Sunday Social Week 40

1.  What is one movie you are terrified to watch?

The Exorcist or any of the Saw movies

2.  What is one TV show you have always wanted to get into but haven't yet?

I finally just started How I Met Your Mother. I’ve been dying to watch that for such a long time. Next on my list is Parks and Recreation or Raising Hope.

3.  What is one daring activity on your bucket list?

I am a huge baby when it comes to extreme activities. I don’t think I could ever do sky diving. If you paid me a ton of money I might consider bungee jumping, but even that’s not a guarantee. So I guess the activity I would pick would be riding the Kingda-Ka, the world’s tallest roller coaster, in New Jersey. The Kingda-Ka in New Jersey is the world’s tallest, fastest roller coaster on Earth.  For the mother of all roller coasters, go on this record-breaking ride which zooms from 0 to 128mph in 3.5 seconds and catapults you 45 stories into the sky. Get propelled horizontally at 128mph, shoot 90 degrees into a quarter-turn, blast 456 feet high, then plunge into a 270 degree spiral and experience weightlessness as you swoop down a valley and up a 129 foot camel hump.

4.  Would you ever travel alone?

My answer would be that it depends on how far away I would be travelling, but overall I would say no. I have a tendency to get lost way too easily. If I learned anything from watching my favorite movie-there is safety in numbers.

5.  What activities do you like to do alone?

This might be weird and it might mean that I am anti-social, but I really don’t have a problem going to see plays or movies by myself. If I can’t find a friend to go with me, why miss out on a movie I really want to see? 

You learn something everyday

Spelling is Bogus

In school I am learning how to teach phonics and reading skills to elementary age kids, and this quote came to mind. "I before e except after c and when sounding like a as in neighbor and weigh, and on weekends and holidays and all throughout May, and you'll always be wrong no matter what you say!"

Let's face it - English is a crazy language. Sometimes I think all the English speakers should be committed to an asylum for the verbally insane.

Part of the problem-English spelling is extremely counter-intuitive! Why is it that words like “through”, “trough”, and “though” sound so different? It seems like for virtually every “rule” a prescriptivist writes down to try and model English spelling, exceptions can be found.

The fact is, although it’s possible to make rough guesses at English spellings using phonetics, in order to really know English spelling, you have to memorize the spelling of every word. Even words whose spelling seems straightforward and simple, you still memorize (maybe subconsciously without even trying) just because otherwise when you wanted to spell it, you’d have no way to know it was simple and straightforward.

For example, the words bones, gone, and done, are spelled exactly the same but they are each pronounced differently. Why? Why doesn't "buick" rhyme with "quick"?

In English, there are subtle ordering requirements which even English native speakers aren’t consciously aware of. We get them right every time, because we subconsciously know about them through practice, but that just makes it all the harder for foreigners, since these rules are so subtle and hidden.

The best example is adjective ordering. Compare, “a cute little puppy” to “a little cute puppy.” The first is fine, while the second sounds wrong. How is a foreigner to know which order to use? Can you explain it to them? Apparently there is a rule and method to the madness, but I don’t know it.

Because of its diverse, promiscuous etymological origins, English has lots of synonyms which, just from a dictionary definition, seem very similar if not identical in meaning. Part of becoming a master English speaker, is knowing which words to use when. Although synonyms are grouped up in a thesaurus, that doesn’t mean the words are identical. Even if their official meanings are identical, different synonyms convey subtly different moods and ideas.

You can watch a movie or see a movie, but you can only watch TV, never see it. You can’t view either of them, even though when you watch either of them, you become a viewer (and never a watcher, much less a seer!)

You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out and in which you can truthfully say when the stars are out, they are visible, but when the lights are out, they are invisible. 

News at the Cinema (March 5)

Opening This Week March 8 

Dead Man Down
Oz The Great and Powerful (in 3D)

New Trailers

Ironman 3

Oblivion

Rumor: Nolan Boards 'Justice League' with Christian Bale as Batman? 

Everyone put your rumor hats on, this one is going to be bumpy. After hearing many threads of rumors surrounding Warner Bros. seemingly unfocused attempts to get a Justice League film off the ground, no real solid information about the film or its direction have surfaced. From talks of Joseph Gordon-Levitt taking on the role of Batman following the conclusion of The Dark Knight Rises to script troubles, it sounds like the studio has no idea what to do. Well, they might finally have a solid idea if the latest scoop from Latino Review is true. Their source is saying that Warner Bros. is hiring Christopher Nolan to oversee any project from the DC Comics universe, and all things related to those superheroes, goes through him. Read more.

Emma Watson in Talks for Disney's Live-Action 'Cinderella' Adaptation

Well, it's just raining news for the stars of the Harry Potter franchise. Gary Oldman landed a role inDawn of the Planet of the Apes, Daniel Radcliffe is playing Igor in a new take on Frankenstein, and nowEmma Watson is entering a fairytale world. Variety has word that the star of The Perks of Being a Wallflower is in talks to put on the glass slippers as the Disney princess Cinderella in the studio's new live-action version of the story with Thor and Hamlet director Kenneth Branagh at the helm. The search has been on for the title role ever since the project was announced with Cate Blanchett as the wicked step-mother. Read more.

Daniel Radcliffe in Final Negotiations to Play Igor in 'Frankenstein'

 Last fall we learned that Daniel Radcliffe was interested in taking on another horror tale after moving from Harry Potter to The Woman in Black, and now months later that news has finally become more of a reality. Variety has word that Radcliffe is in final negotiations to star in Frankenstein, a revisionist take on the classic tale from Mary Shelley that will see the young British actor playing Igor. At this time, we're not certain if this adaptation written by Chronicle scribe Max Landis completely revamps the story, but it will definitely be the familiar tale told from the perspective of the hunchback who assists Dr. Frankenstein. Read more.

 'Dawn of the Planet of the Apes' Gains a Leader - Gary Oldman Joining

As I wrote in the last casting update on Matt Reeves' Dawn of the Planet of the Apes sequel, "this is already a great cast so far that I'm sure will get even better." Indeed it just has. ComingSoon is reporting that another excellent actor has been cast - Gary Oldman, seen in Chris Nolan's Batman/The Dark Knight series as well as The Book of Eli, Harry Potter, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Lawless. While we only know few details about the sequel, set 15 years after the last movie involving two split groups of humans and apes, and apparently Oldman will be playing the "leader of a human colony", or as Deadline clarifies, the "leader of the human resistance". Awesome. Matt Reeves is rounding up quite an outstanding set of actors for this. Read more.

Paul Bettany Cast Alongside Depp in Pfister's Sci-Fi 'Transcendence' 

We just got confirmation yesterday that Johnny Depp will definitely be starring in Transcendence, the upcoming directorial debut of longtime Christopher Nolan cinematographer Wally Pfister. It sounds like a pretty out-there science fiction drama, already being compared to 2001 and Inception, and a recent script summary revealed Depp's character's brain gets uploaded into a computer (along with some other spoilery details). Christian Bale was being courted to play one of the leads, but Deadline reports that Paul Bettany is in negotiations to star, so it looks Bale might have, well, bailed on the project but he's still unconfirmed. Read more.

DreamWorks Lands Band of 'Merry Men' with New Robin Hood Project

There's plenty of new takes on fairytales hitting the big screen. Snow White and the Huntsman andMirror Mirror arrived last year, Jack the Giant Slayer is in theaters today, Oz: The Great and Powerfularrives next week, and Emma Watson was just cast as Cinderella in a new live-action film from Disney. Now Deadline has word that DreamWorks has picked up Merry Men, a pitch for a film written by Brad Inglesby (who wrote Out of the Furnace for Scott Cooper and the remake of The Raid) with Act of Valorco-director Scott Waugh attached to helm the film which was purchased for quite an impressive amount. Read more.

Michael Keaton is a Washed Up Comic Book Movie Star in 'Birdman'

Towards the end of 2012, we heard that 21 Grams, Babel and Amores Perros director Alejando González Iñárritu would try his hand at comedy with a new film called Birdman set up at Fox Searchlight and New Regency. The project, described as a dark comedy, follows a former actor, who once played an iconic superhero, as he decides to take on a Broadway play based on a short story by Raymond Chandlerin order to reclaim past glory. Now the perfect man has been found for the role as THR reports Michael Keaton, who once played Batman for director Tim Burton, has taken the lead role of the comic book movie star. Read More.

Sunday Social Week 39-The 5s

1.  5 songs you'll listen to the rest of your life

1)   The Winner Takes it All-ABBA

2)  Fairy Tale-Sara Bareilles

3)  My Life Would Suck Without  You-Kelly Clarkson

4)  Baton Rouge-Garth Brooks

5)  Haven’t Met You Yet-Michael Buble

2.  5 things on your bucket list

1)   See a Broadway show in New York

2)  Vacation on the Hawaiian Islands

3)  Get Married

4)  Go to Paris and see the Louvre.

5)  Cruise to the Caribbean.

3.  5 celebs you'd love to hang out with for a day

1)   Michael Buble

2)  Emma Watson

3)  Princess Kate

4)  Hugh Jackman

5)  Carrie Underwood

4.  5 things you always carry in your purse

1)   Keys

2)  Wallet and Debit Card

3)  Phone

4)  Lipstick

5)  Pencils and Pens

5.  5 books on your reading list

1)   Divergent

2)  Gone Girl

3)  The Host

4)  The Painted Girls

5)  Bossy Pants

6. Share the last five pictures on your phone

Movies Movies Movies February 26

Opening This Week March 1 (Friday)

21 & Over
Jack the Giant Slayer (in 3D)
The Last Exorcism Part II
The End of Love (Limited)
Leviathan (Limited)
Phantom (Limited)
Stoker (Limited)

New Trailers

The Peeples

The Reluctant Fundamentalist

Video: 13 Going on 30

Warner Bros. Takes 'The Road Home' for Leo DiCaprio & Scott Cooper

Though Leonardo DiCaprio hasn't starred in a film from Crazy Heart director Scott Cooper, the two have already collaborated on the Christian Bale led drama Out of the Furnace, which the actor produced through his Appian Way production banner along with Scott Free. Now the two will have the chance to make a film together as director and actor as Deadline reports Warner Bros. has picked up the rights Michael Armour's forthcoming novel The Road Home for Cooper to write, direct and produce with DiCaprio potentially taking the lead role and also producing. DiCaprio has been quite busy as a producer as of late. Read more.

Universal Plotting 'Identity Thief' Sequel, More Bourne & 'Snow White'

After hearing the mostly disappointing news that Universal is considering a sequel to the horror hit Mama, today comes word that the studio is thinking about more sequels. It's still early for a lot of these projects, and no official plans are in order just yet, but Universal Pictures chairman Adam Fogelson talked about a future for some of Universal's more successful properties, even if they weren't critical successes. The projects include the gestating sequel to last year's Snow White and the Huntsman, more for the universe expanded in The Bourne Legacy, and a sequel to the R-rated comedy Identity Thief.  Read More.

Quvenzhané Wallis Officially Cast as Annie in Will Smith Adaptation

"The sun'll come out tomorrow!" The youngest Academy Awards Best Actress nominee ever has confirmed her next starring role. Sony Pictures and Overbrook Entertainment have chosen this fine Oscar Sunday to officially announce that Quvenzhané Wallis will be starring in their new take on Annie, adapted from the musical which first hit Broadway in 1977. Wallis, the star of Best Picture nom Beasts of the Southern Wild, is now 9-years-old and has been touring around this past awards season, which culminates in her big night at the Oscars. Whether she wins or not, she's a charming, bright young star who has many roles ahead. Read More.

Original 'Dragon Tattoo' Director Niels Arden Oprev Taking 'Flatliners'

Back in 2011, we learned that Source Code writer Ben Ripley was working on a remake of the 1990 thriller Flatliners. The story follows five medical students (Julia Roberts, Kiefer Sutherland, Kevin Bacon, William Baldwin, Oliver Platt) who conduct experiments to stop their heart to simulate a temporary death, and see if there's anything beyond our own mortality. But after returning to life, the group is visited by physical manifestations of their childhood sins and it's not clear if this is real or just a hallucination. Now Bloody Disgusting reports that Niels Arden Oplev, the director of next month's Dead Man Down, is at the helm. Read More.

Tom Hardy Gets Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in 'Samarkland' Drama

After his turns in The Dark Knight Rises, This Means War and Lawless last year, Tom Hardy is not slowing down. In fact, the actor has only become more busy. As of now, Hardy is linked to a real-time thriller called Locke, a film with Daniel Espinosa called Child 44, an adaptation of Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell video game, a period drama about scaling Mount Everest, and a passion project called Animal Rescue. Now Deadline has word Hardy is working with Solar Pictures to develop and star in Samarkand, a drama directed by Greg Williams who wrote the script with brother Olly Williams (not the "Family Guy" character). Read More. 

Juliette Binoche to Join Gareth Edwards' New 'Godzilla' at Legendary

Slowly but surely, the cast for Gareth Edwards' reboot of Godzilla set up at Legendary Entertainment is filling out. Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen and Bryan Cranston were all said to be in talks for various roles (though specifics are still unavailable), and now Variety reports French actress Juliette Binoche, who was recently seen in David Cronenberg's Cosmopolis, is taking an unknown role. Legendary and Warner Bros. are keeping this film under tight wraps, even after a supposed rewrite from Frank Darabont, so it's hard to get excited for anything other than the return of the giant monster. Read more. 

 Meryl Streep Will Head Into The Woods With Rob Marshall 

Another musical for Meryl Streep! Despite rumors she was no longer attached to the project, the actress will play The Witch in a new film adaptation of Stephen Sondheim's hit musical Into the Woods

Read more. Here or Here.

The Oscars

I made a very special effort to watch the Oscars on Sunday Night so I thought I ‘d talk about a few of my favorite parts.

Who doesn't love looking at the dresses!

When these happened. These are some talented folks

The James Bond Tribute

The Les Miserables Cast Sings Live! I thought Amanda Seyfried sounded way better live than in the movie and Russel Crowe did a decent job as well.

And Anne Hathaway wins for Best Supporting Actress

Jennifer Lawrence trips up the stairs on the way to accept her award and handles it very gracefully

I felt bad that Daniel Radcliff had to present with Kristen Stewart. She sounded about as excited to be at the Oscars as she would to go to the dentist for root canal.  

Right at the end of the Oscars and Michelle Obama comes on to announce the final award. Really? shouldn't she be doing something that’s beneficial to our country? Oh wait, that's right, the first lady is a celebrity.  I don't think this was necessary at all. 

Lastly I really enjoy Daniel Day Lewis and I’m glad he won for Best Actor. He seemed very humble and actually pretty funny. I almost wish he hadn’t been involved in a movie this year. If it wasn’t for him I think Hugh Jackman would have been the favorite to take home the shiny statue. Hugh Jackman is completely awesome and he deserves it.