I waited to read any reviews of On Stranger Tides because I heard most were saying it was a bad movie. I saw some low numbers from critics and some high numbers from audiences. I decided to take the ride for a fourth time and decide for myself.

After watching the movie I went home and read as many reviews that I could until I realized most movie critics were saying the same things. Some say On Stranger Tides doesn’t work because Captain Jack has taken on more of a lead role in this movie and his quirkiness is old news on screen. As a Captain Jack Sparrow fan, I say I’m not savvy with that idea. I think Pirates of the Caribbean fans will watch and enjoy this movie because it’s another chance to take a ride with Captain Jack Sparrow.

I’m not a movie critic, I’m a blogging housewife. Most importantly for this review I need to remind you that I’m also a mom. The main reason I like this movie is because of the kiddo. She jumped at the movie’s surprise moments and together we laughed at Captain Jack’s antics. Depp’s familiar Captain Jack expressions, his rolling eyes, funny faces and familiar remarks are like that pair of comfy shoes you’d never think of getting rid of. Alright that’s corny but true. One word… housewife!

The kiddo loved the mermaids for being less like Ariel and more like the ones she’s read about in her mythology books. Much like the skeletons from The Curse of the Black Pearl, or the undersea mutant crew in Dead Man’s Chest, I thought the mermaids were intriguing.

Many critics say the plot isn’t well defined, the sword fights aren’t authentic enough and there is no spark between Depp and Cruz. I can understand these ideas but honestly I never thought of them while watching the movie. It was only after reading a few bad reviews that I looked back and thought, ehh I can sort of see what they’re saying.

The reason why audiences like the movie more than critics is because they are taking the ride without analyzing it. If you like mythological mermaids, Blackbeard the pirate, and Captain Jack antics, if you can take a movie less seriously, I say take the ride and decide for yourself. Savvy?

Take a look at the coolness that is actor Ian McShane as Blackbeard.

Every pirate is excited about the upcoming Pirates of the Caribbean film, On Stranger Tides. Every pop culture loving pirate will enjoy this interview on the “black carpet” at Disneyland starring one of my favorite reporters, Kermit the Frog.

Movie reviews of On Stranger Tides are circling the cyberwaters but I dare not read one yet. See you at the movie theater May 20th!

Watch the official movie trailer and buy tickets online, visit http://disney.go.com/pirates

When I first started this site I told people I used the “Following the White Rabbit” method to find interesting ideas for posts and interviews. This was a reference to the character Alice following a white rabbit down a rabbit hole into a fantasy world created by Lewis Carroll in his novel Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1865). Alice follows the white rabbit not knowing where it will take her. With her curiosity sparked all she can do is follow while any questions she might have are dulled by the excitement of new and interesting things. Even the concerns that are downright irritating or at times even dangerous can’t stop her from following.

“Curiouser and curiouser!” Cried Alice (she was so much surprised, that for the moment she quite forgot how to speak good English).

So far this “Follow the White Rabbit” idea has served me quite well. Of course I’m not literally chasing a white rabbit. That would be nonsense now wouldn’t it? I am following any idea that I find interesting even if it turns out different than I hoped for.

With 2010 just beginning, I hope to continue this rabbit chase whenever possible. Meanwhile I’ve been researching all things Alice, partly because of my white rabbit notion and also the fun film trailers that are out starring my favorite actor Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter.

Tim Burton directs the film Alice in Wonderland coming out in March, 2010. As usual many of his own favorite actors are involved such as Helena Bonham Carter, Christopher Lee, Timothy Spall, and Alan Rickman. To see who else is on the cast list and get more info, click here for the official site of Disney’s Alice in Wonderland in 3D.

I’ve always loved Walt Disney’s animated version of Alice in Wonderland (1951). According to Burton this one will be quite different. Alice Kingsley is now 19 and finds herself chasing the rabbit once again back to Wonderland even though she has no recollection of being there before. It’s obvious from the trailer that he’ll be working his gothic magic on this film and Hot Topic has already gone merchandise crazy with everything from T-shirts to key rings. I know because I have one already myself. Thanks Aunt Diane!

All this Alice talk has me thinking of the song from Jefferson Airplane called “White Rabbit”:

Speaking of Grace Slick did you know she’s an accomplished artist? Check out her work by touring this link: http://www.areaarts.com/wonderland/tour.html

Remember what the door mouse said, “Feed your Head.”

Yesterday, the kiddo had all our meals planned out from her Disney Magic Kitchen Cookbook.

For breakfast we had French toast Tarzan style with bananas baked inside. She gave the concoction one opposable thumb up and I think I’d rather have some HIH waffles instead. The Pizza Planet Cheesy Calzones and the Be Cool Peppermint Parfaits were yummy but by dinner time the book was back in the cabinet and take-out magically appeared on our table.

I still have my favorite cookbook from 1978, Meals of Many Lands. I loved searching for new recipes and thinking that every French kid had fruit & cream for breakfast. I was jealous of the children in Russia for having my favorite dish in the book, Tomato Cucumber Salad. American kids had Oven Fried Chicken, Green Beans & Apple Crisp on the menu which I found quite boring. Guacamole Salad in Mexico and Coffee Tortoni in Italy sounded much more exciting.

Meals of Many Lands from 1978

It’s fun looking at the cookbook now with the cute drawings, and riddles like:

On the hill sits a green house,
In the green house sits a white house,
In the white house sits a red house,
In the red house are a lot of little
black and white men.

I remember finding great joy in cookbooks but it was  even more fun making recipes that my favorite pop culture characters made. I don’t know how many times I drank Milk & Pepsi in honor of Laverne De Fazio on Laverne & Shirley.

Even as a teen I was making Cap’n Crunch and Pixy Stix sandwich’s inspired by the basket case in The Breakfast Club. Speaking of Cap’n Crunch, I was searching for a cool commercial to embed here and found one starring that famous Pirates of the Caribbean pirate Marty, a.k.a. Martin Klebba the accomplished actor. Check it out on his official site by clicking here.

For retro Cap’n Crunch commercials featuring the great voice actor Daws Butler, watch this:

Whatever you do don’t snort Pixy Stix like so many YouTube videos demonstrate. You can have the same effect by viewing this:

Do you still have any childhood cookbooks? Any pop culture inspired recipes you recall making? In the words of Bender, “What about you?”

I was talking about Beaker today with some friends. No not laboratory glassware, but Beaker, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew’s assistant. If you’re still not sure who I am referring to, you’re either much younger than I am, or just plain clueless about Muppets trivia.

Either way, let me school you a bit about Beaker, one of the quietest characters that was a favorite with Muppet Show fans. He was perpetually worried looking, and rightfully so since he was subjected to some crazy experiments by Dr. Honeydew. Beaker’s high pitched voice squeaking, “Mee-mee-mee- mee,” was a hit with audiences. He did have a musical performance with a couple of my favorites The Swedish Chef, and Animal. There would be no Tommy Lee if there had been no Animal. Beaker’s solo performance of the song “Feelings” can be seen here via Youtube:

In 2008 he was involved in the controversial online meme known as “Rickrolling”. This is much too techy for me to explain but if you’re interested you can check out our good friend Wikipedia to find out more.

The Muppet Show has an official website but you have to travel through the big Disney internet portal to see it. Just like most great ideas, Disney bought The Muppets in 2004. The site is interactive with videos, music, and games, and even some retro clips from their DVD season releases. If you go to the music section you can see the Weezer video starring the Muppets called “Keep Fishin”. Not my favorite Weezer song, that would of course be the song Suzanne, but its fun watching Miss Piggy and friends on stage with them. I could devote a whole website to the Muppets but that’s been done already. I like this one called Muppet Wiki. If you have any exciting, interesting or underground knowledge of the Muppets you can even submit it to them to keep the wiki going. What a great word that is… wiki. Which leads me to this 80’s rap tune Jam On It by Newcleus… all you wannabe break dancers out there remember this one, if not just listen for the wiki wiki wiki wiki…. shut up!