Quote from BBC 1 Series Luther

Luther UK TV:  Series 1 Episode 4

“Want to know the real tragedy about marriage?” Detective Superintendent (DS) Rose Teller

“No Thanks!” Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) John Luther

“Women always think that men will change, but they don’t. Men think women won’t change, but they do.” DS Rose Teller

“Where did you get that from? A fortune cookie?” DCI John Luther

No right answer! Hello Stranger ?

In the movie Closer [2004/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0376541/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1  or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Closer_(film)]
there are four main characters in the play and film. In the film they are depicted respectively by :
Clive Owen's [Not Clive Warren, Mr. Pilkington] perverted dermatologist: Larry Gray
Julia Robert's perverted photographer: Anna Cameron
Jude Law's perverted writer: Dan Woolf
Natalie Portman's perverted muse/subject/stripper/world traveler: Jane Jones/Alice Ayres
[Despite the fact that I called all the characters perverts, I really like the film. Of course, as a pervert, I am fine in the company of perverts. And like watching movies about perverts. If you have seen the blog posts, you probably could have guessed that.]

But in the whole film, there is one intriguing question, to me anyway. It is:
 

Would you rather be Alice Ayres? Or Jane Jones?

I think most ladies want to be Alice. Only because most ladies believe that Alice is the brave one. The one with adventures. The best one to be.

But the truth is, Plain ol' Jane is the one that actually experienced it all. Every bit of it. Jane is the one with the stories. The one who created Alice or at least stole her. The one that everyone can talk to.

Jane Jones is, to ME, the most interesting character.

Spank [The Fifty Shades Parody]

            So awesome! So funny! I had a great time. 

            The crowd was mostly women. I would say about 96%. But there were a few guys there. As one of them, I consider myself lucky. Even better, I actually have read all three books. I got every aspect of every joke.

            Best thing, the three person cast was interactive with the crowd. Well at least the first couple of rows. And the people they picked did amazing. It was great. The cast even knew a little about the local area it was being performed in. Maybe it personal for the audience. Took the performance up a notch.

            Plus the writing was great. So much better than the books themselves. But it was really a smart show.

            The three cast members were all good. The stand out was Suzanne Sole as E.B. Janet. They made her American as opposed to the real Brit, Erika Leonard (E.L.) James. Ms. Sole also played a bunch of other roles (Jose, the rest of the Greys and others). By far the best at acting. Then there was Michelle Vezilj as Tasha Woode or Ana Steele. She was good. Very funny because of her innocent look. Last was Gabe Bowling as Hugh Hanson or Christian Grey. He was good too. Did a great job with the physical nature of his job. I thought he worked well with the two women.

            The writing is the real star. Hit so many things that are ridiculous about the 50 Shades Trilogy. Particularly addressed the first book. There are some things  from the other two books but a lot less then the 1st book.  Stuff like:

1.      Ana not having a computer.

2.      Christian’s obsessive nature

3.      Ana's sexual and relationship stupidity which is not actual innocence

4.      E.L. James' own horniness.

5.      The low quality of the writing by 'Mrs. James' [one thing that isn't mentioned is the fact that James is a writer for BBC.]

6.      The lack of an actual plot in the books

7.      The ridiculousness of a orgasming the first time having sex

8.      Saying Inner Goddess far too often and like that means something significant

9.      Saying "Long Fingers" when she meant long penis
 

      And so many other ridiculous things. I can't even remember all the things that this parody was on point about. It was so smart. So funny. And so well done.
 

      Plus most of the people in the crowd were likely fans of the work. But I did not hear any boos or derision. Everyone in attendance seemed to be having fun. There is an ill-placed intermission. But it is mostly for a refill and stretch. Everyone was in good spirits.
 

      One good thing for the guys, you could check scores during the intermission. I went on a NCAA tournament day. Got to have priorities. Support MY girl, check. Get the results, check. Everyone happy at the end of the night, check.
 

      All in all, this was a good time. I assume ladies will go with everyone in their book club. Wearing their grey ties or masquerade masks. Guys should go too. With their ladies or without. And everyone who does go will have a good time. Have a your favorite cocktail and laugh out loud!

TV rant: Are there any show runners anymore?

     Showrunner: term originating in the United States television industry referring to the person who is responsible for the day-to-day operation of a television series.
     On certain shows right now, it is hard to figure out if anyone is functioning as a showrunner.

     Like in in House of Lies: Why did they change the way Marty Kaan acts? First the important question, where is MY crazy sex? The Marty as they established him would have had sex with someone by episode 2 of the 2nd season

     Even if Marty became a monk; the showrunner should let someone else on the team become slut. Clyde is the natural choice because he . But Guggenheim would be more interesting for a certain point of view of who he hooks up with. Or a good writer would spread the sex out amongst them.

    I mentioned the guys on the team. Jeanie is also available for debauchery. But they have her in an equally ridiculous storyline. The Marty/Jeanie thing is lame. So lame. I know they gave her character daddy issues that sabotage everything. But this is not real. It is not normal. And it is not the characters from the first season.

     But to my rant, if you write a character one way, keep them that way. Or if there is a reason for him to change, then make it obvious. Because Marty closes in business and sex. He hit on his ex wife so he wants to have sex. That hasn’t changed. So he would have moved on to someone else by now. This is crap. The showrunner needs to get things back on track.

      I am pissed about stuff like that. I wish someone would actually think, “would Marty go 2 episodes without sex?” Or just not make a show that ramps the sex down the 2^nd season. Because the result will be, this viewer will not be back for a 3^rd season unless I see some frakkin. And soon.

   Another example is How I Met Your Mother: Why have they fundamentally changed who Ted is? He is just hooking up randomly now. He isn’t looking for Love. He is just a guy in NYC. If a showrunner was keeping the stories on track, he never hooks up with random woman. Not for any reason, not even if the reason is peer pressure.

     Even when he did "The Naked Man"; that date started out as a legitimate prospect. Ted was thinking Love. At least at first. But when it broke down, then he got laid.

     Recently Ted has just been doing whatever. Not really acting like himself. Just like a normal guy in NYC. Which is not worth watching.

     Same changes to his personality happened earlier this season. An old love of Ted's named Victoria came back into his life. She was looking for marriage. But Ted was just MEH about it. No. Ted has been so desperate about his search for both love and marriage. He labored for the better part of four years to get Robin to both love and marry him. Unsuccessfully. But now Robin is getting married to Barney. WTFrak? I am not sure how these changes to the characters are occuring.

     Speaking of which, Ted is the type of guy who knows his friend’s important information. I don't want to spoil anything so I won't say what he forgot. But even if it isn’t his best friend he remembers things.

     The writers are just making Ted into a 30s douche bag. Which apparently is just as bad if not worse than a 20s d-bag. That show is funny when you turn off the brain. But if you actually care about the Mother in the title, it is frakkin horrible. But at least at one point he was searching for Love. Now he is just a d-bag.

      [Also, Barney broke one of the 'bro rules'. He broke up a girlfight. Not cool.]

     At this point, I am kind of just hanging on to find out who the Mother is. But once I do, I may stop watching all together. They haven't been interesting in a while. Things need to perk up quick. Otherwise, I am off to other things.

     A good friend of mine mentioned that they [writers, showrunner, producers] may not want to let the viewers down with the "wrong" Mother. If she doesn't look the right way. If it isn't the right person. That is plausible and I agree that is the case. Otherwise, they could just have an actress know. Having a yellow umbrella all the time or a bass guitar player; they are just skirting the issue.

     Get to what is real. Write a good story. Let the viewers decide. Otherwise, the viewers will and decide to turn the channel.

More ranting. This time about 50 Shades [probably not my last]

A very good friend of mine led me to a web posting that I thought was absurd at first. Until I realized that it was actually genius. The web posting was: http://observer.com/2012/06/bret-easton-ellis-tweets-dream-team-cast-for-50-shades-of-grey-upcoming-lindsay-lohanjames-deen-thriller/

I have read all three of the 50 Shades books. But I can’t say I am expert in them. If I say something in the following rant that is incorrect, it is out of ignorance. But if you respond in the contrary, I would enjoy a thoughtful response. Just hearing that that “I’m stupid” [while it may be true] is not helpful to the discussion.

Now. I am not sure that Lena Dunham is actually the best actress for this role. Mostly because she is much stronger a person then Anastasia Steele from the 50 Shades books. Ms. Dunham is the writer, director and lead actress in her own HBO show. This is not some shrinking violet who will easily fall into the role of a naive young woman who has no real experience with either herself or life. Ana is very different even from the awkward character that Ms. Dunham portrays on “Girls”.

One thing I do know it this, Kate Kavanaugh is better looking and richer than Ana Steele. She should look like it as well. She should exude that. Both glamour and grace. A young lady with style. I am thinking someone like a young Iman or Paulina Porizkova or Heidi Klum. Kate should be model level beautiful not Ana.

While I understand and agree that Christian Grey (Xian) should be played by a male actor that has model like good looks. Guys who are being touted as possible who I agree are appropriate as guys like Ian Somerhalder and Matt Bomer. Xian has to be exquisite. He should look it. Act it. Be it.

But Ana should not be. She should be pretty. But not model ‘gorgeous’. While Lena Dunham is smart in the way Ana must be, witty, sarcastic and biting. She is not good looking enough to be noticed just for her looks. Also, her tattoos will probably take her out of the running for the role as well. They work for her personally but Ana does not and would not have tattoos. That is going to be a nail in the coffin.

While actresses like Alexis Bledel, Nina Dobrev, Emmy Rossum, or Emily Browning [who was Stephenie Meyer’s choice for Bella http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twilight_(2008_film)]   is being named as potential favorite actresses to play Ana. However most of them are more appropriate for Kate Kavanuagh [or better yet Leila who will be a great character to play].

 Same with all the ladies that are being named for Ana. I am not sure though, I believe that Kate might have been blond. If so, someone like Diane Agron is cast, that would be awesome. Kate should be much prettier than Ana.

A better Ana would be Lena Dunham’s cast mate on the show “Girls” Zosia Mamet. Most might argue that Alison William or Jemima Kirke would be better.  I ask why?

Where does it talk about Ana being prettier than Kate? The only people who express interest in Ana are Xian and Jose. Outside of them, Ana is average written and should be portrayed as average. That is how the character should be played. As accurate as possible.

I am certain that Hollywood will screw it up. They so often do.

Like I said, this is all ranting. Amazing that I book I have so many problems with has enthralled me in such a way. I dislike mostly the portrayal of BDSM but also the writing and the general lack of realism in any of it. But is it a copycat of a fantasy book in the Twilight series that have many of the same attributes.

I would like to see the 50 Shades have some good movies. It is possible. Not if they stay true to the books though.

More Boycotts

R. Kelly

            I know that he has beaten the case against him. He went to court and won. And yet, I still believe he urinated on that girl.

I believe it so much that when R. Kelly came on the radio, I would change the channel. Not just in my own car but in other peoples’ as well. I don’t ask, I just change it. I just don’t like him.  

The truly hypocritical part of this is, I still listen to Michael Jackson. The circumstances are the same. But I let Michael Jackson off like s Smooth Criminal. All the while pushing R. Kelly back in closet.

My boycotts are not consistent. They may not be fair. But they are mine. And I am keeping the flame on this one burning.

 

Chris Brown

            He is despicable. Not only for what he did to Rihanna. That is enough to warrant a boycott.

But also, has no integrity with his music. He changed his lyrics to “Forever On The Dance Floor” to get marketing money from Double Mint Gum. No more to say, Chris Brown SUCKS!

           

Michael Fassbender [on the fence  - need more information]

            I had never heard that one. The first things I found don’t convince me. I understand things can happen. But this isn’t old Hollywood. She could file now and get a big bank. Why not? I am not sure I believe this.

            Not because I believe that all stars are good. When reports that Christian Bale came out, I believed them. Even before the audio. But the audio helped, that is for sure.

            I understand people who are in love can be convinced of many things. That abused people can be convinced of many things as well. But at this point, if this was true, she should press charges and clear things up on.           

 

Morgan Freeman [no boycott]

            Nothing has been shown that Morgan Freeman did anything other than take his step-granddaughter E’Dena Hines to movie premieres with him.

Same as when a lot of celebrities go to premieres with their Moms. http://www.google.com/imgres?num=10&hl=en&tbo=d&biw=1366&bih=644&tbm=isch&tbnid=UGYiQh8OOG1URM:&imgrefurl=http://www.edmontonjournal.com/entertainment/Brad%2BPitt%2Battacks%2BObama%2Bmarriage/6895391/story.html&docid=V5cofClzjOrbcM&imgurl=http://www.edmontonjournal.com/6895412.bin&w=640&h=400&ei=9GmhUJ7RBsWL2AX-g4GACg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=848&vpy=219&dur=433&hovh=177&hovw=284&tx=122&ty=107&sig=115803050662158881723&page=1&tbnh=145&tbnw=230&start=0&ndsp=25&ved=1t:429,r:14,s:0,i:117 Attached is an image of Brad Pitt with his Mom. What does it mean? Probably that he wanted to take his Mom to his new movie.

Here is a picture of Jeremy Piven walking with his Mom. http://www.splashnewsonline.com/2011-05-08/celebrities-out-with-their-moms/spl251784_001-wm900-jpg/ Are they too hot and heavy get dressed up? No. They are regular people doing what looks like shopping and having coffee.

            They has never been nor is there no evidence that they were ever involved. Definitely nothing that they are engaged as was also erroneously reported. I am  sure it was some blogger who used twitter to make this claim. But I am willing to say that one is false.

            I am going to just chalk this up to trying to make a story where there is none. It is sad. But that is where media is these days. Lots of people comment and it gets picked up. During “Super Storm” Sandy it was reported that water was in Wall Street. It was even picked up by CNN. Ridiculous.

            News Reporters are more like gossips these days. That is why my boycotts are just based on truth. They are also based on my own biases. I will admit to that.

            But just like I am free not to see Altman’s movies when there is truth to be spread, I will. If Altman is so good at telling a story, when he is talking about a person, don’t say that Americans are full of it. Say Bush is full of it. I have no tolerance for stuff like that. It is how prejudices get spread. Tolerance of stereotypes being passed from the trait of one person to all persons like her or him is exactly how prejudices are started. And I not tolerant of it.

            There are plenty of people who don’t like me or my opinions. But I make my opinions known. I talk about it. If you disagree, fine. It is an opinion. I am not asking for acceptance in any way.

Modern Erotic Trilogies: To/In/With You and 50 Shades

           Despite the fact that lots of people and groups should be mad about the books; [women over 22, women who can’t orgasm, virgins, the entire BDSM community, mothers, fathers, I could go on] The 50 Shades trilogy have done increasing well. I am referring to 50 Shades: of Grey, Darker and Released. These books have made a serious amount of buzz and money for E.L. James.

I will admit to having read all three. I will go so far as to say, before I read the first one, I was very excited to read them. E.L. James did a nice job of fan fiction. Although overall; I did not enjoy any of the books. None of them can stand alone as good writing. Overall I was disappointed by the series as flat and poorly written.

This is mostly because I expected a very good story. Moreover, I expected a VERY sexy story. One that brought a good sex story into characters that are somewhat familiar. I was very let down. The sex was horrible. In the end, the guy has to give up his desires. Not sure what either character comes away from it with. Many people have said how much love Ana and Christian have for each other. But Ana just gets Christian to change for her. That isn’t love. That is simple compliance. And Christian is obsessed with Ana which once again is not love.

There is a book out that is more satisfying in its storyline. Mostly because the characters are slightly more realistic [by slightly I mean very slightly]. But we are not talking Sex and The City vs. Girls type of realism. Just an adjustment of some of the outlandish things.

The book I am referring to is ‘Bared To You’ by Silvia Day. The book is a very adult and very hot. It is the first in a trilogy. The next two are scheduled for release within the next six months. The second book is now out and I am working my way through it.  

It clears up the unrealistic parts of 50 that I won’t give away. But the ‘To/In/With You’ series hopefully will stay in the realm of ‘Super-Rich” but possible. So far, it is pushing the limits of what normal people have access to. It would be nice to see something more realistic but C’est La Vie.

Still these two trilogies will have so many comparisons that it might get lost in the genre of ‘HardCore Adult’/Erotica that has been marginalized to ‘Mommy Porn’ because of their appeal to women and the main characters of both as females.

But both have very similar aspects as apparent below:

50 Shades		To You
Anastasia ‘Ana’ Rose Steele	YOUNG female main character [only child to birth mother and father]	Eva Trammel
Christian Grey	Insanely Rich male main character	Gideon Cross
Harvard	Ivy League School male lead dropped out of to start company	Columbia
Kathryn Kavanaugh	Promiscuous Best friend	Cary Taylor
Leila Williams	Pining Ex-girlfreind of the male character who married someone else	Corrine Giroux
Carla May Wilks Adams	Worrying mother of female	Monica Stanton
Franklin Lambert	Absent birth father of female	Victor Reyes
Robbin (Bob) Adams	Newest Step Father (of 3)	Richard Stanton
Taylor	Driver of the male character	Angus
Elliot Grey	Promiscuous Brother of the male lead	Christopher Vidal Junior
Mia Grey	Younger sister of the male lead	Ireland Vidal
Elena Lincoln	Disillusioned Female Stalker of male main character	Magdalene Perez
Young Brunettes	Type of woman the male lead likes	Young Brunettes

           

I am pulling for Silvia Day because I like her more frank addressing of the issues. Specifically the way she addresses sex. That doesn’t mean I agree totally with her story. But honestly, I think it is more realistic. The underlying reason for their actions actually make some sense.

            This does stand to reason. Silvia Day is a military veteran like me. So I would be drawn more to her. As opposed to E.L. James who is British and I am not sure specifically what she does but it is something to do with TV in the UK.

            The really deflating thing was, after reading Bared To You, I saw that Silvia Day acknowledges E.L. James. That makes me much more suspect of the similarities to the book.

            Silvia Day has said that her book Seven Years to Sin inspired Eva and Gideon. But I am not really sure how having read both. One is about immediate gratification and the other is about long term pinning. Eva and Gideon are much closer to Ana and Christian than Jessica and Alastair. That is just my opinion.

            In all honesty, Seven Years To Sin has a much hotter two characters in Hester and Michael. But that is a whole other story. And a much hotter one!

            The good thing is, there are lots of holes that still need to be filled in for the ‘To/In/With You’ series. I am hoping that Silvia Day goes in a different direction that shows why we should enjoy these characters she is building in Eva and Gideon. And I really hope Silvia Day “keeps it real”.

            As I begin the second book, Reflected In You; I am hopeful that this story is more realistic in figuring the ins and outs of a relationship. All relationships are complicated adding money is not a specially complicating factor. So why make the super rich sympathetic? Millionaires are tortured for the reasons that they themselves control. I could say more but it would give away the plotline. I am hopeful Silvia Day does a better job at addressing this disparity it than E.L. James did.  Because just having to give up something you enjoy is not healthy a healthy relationship message for anyone: male, female, rich, poor, any race, color or creed.