Lowdown #3


AH the meet cute! You've grown to love it and hate it in Hollywood films. Hollywood has exhausted the meet cute to the point, that as an audience you're actually begging for the most typical run in with your favorite A-List movie stars, in order to get to the meat of the story.

Let's list the typical meet cutes; girl trips into guy, guy sees girl from afar with the wind blowing the girl's hair, girl drops something & guy helps pick it up where their hands touch, guy and girl are set up on a blind date, guy and girl meet during a night of drinking, etc. 

I fully admit to being someone who ignores the meet cutes in hopes of a decent flick. However, I must confess, to me a clever meet cute can be one of the most surprising and redeeming qualities in a movie. And when Hollywood gets it right, it's a hell of a movie!

There are even a few movies that I get ants in my pants over, and can't wait to get to the meet cute scene, because it is in fact, just that good. Since top ______ lists are SO popular these days, I'll give the public what they want, and list off some of the best meet cutes in Hollywood history. You know the drill, some are older than your grandmother's pie recipe, while others are hot off the printing press.

You might want in on a little secret. It's a little known fact, that if a meet cute happens during some type of transportation, it's going to be worthwhile. Nuf said.

Drumroll please...

Stellar Hollywood Character Introductions AKA "The Meet Cute"

11.  Singin' in the Rain (1952) Don & Kathy


10.  In Bruges (2008) Ray & Chloe


9.  Before Sunrise (1995) Jesse & Celine


8.  Fight Club (1999) Jack & Marla

  

7.  Notting Hill (1999) William & Anna


6.  Gone with the Wind (1939) Rhett & Scarlett 


5.  North by Northwest (1959) Roger & Eve


4.  French Kiss (1995) Luc & Kate


3.  Casino Royale (2006) Bond & Vesper


2.  Brining Up Baby (1938) David & Susan


1.  The Lady Eve (1941) Charles & Jean

Taking a Bite Out of the Big Apple


The cat is out of the bag!!

I have been going through the motions for quite some time now, but I've finally told all the right people, had numerous conversations with everyone in my immediate family, and for the past two years have scraped together every penny possible. So on this day, I can proudly shout from my garage apartment rooftop, that I'm packing up two suitcases with only the necessary essentials and moving east-ward...

I'm coming for you Big Apple!!!

Penniless and broke I shall be!! That's the purist form of the American Dream, right??? I know it's hard for many to understand, but to me that sounds like the most exhilarating, shake you to your core, soap opera equivalent to real life, and quite possibly the best thing I could do for myself. Well I do have plenty of other ideas, but they're on the back burner for now. This one is first on the list! I'm looking forward to a life that brings me complete fear, because that's when you truly learn the most about yourself.

But hey, I've got news for you. Bryan Cranston once said in an interview, "only bad things make good stories." Bryan, you continue to prove your God status in this world. Thank you for your wisdom Heisenberg!

So off I go to make a slew of mistakes and hopefully a few victories, in hopes that this will bring about a more well-rounded and experienced person. I not only thrive but I NEED that extra shit pile to climb over, because without it I'm in stagnant and unenlightened portal of self-deprivation. And that doesn't sit well with me.

Alright that's enough philosophy for the day. But just for your consideration, think about this tidbit. I'm going to have SO MUCH to write about, you won't be able to keep your well-kept manicured hands off your keyboard, to see what next adventure I have to share with you.

Stay tuned!! The countdown to my unemployed, gypsy, and penniless life begins in a month!!



Shiver Me Tinder


I've been racking my brain for more than a year to try and figure out one good reason to use Tinder. I struggle to even come up with a viable reason for such an app that doesn't involve a very non-discrete way to say I'm DTF (Down to Fart).

The only reason to use Tinder is to find someone that you can stick your P into a V, or however the kids are doing it these days. 

The metamorphosis of the hookup culture has been a slow and long undertaking, but one that continues to plague anyone in the dating world looking for something beyond a topical conversation, an over-priced drink, and a night that will be forgettable. The booty call culture is steeped in trailblazers that's spent years mastering the art, and slowly letting their ways catch on to people who are too afraid to grow up, or don't know what they want.

Only a ravenous and more than adequate trailblazer of the hook up culture could possibly dream up the idea of Grinder, and Tinder, and Binder, and Hinder, and Sex-Me-Up-Inder. That may sound ludicrous to a lot of people but from what I've been told from the "Inder" users, is that it's practically written in the terms and conditions of the app, that you're going to end up sleeping with each other, regardless of what social activity you decide to do that day.

As some wise pirates once said, "Stick to the code." 


AH, and the code is not that hard to figure out in this instance ladies and gentlemen. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the code, here's all you need to know. The rules are constantly changing and are twisted to suit any occasion. Despite the fact that "the code is more of guidelines" than anything else, it doesn't mean that the code can't get you screwed literally and figuratively. Just think about it. Why would Disney still insist on filming Pirates of the Caribbean 8?? Because if the code was more than "guidelines", then everyone would be dead by now. I think I'm on to something....

But back to the topic at hand, Tinder. I have to admit I have anxiety just thinking about if I were to use Tinder for its practicality as a hangout app, and if I break the code rules, where will that leave me? Probably in a terrible situation where I have to get handsy (and not in a good way) and slap a bitch. So I opt to be Inder-Free for the time being.

I sound like a total prude, don't I? But I don't really care if that statement makes me sound a bit old-fashioned and matronly. 

Sexual tension is the key to the lock that makes the world go round, but I'd rather enjoy it from an STD free body that doesn't use "coffee" excuses to get her fill of the opposite sex. I'm holding out for the bait and switch that someone will find me dateable, for reasons other than my profile picture was HAWT and that I'm 2 miles away.

I'll just stop now before I get in too deep. Don't even get me started on Chive... 

Doesn't Willy Wonka make Tinder sound like it should be worth your time!?!?

Lowdown #2



The retro trend has been on the rise and I'm loving it. Bands like Capital Cities has made a splash with the song Safe and Sound and its ties to jazz, Justin Timberlake's new persona and themed music giving tribute to big bands and Motown, or the gravitation pull we all felt to Lana Del Rey and her Nancy Sinatra vibe over the years. Even more so we felt her allure when she blew our minds away with the theme song, Young and Beautiful, for the movie The Great Gatsby last year. Banana Republic started the Mad Men fashion craze a few seasons back and it's still in full motion. Television shows like Mad Men, Master's of Sex, and Bates Motel show the growing popularity for shows of a certain romantic mod-era. Movies have been keeping up on the fad with films such as The Help, American Hustle, The King's Speech, The Great Gatsby, Midnight in Paris, My Week with Marilyn, and Saving Mr. Banks. It's been a slow brewing trend but I'm happy it's making a big push in all aspects of the cultural realm. For a short period of time, my taste and personality get to shine in this trend of retro(spect)!

I've been taking on the daunting task the last few years to revamp my music collection. I've been more active in finding new music that interests me, and relaying less on the radio to give me the 3 songs a years that I appreciate, or my friends so much. Don't get me wrong, I love hearing new music from my friends (especially my brother-in-law), that's one of the best ways to find new music. However, searching for music that I enjoy all on my own, has been a difficult and exciting challenge. I think music is a hobby we all take pride in, and I love taking the time and effort to search for my next new playlist.

One of the many ways I have been able to accomplish this feat is by paying attention to commercials, movies, or listening to random radio stations that play less known music. The key element to focus on in this particular blog post is commercials. Without fail the best commercials for music, all day e'ry day, are Heineken commercials.

Here are some of my favorites to wet your musical taste buds.


The Perfect Date, 2011


Music: Jaan Pahechan Ho by Movie Gumnaam



The Switch, 2012


Music: Love Letter by Clairy Browne and the Bangin' Rackettes



Skyfall Commercial 2012: The Express


Music: Man Like That by Gin Wigmore


Just admit it, the music is AMAZE-BALLS!!! Not to mention that I love the classic cinematic elements that go along with each of their commercials. I always stop and stare at a Heineken commercial on t.v. They certainly know how to keep my attention and make it fun to watch. However, I'm always disappointed when my Friday night outings don't reflect the speakeasy/underground cocktail lounges, that make these commercials so much fun to be apart of. If only I lived in 1960's Paris, then I might have a chance of living out that fantasy. At least for now, Heineken can keep making my pretentious wishes come true in my fantasy world.

Classic Flicks to Grow Up With

Movies are my number one passion and because it's played such a big part of my life, I wanted to write a little something something that would hopefully get others to jump up and down with joyful glee over one of my favorite things; the cinema!

When you're born in literally the middle of the United States, you get creative with ways to keep yourself occupied. Once you leave your childhood years behind, it leaves little room for anything but three very important things; liquor, food, and movies. Luckily food and movies can be consumed before the age of 21, so I grew to love those two things very quickly.

When I think back to all of my favorite movies as a kid, the list is surprisingly different from most others my age. I soon realized that when I started rattling off the movies that meant the most to me, they turned out to be films produced years before I was even born. Classic films make more of an appearance than I could have imagined, but that's because those were some magical times. Back before CGI, high definition (the worst thing to happen to movies), and IMAX, magic was made. I've made a list of 50 classic movies that every kid should grow up with, because you're childhood is empty without them.







Classic Movies to Grow Up With
  1. Singin' in the Rain
  2. Meet Me In St. Louis
  3. That Darn Cat
  4. Mary Poppins
  5. The Sound of Music
  6. Funny Face*
  7. Casablanca*
  8. The Parent Trap
  9. The Philadelphia Story*
  10. The Trouble With Angels
  11. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid*
  12. Psycho
  13. The Sandlot (not that classic but it sure feels like it)
  14. It Happened One Night*
  15. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
  16. White Christmas
  17. A Streetcar Named Desire*
  18. Ben-Hur*
  19. Roman Holiday
  20. Gone With the Wind*
  21. Pillow Talk
  22. The Adventures of Robin Hood
  23. Rebel Without a Cause*
  24. Bedknobs and Broomsticks
  25. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
  26. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
  27. Breakfast At Tiffany's
  28. The Wizard of Oz
  29. Sunset Boulevard*
  30. Fantasia
  31. Indian Jones*
  32. Citizen Kane
  33. How to Marry a Millionaire*
  34. The Big Sleep*
  35. North by Northwest
  36. Top Hat*
  37. The Long Long Trailer
  38. The Christmas Story
  39. Bonnie & Clyde
  40. It's a Wonderful Life*
  41. Duck Soup*
  42. An American in Paris
  43. Charade*
  44. Sabrina
  45. Jaws
  46. Lawrence of Arabia*
  47. The Godfather
  48. Star Wars (the first series)
  49. The Graduate
  50. Some Like It Hot*

I'll admit I didn't even hit all these movies up when I was a kid. That's a hard feat even for film geeks. The ones with * are ones I caught up with later in life, but I sure wish I would have seen them when I was younger.

Did I leave any off???