Music, Movies, & Moxie Mondays

Ittttt's baccccccccccccck. 

At least for now. The whole being consistent thing is quiet boring, but I am trying to attempt it for you all. So sit up, ready your eyes, and get ready to read the music, movies, and moxie that have been buzzing around my head this week.

5 Tracks That Will Make You Sway and Swoon:

While some old and some new, here are some tracks that I am obsessed with and I really think you should be too.

• "Take Off Your Shirt"- Bibio: This song can be paired however you like it. I find it best paired with headphones to hear all the beautiful components that make it such a wonderful listen. But if you choose to go headphone free, you will not be disappointed. Prepare yourself to be in a better mood instantaneously and have a strange notion to dance. Don't question it. Go with it.

• "Crabbuckit"- Good Lovelies: This song makes me want a fedora and the ability to snap beautifully. Released in 2011, this song is actually one that I just added to my repertoire recently- I think it might be a cover of another band, but I don't care because it is so wonderful.  I don't know why I missed out on a song with such lovely vocals and beautiful music accompanying them. I can't find a YouTube link, but it is on Spotify. Look it up and  Enjoy it- I know you will. 

• The Family Tree: The Branches - Radical Face: Okay, so this is not just a single- it is a whole album. Introduced to it by an old friend, I love the raw emotion that is found within this 12 song release. Above is just a sampling track, "We All Go the Same"- while somewhat depressing, you will get the feel of what all Radical Face brings to the table.

• "Cherry on Top"- Oh Land: I just like this song- actually, I like this whole album as well. I don't feel like it needs much explanation.

 

• "Boyfriend"- Best Coast: I just feel like this song embodies so many peoples thoughts. I just think it is quirky and a good listen. It is definitely better than J-Biebs "Boyfriend",  but you all can be the judge of that.

A Video That Will Please Your Eyes:

• In case you missed it, I go to the best University in the Midwest. A few days ago, all of us awoke to an email from our President, with this video attached. Not only do we adore our president, Right this Minute and Huffington Post do as well.All I want to do now is ride a tricycle around the fountain, which I imagine half of our student population feels the same.

Moxie Moxie Moxie

•  Marriage at a young age. I understand that this is a hot button topic lately and Thought Catalog has given a few point of views that have been rather interesting. This one and this one. The first is one that when I first read I felt empowered, but as I re-read it I was incredibly bothered. The second discusses the issues I felt so bothered by and I am extremely glad someone else said it- mainly so I don't really have to it. Today's world is all about being yourself, so if someone wants to be married, let them be married. If someone just wants to eat cake, let them eat cake. If someone wants to be married and eat cake, let them be married and have their freaking cake too. IT IS NONE OF OUR BUSINESS. Just like me not wanting to be married anytime soon is not anyone's business, but my own. To each their own. My thoughts on this topic in a picture:
  

Simply Shelby Sue

P.s.Now I really want cake.

Saturday Movie Night with Shelby Sue

Oh hi there.

I know it has been awhile and I hope you all have missed me as much as I have missed you. Your comments, kind words, and encouragement allow me to keep coming back and writing more.  A blog with more emotion is headed your way soon, but for now enjoy this quick hello and “I'm back” movie review.

An ideal Saturday to me is one spent staying in. 

Lucky for me, there is a winter weather advisory and I have been forced indoors due to lack of safety outside. Nothing like a good old storm warning to kick my butt into not only writing gear, but “movie night” gear as well. Lately, I have been so bogged down in work, social media because for some reason I let that dictate my life, and other life happenings that I have failed to remember the things I actually like to do. That is quite problematic and so as a “resolution” [since that is the craze this time of year] I am going to try to change that.

To work towards that change, I am spending my Saturday night with movies [obviously], reading material [Cosmo counts right?], and my handy dandy notebook [by notebook, I mean laptop. I just couldn't resist the urge to reference Blues Clues- a staple show of my childhood]. 

 

So sit back, relax, and read my thoughts on my night Saturday movie choice.

Admission

So I didn't chose this movie by rental or purchasing it, I just happened upon it while channel surfing. Lucky for me, I caught it right as it started which seems to be such a rarity.

The movie itself had a solid concept that could attract a wide array of audiences. I can see why it was produced and what its goals were. Focusing around a middle aged woman who works in college admission, the film would attract those in college, those who work for a university, and those who are middle aged. It had the bare bones to reach great potential and it reached that in some areas, but failed greatly in others. 

My main issues were lack of background on most characters, yet the need for that background to love the characters like the script intends. Not to mention, the whole story line is kind of unrealistic and bland. I was also really bothered by the fact that I wanted it to be funny and I don't think it was supposed to be be funny whatsoever. I found so much humor bursting at the seems in side gestures and side comments. So much in fact that I think if the script would had been rewritten and transformed into more of a romantic comedy that it would have been a hit. Those ramblings aside, here are my rants and raves about the film. 

 

Admission's Not So Hot Aspects that got me hot and bothered:

• Tina Fey's character, Portia, lacks the depth needed to understand why she is the way she is. I would go further into this, but if I stated the issues I questioned, you would know half of the movie and  I really hate spoiling things. Basically the script failed to give a viewer the background one craves and I guarantee I am not the only viewer annoyed by this.

 

• The side story of Ben- I think that was his name [probably not a good sign that I can't remember]. I am talking about the guy who is Tina Fey's long time “boyfriend” person thing. They kind of throw him in , try to make you hate him, then have him in the background story the rest of the film. Had this been done correctly, it would have been hilarious. It was done so poorly that you just did not give a care- which let's be real, most people do not get as emotionally involved into movies as I, but still. It really annoyed me.

 

• How does one set up a qualified school where you go to a barn and get a high school degree? Why is this not an option for every body? Most importantly, how does this get one even in the ranks to be applying to Princeton?

 

Admission's Golden Ticket:

This film wins with its casting department: 

The movie stars Tina Fey- people love her. However, it won my thumbs up in this department by casting Paul Rudd and Lily Tomlin. Paul Rudd can show his dashing smile in my direction any time- I might be biased, but I have adored him since I first encountered him in Clueless. And as far as Lily Tomlin goes, how can you not love a movie with her in it? A personal favorite of mine starring the wonderful actress is I Heart Huckabees- quirky, bizarre, and absolutely fabulous. Give it a watch if you have the chance.

Lastly, Wallace Shawn makes an appearance in a minor role. Who is Wallace Shawn you might be asking? INCONCEIVABLE. If you do understand that reference and automatically know, we cannot be friends. Since I am a nice person and not everybody has seen The Princess Bride, my only other tip will be that he is the voice of Rex from the Toy Story films. SEE- HE IS ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC.

Overall Thoughts

While I would not go out of my way to watch this movie again, I would not complain if I had to. If you happen to be channel surfing and stumble upon it like I, give it a try. While the film might not have been one that warrants another view, it did catch and keep my attention for almost two hours. That my dear friends is not an easy task.

Since I've never written a movie review like this on here, I have not established a rating system. I like my movies with popcorn, so we will rate on popcorn kernels because why not.... 

So [drum roll please], the movie Admission receives...

6 out of 10 popcorn kernels

It is enough for a small snack, but not quite enough to fill you up. It leaves you hankering for more.

Simply "Hankering" Shelby Sue

P.s. Really, who says hankering anymore? Do not judge me.

....At the foot of the stairs With my fingers in your hair Baby, this is it

If you know the song of which these title lyrics came, I spoiled this blogs topic... Nonetheless...

CUE THE INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT!

So forgive me for hoarding away inside, but I have been watching a lot of cheesy movies lately. Do not get me wrong, I have life [well kind of, sometimes, definitely maybe, but really not at all]. I just really do not like sleep or people or being in public because that takes the effort of getting ready. Who actually likes primping for hours on end just for a few nights?  I mean I work, I do school and stuff, but I am a really good anti-social procrastinator. I can spend hours on end silently clicking away on my computer or watching films; I can make a 15 minute assignment last 2 weeks if I want.

My antisocial tendencies benefit you though!  

 

You see, since I have not been social [or sleeping. It is actually more the sleeping than the social part], I have been noticing themes in films and been conjuring many different blogs about said themes. There are surprisingly a lot more themes than you might think considering most of these cheesy films follow the same plot line. BUT GUESS WHAT? I figure I might as well attempt another blog series for you all again. We know how well these go. But for the sake of me maybe actually following through, the first installment of this blog series is about  one of the most prevalent things I notice in cheesy films...

First Kisses.

 The perfect seen is set. Whether it be underneath the stars, in the rain, or at the airport before a love interest is about to leave the country, each kiss is perfectly timed at the perfect moment. The boy and girl both have perfect hair, the perfect outfit [well sometimes],

NOBODY'S FIRST KISSES ARE LIKE THEY ARE IN FILM.

Want to know a funny story? Besides the surprise attack from a boy named Tyler on the Kindergarten bus, my real first kiss is more of a joke than precious moment. The guy [name left anonymous because I do not want to embarrass him too much on the interweb] was so nervous, he missed and kissed the corner of my eye. Sadly to say that relationship didn't last and I pity anyone who has to play pin the tail on the donkey with this kid- make sure its the velcro kind, not the actually pin type.
 

Anywho, here are some of my favorite "First Kisses" in Cheesy Cinematic History: 

• "The Girl in the Lop-side Crown", Sleepover, Julie Corky and Steve:
  How perfect was that? Ignoring that fact that her styling was completely awful. I get she is moving from middle school to high school, but a pink cap sleeve shirt probably is not the way to a guys heart- especially when said cap sleeved shirt looks like it was made for a third grader. But she gets to kiss the guy she's had a crush on since forever! Also he likes her because she likes skateboarding and hot dogs. Though I might judge him for his standards being set so low, at least he knows what he likes. This first kiss is sort of creepy though because well, he climbs into her broken tree house, with the bent crown [she thought she lost the night before], and is just like all "hey". It is borderline stalker/ borderline adorable.

• "Waiting for you is like waiting for rain in this drought. Useless and disappointing" A Cinderella Story, Sam Montgomery & Austin Aimes:
  Any young adult who says they have not seen this movie (and partially memorized this movie) is lying. So Hillary Duff is the real life cinderella with a real life evil step mother, but has a secret online romance through a chat room- their aliases? PrincetonGirl and Nomad. Those names could use a little work, but that is besides the point. Without spoiling the story too much, he finds out who she is and is kind of a jerk about the whole thing. Eventually Sam decides to stick up for herself and tells him off, along with everyone who stepped all over her. At the football game she gets upset as the crowd starts chanting Austin's name, so she gets up to leave; at the time she's leaving, Austin looks to the crowd to find her, calls time out, and runs up to the stands to confess his love. And as they kiss, the drought is ended and all is well. LIKE WHO CAN SAY THEIR FIRST KISS ENDED A DETRIMENTAL DROUGHT?

• "A Real Foot Poppin Kiss" - Princess Diaries, Mia Thermopolis & Michael:
  As anybody who has seen this film knows, Mia friend-zones the cute guy who is in love with her and goes for the jerk, Josh. Josh is popular, tan, and had great hair [well at the time it was great hair for a guy to have, now it is not so attractive]. While Mia becomes popular due to her recent fame of discovering she's a princess, Josh and her go on a date at the beach party. Josh ends up kissing her in a shed [as they hide away from paparazzi]; Mia's foot doesn't pop and she is left embarrassing her family and finding out her dream guy was a fluke who just liked her for crown. It takes an M&M pizza and invitation to her ball, but Michael comes around and forgives her. As Mia looks to the crowd for someone to take her hand, Michael appears looking debonair [resembling a 60s rock star] and joins her on the dance floor. Afterwards, he takes her to the garden where they kiss, Mia's foot pops, and as it does the garden lights up and the fountain turns on. Being a Disney movie, of course it was quite magical.

• "Searching for a boy in high school is as useless as searching for meaning in a Pauly Shore movie," Clueless, Cher & Josh:
  Though people might see an older ex-stepbrother in college and his old little high school sister kissing as weird, it is still on my list because I LOVE THIS MOVIE. The whole time she is searching for someone to love and the whole time it was her ex-step brother who is also one of her best friends; which I know, I somewhat hate on because most the time best friends cannot turn into relationships. It is just a matter of fact about how things really work out. BUT I MEAN COME ON. Cher & Josh are perfect together... plus I just really like Paul Rudd. And she didn't even have to leave her house to get her first kiss with him- just conveniently at the top of her staircase.

Now this list could go on and on and on, but I feel like ending it here because let's be real- I just need to post another blog before you all disown me.

But you see boys. My next "first kiss" has the qualifiers that it should cure a drought [or happen in rain, I could settle for rain], be in a treehouse that you creepily climbed in to with a bent crown, maybe something on my staircase [I really like staying home], but most importantly you better make my foot pop.

 & that being said,

I'm Simply Sleepy Shelby Sue.

P.s. I'm currently procrastinating as I write this blog. You are welcome that I love you more than school.