Dum dum dum dum dum...

That's the tune that will be stuck in my head for the next few days thanks to my watching Close Encounters of the Third Kind for the first time.

Personally, I thought it was too long. E.T. was a way better story and had a more touching ending. This flick was just okay for me. Not a movie I want to sit through again though. Hardly anything over 2 hours is something I want to see again.

But the best part of the movie was in the very beginning when Dominic said,

"I can't remember what the little kid's name is, but I know it's something weird."

He said this like he meant it, and he did. He hadn't seen Close Encounters in years and all he remembered was that this kid's name was something crazy, unthinkable and just plain weird.

Then about 5 seconds later, when this totally bizarro-named kid ran away into the fields chasing the space ship his mother yelled out,

"BARRY! BARRY!"

Wah wah wah.

I remember a few months ago I really wanted to see this Ricki Lake movie about childbirth, but kept missing it for some reason. I finally got The Business of Being Born yesterday from the library, and while it wasn't some groundbreaking documentary and had only one-sided view (like most documentaries) I would definitely have to say that anyone who's considering having one of those little humans should rent this ASAP.

The movie will open your eyes to the dangers of having a hospital delivery. From the costs to all that medicine you most likely don't need to just being uncomfortable because who the hell likes hospitals to the fact that a hospital is a business, and like restaurants they want you in and out, you really have to wonder why so many women are opting to still do it this way.

Why wouldn't you want to have your baby at home, with your music, with the people you care about all around you or maybe not all around you? These midwives are prepared for obstacles that may happen, and I guess I won't give the whole movie away but far less babies die at in-home childbirths than in hospitals and that right there is something to think about.

I talked to my friend, Jessie, briefly today. And when she asked me if Dominic and I were going to get married and have babies. I was all like noooooooo, not anytime soon. But I'm pretty sure if we decided to give up our lives to some crying, money grubbing life form/pride and joy that I'd like to have this thing coming out of me in my nice claw foot tub with Cat Stevens and Bill Withers singing to me from my computer. And not, by any means necessary, at the mercy of some doctor dude I've probably never met before and the sounds of all those scary machines with a nice big bill waiting for me when the placenta comes flying out.

No thank you.

I could be the only person in the world.

I'm not seeing Sex and the City tonight, like a bafuckingchillion other women and gay men might be doing all day today and possibly a few more times over the weekend.

Instead I'm seeing the complete opposite of that: Indiana Jones and the Running From Something to Find a Jewel flick

I'm pretty pumped actually, but I also know that by the time I do see SATC, I'll most likely know everything about the movie. I'm seeing it in 2 weeks when I'm actually in NYC with the mom, on our first ever Mommy and Me vacation. So I'd really appreciate it, if the entire universe just shut their traps until then.

Thanks a lot.

Maxed In

About a month ago, I marched into Charles Schwab and asked, “So how do I give you money so I can make more money?” And I got a shocking response.

The woman, in her fancy suit and smelly perfume, basically told me she doesn’t want to take my money just yet. Even though I already have a 401k and a CD and a savings account and a little chunk to put somewhere else, she wants me to learn more about mutual funds, annuties and bonds before I just hand them my money and say good day.

I thought this was the most honest answer I’ve gotten in awhile. From a corporation. That deals with money.

So yesterday, I rented Maxed Out. A documentary of sorts about how fucked up America’s financial status is at. How everyone, including our government is borrowing money to pay off loans. How ridiculous right? This movie was amazing (minus the crazy font they used) and I might even watch it again before it’s due back at Blockbuster.

I know I’ve been going on a decent path money wise. I obtained too much debt in my college years ($12,000 on a credit card and about $65,000 in student loans) but miraculously because of my cheapness and lack of desire to shop for trendy clothes, I’ve been paying it all off at a crazy time span. The credit card debt is long gone and in a month I’ll be able to pay off ONE out of the three student loans I have.

Did I mention I still don’t have a full time job? And I can still take amazing vacations every year? And mommy and daddy don’t help me.

It’s called saving up, not spending money on books and lattes and paying more than the minimum.

The best advice my mom gave me way back when was to pay more than the minimum. I did this from day one. Ten fold. And it’s been working ever since.

Now I pay off my smallest loan with more money and then work my way up. All of this paying things off just makes perfect sense to me. Who wants to pay interest on a cup of coffee? On a trip? On a shirt? On years of education? Not me. And yet, 30 million people+ are in debt and file bankruptcy. IN AMERICA ALONE.

Why? Because we are amongst the greediest motherfuckers alive today. We live in a world where Paris Hilton gets fame just because she’s rich. We are bombarded by Real Housewives on Bravo and The Hills, where spoiled kids cry over being spoiled.

And too many people want to be just like them.

That’s not to say there aren’t a lot of tragedies too. I don’t know what would happen if I suddenly got sick. As it seems, when you get really sick, health insurance seems to vanish like a magic trick. Or if freelance dried up. Or if I never get a full time job. Or if something happened to my family.

There were a lot of these sad stories in Maxed Out that it freaked me out a bit.

I got so mad when they told a story of a young college student who racked up so much debt that it literally took over his life. It breaks my heart that even after he killed himself, those fucking credit card companies kept mailing him letters saying they can give him even more credit with a low, low interest rate.

A week ago I took the Charles Schwab chick’s advice again, and got a book from my library called Financial Planning for the Utterly Confused. It seemed perfect for someone like me because, well, I’m crazy confused about all this stuff. I also got The Bell Jar and started reading that instead, telling myself I’ll read that money book later. One day. When I have time.

Well, it only took a week, and this movie, for me to actually pick up that silly money book and decide this will be my morning/afternoon bus read.

And I actually started reading it today. And hopefully I’ll keep reading it tomorrow. And the day after that. Until I understand it. So I can go back to Charles Schwab and be confident about where my money should go and what I want it to do for me. So that hopefully, I’ll never ever be Maxed Out again.

God willing.

At least I didn’t walk out this time.

On Friday, I decided Dominic and I needed to see a movie. In an actual movie theater. We originally planned to go blind, without looking at times or what would be playing or what have you. But seeing as most movies are pure crap and it was raining, Dominic had to take a quick gander on what’s playing these days.

We both agreed that the new Gondry flick, Be Kind Rewind, would be a safe choice.

We were fucking wrong.

This movie really sucked. Okay, wait. I’m lying a little. There were a few funny moments. And a few Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind/Science of Sleep) weird moments.

But mostly this movie just went nowhere. There were interesting characters that were in one second and then left the movie with no explanation. There was the fact that Mos Def acts like he’s slightly retarded the whole time, and I wasn’t sure if that was on purpose or not. There was the fact that the ending blew huge chunks and that the story was completely pointless.

And then there was Mia Farrow. Why did she start acting again? And why did she pick this movie to make her debut? And why were her sons blackish?

This movie seemed like an interesting idea. But really they should’ve just made the short remakes of popular movies with Jack Black for the internet (which they did at: ) and leave it at that. No need to waste two hours of my time, $20 of my money and gas to get there to see this piece of shit.

Persepolis

I've been meaning to write about this movie since I saw it, on opening night. I wanted to see this movie in LA when it premiered at some film festival, but spending $25 wasn't worth it to me. I mean, it's a movie. Not a concert. I don't need to be in the know that much.

So I waited 2 months very impatiently. I talked Dominic into seeing it with me, and all I really needed to do is tell him it was in French and he was sold. I forgot to tell him that he might cry.

The movie was, how do I put this, AMAZING. I'm always skeptical about books turned into movies, but this was just right. Her graphic novels made me want to write more. And her movie made me want to watch more good movies.

Her story telling is amazing. For a cartoon, it just hits you in all the right spots. It's not overly funny, or overly sentimental. It's the right amount of both. It's not cheesy. It's not even cartoony. It's just a simple movie about a girl growing up and finding herself, whomever that may be.

If you haven't read her books (under the same title) or seen her movie, please do so. Like right now.

Last week, I got a call from the nephew asking me why I walked out on Across the Universe. My boy, if you saw Persepolis, you'd understand.

You'd understand.

Not as good as Rushmore...

I saw The Darjeeling Limited last night. It was a free screening (of course) and we had to wait in line for an hour. No need to worry, as I always come prepared with crossword puzzles and fun games. The couple next to us also thought ahead as well and played some rummy type game with miniature cards. Aren't we the smartest (or most impatient)?

I didn't know what to expect from this movie. I heart Wes Anderson, but hated his last movie. The word around the street was that this would be more like The Royal Tenenbaums so I was happy to wait the hour and then sit another two hours with a bunch of germ infested people (hello sick season).

I liked this movie.

Shocker right? After a long line of bad movies, finally something worthy to write about. I didn't say I loved it. Believe me, it's no Rushmore. But I liked it. I would suggest others to waste their $10 to see it.

Of course with the good, comes the bad. And I'm much better at explaining the bad points. So with that, there were two that I noticed.

1. The slow motion. Wes Anderson seems to love this effect. It can be good at times. I loved the scene in The Royal Tenenbaums when Gwennie comes out of the bus to meet with the hotter Wilson brother. It works. The music works with it. There's a reason for the slow motion. But TDL seemed to do it just because. Maybe to stretch out the time? Or because he wanted to play a song a little longer? Who knows. It seemed to be pointless at times and this, of course, irked me.

2. The laughing. I'm not sure if people at screenings are just so pumped to see a movie for free that they'll laugh at anything, or if the people in this theater were stupid, or if the people in this theater thought they were watching a Will Ferrell flick but they laughed at everything. Sometimes to the point of me not understanding what the next line was, which is most irritating.

Don't get me wrong. This was a funny movie. But Wes Anderson and his writer friends are a different type of funny. A subtle funny. The kind of funny I love. So I just didn't understand why so many people were going crazy over this. It almost made me mad that they were laughing as much as they were. They should just chuckle. A snicker maybe. But not laugh out loud in unison. Ugh.

So there you have it. A bad review for a good movie.

Till Monday.

If only the Beatles did porn.

A few weeks ago, Dominic took off work so we could eat at our favorite taco truck and see Across the Universe.

All we heard about this movie was one review from someone I don't really trust with movies, or anything for that matter. He's one of those people who likes everything. Those people are always iffy in my book.

I saw some previews and it looked interesting enough. A movie inspired by Beatles songs. I liked George Harrison. Let's go!

We sat down and immediately knew we were doomed. This movie really fucking sucked. Not like Shark Attack 3 sucked (cause that's actually a quality bad movie). But like it just sucked. Sucked so bad we walked out after an hour. I've only done this once before and if I tell you the movie then you might not trust this review. Let's just say I'm not a war movie kinda gal (No, not Saving Private Ryan - I know good shit people).

Anyway, don't read the next few paragraphs if you actually want to see this turd. Fuck it, read the next few paragraphs cause I really don't want this movie to make any money at all. No one should see this.

It starts with a kid singing a popular Beatles song and it basically doesn't stop from there. This was a Mamma Mia play put into a movie. Actually I think that's probably what happened. Someone couldn't make this into a play, so a moron came up with the worst idea ever to make this song and dance into a 2 hour snore.

The main guy is the rebel who goes to war instead of college. The main chick is a prep who loses her boy to the war. They sing. They dance. I'm sure they fell in love (we didn't stay to find out).

It really is a bad high school play. I don't know any other way to describe this crap.

On another note entirely, because Dominic did my site in a very timely fashion I bought us tickets to what else, a short-film porn competiton called Hump 3! Basically it was all these short movies that had a lot of penises, bondages, vaginas, hardcore, softcore, really really hardcore (like make your stomach turn and look down at the floor until it's over hardcore), and entertaining porn. Their were about 25 short films and we had to vote on the best in humor and hardcore. Some were bad. Some were good. Some were oh my god.

In short, Hump 3 was way more entertaining than Across the Universe could ever be.
Way more entertaining.