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HBO Summer Film Festival 2010: Night 1

In theory, an ideal way to spend the first day of summer in New York City is by laying back on a big, comfy blanket in the middle of a park, watching a movie projected on a theater-like screen after sundown. In reality, this is New York City, so that park is completely overcrowded, the audio not quite surround sound, and the cigarette smoke is almost as thick as the humidity. At least, that’s how it was for Goldfinger last night in Bryant Park.

The movie was set to start around 9pm so I showed up at 615 to get a spot for the group I was meeting. Fail. The lawn was already covered with king-sized blankets and people piling on top of one another. So we had to walk down the gravel path to the very back of the park, before settling into the few remaining chairs that were sitting around the lawn. After almost 3 hours of chatting with the girls, I was ready to leave by the time the movie started. But I figured I didn’t wait around that long just to leave for the main attraction. That was, until the movie started and we couldn’t hear a thing from where we were seated. I think it was a combination of the commotion around us and the positioning of our seats, because as soon as we exited the viewing area, you could hear the movie clear as day. We only made it until about 945.

Movie night in the park is a cool idea, and there’s definitely something surreal about watching a movie outdoors, surrounded by the lights of the skyscrapers. But I’d recommend getting there right when the lawn opens up at 5pm to secure your spot. You can check out a new flick every Monday night until the end of August. For a complete listing of dates and movies, check out the Bryant Park website.

Toy Story 3

Since it was about 900 degrees on Sunday, I decided to take refuge inside of an air conditioned theater instead of heading downtown for the Red Bull airplane races. I saw Toy Story 3 in 3D at the Loews Theater in Kips Bay. I love that theater because it’s big, has good sound and comfy chairs, and most importantly, it’s right next door to a Borders Bookstore. After the movie I walked over and bought And Here’s the Kicker: Conversations with 21 Top Humor Writers on their Craft, and Comedy Writing Secrets. I can’t wait to finish reading Beach Week by Susan Coll and start both of these books! Beach week is extremely boring so far. I’m 257 pages in, and nothing exciting has happened yet.

Anyway, back to the movie. The mini-movie “Day and Night” that played before Toy Story 3 was cute. I had no idea, but apparently every Pixar film plays one of these shorts before the movie. It’s great to see a company using that opportunity to teach kids a moral lesson. But back to the main attraction. Toy Story 3. I didn’t really think it was necessary to be in 3D. The previews were much more 3-dimensional than the movie. I actually forgot that I was watching it in 3D for most of the movie. But aside from that, it was good! It’s hard to believe that the first Toy Story came out fifteen years ago though. Man, I’m getting old! It was funny, sad, happy, cute, all the things a good kids movie that can also be enjoyed by adults should be. It was easily relatable to someone my age or even a few years younger, which I thought made for a strong story line. Overall, good movie. I recommend seeing it at some point, although not necessarily in 3D.

Free Massage & Makeover in NYC

As part of a promotion for the Lifetime series Drop Dead Diva, a “Mobile Makeover” is parked on 6th Avenue, between 41st and 42nd Streets until 3pm. They’re offering free makeovers, massages, and a meet-and-greet with the cast: Brooke Elliott and Margaret Cho. Apparently this show is in its second season, but I’ve never heard of it. Probably because 1) I don’t have cable, and 2) if I did have cable, I wouldn’t be watching Lifetime. Had I not been on my lunch break, I definitely would’ve stepped up for a free massage and makeover! At least I managed to snag a miniature nail file with the season premiere info on it. Sunday June 6th at 9pm, in case anyone is interested.

King Kong Invades SoCal!

I’m enjoying these promotions around LA for the new King Kong attraction at Universal Studios Hollywood. They’re simple, and certainly eye-catching. These footprints popped up along Santa Monica Beach along with a crushed lifeguard truck.

The old King Kong was destroyed in a fire in June 2008, but just two years later the giant beast returns— bigger and scarier than ever. Academy Award-winning director Peter Jackson has directed a team of film and theme park ride experts to develop the largest 3D exhibit in the world, complete with a visitor experience that includes the smell of his banana breath, and the wind and shaking ground as the ape jumps and battles a T-Rex.

Cartoon Characters in Real Life

Via FFFFOUND!

Sex and the City 2; Without Much Sex

Last night I saw Sex and the City 2. All two and a half hours of it. No, I did not gather my girl friends and dress up in a fancy dress with too-high heels, and meet for cocktails before heading to the movie. That may be partially due to the fact that I don’t really have any girl friends, but whatever. I went straight to the Regal Theater in Times Square after work and met up with a girl from a meetup group whom I have never met. Yes— I saw Sex and the City on opening night in New York City, in Times Square of all places. What the hell was I thinking, right?

Me and $26.9 million worth of other movie goers made it out to the theaters yesterday. I’m horrible at math, but at $12 a ticket, that’s what? 2.25 million movie-goers? I usually never see movies on opening day as to forego the crowds, but I didn’t want to hear any spoilers about the movie before I actually got a chance to make it out to see it. I guess the joke’s on me though, because there are no spoilers! All of the speculation was right— there was no plot to Sex and the City 2. Technically, there was no reason to make this movie other than the fact that they knew they’d bring in millions of dollars and continue on the legacy. Some could argue that they made the movie to show how life is after marriage and/or children. But then one has to wonder, how many married mothers get a free trip to Abu Dhabi for a week of first class treatment? Then again, when has Sex and the City ever been realistic? I know from experiencing life in New York that hot, single men aren’t swarming the streets of Manhattan, and freelance writing isn’t exactly a bank account paved in gold. They probably should have quit while they were ahead, before too many people start bashing the show and belittling what’s left of its image.

That being said, I’m not saying I didn’t enjoy the movie. I’m a huge fan, so of course I was entertained, and completely jealous the entire 143 minutes. Every time these girls turned around there was a new kind of unimaginable luxury presenting itself. It was more of a road trip, feel-good kind of movie. The slightest bits of drama were resolved effortlessly and almost instantly which didn’t lead for much suspense. Everything is still perfect in Carrie Bradshaw and Co. land.

As far as the girls being “old” goes; (Sarah Jessica Parker/Carrie and Kristin Davis/Charlotte are 45, Cynthia Nixon/Miranda is 44, and Samantha/Kim Cattrall is 53), I think they look amazing. I don’t understand why so many people comment on their age and the way they look. They obviously take care of their bodies by not becoming obese old women who look 60 when they’re 45, so who cares if they’re wearing a hot designer dress in the movie? I didn’t think any of the girls dressed or looked inappropriate for their age at any point. (Well, maybe the midriff-bearing shirt Carrie wore for a brief minute in her old apartment and the diner. But belly shirts are a bad idea on anyone at any age in my book.) What do people expect them to be wearing, velour jump suits, sitting at a slot machine in Atlantic City? I could go on about this for ages, but that’s an entirely different blog post. I can only hope that I look as good as Kim Cattrall does when I’m 53, with only a little bit of Botox (at least, that’s what she says)!

All we Really Need to Know About SATC2

I’m a weird person. I know this. I love hockey & Sex and the City equally. But I’m well aware of the SATC stereotype that exists among women who are die-hard fans of the show. And I’m also aware that my purchased-a-week-in-advance ticket is going to admit me to a theater full of giggly females and gay men in high heels, watching relationship drama unfold on the screen. But this video about Sex and the City 2 pretty much sums it up. Don’t worry ladies, it’s not a spoiler. It’s a parody that basically tells us everything we already know about SATC.

Jersey is Getting Out of Hand

It looks like it’s pretty standard to produce shitty advertisements for (what I’m sure will be) shitty tv shows. Jersey Couture, really?

Adios, Betty Suarez

So that’s it. Ugly Betty is over. I’ll admit; I’m more than a little heartbroken. It’s been my guilty pleasure for four seasons. I stuck with it through all of the time slot changes and made sure that I was at home watching it no matter what. Every single week.

Continue reading…

Coco is with TBS

This makes me happy that I [for some unknown reason] get TBS on my tv, without paying for any sort of basic cable at all. For real, I don’t know if it’s standard in New York, or if I just got lucky with TBS & The Food Network, but I’m not complaining! (Time Warner, if you’re reading this and you come and shut me off, I’ll cut you. Deep. Move along). But I’m not sure how I feel about the idea of Conan on TBS. I mean, Conan is who he is- he’s going to be funny no matter what. But I feel like TBS is the station where good comedies go to die. I associate it with nothing but reruns and old school guilty pleasures. It’s almost a station that I’m embarrassed to admit that I love. Maybe Conan will change that though? Either way, good luck Conan, and we’re all highly looking forward to your return this fall!