would whimper in fear and force one of my parents to sit on the toilet, watching over me as a form of protection. Silly, when I look back on it, but boy did it seem essential at the time.

Now, people who read this and want to call Maury so that I can be one of those people tackling a ridiculous phobia should know it actually wasn't the drain itself. Rather, I was focused on what was mysteriously hiding and could come out from the depths of the dark pipes that were stretched out for miles below.

All of this was due to being exposed at a young age to a certain TV mini-series - Stephen King's, It. Anyone familiar with this one might have even had the same fear or at least can understand where I'm coming from now. Who could blame me after seeing balloons filled with blood, terrifying voices, and even clowns popping out of drains.

Why was I even exposed to such terror, you ask? The stories are all the same for anyone who has siblings.

One trusting babysitter gets tricked by the older brother to let the kids watch something they shouldn't while their parents are away. My dad, the lifer King fan (who tells tales of being scared out of his mind while reading The Shining at 10-years-old up in his attic bedroom), had done what people did before DVR - he had taped the miniseries when it aired in 1990.

The VHS tape sat preserved for future viewings and a few years later my brother's interest was piqued after reading the title on the label, and being told it was too scary. No kid wants to be told they can't do something. Cue defiance.


Our teenage babysitter must have wanted to watch it herself or just really bought into my scheming eight-year-old brother's tale that, "my parents let us watch this all the time!" So, there the three of us were, laying on the carpet in our downstairs family room, me only about six, watching (from between my fingers) the chilling tale of a mysterious force that takes the form of a clown who murders children.

It was too gruesome for me then (obviously!), but twenty years since it first ruined my childhood, the mini-series has become a mainstay during Halloween season. It just so happens that last weekend, on a dark and stormy pacific northwest afternoon, my dad and I came across it playing on cable.

The cast reads like a dated sitcom - it could be thought that anything starring John Ritter, John-Boy from The Waltons, and the dad from Sister, Sister can't have any lasting quality. Surprisingly though (especially to me, the ultimate doubter of dated made for TV drivel), all of the actors and other creative people that were involved actually made something that has held up over time.

Even if I'm no longer a kid, this rather well put together four-hour television event  is actually still chilling.

The biggest factor of all: no child of the 90s looks at Tim Curry and see's anything other than Pennywise - the aforementioned clown killer who comes complete with a set of razor sharp teeth. Any time he comes on screen, bouncing down the street with balloons in an earnest happy fashion, is honestly terrifying. It's just unsettling to see something that is supposedly happy combined with the eerie music that plays over these scenes.

Then there is the segment that scarred me, and probably many others, the most. Pennywise (just typing out the name causes a mild chill to be sent all over my body) at one point pushes his head through a drain in the boy's locker room shower. Totally implausible, but logic doesn't factor into a youngster's mind. I couldn't stop thinking about that single image. The face of a friendly entertainer quickly turned into one that taunts children to death. In all of pop culture, only the current season of American Horror Story has concocted a clown that is more frightening. [Click at your own risk.]

Other than those spooks, the general story sticks to what Stephen King always writes about best - children fighting their fears. It is haunting that - much like A Nightmare On Elm Street - only the children can see Pennywise and his tricks. It's all in their mind. When blood comes spouting out of a sink, a girl screams in terror, but her father doesn't see a thing, and even rubs blood all over his hysterical daughter's face. Creepy, creepy, creepy.

The one thing that kept me from being scared through the whole experience, was spending time during this re-watch thinking about the sad demise of Jonathan Brandis. Once a teen heartthrob and rising star, he died tragically by his own hand in the early 2000s (another one of those in the 27 club). In It, Brandis played one of the main characters as a child (along with other familiar faces like, Seth Green).

Actually, all the young actors in this miniseries are the highlight. They act just like real kids who curse, rough-house, and spout off dirty jokes. Their talent was simply natural in a way that really makes them feel vulnerable. Kid actors nowadays seem to convey a more sanitized version of childhood. This would have made the mini-series fail. Brandis and the other children really make that sense of innocence palpable, which only intensifies how defenseless they are against Pennywise. This is essential to caring at all about how the story unfolds.

Just like the kids in the tale, childhood fears eventually fade. I can't even recall the exact time I grew out of the "scared to shower" phase. After seeing It again, the same trauma isn't there, but I would be lying if I didn't mention that this week I have been looking at drains just a little bit more curiously.


Have a Happy Halloween. Don't get too scared...or do.


Until next time.

Boo! Happy Halloween

[Brought to you by holiday classics - The Monster Squad, Teen Witch, Scream, Hocus Pocus, It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, Casper, and Buffy The Vampire Slayer.]

Once A Year Everyone's Irish

In the scheme of life, any holiday where a collective group of people actually band together to perform the same action, like wear a specific color, is quite enjoyable. There really isn't any other day where you find yourself frantically digging through your closet, all in a tizzy and in a panic yelling, "where's my green shirt!" Well, unless you REALLY like the color green.

Walking through a sea of green at work, in the streets and in aisles of the grocery store just livens up the world. Thanks St. Patrick's Day for making it all possible!

Coming from Irish ancestry on both sides of my family, days like this one is just another excuse to get together, colorfully show off some pride, and chow down on food. There are lots of potatoes involved, which no one has ever complained about.

America has taken this holiday and ran with it, so even if your blood line didn't touch the Emerald Isle, anyone can celebrate.There are after-all more Irish-Americans than the actual population of Ireland.

Besides the food, it's not St. Patrick's Day without a little fiddlin' and tunes from some terrific Irish exports. There could even be a little comedy thrown in for good measure.  No one can deny the greatness that has come out of one single country:

"So, You Wanna Go To A Real Party"

Hanging with Jack down in the third class, dancing at an uproarious Irish bash, always seemed like way more fun than that posh crew upstairs.

Obligatory Titanic reference? (Check!)

The Cranberries - "Dreaming My Dreams"

"Dreams" may be their everlasting legacy to music, but The Cranberries in general are rather timeless.

Elton couldn't live without his copy of their record either. 

Flogging Molly - "If I Ever Leave This World Alive" 

Not just for St.Patrick's Day - I can often be found humming this beautiful melody, and, as a violin player, obsessing over that fiddle section.

Van Morrison and The Chieftains

There is definitely nothing more Irish than these legends creating music together. In my dreams everywhere you went in Ireland - pubs, museums, open pastures - there would be a troubadour following you around playing songs like this continually. 

Once - "When Your Mind's Made Up"

Still after all these years my favorite movie out of Ireland features songs capable of giving an audience goosebumps. Glen Hansard wailing at the end of this song? Forget about it!

Conan Visits The Homeland

Everyone's favorite redhead traveled to Ireland many years ago and filmed some memorable bits - This clip never gets old.




Lads and Lasses, raise your Irish spirit high in whichever way you like!


Until next time.

Listing: Punniest Christmas

[Snowy nights - perfect for movie watching]

 Christmas time is just another reason to pop on some flicks. Those ones that are so engrained as tradition that if you didn't watch them while decorating the tree or sipping hot cocoa it would be as if something was missing.

It's definitely to each their own when it comes to the immense and vastly assorted Christmas canon, but for me it's really about the real classics - those filmed fifty years before I was alive, in black and white, with classy broads waving cigarettes while covered in their glamorous fur's.

Give me snow falling atop the Holiday Inn, or one of Father O'Malleys churches, or the March family homestead, or on the heads of Ebenzer and Tiny Tim, any holiday season.

Those oldies are Christmas to me, but being a modern  movie watcher means a little Love Actually, While You Were Sleeping, Prancer, and the 1994 version of Little Women are all thrown in for good measure.

I try to expand from the usuals and find at least one new treasure each year. Normally it is nothing too slapsticky or "dumb", but for some reason this year, I have fully embraced the ridiculous amount of cheese playing on  TV. Sometimes it just feels good to laugh at a crappy movie - I bet you may find one, or five, playing on TV right this second.

Lifetime, ABC Family, and Hallmark have been playing Christmas movies 24/7 since at least early November. At first that little bit of Scrooge inside me exclaimed, "too soon!", but I have since caved big time.

Are these good? Why, no. Are they worth watching? Oh, why yes!

It appears that all holiday themed made for TV movies have a simple formula: A pair of C List Actors + HYJYNX! = L.O.V.E. Don't forget a dash of a holiday pun for the title, and BOOM, you've got yourself a movie! The location will change, the actors will be different, but boy are they all the same story.

Here is just a sampling of a few that have been playing on repeat the last two months:

The Mistle-Tones

Doesn't every town have an accepella singing competition at the mall that is the highlight of the entire holiday season? I thought so.

This story finds Tia Mowry audtioning for The Snow Bells, the same singing group her deceased mother joined. Cue Tori Spelling, the reigning queen of the group, who turns down the talented Tia in a fit of jealousy .

With nowhere else to turn, Tia recruits a rag-tag group from her office, even her boss who is a secret Karaoke enthusiast, to form (yes, you guessed it) The Mistle-Tones! When word gets around to Tori that Tia's group is totally killing their version of "Winter Wonderland", and that The Mistle-Tones  have enough talent to beat The Snow Belles, she extends Tia the offer of a lifetime - to join The Snow Belles just like her mother. Will she turn her back on her new friends or follow the light with Tori?

This one gets the honor of best pun in a title, but be sure to tune in for a spot on lip-sync performance from Ms. Spelling and a cameo from Carl Winslow!

I need my Tori Spelling fix each Christmas, and The Mistle-Tones is filling the void since Hallmark decided to only show the truly riveting, A Carol Christmas, at 4:00 AM! For shame.

12 Trees Of Christmas

One quiant NYC borough library is about to be closed by an evil, manly contractor, so what's a dedicated librarian to do? She organizes a Christmas Tree decorating contest to give the library publicity of course!

At first the librarian and contractor butt heads, but...are those sparks flying in between the tension? Stick with this boring story and questionable acting for a true shining star to make a cameo - Scary Spice shows up in this mess! Why she is in this movie is questionable, however, does it really matter?

Holidaze

Having not actually watched this one, but couldn't ignore the brilliant title, I just want the wonderful synopsis to speak for itself:

"Holidaze stars Jennie Garth (90210, What I Like about You) as Melody, a successful and adventurous business woman who begrudgingly returns to her hometown for work. While there she takes a tumble and wakes up in an alternate reality where she never left town and married her childhood sweetheart, Carter McClure, played by Cameron Mathison (All My Children, Good Morning America). Could this experience change Melody’s decision to leave home?"

So much hyjynx!

Ben's Christmas

First of all,  Erik Von Detton did it better in 1996 with his 90's Leo hair.

For this version, I should have known just by the boring title that it should be avoided. We find ourselves with a teenager named Ben who is reliving the same Christmas Day over and over again, because he's ungrateful for his family? Not entirely sure here.

The problem is this kid has the most monotonous Christmas Day of all time - nothing that exciting or terrible even happens (unless you count your parents awkwardly salsa-ing down a hallway). When the premise is a kid's Christmas will play over and over, make it interesting at least.

Eventually, nearly 45 minutes later, Ben understands he doesn't have to do the same thing every time he wakes up and it's Christmas again, and he stops moping around, but that was about the time I checked out. I'm sure there is a happy ending.

Let It Snow

When DJ Tanner and Mr. Seaver show up in a TV movie together, just sit down and give it a try.

There's a little role reversial here, as the woman (DJ) plays the capitalist homewrecker trying to shut down a popular mountain inn, and some handsome dude plays the sensible son of the inn owners. With snowball fights, cookie making, and sledding he tries to instill holiday cheer in DJ's black heart so that she will want to keep the inn open with all the down home charm.

Turns out her father (Alan Thicke) is the president of their company, and he is the real Humbug. Will the inn be saved? Will love bloom? Will DJ ever leave the mountains? So many questions, and thankfully, as one would expect, they are all answered.

A Snow Globe Christmas

What's with all the alternate universe movies? I've been cynical about the rest of these, but this is one I didn't finish, but definitely could have if I didn't have something better to do. Hence, it's not terrible.

This one finds a "cynical, overworked TV executive" in a perfect wonderland life after getting hit on the head with a snow globe. I know, hilarious, these just write themselves!

In this world she is a nice homebody with two kids and an adorable husband (played by Murray from Clueless). They even produce the town Christmas play together! No joke Donald Faison makes this movie actually cute.

Her bad tendencies were starting to kick in about the time I stopped watching. My theory is, influenced by her upstanding fake husband, she changes her ways, and stays in the snow globe kind of like Reese Witherspoon in Pleasantville.

Scratch that. Instead, she wakes up in her dreary office, storms out onto the streets with new vigor for life, and meet -cutes with the real version of Donald Faison in the streets of NYC. Credits roll. Curtains close. Fin. Masterpiece.


I'm living for these movies - just the plot descriptions have been making Christmas 2013 a while lot more hilarious! What have been some of your favorites? There's only about 100 more to choose from.

For Your Consideration: Spooky Movie Edition

There is something particularity jarring about a child screaming. The majority of modern horror movies don’t understand that a scare can come from something that simple. 

Thrilling audiences by channeling those old fashioned, more commonplace fears has seen a resurgence in supernatural chillers like the The Conjuring and Paranormal Activity. More often though, horror movies tend to be about outlandish murder and torture. Most notably, "show me the blood!" was the key to the popular Saw and Hostel enterprises, and just this year in The Purge and You're Next.

Let's bring back more of those subtle scares! One way to start would be to check out a movie from 1961, based on Henry James' story, The Turn Of The Screw. It may be missing all the blood and guts we’ve grown accustomed to seeing in our favorite flicks around All Hallows Eve, but sometimes all it takes to send a chill up your spine is an eerie house and the unsettling sounds of a terrified child. In consideration for your new spooky favorite – The Innocents. Beware, after just one viewing, windows at night will become something to avoid.

In fact, the chilling tone is set within the first frame.  For 45 seconds, the screen is black and all that can be heard is the haunting voice of a singing child. Slowly, the blackness fades to the closeup of a panic stricken face, the star of this picture in fact, Deborah Kerr, who is quietly praying. It's a simple movie equation that religion + supernatural  = terror! (See also: The Exorcist) That's right, only a few minutes into a movie and you may already be leveled with fear, but keep watching.

Kerr plays Miss Giddens, a governess, who, after the dark opening, we find as she happily accepts her first position taking care of children in a country estate. These orphans have been left as the charges to a man more interested in remaining a bachelor, so he requests to be left completely alone and entirely hands off their care. Miss Giddens is unaware that the man's carelessness has unknowingly already caused harm.

All is well traveling out in the wide open country, with a towering mansion off in the distance, but not upon closer inspection. Within minutes of Miss Giddens' arrival in the massive garden surrounding the house, a soft voice calling out a girl’s name can be heard, so quietly both Miss Giddens, who looks perplexed, and the viewers wonder if anything was heard at all.

Quite suddenly, a joyous young girl runs up out of nowhere, who ends up having the same name of the voice we just (thought) we heard. There is no time wasted for the supernatural elements to begin. From the first minute on the property, anyone would want to jump in the screen and make Deborah Kerr run in the opposite direction.

Instead she heads into the massive household that is large enough to hold many secrets, but is bewitching to her, as she grew up under meager circumstances, so, she happily bounces through each of the magnificent rooms. Nothing odd to find here...yet.


Everything remains well until several days later, the girl is joined by her brother who has gotten expelled from his boarding school. It is the first of many mysterious circumstances.

Once the two siblings are joined together, odd events begin to torture Miss Giddens; she see's a woman in black hovering across the lake, a shadowy male figure on top of a bell tower, and a woman restlessly pacing the hallways. Unexplainable events happening around every corner definitely turns a normal game of hide and seek into 10 nerve wracking minutes for both Miss Giddens and the audience watching it unfold.

Kerr, who is most well known for The King and I, is far from her character who dances the night away in Siam. She spends the entire time on screen doing the demanding job of balancing the face of a joyful teacher with that of abject terror - she becomes a governess who is scared of the children she is looking after. More emphasis is put on the latter emotion as the history of a past governess and groundskeeper are revealed. These were two people the children cared for with an extra special affinity.

Those children are terrifying enough, but then there is the entire spooky atmosphere enhanced by the director, Jack Clayton. Dramatic camera angles, quick cuts, and intense close-ups on the actors faces makes the already unearthly story feel even more abstract and unreal.

Filmed in black and white, older scary movies are inherently creepy as it is, just in how that type of film makes shadowed corners seem especially dark. With that element already in place, each scene is constructed to get the audience to react with quick cuts to mysterious figures coming out of those shadows and adding terror to a scene with a toy clown in the attic. You know a story has reeled you in when every single instant in a movie, even a toy, makes you want to hide under the covers.

Besides the wonderful performances by the entire cast and all the creative, mind-bending filming techniques, what really makes this flick a  must see, and incredibly memorable, is the ambiguous nature of the story.  The additional assumptions that arise from this ambiguity, which will be different based on each person's interpretation, could be (for some) much more frightening than the obvious fear caused by a haunting.

Halloween is next week, so anyone looking for a new movie  to add to their spook-fest that will deliver more spine chilling moments than a traditional slasher flick,  look no further than The Innocents. Three days later, after seeing it for the first time, and I can still hear the slight scream of a child rattling in my ears.

Listing: Round It Up, Take Three

(A yearly must: Christmas in downtown Seattle)

We have all officially rang in 2013, and while I am excited to celebrate all of the new, I still want to spend one more moment on 2012 before we completely move on to the year in front of us.

Without further ado, a few more gems from 2012:

  

The Perks of Being a Wallflower
 

Even though I just saw this film over the weekend, it has many moments I can't stop thinking about, so I felt it needed to be included  in a year end, best of blitz. It also made me ugly cry, and you never forget the things that make you ugly cry.

First of all, it has a killer soundtrack. Naturally, the characters are all obsessed with music, which is often the requirement for breeding said brilliant soundtrack. I do love when people in movies just sit around talking about music, but for this story it has a purpose, as it weaves into the characters and even becomes the key to some of their secrets.

All that alone would fit my bill for a great flick, but, even through the intense nature in much of the story, I found every character to be entirely delightful and got quickly wrapped up in each of their lives. The two male leads (Logan Lerman and Ezra Miller) are particularly impactful. 

The fact that the author of the book (Stephen Chbosky) wrote the screenplay and directed the movie is rare, and something I also really admire. It's quite fantastic to give an author a way to tell the same story, but in a different way. I can just see Chbosky imagining filming those beautiful tunnel sequences as he was writing the novel.


 

Parenthood

The movie above and a certain TV show have several things in common; "Bland", of course, and for queuing the waterworks.

Although, there can be only one source of entertainment that tops the "Ugly Cry Hall of Fame". Any fans of Parenthood know that during any episode of this show, without notice, tears will be falling from your face, so keeping a dry sleeve or a box of tissues handy is always necessary.

It's not just about the sadness though. This show is really fantastic in how it balances the extreme emotional hardships impacting the Bravermans (Iraq Vet Boyfriend, failed adoptions, cancer) with all of the great things that happen too (exciting business ventures, family dinners, marriages).

We all go through ups and downs, and no other show intertwines these better, all while still creating interesting stories that keep fans coming back for more.

Langhorne Slim - The Way We Move

This year may have been when every band had a banjo, but artists like Langhorne Slim have been rockin' that sound for awhile now. I still haven't stopped listening to his 2012 release, The Way We Move, and was lucky enough to see him in concert over the summer.

Man, this guy is great. Those simple words are all that come to mind once that vibrant and soulful tone starts going.

Jiro Dreams Of Sushi

Sushi is in the title and Jiro has dedicated his life to making it, but this gorgeously filmed documentary following his life isn't just for chefs, it can be an inspiration to anyone. 

The most hard working 85-year-old I have ever laid eyes on became a master sushi chef, his 10 seat restaurant has three Michelin stars, and he continues to work everyday, with the exception of begrudingly taking off holidays. He did what he loved and that was that.

Jiro chose a profession and continually worked at perfecting his craft. I think we could all be better in 2013 by looking at his example. I know I will. 


 

30 Rock

Liz Lemon got married in a Princess Leia costume. Nothing for a TV character has been more perfect.

We still have a few more new episodes in 2013 to hold on to, and I will grasp at every moment we still have of Liz, crazy Jenna, Dr. Spaceman, Tracy, Kenneth Ellen Parcell, and Jack. I will miss all of those kooks tremendously.

They actually named a character Criss Cross for crying out loud! Completely Brilliant.

The Lumineers - "Stubborn Love"

One of the new bands that burst onto the scene with banjo in hand were The Lumineers.

Their first release had me (and millions of others) at "Ho Hey", but turns out the rest of the album delivers much of the same sweet sounding melodies.

I appreciate any band that integrates a string section, so because of  some glorious back up violin and a catchy chorus, "Stubborn Love" is the song I can't stop listening to.



I think I will look back on 2012 with fond memories. It's an exciting (and somewhat scary) feeling to begin a new year, but it's always welcome. I never have really been big on "New Year's Resolutions", but there are things I'm thinking about changing.

For anyone giving something new a try this year, best of luck and on we go!

Listing: Round It Up, Take Two

(My own little Christmas Tree)

Today is New Years Eve, and nobody even thought we were going to make it past the 21st! That unexpected surprise must make everyone more excited to kick off 2013 the best way possible.

For now, with less than 10 hours left of the year, we'll continue to go over the year that is almost behind us.

Ted

The world hasn't been introduced to many (or any) movies about vulgar, pot smoking, drinking teddy bears, but 2012 was the year where this became possible.

Definitely the most fun I had sitting in a movie theater all year. Giovanni Ribisi being creepy, comedic Mark Wahlberg, and a teddy with a heart of gold all makes Ted extremely memorable, hysterical, and actually loveable. All this credit has to be given to Seth McFarlane for the way he created the story, because in the hands of a crappy writer this would have been a complete mess.

There is probably already a sequel in the works.

The Avengers

The second best time I had in a theater this year followed five of the best superheroes the world has ever known.

Smart, witty, and action-packed, The Avengers proves that this is how you turn the masses into comic book nerds. 

 

Sufjan Christmas Tour 

After years of waiting, my friends and I never thought we would see Sufjan Stevens in concert; December 2012 proved us wrong.

Between the classic Christmas carols, festive crowd (donning antlers, santa hats, and one girl dressed as a Christmas tree), the Christmas Unicorn, a giant snowman, and lots of confetti, it was one of my favorite events from this holiday season.

Ending the show with beautifully singing a couple of his non-holiday hits was also a welcome surprise.

Parks And Rec

I'm forever thankful that Leslie, Ron, Andy and the gang came along to create comedy.  

It will be nice knowing when we sadly bid 30 Rock adieu there will still be a TV show that will deliver obscure pop culture references and make us all laugh till it hurts. 

  

Moonrise Kingdom

The one thing I hear most consistently in praise about Wes Anderson movies is that people just want to live in them. I couldn't agree more, and Moonrise Kingdom might possibly have the most desired world to hop into.

Sure, there are always kooky happenings, but the stories are also equal parts fun, heartfelt, and relateable.

All those bright pops of lovely colors and seeing Edward Norton back in the movies isn't too bad either.

Of Monsters And Men - My Head Is An Animal

I know, I know, people are getting sick of "this kind of music". I sort of get what people are saying, even though this sound isn't anything new, it's just becoming more widely popular. 

Either way, since I love a good accordion and horn section, I think the release from these Iceland natives is quite enjoyable.  "Little Talks" was their big hit and the rest of the album delivers a lot of the same fun atmosphere with co-singers Nanna and Raggi's vibrant voices as a highlight.

 Plus, they have a video live from the Gorge Amphitheater, aka one of my favorite places on Planet Earth. Check it out above.

P!nk - "Try"

Pink has been famous since I was in 7th grade. That thought just made me feel old, but maybe that would make Pink feel old as well?

She burst onto the TRL stage as the anti Britney, and through all the "Getting The Party Started" and "Lady Marmalades", the last couple Pink albums have been great as establishing her as a powerhouse solo singer, and not just a throw away popstar.

Her 2012 album, The Truth About Love, did hit big with the popular summer song, "Blow Me (One Last Kiss)", but honestly her album is a great listen in its entirety, with "Try" being my favorite.

 

The Cabin In The Woods

Horror movies used to be my favorite. In recent years though, all those chop-em up, bloody gore messes that dominate horror releases are something I won't stomach. Finally, some smart folks came up with an astoundingly creative horror movie.

I had absolutely no idea what The Cabin In The Woods was about when I rented it, which is exactly how everyone should go in before seeing it. Just know that the word awesome will go through your brain a million times through the length of the movie.


Hope everyone out there merrily rings in 2013! I'll be back tomorrow with more best of 2012, because I just can't get enough of list making.

Listing: Round It Up, Take One

(2012 New Years At The Needle)

Entertainment consumption is a continual cycle. When we finish one movie or series, we are keeping our eyes out for something more. Sometimes this consumption comes with patterns.

At this exact time last year (according to my Netflix viewing history), right on the brink of 2012, I was eagerly getting obsessed with a critically acclaimed show from the 90's created by Aaron Sorkin. Twelve months later, not a lot has changed. Sorkin has reeled me in again just in time to kick off 2013 with some witty fast talking banter and long tracking shots.

I bounced from the exciting halls of a TV studio on Sports Night to the exciting halls of The White House on The West Wing. There were also many shows, movies and tunes in between that had me riveted throughout the year. 

In several installments, because one just isn't enough, I've picked everything that define, to me, 2012 in entertainment.  Lets get started!

First Aid Kit - The Lion's Roar

These two sisters from Sweden get my vote for the best album of 2012.

With a tip of their hat to the folk and country roots of classic Americana tunes, The Lion's Roar is perfect from beginning to end, showcasing the duo's haunting voices and talent for writing beautiful ballads.

Nashville

Connie Britton, coming off Friday Night Lights and American Horror Story, can do no wrong, so it's not a surprise that long before her new show debuted I was equally excited and prepared to defend it.

Even with my excitement, I was honestly shocked at how enjoyable Nashville turned out to be. Each week is packed with soapy drama, but most importantly, for a show set in the music industry, every episode introduces catchy songs sung by the talented cast. The show is even making me like Hayden Panettiere...who thought that was possible?

This is definitely the year that I am truly embracing this kind of country.

The Dark Knight Rises

The Christopher Nolan Batman saga went out in tremendous glory over the summer. With the film just released on DVD, the chilling trailer is once again playing on high rotation on TV, and it still sucks me in every time. There's a storm coming...

At one point I didn't enjoy Anne Hathaway, but somewhere between The Princess Diaries and a couple years ago I changed my mind. Her playing "Cat Woman" is one of my favorite things of the entire year. Taking into consideration that I'm still waiting to see Les Miserables.

The Avett Brothers - Pretty Girl From Michigan

The Carpenter, from said brothers, tops my list of most listened to albums over this year, but highlighting a favorite song seemed necessary.

Vibing on 60's pop/rock, this was the jam of many summer drives.

The Master

After being crazy and falling out of Hollywood for a couple years, Joaquin Pheonix is back, and it's thrilling.

Fittingly, he brings his alluring eyes into the cinema once again to play a lost guy, who's pretty well out of his mind while he discovers "The Cause" and befriends their leader (played by Philip Seymour Hoffman).

The Master is weird at times, but also magnetic and immensely beautiful to look at. The intense dynamic between Hoffman and Pheonix is unmatched by any other actors in the movies I have seen this year.

Rufus Wainwright - Out Of The Game

Straight up, any time Rufus has an album, listen to it. His outstanding voice is out of this world. There is also a great cameo by Helena Bonham Carter in this video. It made me nostalgic for the time when it seemed like artists released fun music videos everyday.

Rashida is also another stand out from the album.

All of AMC

The schedule of AMC programing felt like it took over my year.

Kicking off with the much delayed (but incredible) season five of Mad Men (Side Note: Golden Globe voters, what's wrong with you!), which lead into another magnificent season of Breaking Bad, and ended with The Walking Dead, which improves in storytelling every season.

Some may see these shows as depressing, and even I was once iffy about them myself. Eventually for TV fans it becomes hard to ignore all the buzz, which turns out to be warranted. The stories and characters are so entirely engrossing and you get sucked into being obsessed with what is going to happen. Most of the time, on these three shows, it is always shocking what unfolds.

New Girl

What started off as a show starring Zooey Deschanel with three guys, and an unbalanced first season, has become one of my must see favorite comedies.

Each of the four main characters (Deschanel plus, Jake Johnson, Lamorne Morris, and Max Greenfield)  are goofy and fun, and together they are involved in some of the most hysterical stories on TV.

Regina Spektor - How

Spektor is another class act that released a new album this year. Her piano playing is still fantastic, and on ballads like "How" we are reminded of the powerful, refined, and special voice that emits from such a cute as a button woman.

Seriously, she walked by me in a record store once, and is literally me cut in half.

We are just getting started! Stay tuned for more of the exciting music, movies, and TV that came out of 2012. I hope everyone is looking back and accumulating lots of lists.