Saturday, December 29, 2012

Movie Song of the Week: "Baby, It's Cold Outside"

From the 1949 movie musical Neptune's Daughter, it's the late Betty Garrett and the late Red Skelton reversing the genders on an old winter show tune. For what it is worth, Red Skelton's funny accent can be explained by the fact that he is posing as a South American polo player. And yes, that probably makes more sense if you see the movie.

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Movie Quote of the Week

Christmas is more about warding off evil spirits than Halloween. What Christmas shit in this room resembles anything Christian, huh? It's all neo-pagan magic. Christmas tree, a magical rite ensuring the return of the crops. The mistletoe is nothing but a conception charm. Fifth century Christians jacked a Roman Winter Festival -- twelve days in December when the nights were long and the Earth was ruled by the demons of chaos.
--Crystal Lowe, Black Christmas (2006)

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TV Quote of the Week

The meaning of Christmas is that we give it meaning. To me, it used to mean being with my mom. Now, I guess it means being with you guys. Thanks, Lost.
--Danny Pudi, Community, "Abed's Uncontrollable Christmas"

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Thursday, December 27, 2012

R.I.P. Larry L. King

Texan writer/journalist/playwright Larry L. King, most famous for writing the magazine article that eventually inspired the creation of the Broadway musical The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas -- as well as the 1982 movie of the same name -- and for writing the 1971 memoir Confessions of a White Racist, covered his typewriter for the last time on December 20 at age 83.

He will be missed except for those pitiful few who mistake him for talk show host Larry King.

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R.I.P. Sylvia Kristel

Dutch actress Sylvia Kristel, best known for playing the title role in the 1974 erotic film Emannuelle and three of its six sequels as well as more respectable roles in the 1979 film Concorde...Airport '79 and the 1981 farce Private Lessons, finished her last role on October 17 at age 60.

She will be missed.

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R.I.P. Fontella Bass

American soul singer Fontella Bass, best known for the 1965 hit "Rescue Me", which she also co-wrote, sang her last note last night at age 72.

She will be missed.

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Wednesday, December 26, 2012

R.I.P. Charles Durning

American actor Charles Durning, best known for his roles as the Texas governor in the 1982 movie musical The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and yet another politico in the 2000 movie O Brother, Where Art Thou?, made his last plea for votes the day before yesterday at age 89.

He will be missed.

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R.I.P. Jack Klugman

American actor Jack Klugman, best known for his role as Oscar Madison in the 1970s sitcom The Odd Couple and for his title role as a coroner on the medical mystery series Quincy, M.E., started preparing for his next argument with his deceased former co-star Tony Randall the day before yesterday at age 90.

He will be missed.

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Saturday, December 22, 2012

Christmas and Pop Song of the Week: "Santa and His Old Lady"

Because we all need a little Christmas humor every now and then.

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¡Feliz Navidad!


Everyone's favorite Judeo-Christian actress/vampire slayer -- who is married to a Hispanic as well! -- and possesses the same hair color as my current novia/amor de mi vida! -- what a coincidence! Anyway, Ms. Gellar-Prinze wishes you all a happy holiday season and asks that you remember the less fortunate this Christmas. She would also like you all to hold a special place in your heart for Jewish mothers because hey, you never know...

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Song Quote of the Week

Have yourself a merry, merry Christmas.
Have yourself a good time.
But remember the kids who got nothing,
while you're drinking down your wine.
--Ray Davies, “Father Christmas”

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All the Christmas Movies That I Have Seen

1. Arthur Christmas (2011).


Before I saw this movie, I was beginning to think they stopped making good Christmas movies. I mean, sure, Nothing Like the Holidays was not a bad effort, but it was hardly a classic. And most other Christmas films I've seen within the last decade -- with one obvious exception -- did not even try to approach the same level as NLtH.

Then came this flick and my faith was restored. Granted, when you have the reliable vocal talents of Jim Broadbent and Hugh Laurie, it is kinda hard to make a bad Christmas movie. But writers Sarah Smith and Peter Baynham give it their best shot anyway. And although only time will tell if this film is as fondly remembered in 2052 as It's a Wonderful Life and the original Miracle on 34th Street are today, I would like to think that the odds are in this film's favor. If nothing else, Arthur Christmas' humorous but good-hearted quest to do the right thing on Christmas Eve is a pleasant alternative to the usual "dysfunctional-and-proud-of-it" Christmas movie that has so recently become the rage.

2. Rise of the Guardians (2012).


This year's Arthur Christmas. Granted, it is a bit darker than AC and less traditional than your average holiday movie. But in its own way, it works.

When I first saw the trailer for this movie, I feared that Alec Baldwin's very untraditional take on Santa Claus -- among other things, his version speaks with a Russian accent, carries two swords and proudly displays two arm tattoos that say "Naughty" and "Nice" -- would end up ruining the movie. But I was wrong to think so.

Not only was Mr. Baldwin's Slavic Santa surprisingly charming, but so were Hugh Jackman's Australian Easter bunny, Chris Pine's Impish-American Jack Frost and the oh so silent (and definitely not Neil Gaimanish) Sandman. For that matter, I also liked Isla Fisher's Tooth Fairy character though it was a bit surprising for me to see Ms. Fisher in a role that was so Earth Motherly after seeing her play so many ingenues on the silver screen.

If there is one flaw in the movie, it is the way that it veers away from any of the traditional religious elements associated with Christmas. But then the same thing could be said of many classic Christmas movies including Arthur Christmas. And quite frankly, I would prefer that Hollywood stay away from such religious works as The Little Drummer Boy and The Night the Animals Talked lest they receive the same dismal treatment that Dr Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas received from director Ron Howard. After all, there are worse things a good Christian could watch than a shamelessly pagan Santa Claus.

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Thursday, December 20, 2012

Movie Song of the Week: "Baby, It's Cold Outside"

The one scene from Elf that I really like. And even then my like has more to do with Ms. Deschanel's vocals than anything else.

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Movie Quote of the Week

Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often, it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there -- fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know, none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge -- they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I've got a sneaking suspicion... love actually is all around.
--Hugh Grant, Love Actually (2003)

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TV Quote of the Week

These are tricks that the mind plays. They are ingrained clichés from a thousand different horror films. When we hear a sound, we get a chill. We-we see a shadow and we allow ourselves to imagine something that an otherwise rational person would discount out of hand. The whole... Mulder...?

The whole idea of a benevolent entity fits perfectly with what I'm saying. That a spirit would materialize or return for no other purpose than to show itself is silly and ridiculous. I mean, what it really shows is how silly and ridiculous we have become in believing such things. I mean, that... That we can ignore all natural laws about the corporeal body that-that we witness these spirits clad in-in their own shabby outfits with the same old haircuts and hairstyles never aging, never... Never in search of more comfortable surroundings -- it actually ends up saying more about the living than it does about the dead. I mean, Mulder, it doesn't take an advanced degree in psychology to understand the... the unconscious yearnings that these imaginings satisfy. You know, the-the longing for immortality the hope that there is something beyond this mortal coil -- that-that we might never be long without our loved ones. I mean, these are powerful, powerful desires. I mean, they're the very essence of what make us human. The very essence of Christmas, actually.
--Gillian Anderson, The X-Files, “How the Ghosts Stole Christmas”

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Saturday, December 15, 2012

Quote of the Week

Motherfuckers will read a book that’s 1/3rd elvish, but put two sentences in Spanish and they (white people) think we’re taking over.
--Junot Díaz

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Comic Book Image of the Week


Apparently Green Arrow still has issues with the last Dark Knight movie.

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Friday, December 14, 2012

Pop Song of the Week: "The Ballad of Bilbo Baggins"

Leonard Nimoy comes up with the most concise version of The Hobbit ever. (BTW, am I the only one who ever wondered what was going on behind that hill in the video?)

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Thursday, December 13, 2012

Movie Quote of the Week

There's always time for a bow.
--Ashley Jensen, Arthur Christmas (2011)

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TV Quote of the Week

Maybe Christmas, he thought... doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps... means a little bit more!
--Boris Karloff, How the Grinch Stole Christmas

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Saturday, December 08, 2012

Christmas and Pop Song of the Week: "All I Want for Christmas Is You"

For mi novia. I have known her for about five years but it was not until this year that I realized how much I cared for her.

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Movie Song of the Week: "Jingle Bell Rock"

Please don't tell my mother I posted this but for some reason, I just had to. Who would have thought that life would change so much for Lindsay Lohan since 2004?

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¡Feliz Cumpleaños, Mi Hermano y Mi Mamá!

It's that day again. My mother's birthday and my youngest brother's birthday.

We will undoubtedly celebrate it officially tomorrow but officially it takes place today.

It is also the Catholic religious holiday known as Feast of the Immaculate Conception but you all probably knew that already.

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Movie Quote of the Week

I don't ask for things I don't think I can get.
--Bette Davis, The Little Foxes (1941)

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TV Quote of the Week

Christmas is not only getting too commercial, it's getting too dangerous.
--Christopher Shea, A Charlie Brown Christmas

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