Tuesday, May 20, 2008
La Cage Aux Folles
***** La Cage Aux Folles. Comedy.
Directed by: Edouard Molinaro
Starring: Ugo Tognazzi, Michel Serrault, Claire Maurier, Remi Laurent, Benny Luke, Luisa Maneri, Michel Galabru
I'd originally seen this years ago, and loved it, so I bought the DVD recently after being reminded of it by one of Moondancer Drake's posts. It's such a classic, I felt it needed to be in our library.
The story is about a gay couple, Renato (Ugo Tognazzi) and Albin (Michel Serrault) living in St. Tropez. Renato's son Laurent (Remi Laurent) is getting married, but he's worried about how his fiancee's father will react to their lifestyle, so Laurent talks them into pretending to be straight when Andrea (Luisa Maneri) and her parents (Michel Galabru & Carmen Scarpitta) visit.
Which isn't as easy as it sounds. Renato owns a cabaret, and Albin, in drag as "Zaza", is the star attraction. They live above the club.
On the other side, the fiancee's father is head of the conservative party which is in the middle of a moral scandal, and so it's extra-important for him that his daughter's wedding be the epitome of conservative family values.
Complicating matters further are the barefoot French maid Jacob (Benny Luke) and Laurent's biological mother (Claire Maurier).
The DVD offers the choice of watching it dubbed or in the original French with subtitles. The original is vastly better, even though I don't speak French. The emotion comes through in the voice--you can get the meaning from the words in the subtitles.
And even in French with subtitles, I laughed myself silly. La Cage Aux Folles is a comedy, full of sight gags and hilarious situations, but like all very good comedies, it has an underlying seriousness that gives is meaning. Unsurprisingly, there's a theme of prejudice and acceptance, and being yourself.
The contrast between Laurent's and Andrea's families is pertinent but subtle: Laurent's home is brighter, more cheerful, and there's more affection between Renato and Albin than between Andrea's parents.
It's a shorter movie than I remembered, but every scene counts. The actors are all perfect in their roles, and even the flamboyant Albin/Zaza doesn't come off as a caricature.
I saw the remake Birdcage when it came out years ago, and it really doesn't compare. I did, though, put it in our Netflix queue so we can compare.
Categories: Movies, 5stars, Comedy
Labels: 5 stars, comedy, Movies
Desire After Dark
**** Desire After Dark by Amanda Ashley. Contemporary paranormal romance.
Vickie Cavendish is a waiter in a small-town diner. For a couple of nights in a row, a stranger comes into the diner and seems interested in her. He chats with her and orders dinner, but he always leaves without eating it, and twice now he's left after speaking with red-haired women, who end up dead.
The town's beginning to panic, but Vickie trusts the man, despite his odd behavior, and the fact that she's a redhead herself, to the point of allowing him to walk her home for protection because of the murders.
He turns out to be vampire Antonio Battista, and he's tracking the other vampire in town, Falco, the one who's doing the killings. Also on the scene is a vampire hunter.
Desire After Dark is an entertaining story, with the good and bad vampires, and the vampire hunter who's not sure there's a difference. There's also an appearance of characters from previous books, though it's not to the point where you feel lost if you don't recognize them. I particularly appreciated the former heroine who befriended Vickie and helped her deal with being a human woman in love with a vampire.
I wasn't quite so happy with Vickie's TSTL tendencies. She knew redheads were being killed; she knew Antonio had met with at least two of them shortly before their deaths; she knew he behaved strangely; and at that point, she didn't know him at all. Yet she walked home with him, alone, and even invited him in.
The denouement was brief and tidy, and there wasn't a lot of heat in the story, but those are both characteristics to be expected from an Amanda Ashley novel, so I wasn't bothered by them. They're worth mentioning, though, for those who aren't familiar with her style.
Categories: Books, 4stars, ParanormalRomance
Labels: 4 stars, books, ParanormalRomance
keys to your heart
Found at Crazy Cozy Murders:
I was a little dubious about this one, but it's pretty much got me pegged.
Categories: quiz
The Keys to Your Heart |
 You are attracted to obedience and warmth. In love, you feel the most alive when your lover is creative and never lets you feel bored. You'd like to your lover to think you are stylish and alluring. You would be forced to break up with someone who was emotional, moody, and difficult to please. Your ideal relationship is lasting. You want a relationship that looks to the future... one you can grow with. Your risk of cheating is zero. You care about society and morality. You would never break a commitment. You think of marriage as something precious. You'll treasure marriage and treat it as sacred. In this moment, you think of love as something you thirst for. You'll do anything for love, but you won't fall for it easily. |
I was a little dubious about this one, but it's pretty much got me pegged.
Categories: quiz
Labels: quiz
Monday, May 19, 2008
Hidden Riches
***** Hidden Riches by Nora Roberts. Romantic suspense. Re-read.
I reread this, and loved it. I'd remembered the gist of the story, but the details were what made it.
You have Dora Conroy & Jed Skimmerhorn. He was a police captain who resigned. She owns an antique/junk shop & lives above it. He rents the other apartment from her. He's independently wealthy, and his grandmother is a bit of a character. Her family are actors---her dad's hilarious. She buys some things at an auction house that contain smuggled items & the villain tries to get them back.
One thing that bugs me about Dora. She's insulting Jed because he's not getting hysterical and falling apart about the other murders. Excuse me? Only people who can't put things aside have emotions? You're cold if you don't just drop everything & refuse to go on when something bad happens? She knows he's a cop. She loves him. She wants him to continue to be a cop. But she wants him to be a basket case every time he hears of something bad happening??? Okay, okay, Dora is at heart an actress. Logic isn't her strong suit. Got it. grrrrr.... People do this to Eve Dallas all the time too. Ticks me off. Probably because it was a point of contention between Carl and me until we learned to understand each other.
Still, it's realistic, even if it isn't logical, and it didn't spoil the story for me.
Gotta love how Dora & Jed first met:
"I'm Dora," she explained when he only continued to stare. "From across the hall? Need any help getting organized?"Cracks me up every time.
"No." Jed booted the box away with his foot and closed the door in her face.
Categories: Books, 5stars, RomanticSuspense
Labels: 5 stars, books, RomanticSuspense
Monday Morning Meme
Melody tagged me for this Blogging Tips Meme, and I'm at a loss.
Tips? Me? I'm using an ultra-basic template, and haven't even managed to update my very simple sidebar in ages.
So instead, I'm going to post some tips that I've been meaning to look up how to do. If you know the answers and want to save me some time, post them in the comments.
Categories: Meme
Tips? Me? I'm using an ultra-basic template, and haven't even managed to update my very simple sidebar in ages.
So instead, I'm going to post some tips that I've been meaning to look up how to do. If you know the answers and want to save me some time, post them in the comments.
- Drop-down menu for archives and blogroll.
- Embedding music in a post the way you do a YouTube video (not in the sidebar--I did find those instructions).
Categories: Meme
Labels: random memes
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Body Electric
****½ Body Electric by Susan Squires. Science fiction.
Victoria Barnhardt is a computer genius, and she's been secretly working on developing true A.I. (artificial intelligence). She succeeds with a program she names "Jodie," which becomes self-aware. To the point that Jodie decides he's male rather than the female personality Vic thought she'd designed him with.
Things quickly spiral out of control--Vic's job is in jeopardy, and she has to hide Jodie from her unscrupulous employer, who'll steal and exploit Jodie. But now that Jodie's self-aware, he has a personality and feelings she needs to take into account.
Eventually, Jodie needs a body--and he finds one, leading to more complications.
Body Electric is a fabulous, edge-of-your-seat story. I did have a little trouble warming up to Vic initially--particularly her sexist attitudes: she seemed to simultaneously emulate men and despise them. But that didn't last long. Once she succeeded in creating Jodie, the story took off and I had no more objections.
In addition to exciting suspense, and fascinating, Hollywood-esque technology, there's also the question of what it means to be human. In that way, this is very similar to many older, classic science fiction books about robots or computer programs. The basic story has been told before, but this one is well-written, and it's a story worth revisiting.
In fact, I think Vic's prickliness and gender problems kept Body Electric from being just another run-of-the-mill AI story. Falling in love with Jodie, and her resulting mixed emotions about that, are more real, and make more sense than if she'd been more well-adjusted to begin with.
Categories: Books, 4.5stars, ScienceFiction
Labels: 4.5 stars, books, ScienceFiction
Link of the Week
This site has coupons for all kinds of retailers--from Amazon to Victoria's Secret. They even have ones for German retailers like Amazon.de and Quelle, which surprised me. Next time you shop online, click here first and see if you can save a few extra bucks.
Categories: LOTW
Labels: cool links
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Raiders of the Lost Ark
*****+ Raiders of the Lost Ark. Action/adventure.
Directed by: Steven Spielberg.
Starring: Harrison Ford, John Rhys-Davies, Denholm Elliott, Karen Allen
I watched this on video while exercising. And since then, the boys have been watching the series in preparation for the new sequel. And to top it off, Camden's been practicing the theme song on his clarinet for his upcoming band concert. So I've been pretty well immersed in All Things Indiana Jones for a while. I can't tell you how tempted I am to buy the hat. If I'd been smart, I'd have asked for it for Mother's Day, thus avoiding the temptation to just buy it and the resulting guilt if I did.
Anyway. It's one of my absolute favorite movies. It's got everything you could want: action, drama, suspense, humor, romance, intrigue, daring stunts, dramatic scenery, memorable lines, a stirring soundtrack, and performances that worked so well the actors were the characters.
Raiders of the Lost Ark is a classic and a benchmark for a reason. It's also one of the rare movies for which familiarity doesn't breed contempt: I like it more every time I watch it.
Categories: Movies, 5+stars, ActionAdventure
Labels: 5+ stars, action, Movies
Face Time
**** Face Time by Hank Phillippi Ryan. Mystery.
The good news: this was another of my successful efforts to find a new-to-me author. The bad news: unfortunately, I ended up with the second book in a mystery series without having read the first. The good news: Face Time stands alone quite well, and I didn't feel lost.
Investigative reporter Charlotte McNally can handle just about anything--except her mother, who's in town for plastic surgery before her upcoming wedding. She's also not doing so well with her boyfriend Josh's 8-year-old daughter. But in between dealing with her mother's demands and trying to befriend or at least make peace with the little girl, the story of a lifetime falls into her lap.
Charlie receives a tape proving that Dorinda Sweeney could not have killed her husband, though she'd confessed, been convicted, and is currently in prison. However, when Charlie interviews her, she maintains her guilt.
Worse yet, Attorney General Ortega had built his career on the case, and now he's running for reelection and is pressuring Charlie to stop investigating.
And then people around the case start dying.
There are some nice twists in the mystery--a couple I saw coming, and one I didn't, and the suspense kept me turning the pages.
The combination of problems from both the younger and the older generation balanced nicely, though I had trouble relating to them. Sucking up to an 8-year-old seems like a really bad idea to me, regardless of how understandable her feelings are. And I was simultaneously irritated with and envious of Charlie's mom--irritated because I can't imagine treating my daughter that way, and envious because it's better than the indifference from my mom.
Unfortunately, I read this while I was dealing with a lot of emotional issues, and so my own feelings got caught up with those of the story. I enjoyed it very much nonetheless, but in a more cheerful frame of mind, it would have been even better. Or maybe if I'd known Charlie and the supporting cast already from the first book. Which I'll be looking for.
Categories: Books, 4stars, Mystery
Labels: 4 stars, books, mystery
Friday, May 16, 2008
Friday Flashback
From April 2002:
Ride the Winter Wind by Christina Kingston. Historical romance.
Read the entire thread here.
Categories: Flashback, Books, HistoricalRomance
Ride the Winter Wind by Christina Kingston. Historical romance.
Good timing on this one---that "Winter Wind" of the title was just what I needed now that the heat & humidity have decided to stay!
Our hero, Michael, is one of those wonderfully damaged heroes we all love. He's lost the use of one arm through imprisonment & torture, and feels like he's a burden to his friends and has nothing left to live for. Even though he saves Alissa's life more than once, he feels he has nothing to give her. Silly man.
Our heroine, Alissa, will lose her inheritance to her uncle if she doesn't marry in the next week. Not only that, but her grandmother & young blind cousin Robin will be left to fend for themselves, & she herself will be shut away in an insane asylum. Unfortunately, accidents tend to befall her suitors. In a last ditch effort, she asks her best friend's widower to marry her & save the family, but he's attacked on his way to her.
Uncle Gerald is a truly evil, greedy man. He'll stop at nothing to get his hands on that inheritance. What happened to him at the end was perfect. Much more satisfying than if he'd simply died.
Alissa's grandmother was a sharp woman. I loved how she put Michael on the spot & asked him to marry Alissa. Hard to get mad at her for meddling, when it was what they both wanted.
Bly was a real character. The scene where he explains to Alissa how to get Michael to overcome his scruples is priceless. I'm intrigued by all the Lucky Seven---are they in other books?
One small quibble with the cover artist---Michael's left arm was paralyzed, but on the cover he's holding his hat & gloves in it. Tsk tsk.
All in all, a satisfying read that kept me turning pages to find out what happened next.
Read the entire thread here.
Categories: Flashback, Books, HistoricalRomance
Labels: books, flashback, HistoricalRomance
Thursday, May 15, 2008
TT #99
Part 3: the Celtic Village
Over spring break, we rented a vacation house in southeastern Bavaria, near the borders of Austria and the Czech Republic. We thought we might cross those borders, but there was so much to do in the local area, we didn't bother, and ended up spending a lot less time on the road and more time having fun.
This week: the Celtic Village. The previous pix, if you missed them: 1 2 3 4.
You can always click on the pictures to see a larger version.
1.  | 2.  | 3.  |
4.  | 5.  |
6.  | 7.  | 8.  |
9.  | 10.  |
11.  another house | 12.  weaving loom | 13.  Curran & Camden & another statue |
There are still pictures from the glass museum, but I think I'll skip those, or save them for another time because next week is my 100th Thursday Thirteen, and I wanted to commemorate it in some way.
Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
| 1. Wylie Kinson | 2. She Became a Butterfly | 3. Bethanie |
| 4. Cassandra | 5. Janet | 6. Siteseer |
| 7. On a Limb with Claudia | 8. Julia Smith | 9. BrendaND |
| 10. Tink | 11. Sandy Carlson | 12. Sue |
| 13. Lori | 14. Motherhood for Dummies | 15. Chelle Y. |
| 16. PussReboots | 17. Julia | 18. Heather |
| 19. Debora Dennis | 20. Ann | 21. Melody |
| 22. Angelle | 23. Winter | 24. Susan Helene Gottfried |
| 25. you're next! |
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants
Categories: ThursdayThirteen, AboutMe
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Stardance
**** Stardance by Spider and Jeanne Robinson. Science fiction.
Charlie Armstead is the best video man in the world of dance. A former dancer, sidelined by injury, he's turned his talent, creativity, and understanding of dance to filming it to share with the rest of the world.
Shara Drummond is an incredible dancer, possibly the best Charlie's ever seen. It's heartbreaking, though, because she's simply physically too big to dance professionally with a troupe. Solo performances won't work either because nobody will take a chance on such an unknown.
Then a new space station gives Shara her break: dancing in free-fall.
Then aliens show up, and it turns out dance is their means of communication, and Shara's not just an artist but an ambassador of sorts.
There are four parts two this book: "Stardance," "The Stardancers," "Starseed," and "Syngamy." It's hard to describe the latter three parts without spoiling the ending of the preceding parts. I'll just say that the aliens turn out to be more than expected.
The first part of the story appeared in 1977, and the entire book first came out in 1979. I wish I'd read it then--I'd have absolutely loved it: the misfit who finds her place and triumphs; the aliens that only she can understand; and then the evolution of man. Now, however, I find it charming but naive.
A lot of that is that I am absolutely not an artsy person. I admire dancers--as people with particular skills and talents. The notion that dance (or any art form) is life, or that dancers (or other artists) have some sort of mystical insight that the rest of us lack--that just makes me roll my eyes.
Then, too, there's the notion, very prevalent in older science fiction at least (I haven't read a lot of recent sf, so I don't know if it's still so common), that the ultimate (and, it's implied, preferred) evolution of man is the surrender of self to become one with the universe. I'm too much of an individualist to find that at all appealing.
Still, it's a good story, a classic, and well worth reading.
Categories: Books, 4stars, ScienceFiction
Labels: 4 stars, books, ScienceFiction
