Tag Archives: the movies

We See Chick Flicks: “This Is 40″

"This Is 40"
This Is 40
Watch the trailer for the Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann film. Read More »
Judd's Roles For Women
Judd Apatow writes good female roles ... for his wife. Read More »
Judd On Funny Women
Judd Apatow photo
Judd Apatow informs sexist d-bags that women are, in fact, funny. Read More »
Defending "Girls"
Judd Apatow defends "Girls," his HBO show with Lena Dunham. Read More »
this is 40

Starring Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann, Maude Apatow, Iris Apatow, Jason Segel, Megan Fox, Chris O’Dowd, Albert Brooks and John Lithgow

Simply put, “This Is 40″ left a sour taste in my mouth. I felt like Judd Apatow did what he always does, which is write a plum role for his wife, and then decide: “Hey, I’ll throw every other funny person I know in this movie! And also Megan Fox! She’ll take her top off! And swim in a bikini! And I’ll give my kids roles, too! Even though they’re not good actors!” Keep reading »

There’s A New Trailer For “The Great Gatsby”!

"Great Gatsby" Trailer
The Great Gatsby photo
It's here. And we're all obsessed. Read More »
"Gatsby" Makeup
Rachel teaches you how to perfect a 1920s-inspired makeup look. Read More »
trailer park
carey mulligan the great gatsby
Daisy Pines For Gatsby

I will never forgive the Movie Premiere Scheduling Powers That Be for pushing back “The Great Gatsby” until May 2013 instead of the holiday season in 2012. Don’t they know that’s five months from now?!?! They dropped one trailer last May — yes, a full year in advance — and just dropped another teasing “Gatsby” trailer yesterday, absolutely oozing with sex, colors, jewels, and Baz Luhrmann fabulosity. Sigh.

The Official “Star Trek Into Darkness” Trailer Arrives, Hints At Major Character’s Death

Watch The Teaser Trailer!
Who could Benedict Cumberbatch be playing?! Discuss! Read More »
"Star Trek" Fanfic
Amelia wrote a "Star Trek: The Next Generation" novel when she was 12. Read More »
I Love "Star Trek"
My secret shame is suddenly hip! Read More »
NERD ALERT
Watch The Trailer!
  • Okay, the full length trailer for “Star Trek Into Darkness” is out and teases a character’s death in a major way. Also, still not clear who Benedict Cumberbatch is playing because obviously JJ Abrams is a sadist. [The Mary Sue]
  • As expected, “The Hobbit” killed in its opening weekend, taking in $84.8 million at the box office. Did you guys see it? Did it live up to your little people with furry feet walk a whole bunch expectations? [Newser]
  • Just like Luke Skywalker before her, this woman has a robotic arm she can control with her mind. [The Mary Sue]
  • “Saturday Night Live” did a funny sketch about Charlie Brown this weekend. Check it out at the link. [The FW]
  • Videogames that summed up 2012 — for better or worse. [Cracked]
  • A whole mess of great gifts for the geeks in your life. [theBERRY]

Irony: MTV Airs “Mean Girls,” Bleeps “Vagina” But Not “Whore”

Okay, you might want to be sitting down when I tell you this, but I watched “Mean Girls” for the first time a couple weekends ago. I was pretty well acquainted with… well, nearly every single line in the movie from having read the internet, although I got a good laugh out of “Four for you Glen Coco, you go Glen Coco,” as it was just about the only quote in there that I hadn’t known was from “Mean Girls.” But I decided it was probably time to actually experience the movie, and stop trying to absorb it only from cultural diffusion.

So yeah, I knew next to nothing about “Mean Girls” other than that a lot of parts of the internet that I respect and enjoy are obsessed with quoting it and that it’s about high school, not, for example, that it was written by Tina Fey. Rest assured, these gaping holes in my knowledge have been filled, and so now I completely understand how against the message of the film it is for MTV to bleep a wide swath of non-curse-words, including “vagina,” when it aired on the network this weekend… but not “whore” or “slut.” Read more…

Girl Talk: Why Bridget Jones Isn’t The Best Role Model For Single Women

Ambivalent Single Lobster
Who says lobsters mate for life? This one is ambivalently single. Read More »
Secret Single Behavior
The 20 things we're kind of ashamed that we do when we're alone. Read More »

Recently, I was asked by a women’s relationship website to recap how all of us are Bridget Jones in some way. The reason for the assignment was, in case you don’t already know, Helen Fielding has written another chapter in the life of the beloved character. I took the assigned topic without question, because it’s true – most women do have quite a bit of Bridget in them. If that had not been the case, then the books and eventual movies would have fallen flat and I wouldn’t be writing this right now.

But as I worked on that particular piece, I realized that despite her divine quirkiness and adorable flaws, she isn’t exactly the best role model for single women. I’m not suggesting all role models should be perfect like Hillary Clinton, but they should offer a bit more than Bridget. And as a single woman myself, I know this to be fact because single women are always right. Or at least this is what I tell my married friends – whom I then force to agree with me by withholding any further cupcake baking and distribution. It always works. But I digress.

Let’s look at a few examples where Bridget falls flat. Perhaps, if we’re to learn anything from her at all, it’s the complete opposite of what she often represents. You don’t have to agree with me on these points, but then again, you’ve never had my cupcakes so you’ve nothing to truly lose. Keep reading »

The Demand For A Real Life Death Star Is Remarkably High, Plus The “Man Of Steel” Trailer Debuts!

  • That petition demanding the U.S. government build a Death Star is actually getting a lot of signatures. [The FW]
  • The feminist “Walking Dead” fan in your life will be really happy if you get her this “Michonne: Impossible” T-shirt for Christmas. [The Mary Sue]
  • The first official trailer for “Man Of Steel” — the Superman reboot starring the dreamy Henry Cavill — is out! [The Mary Sue]
  • Super cute kids watch the trailer for “The Hobbit” and react adorably. Much more entertaining to watch than the epic yawning do during the “Hobbit” trailer. [The FW] Keep reading »

Okay, Enough Messing Around, JJ Abrams — Who Is Benedict Cumberbatch Playing In “Star Trek Into Darkness”?

Watch The Teaser Trailer!
Analyzing the "Star Trek Into Darkness" trailer in minute detail. Read More »
"Star Trek" Fanfic
Amelia wrote a "Star Trek: The Next Generation" novel when she was 12. Read More »
I Love "Star Trek"
My secret shame is suddenly hip! Read More »

“Star Trek Into Darkness,” JJ Abrams second “Star Trek” reboot film, isn’t in theaters until next May, but details on the films plot are slowly being leaked to the press. However, the biggest question remains: which villain is Benedict Cumberbatch playing? Producer/writer Roberto Orci had said that Cumberbatch would be playing someone well known from the “Star Trek” canon (i.e. not a new character created for the film). When I posted the teaser trailer for the film last week, I parsed the two most popular theories: that Cumberbatch is playing either Khan (the villain at the center of “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan”) or Gary Mitchell, a character that appeared in an episode of the original series.

Well, this week, the filmmakers released this new image from the film, with Cumberbatch’s character identified as “John Harrison.” Who the fuck is that? (Warning: there are some spoilers after the jump!) Keep reading »

A “Freaks And Geeks” Reunion & More “Star Trek Into Darkness” Theories!

  • The cast of canceled-too-soon TV series “Freaks and Geeks” reunited for an awesome Vanity Fair photoshoot, reminding me that I need to watch that show from start to finish again. Check out more pics from the shoot at the link. [Refinery 29]
  • I am still thinking about the teaser trailer for “Star Trek Into Darkness” and was especially intrigued by a theory posted in the comments on io9 that Benedict Cumberbatch may actually be playing Khan’s homie Joachin. Hmmm… [io9]
  • Have audience members really been puking after seeing advanced screenings of “The Hobbit”? I knew I didn’t want to see that movie for a good reason… [The Mary Sue] Keep reading »

“Star Trek Into Darkness” Poster Revealed & A “Walking Dead” Bikini Girl Calendar

  • “Star Trek Into Darkness” may not have punctuation in its title, but it now has its first official poster! Which doesn’t even feature the Enterprise or space, just a destroyed city landscape and an unidentifiable man standing on a pile of rubble. What does it all meaaaaaaan? [The Mary Sue]
  • The ability to “DISLIKE” your friends’ Facebook posts has arrived … sort of. [The Stir]
  • The 25 best pieces of fan art for the new upcoming “Star Wars” movie. [Next Movie]
  • A “Walking Dead” zombie bikini calendar? Yes, such a thing exists. [College Candy]
  • How much survivalism should we all engage in, without building bomb shelters? [The Gloss]

3 Love Lessons From “Les Misérables”

I could gush all day about the 2012 film adaptation of “Les Misérables.” It’s everything a movie musical should be. The film itself is like a love letter from the director (Tom Hooper) to the musical’s original creators that says: Your work is perfection on stage. Let’s do it justice on film. And he succeeded.

But alas, this isn’t a review, so I’ll refrain from gushing and introduce instead three of the film’s most poignant love lessons:

1. Check yourself. The next time you get all self-pitying about your love life (Why hasn’t he texted me yet?!), consider a small dose of “Les Mis.” Once you hear Fantine’s (played by Anne Hathway) gutwrenching tale of lost love in the show-stopping ballad “I Dreamed A Dream,” your petty problems will fall instantly into perspective … that is, unless you also lost your job as an 1823 French factory worker when you were outed for having an illegitimate child and were subsequently relegated to a life of prostitution that consumed your soul and ultimately ended your life. No? Okay then. Read more…