TRIVIAL PURSUIT ANSWER OF THE DAY

DICK CLARK OF COURSE!

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DUCK BILLED PLATYPUS

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HOWARD COSELL

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OVALTINE

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10, 000

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ROCKY MARCIANO

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LITTLE ORPHAN ANNIE

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THE POPE

Happy Holidays, everyone!

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JACKIE MASON

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WOODY ALLEN

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YUL BRENNER

NO, NOT THAT YUL BRENNER!
THIS YUL BRENNER!

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YAKOV SMIRNOFF

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HENRY FORD

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ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA

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THEODOR GEISEL

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Mother Theresa

Classic Music Video of the Week

It's been a stressful week, for oh-so-many reasons. When I get stressed, I like to revert back to simpler times (in a totally mentally healthy way...).

Within the past two days, I rediscovered my love for this week's Classic Music Video of the Week. Even though Daylight Savings Time kicked in last weekend, let's turn the clock back once more, to the year 1995. I was 14, had straight As, and (thankfully) was unaware of the painful degree to which I was awkward. Life was good...or at least good enough. I still had hope for my future, and was sure of what my life would be at 27. Of course things haven't panned out quite the way I'd expected, but I still hold on to that hope. So, in memory of times gone by, and as a reminder to myself of how to deal with this coming week, I present this week's CMVW:

Loungin' by LL Cool J (featuring Total)

It may not be 1995 anymore, but I can definitely stop and take a minute to chill out...Thanks for the reminder, LL.

Class Music Video of the Week

Hello. It's been awhile.

So here's a Classic Music Video of the Week!

Incidentially, Nada Surf has some really good albums which people don't seem to check out because they only think of this one hit from the 90s. So check 'em out if you get a chance.

Depression Radio

I went to a local restaurant with my Mother the other night, for a quiet, relaxing dinner. As we walked in, I heard in the background "Back Come Back" by Ace playing. I noted this, since I like this song.

After we ordered our drinks, and were perusing the menu, the sounds of Dusty Springfield lingered in the background with "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me." As we wondered where our waitress was, I heard the horrible "plinging" of a piano, and laughed as I realized it was Bette Midler's "The Rose." I commented, "What kind of radio station is this?" Was it overdramatic song radio? It's like those songs that crazy kids on American Idol like to pick to show their "talent."

The other reason I found this amusing was because of the book I've been reading, called I Hate Myself and Want to Die: The 52 Most Depressing Songs You've Ever Heard. Not only is the book enjoyable, but I tend to agree with most of its picks. And ironically, "The Rose" is one of the 52 I just recently read about (Number 16).

So what should immediately follow after we order our entrees? Well Number 41, "Send In The Clowns" by Judy Collins! I think if it wasn't for the book, I'd be getting depressed by now.

At this point I didn't think it could keep going. It must've been a fluke. But no, in comes "All Out of Love" by Air Supply. Air Supply?! What could possibly be worse than... And then I hear it. Those first few notes... and then, "Looooooooooong agoooooooooo...." Is that Karen Carpenter? It is. It's "Superstar."

I can't hold it in anymore, so when the waitress returns I ask her what kind of music are they piping in here, is it satellite radio? She confirmed it was Sirius Satellite radio, but she wasn't sure what station it was on. I said it must be 70s Suicide Soft Rock, while my Mother stated her conspiracy theory that it was to increase purchases at the bar.

Thinking since dinner was ending, and this streak of songs was way too coordinated, I thought the last song we'd hear would be a change-up. But I hear something familiar again... and as we get up to leave I hear, "Hello, It's Me... I've thought about us for a long, long time." Thanks, Todd Rundgren, thanks.

Classic Music Video of the Week

Dear Pop-Pop,

I'm so sorry I've been out of touch. Things have been busy. No, there's no one else...It's not you, it's me.

I miss your laughs. I miss your smiles. I miss your witty and life-altering insights. All in all, I miss YOU.

So, dear Pop-Pop, please accept my apologies. You are in my thoughts often. I just have to find a way to express it to you better. I love you, Pop-Pop.

Please, as a token of my sorrow, accept this submission for Classic Music Video of the Week. It's fun, it's clever, and it embodies the quirkiness that I have come to love from you, Pop-Pop. Will you accept my token of remorse?

Thank you, dear friend. You live on in my heart. Now please enjoy Here it Goes Again by OK Go.

Love,
Eileen

Tropic Hilarity

Not one to really ever endorse anything from the Music Television Network, unless it's a classic video of the week (you see kids, at one point, MTV played music videos. It's true.), but this clip from the MTV Movie Awards tickled me.

I really enjoyed that Jack Black was wearing a Tropic Thunder Cup. Brilliant. I don't know about anyone else, but I for one, cannot wait for this movie to come out.

NOW he's my Idol!

I know American Idol has taken a few hits on this blog and in America in general this season. I'll be the first to admit that I'm not a loyal viewer of the show and generally have grown to disagree with America's choices for winners. This time is a different story. In a country where the outcomes of our elections often leave me scratching my head, there is one voting outcome that I'm proud of: David Cook as this year's American Idol.

Sure, the man can sing. He did some interesting things with songs that you could never picture any other way. However, he officially won my heart on this past week's Best Week Ever. I like a man with a sense of humor about himself (see Neil Patrick Harris), and David Cook proved that he has that. It's nice to see someone with talent who doesn't take himself so seriously, as many of the previous Idols have done. I will be sure to pay more attention to David Cook in the future, as I think I've developed the teeniest of crushes on him. Is it the hair, the voice? No, it's the sense of humor.

Watch the clip..."it's worth the risk!"




You have been Cookified!

Classic Music Video of the Week

No time...stepping out.

Enjoy!

Stepping Out by Joe Jackson

Eh, I’m Over It

Dating back to James’ post in January To Watch or Not To Watch?, I stated that while American Idol was growing thin on me, I would continue to watch it. But I have to say, I think my fondness of it is over, and for a few reasons.

For one, I’m just bored. No singer is “original” per se, and no one holds my interest. I can’t say I’ve had a favorite the last two years, or even a person I remotely would like to see win. I don’t pretend that I would ever buy a contestant’s CD, but I definitely don’t even try to with this year’s group.

Granted I did make reference to liking Michael Johns, which could be due to the contributing factors of his looks and his accent. Really what struck me about him was his performance of "Bohemian Rhapsody" during Hollywood Week.

Since then, I haven’t really felt he did anything spectacular, but it was pleasant enough. But now he’s gone, so I can’t even convince myself to watch for that.

With the remaining contestants… I just really can’t even differentiate them. I just learned that Kristy Lee Cook is gone as of tonight, which is good, as she should’ve been long ago. Syesha is just forgettable to me. Everyone seems to think Brooke is down-to-earth, but I feel she’s smug and thinks she’s better than me (and everyone else). That Jason guy just seems really stoned and out of it all the time, and reminds me of a girl I went to high school with, who also was really stoned and out of it all the time. And there’s also the 80s stylings of the Irish chick.

And this young kid, David Archuleta…why do people love him? I really don’t get it. All I can think of is how Simon loves telling young female contestants how they’re too “precocious.” That’s exactly what this kid is. And he licks his lips way too much.

So whom are we left with? I guess David Cook. He seems deserving enough. Even if some of his rock-covers creep me out, like Lionel Richie’s “Hello” and Mariah Carey’s “Always Be My Baby”, still others seem to love it.

Lastly, I know some people have felt the group song sang on the Idol Gives Back special was controversial. Personally I just don’t like listening to a group of reality show contestants singing a Christian song; not really my form of entertainment. I will leave it to others to debate whether it’s inappropriate or not. Is it the main reason that I’ve stopped watching American Idol? Not really. But it really didn’t help matters.

I guess bottom line is, I’m through. I’m just not entertained anymore, not even on a level of a guilty pleasure. I’ll read online who gets voted off and who wins, and then that person will be forgotten about and they’ll do it all over again next year. I love you dearly Simon Cowell, but your snarkiness alone isn't enough for me anymore.

Classic Music Video of the Week

Goodness, gracious. It has been hard finding time and energy to blog. I have one of those jobs where I stare at a computer for 80-99% of my day, so sometimes it is hard to get motivated to write when I get home. I know, I'm putting away my teeny little violin. I know it's the same for everyone else!

The reason I bring up my job is that I realized the other day that I have been working for far too long without a break. I haven't even taken advantage of my vacation days to give myself a long weekend. How silly of me! Everyone needs a break from time to time, and my time is coming!

Jill and I will be taking a trip across the country within the next two weeks and I have to tell you, nothing sounds better right now! I'm ready for it. I'm ready to see some new places, to enjoy some time away from the office, and most importantly, to remind myself that I work hard so when the time comes, I can play hard.

But enough about me. That was just a lame set-up to this week's Classic Music Video of the Week. I'm sure you'll be able to guess why I picked it. (Sorry for the poor quality, but I couldn't find a better one!)

So, dear readers, take some time for yourself. Don't get caught up in the rat race. Whatever you do this year, make sure you take a vacation. (Jill, you grab the water skis, and I'll bring the tutus and tiaras!) Happy April!

Vacation by The Go-Gos

Cheers to you, Neil Patrick Harris

I am a big fan of How I Met Your Mother. I'm so happy that there are new episodes on to entertain me and make me laugh. This week's episode gave me a whole new respect for Neil Patrick Harris.

For those who may not be pop culture savvy, Neil Patrick Harris played the one and only teenage doctor genius, Doogie Howser, M.D.



I can imagine that it gets old when people constantly say things like, "Neil Patrick Harris, most well known as tv's Doogie Howser" or things along that vein. (Why does nobody ever point to his role as Lance in Undercover Brother? That character, the only white man at the Brotherhood because of Affirmative Action, won me over years ago!) However, this week's HIMYM proved that Mr. Harris has a sense of humor about himself and his life, and I, personally, found it to be amazing.



So, Mr. Neil Patrick Harris, I salute you! I admire that you embrace your past as a stepping stone to your present, and that you do it with such charm. You are a great actor and a down-to-earth guy. I wish more of Hollywood could be like you.

Cheers!

INDEED

Truer words were never spoken.

Classic Music Video of the Week

It's been forever since I've blogged, yadda yadda yadda.

The important thing is that I'm taking a moment now to post a video that is very near and dear to my heart. I remember hearing this song when I was younger and thinking it was cheesy then, but the message was clear. And, man is it catchy.

So, in honor of the recession that we Americans may or may not be in (depending on who you ask), the Classic Music Video of the Week is...

I Wanna Be Rich by Calloway



Have a good end to the week!

Childhood Flashback Moment of the Day

So I was doing some cleaning on this snowy Saturday afternoon, listening to my Beatles playlist on iTunes. The track "You Really Got A Hold On Me" from the Live At The BBC album came on and triggered a pop culture moment that laid deep in the recesses of my mind. I'm talking something I clearly haven't thought about in years.

Maybe I repressed this memory due to its disturbing nature? All I remember is the song, and some large red puppety thing being very clingy. A feeling of being trapped came over me. I needed air. What could this be?!

A quick consult of YouTube found the answer for me...it wasn't all just a dream.

Upon watching I thought maybe it wasn't as disturbing as I thought it was as a child. I can say maybe it's not, but it's still kind of creepy.

Isn't it Moronic?

The Inevitable Oscar Post

So it is that time of year where the film industry steps back to congratulate itself in the ultimate form. As someone who probably takes films too seriously, I also tend to give major importance to the Oscars as well. At their best, I see the Oscars as an opportunity to recognize the year's greatest artistic achievements in film. At their worst, they can be decided merely because of money spent on campaigns or "entertainment" value. Despite these hopes the show is usually filled with many disappointments. Thankfully, with John Stewart hosting once again, that aspect will keep me amused.

I think that this year I am pretty well prepared. I have seen a majority of the films in the major categories. Unfortunately I have not yet seen In the Valley of Elah, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, or I'm Not There.

Best Picture: Atonement, Juno, Michael Clayton, No Country For Old Men, There Will Be Blood
What will win: As much as the Academy sometimes likes to throw in a surprise, No Country For Old Men seems destined for victory here. It has won too many other awards and has too much buzz up to this point to be denied.
What I want to win: I am really torn with this year's choices. It was a great year for films. I personally would be very happy to see either Juno or There Will Be Blood win. They are both flawless films.

Best Actor: George Clooney, Daniel Day-Lewis, Johnny Depp, Tommy Lee Jones, Viggo Mortensen
Who will win: This is a lock. Daniel Day-Lewis
Who I want to win: All respect to Viggo who gave an amazing performance, but Day-Lewis could be one of the best ever at his craft.

Best Actress: Cate Blanchett, Julie Christie, Marion Cotillard, Laura Linney, Ellen Page
Who will win: I think at this point Julie Christie is a pretty solid lock, but keep on the lookout for a surprise.
Who I want to win: Marion Cotillard was flat out brilliant. I don't know how that performance can be denied. Although I can't say I'd be terribly upset if Christie won as she was amazing. Here's hoping some Academy asshole loses their job for not nominating Angelina Jolie. Her performance in A Mighty Heart was gut-wrenching. She deserved at least a nom.

Best Supporting Actor: Casey Affleck, Javier Bardem, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Hal Holbrook, Tom Wilkinson
Who will win: Again, I think this is another lock. Javier Bardem, like his character, is unstoppable.
Who I want to win: I can't help but be sentimental here. Can anyone honestly say that seeing Hal Holbrook win wouldn't be one of the greatest moments in Oscar history? I'm still digesting his performance from the shamefully under-nominated Into the Wild.

Best Supporting Actress: Cate Blanchett, Ruby Dee, Saoirse Ronan, Amy Ryan, Tilda Swinton
Who will win: This is probably the toughest race to call of the night. I think Amy Ryan will ride enough buzz to the win.
Who I want to win: I didn't see Cate so it is hard to judge, but my favorite performance was Tilda Swinton's.

Best Director: Julian Schnabel, Jason Reitman, Tony Gilroy, Joel and Ethan Coen, Paul Thomas Anderson
Who will win: The Coen Brothers will probably take this as long as their film wins best picture.
Who I want to win: Anderson is one of my favorite directors. So I would be immensely psyched to see him finally win an Oscar for his brilliant work.

Best Animated Film: Persepolis, Ratatouille, Surf's Up
What will win: Ratatouille
What I want to win: Persepolis was fantastic and should have been up for best foreign language film. However, I have no faith in the Academy to pull their heads out of their asses long enough to choose this film to win.

Best Writing Adapted: Atonement, Away From Her, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, No Country For Old Men, There Will Be Blood
Who will win: I think as goes best picture and best director, so goes this category. The Coens will win again.
Who I want to win: I want Anderson to win for TWBB but I would also be happy to see a surprise victory for Sarah Polley and Away From Her.

Best Writing Original: Juno, Lars and the Real Girl, Michael Clayton, Ratatouille, The Savages
Who will win: This race could definitely be interesting. My guess is either with of Diablo Cody of Juno or Tony Gilroy of Michael Clayton.
Who I want to win: I would be very happy if either Cody or Tamara Jenkins of The Savages won.

Best Music: The Academy did its best to screw up both of the music categories this year. I am boycotting the Best Score category because of the lack of a nomination for Jonny Greenwood in There Will Be Blood. His score helped make that film what it was. The Best Song category could be even more ridiculous. 3 nominations for Enchanted? Really?? Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova better win for "Falling Slowly" from Once or something will be thrown at my television.

So those are my picks for the main awards. Please comment if you agree or disagree. And what I love best about the Oscars is that it pushes people to at least go out and watch some of the best films cinema has to offer.

A POP-POP SALUTE TO BLACK HISTORY MONTH

I can't believe Black History Month is almost over and we have not even addressed it here at Pop-Pop! In the words of Stephanie Tanner, "How rude." Well we've still got nine, count 'em, nine glorious days left to celebrate famous blacks in the world of pop culture. And I am going to go ahead and get the ball rolling. Today we are going to celebrate a man who is full of energy and who, at times, has taken comedy to another realm. He has shown both musical, acting and writing chops, making him a triple threat in the world of pop culture. Now as far as being historic, I guess he is not so much, since he's been in the pop culture eye for less than a decade, but that's good enough for me. So in honor of Black History Month here at "Pop-Pop", we honor the one and only, Jack Black.

Tribute

When someone on the level of Heath Ledger passes away at a young age it always take me a while to fully grasp the loss. There really isn't much I can say about this tragedy that hasn't been said more eloquently by those in the media. All I can say is that he was a tremendous talent. His body of work, though small, was quite impressive.

It has been said often recently, and I agree, that Heath was one of the best actors of his generation. In that vain, I thought the best way to honor him would be to celebrate his peers who I also consider among the best of their generation. Those who are in his age range who represent the acting craft in the highest manner. They should be actors and actresses who don't just choose the safe choices but go after roles that continue to challenge them.

I envision this as a series, with a different person who raises the bar for acting greatness in each post. I encourage my fellow Pop-Pop writers to present their own tributes to quality acting amongst the younger generation, those say 25 to 40.

I could think of no one better for my first choice than the ridiculously talented Christian Bale. To me he is easily the best actor in the business under the age of 40 working today. The Academy should be appalled that he has yet to be nominated for an Oscar. He chooses roles that push him to his absolute physical and mental limits. He has brought depth and resonance to every part and, at least to me, has set the standard by which all young actors should follow. He gives himself over completely to a role like the great Daniel Day-Lewis is famous for doing. He is one of the few actors, that no matter what the overall film looks like, i know his part will be played to perfection and will raise the level of the whole enterprise.

Agreed? Agreed.

For Your Consideration: First Game Show Contestant Who Should Be Shot in 2008

Classic Music Video of the Week

Good morning! And happy day off to teachers, bankers, and other government workers. To the rest of you, I'm sorry.

20 years ago today, the number one song on the Billboard Charts was...

Yes, that's right... "I've Got My Mind Set On You" by George Harrison. I vaguely remember two seperate versions of this video playing on VH1 back in the day, but this one is the most "popular." Those moving animals and sitting room objects get me everytime (especially the squirrel playing the "pipe"). But the dancing George stunt double is so, so cheesy.

So that's your CMVotW! Enjoy, and Happy MLK Jr. Day!

To Watch or Not To Watch?

This is a painful time for those of us who are lovers of quality television. As an ardent supporter of the WGA, I am OK with my current suffering if it means the writers will benefit in the long run. However, that misery grows with every new reality show added to the bunch.

Yes I am that one in the group that hates reality television. I'll admit that I didn't always feel that way. I had watched probably every episode of the Real World for it's first 10 years. As a pre-teen and teenager it matched well with my sensibilities. Once I was old enough to realize most of the antics on the show were pathetic I moved on from reality television. I think reality TV showcases everything that is negative about current society. If that were its purpose and it highlighted those issues in an intelligent light, that would be one thing. But these shows instead revel in the idiocy and debauchery of its own participants and paints it as a way of life that average people should follow.

I admit that occasionally a reality program will catch my eye and I will enjoy it. Scott Baio Is 45... And Single definitely intrigued me because of his idol status that I grew up with. And Confessions of a Matchmaker is endlessly fascinating, in part because Buffalo is about as local as television gets. For the most part though i do resist the urge.

American Idol presents a problem, however. I only watched the first season of the show. Because the music produced is for the most part unoriginal tripe I felt no need to continue watching it. But now there is very little to watch on television and, unfortunately, the majority of people I know and converse with on a regular basis watch AI. So the question I pose is, should I follow my instincts and continue to resist this so-called "cultural phenomenon"? Or should I get off my high porch and watch it so I can participate in the discussions of how stupid Paula is, what a jerk Simon is and how Randy keeps saying, "Yo, dawg"? So I put it to you, the pop-pop audience to give me your opinion.

Classic Music Video of the Week

Oy vey.

What a week this past week has been. I know for several of us, being back to work for a full five (or more) days was painful. Some of us had other things that brought the week down. Personally, I'm glad the week is over, and I know a few other contributors to this blog are too. In order to get the last little bit of frustration of this week out, so we can optimistically move in to the next, please let me present this week's Classic Music Video of the Week (sorry the quality is subpar, as it gets harder and harder to find good vidoes out there):


Everything About You by Ugly Kid Joe



Here's to a great upcoming week!

2007 Movies: A Response

I was going to make a reply to Jill's post but it turned out to be just too long for the comment section and I also am very passionate about the discussion of best films of the year. I have made a concerted effort to view as many as I could this year, especially within the past month. That being said, there are some glaring omissions from this list which I still have yet to see but have a good idea they would have a shot at the "best of" list. There Will Be Blood looks so good it makes my teeth hurt. It has one of my favorite directors, one of the finest actors in modern history and a brilliant score composed by Johnny Greenwood of Radiohead. Unfortunately the film has yet to grace us in Rochester with its presence. I'm Not There, No End in Sight, Persepolis, Before the Devil Knows Your Dead, Michael Clayton, The Kite Runner, Gone Baby Gone, and The Diving Bell and the Butterfly all are must sees as well.

Here are my top 10 films of the year. It was a very tough choice as this was probably one of the better years for films in recent memory. Given that I have a predilection towards romantic comedies, it is no surprise that I have 3 in a row on this list. Other fun facts about my list: It has 3 foreign films, 3 films dealing with pregnancy, 5 films where I feel the soundtrack is essential to the quality of the film and 3 where death plays a major role.

10. & 9. A Mighty Heart & La Vie En Rose - I couldn't really choose between these two so they will have to share their spots with one another. They both were driven by what I consider brilliant female lead performances. Despite a lot of competition this year I feel Angelina Jolie and Marion Cotillard both deserve leading actress Oscar nominations and I would be happy if either of them won.



8. Knocked Up - This seemed to be a favorite of so many people this year and I was no different. Although I did really enjoy Superbad as well, it just didn't hit on all pistons as this comedy did. The romantic and sensitive nature of Knocked Up made it much more well rounded of a film. The fact that I've had a mini-obsession with Katherine Heigl ever since Bride of Chucky certainly helped this film's cause.

7. Dan In Real Life - I am disappointed that I have not seen this on any critics top 10 lists this year. To me it was one of the bigger surprises of the year and one of the most down to earth and realistic romantic comedies I have seen in a long time.



6. Waitress - While Waitress isn't a traditional romantic comedy it is a flawless piece of entertaining cinema. It was highly enjoyable from start to finish.



5. Once - I hope that this is the direction in which musicals are headed. There seems to be a lot of talk about the comeback of the musical, but this movie has not gotten the recognition it deserves. It should be the head of the discussion. The story itself is very simple and only a minor part of the film as a whole. The music between real-life musicians Glen Hansard of The Frames and Markéta Irglová is transcendent. Their chemistry is undeniable, as they even became a couple in real life, and it is reflected in all of the music. If you aren't completely sucked in by this music then I really can't help you with much of anything.



4. No Country For Old Men - This film is so hauntingly beautiful in its own way. It is a brilliant mix of dark comedy and murderous suspense. The performances by Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, and Tommy Lee Jones are ridiculously good.



3. Into The Wild - I am blown away that this is not on more critics' lists. The scenery is absolutely mesmerizing and the performances are top level. It is one of the most compelling stories of the year as it is based on truth. This should be Emile Hirsch's breakthrough performance to the next level. And yes, in living up to the hype, Hal Holbrook's performance, though short, was absolutely brilliant. If watching him in this doesn't fill you with emotions then you just aren't human.



2. The Lives of Others - This is one of the most suspenseful and dramatic films of recent years. It is set in East Berlin and focuses on an investigator in the East German secret police. Only so much can be said about it without actually seeing it. It is flawless.



1. Juno - It is hard to even describe how much I love this film. It is fantastic from every viewpoint I can think of. The writing is phenomenal, the roles are perfectly cast and the direction gives it the perfect style. It is the perfect comedy with just enough doses of sweetness and drama to make it heartfelt and genuine.



High Honorable Mentions: Paris Je T'aime, Sicko, Black Book, Atonement, Eastern Promises, Charlie Wilson's War, American Gangster

The Worst of 2007:

5. The Heartbreak Kid - This film had the expectations that Ben Stiller usually provides and was a complete letdown. It had very few redeeming qualities.

4. Because I Said So - Despite any crush I may have on Mandy Moore or Lauren Graham this was a disaster of a film. As has been stated by many critics, Diane Keaton was absolutely brutal and unbearable in this film. She barely represented a human.

3. Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer - Bad acting + lame plot = bad movie. The first one wasn't bad so this was a letdown.

2. Spiderman 3 - Spidey hit a high with the dark and introspective #2. Then the series was effectively tanked with this overdrawn mess. Instead of picking one story line and perfecting it, the film was a hodge podge of mediocre scenes.

The absolute worst movie of the year by a very wide margin is:
1. Wild Hogs - This is best summed up by my Netflix review:
Only one word is really needed to describe this movie. Brutal. It was brutal to watch and I can imagine it was brutal just to read the script. For Travolta, Allen and Lawrence this is just another in a long line of stains on their careers. Macy should have known better. The fact that this became a commercial hit in the United States is an embarrassment to the film industry and to the American public. I completely understand that not all films will be works of art. However, even as popcorn movies go, this was pathetic. I think the only time I laughed during the entire movie was when KG from Tenacious D was singing in Madrid. Perhaps this is not a movie for those younger than 40. But I would hope the older generations would have a better sense of humor than this drivel.

2007 Movies

Okay, so it took a little longer than I expected to do a blog about Pop Culture in 2007. But better 6 days late than never, right?

The year past was mostly inundated with celebrity gossip as opposed to media achievements. Any more coverage of Paris, Britney or Linsday and I think I would’ve snapped, more so than usual.

You know you’re getting older too when you recognize more of the celebrities that leave us each year, and 2007 saw some greats. Two of my all-time favorite authors, Norman Mailer and Kurt Vonnegut Jr., passed away. Also lost were Deborah Kerr, Dan Fogelberg, Brett Somers, Charles Nelson Reilly, Robert Goulet, Denny Doherty, Bobby Pickett, Brad Delp, Evel Knievel and several more.

The end of the year also calls for “Best of” and “Worst of” lists. I already referenced an Indie Music list in a previous post, but now it’s time for movies.

Entertainment Weekly critics, for one, have listed their Best and Worst movies of 2007. I have trouble critiquing these lists because even with the amount of time I devote to movie viewing, I have not seen a lot of the “top” movies yet, such as I’m Not There, Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead, Michael Clayton, There Will Be Blood, or No Country for Old Men. Therefore, all I can do is have my own list of Best and Worst Movies of 2007 out of the movies that I have seen.

My Favorite Movies of 2007:

10. Hairspray

I wasn’t sure if I’d actually like this one, considering it’s based-on a musical which is based-on an original movie that I actually enjoyed. But after a recent viewing I understand why it did so well this past year.

9. Fracture

Okay, I’m not going to lie…it probably has something to do with Ryan Gosling.

8. Zodiac

…and this with Jake Gyllenhaal…

7. The Simpsons Movie

Another one I was also apprehensive of, but I actually had some outloud laughing moments at it. I especially enjoyed Ralphie’s exclamation of “I like men now!” after seeing a naked Bart on a skateboard.

6. Blades of Glory

I always will enjoy things that star Will Arnett. And even with this comedy doing well commercially and being enjoyed by the mainstream, there were some good moments in the theatre for this one where Eileen and I were the only ones laughing.

5. Evening

This one made one of the Worst lists in EW, and I’m not sure why, since I really enjoyed it. Maybe it’s because I’m a girl.

4. Transformers

This one surprised me the most. I was very adamant about being upset that 80s cartoons were being turned into modernized movies. But the beginning scenes with Bumblebee playing awesome music (I was caught with The Cars, but sold by Player) and Mojo the Chihuahua had me hooked.

3. Enchanted

Very sweet movie, with some good laughs. I was pleasantly surprised.

2. Knocked Up

People have debated over this, even if it was very popular. Personally I liked this much better than Superbad. While some may argue the relationship between the main characters unrealistic, I felt it was one of more realistic relationship comedies. I especially enjoy Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann. There were many great lines out of this one.

1. Broken English

What can I say, I love Parker Posey. This one is not highly rated or critically acclaimed at all. But for one reason or another, I’m going to pick it as my favorite movie of last year.

My Least-Liked Movies of 2007:

5. License to Wed

What can I say? It just wasn’t funny.

4. Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer

…and this one just was not good…

3. Evan Almighty

…and this one was not funny at all. And excruciatingly long…

2. High School Musical 2

I’m sorry, I know the kids love it. But I didn’t think that it could be more cheesy and horrible than the first one. But it was.

1. Lucky You

I wondered why it took so long for this one to be released. And now I know why. Unlucky me.


So lovely readers, what are your favs and hates?

Star Wars...Lego?

I still am working on my master thesis of a 2007 year in review...okay, I'm still daydreaming about the master thesis. But in the mean time, to buy me an extra day, I'd like to present this gem!

Discovered by my brother-in-law, this video is mesmerizing for fans. Apparently my nephew is just getting into the "scene" if you will, and received some legos for Christmas.

The accuracy, plus time and detail it must've taken, astounds me. Right down to Luke's black hand and Leia's bikini top, this YouTube work of art gets an A+ from me.

So here it is. Enjoy!

Happy New Year, from your Pop-Pop

It's now 2008. I know several of us at Pop-Pop (Culture) in the Attic have resolved to post more this year. Of course, life gets hectic for everyone and we do what we can. That said, I predict good things for the blog this year. We are all quite opinionated when it comes to pop culture, and I'm sure that will shine through in the coming twelve months. We are also hoping to have a stronger visibility by our readers, if you're willing. We know you're out there (as people talk to us about the blog a lot), and we remind you that comments can be anonymous. But no pressure. We love you, even if you're comment-shy. We just ask that you think about it.

Moving on, this week's Classic Music Video of the Week comes to us from that legendary group ABBA. I'll be honest, I had never heard of this song until I stumbled upon it on YouTube. However, a lot of people had it up, so it must be pretty popular somewhere in the world. I find the title fitting for this, the first day of 2008. So, everyone out there,

HAPPY NEW YEAR!