This Christmas, Santa brought the kiddo a few old school Transformers pins for her denim vest. Her great aunt bought her a blinged out Autobot necklace.

She loves the new Transformers movies, and she also has a thing for Bumblebee style Camaro’s.

The funny thing is she’s never seen the original Transformers movie or the TV series.  Mr. HIH decided it was time for her to see where the Autobot action originated. Tonight, he’s giving her a Transformers history 101 class while they’re watching the movie.

My brother is 32 and he doesn’t like the new Transformers movies. He remains faithful to the original robots in disguise. How about you? Did you like the new Transformers movies or are you old school? Maybe both?

Check out this blast from the past, be sure to notice the awesome voice over cast:

How many of you are Twilight fans?

Please don’t throw tomatoes after I say this but I’m not in the Twilight zone. It’s not that I dislike The Twilight Saga but I never picked up the novels and when I did see the first movie I just wasn’t feeling it.

First off there’s something about Bella that makes me cringe. All that blubbering she does. I’m all for a good love story but her dilemma is so… well…high school.

The other problem I have with The Twilight Saga is I can’t decide on a team. I don’t find either of the love interests that appealing. I like to joke with friends that are in the Twilightzone by saying, “I’m for Team Edward, Team Edward Scissorhands.”

Like I said before, please don’t throw tomatoes. Being the pop culture lover that I am, how could I not appreciate what’s popular? Appreciating and liking are two different things, much like Edward and Jacob.

Because I haven’t read the novels, I am intrigued by the latest movie. It looks like all the high school drama is out and all the going to the chapel action is in.

Have you read the Twilight novels? Did you camp out to get your Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 1 premiere ticket this week?

In honor of the latest Twilight premiere let’s step back into the “Twilight Zone” with this retro tune from 1982 by Golden Earring.

For everything Twilight, including ringtones, mobile games, wallpapers and movie info, visit the official site by clicking here.
Keep up to date with Golden Earring’s latest news and upcoming gigs, click here.

I think everyone indulges in some form of “junk food TV”. Mine is Sister Wives and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. I don’t think these two shows are junky, but they appeal to the drama queen in me with all the chaos, gossip, and personal viewpoints. I like watching stories that appear to be behind closed doors, even though most reality shows have less authenticity than WWE matches.

For some reason, I always snack while I watch these two shows. Reminds me of Home Alone when Kevin McAllister says “Guys, I’m eating junk and watching rubbish! You better come out and stop me!”

Funny, both of these shows have the word “wives” in them. I am a housewife, but I don’t have a sister, or a sister wife and thank goodness I’m not living in Beverly Hills. This leads me to the Down and Out title of my post.

The 80’s movie, Down and Out in Beverly Hills popped into my pop culture drenched brain the last time I watched The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.
Bette Midler plays a wealthy Beverly Hills housewife, bored and depressed. Richard Dreyfuss plays her disgruntled, work-obsessed husband. Enter Nick Nolte, as a down and out homeless man trying to drown himself in their sparkling pool. That cool Talking Heads song “Once in a Lifetime” plays, chaos ensues, the husband fools around with the housekeeper, the wife falls for the homeless dude, they fire walk in the backyard, Little Richard makes a scene on the front lawn,  the rich couple rekindles their marriage, and they all live happily ever after. I think. Maybe it’s time to watch this retro flick again.

Watch Bette Midler videos and read her “Words of Wisdom”: http://www.bettemidler.com
Check out articles, photos and a 3D representation of Nick Nolte’s heart? Um…sure… why not? http://nicknolte.com
Watch a bunch of cool Talking Heads videos, click here.

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

Edward Scissorhands is one of my favorite movies. This might sound typical of most JDOCD (Johnny Depp Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) sufferers, but even before that kicked in I loved Burton’s modern day fairy tale on film.

Thanks to my friend, writer Lizzy Cline, I found out about an online tribute project called Scissorhands 20th,  created by artist & blogger Seb Mesnard.

Visit http://scissorhands20th.blogspot.com to see the diverse & wonderful artwork inspired by Edward Scissorhands.

Starting this weekend you can see the original works at Gallery Nucleus in Alhambra, CA, April 16, 2011 – May 9, 2011.

“In collaboration with Sebastien Mesnard, Gallery Nucleus will be showcasing a selection of original works from the Scissorhands 20th blog. The exhibit will highlight the works of over 40 artists, including paintings, drawings, prints, sculptures, etc. and unite enthusiasts and fans in celebrating the 20th anniversary of Tim Burton’s classic love story and its unforgettable characters; Edward, Kim, Peg and a band of colorful suburbanites.”—gallerynucleus.com

Click here for Gallery Nucleus exhibition info.

The now “retro trailer” for Edward Scissorhands via traileraddict.com:

Visit these links to read some of writer Lizzy Cline’s work:

http://johnny-depp.org

http://www.ek-one.co.uk

I finally broke down and watched the movie Catfish. I ignored the reviews and comments complaining that this documentary was really a faux documentary because I like a good story even if it’s not 100% real. What is real these days anyway?

This is exactly the concept Catfish explores. So the fact that they too, they meaning those behind the movie, could be elaborating on the truth makes perfect sense to me.
I’m sure you’ve heard the term Fakebook. I like to call it Two-Facebook because what people post is what they want the world to see or at least what they want those in cyberspace to believe about them. Most people don’t show their piles of dirty laundry unless that’s also to make a statement. I think we have all become a bit two-faced when it comes to our online identity.

It takes a lot for me to keep those bad tagged photos from 6th grade up, but by doing so it’s like saying, “Yes, these are horrible photos, I agree. But I’m cool like that. I can take it.”

“People are strange when you’re a stranger.”—The Doors

Jim Morrison sang, “People are strange when you’re a stranger.” Maybe that’s why we love social media so much. It takes the strangeness away, makes us feel closer to people we might otherwise not be close to. The reality is most people probably know more about 10 of their Facebook friends they haven’t met or those they haven’t seen for years than they do 10 people they’ve seen in “real life”. Some may find this sad. Some might argue it’s just social evolution.

Once upon a time we made statements about who we are by the way we dress, the way we walk, talk, who we associate with, the kind of car we drive, the way we interact in real life situations. These days we have much more to think about. What is this profile pic saying about me? What will people read from this post? Constant stream of thoughts and ideas are typed, tweeted, updated and commented on.
Some people complicate their situations and even alter their identities in real life. Cyberlife can be magnified and become tangled with the rest of what the World Wide Web has to offer. The movie Catfish takes these ideas to the next level.

Catfish is labeled a reality thriller by Fios On Demand. I didn’t get too thrilled but faux or not, the movie Catfish got me thinking about my life in cyberspace.
What’s your take on Catfish?

Some people have way too much fun while working, and others are lucky & talented enough to have way too much fun while working on a movie set.

There’s a lot of smurfy news out on the intertubes these days. Looks like the 80’s animated series The Smurfs will be smurfing onto the big screen in 2011.

According to IMDb.com, Smurfs is in production now. The site lists actors Quentin Tarantino as Brainy Smurf, and Jonathan Winters as Papa Smurf.  Neil Patrick Harris and Jayma Mays play a couple set to have their first child when things get smurfy after they meet the little blue characters in Central Park.

George Lopez, and Katy Perry are rumored to have roles in the film. All together now, “I kissed a Smurf and I liked it.”

The role of Gargamel goes to Hank Azaria. He cracked me up as Kahmunrah in Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian.

Did you know that The Smurfs originated in 1958 as a comic strip by Belgian comic artist Pierre Culliford, also known as Peyo?

I have to admit I thought The Smurfs were born in the early 80’s just like Pac Man but it’s nice to know they have a cultured history.

From comics to animated series to Smurf toys in Target and now a movie in production. The collective conscious is smurfing blue. Enough of the Smurf language I know.

Let’s take a trip back to Smurf Village circa 1981. Poor Smurfette, she’s only three apples tall, blond and the only Smurfette in the whole village. Spring, or shall we say Smurfette Fever:

Visit the Official Smurfs site appropriately called smurf.com

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.”