It's Over

I just finished Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. First may I say, nicely done, Ms. Rowling, that was a fantastic journey. J.K. managed to infuse a lot of people with a uniting sense of creativity, fantasy, imagination and love, yes love. It felt really weird to close the book and know that it's all over. Sure there will still be the anticipation of the next two movies coming out, but the story has ended. I am glad I finished reading book seven as I can now watch t.v., surf the web, walk down the street without living in fear of "hearing something". My boss hadn't read any of the books but read the last couple of pages of book seven when it came out and she loved to toy with me, well let's put in in correct terms, to threaten me saying that she was going to tell me what happened. She asked what I would do if she told me and I looked her straight in the eye and told her I would quit. And I don't think I was kidding. That might sound ridiculous, but I really don't know what other solution there would have been, if my boss didn't care enough about me or have enough self-control to keep quiet I can't imagine how I could continue to work for her. But, luckily, she resisted spilling anything and I am now back in control of my life. There is so much I could say right now to summarize my feelings on this book, but I don't want anyone reading this to catch any slight whiff of the outcome, so let's see I'll just say something cheesy like, it's been magical.

Just the Way You Look Tonight

What a group, including my alter ego, Emma Thompson and my #1 crush, Hugh Laurie. Call me nerdy, but I love this . . .

A Bowl of Hollywood

Friday night I had my first Hollywood Bowl experience. I've lived in L.A. about a year and a half now and finally made it to the bowl. It was John Williams night and it was wonderful. I probably cried or at least welled up about five times throughout the night. People who know me won't be too surprised to hear that, it doesn't take much for the water works to start. The first half of the concert was music from various films and the second half was music from John Williams' scores.

My first source of emotional surging was when I heard the oh so familiar first few notes of Tara's Theme from Gone with the Wind. I grew up seeing this movie many times and it along with the book are favorites of mine - so hearing the sweeping melody while sitting in the town where so many of the great early movies were made, staring at the Hollywood sign on the hill just got to me.

The second puddle of tears came from a medley of Doctor Zhivago music. They showed clips from the movie on screens and a mixture of seeing Omar Sharif collapsing at the end of the film and remembering playing the music on the piano at my parents house hit me.

Now this one I'm a little embarassed about - I got a little choked up at the music from Superman. Actually, you know what? Screw it, I'm not embarassed - it's great music and Christopher Reeve's story is sad. When they played Can You Read My Mind? I looked up into the starry sky and yes, it was emotional. I know that's almost as cheesy as Margot Kidder's recitation of "can you read my mind? do you know what it is you do to me?" But probably if I watched that movie again, I'd cry at that also.

Of course, Johnny Williams whipped out Harry Potter, Star Wars, E.T. and Raiders of the Lost Ark as well. People freaked out when the horns started blaring the Throne Room music from Star Wars, the light sabers were a' waivin'.

Good job, John.

Me as a Simpsons Character

Pic Picks

Everyone in our country should go see Sicko. Now, I know some people may have issues with Michael Moore, but whether or not you are a fan of his personal opinions, you need to see Sicko. It is funny, sad, informative and inspiring. I feel like people often want to hide behind the growing political divide in this country and claim that movies like Sicko or Inconvenient Truth are just "liberal mumbo-jumbo", but issues like health care and the environment are for all of us and Sicko is not only a very important film, but also highly entertaining. I laughed, I cried, well, you know. And one of the Cuban doctors is hubba, hubba.

My second recommendation is Ratatouille. It's pretty perfect - funny, heartfelt, smart. I went and saw it at the El Capitan theatre in Hollywood which is usually rad because they deck out the theatre and have some huge spectacle on stage before the movie. For example, before The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe there were set and costume pieces all over, a light show and then snow fell on the audience, it was magical. The show before Ratatouille consisted of za-za musical theatre rejects performing tween hip-hop of Disney songs while beloved Disney characters like Micky, Winnie the Pooh, and that Rosie O'Donnell Gorilla from Tarzan(?) danced, banged on pots and pans and chanted "cookin' in the kitchen, cookin' in the kitchen". I think my jaw was stuck open for the entire, excruciating Disney On Ice, minus the Ice performance. Good thing the movie was so rad, thanks, Pixar.

Over it

My vote for "get a cheap laugh" joke . . . Jazz Hands. Seems people still think either saying or doing jazz hands is their original observational comedy. Calling out "jazz hands!" at opportune times may have been funny once, but now everyone and their dog whips out the ol' shakey hands. Bored.