"We all knew this day was coming"

Here it is, ladies and gentlemen! The TOY STORY 3 TRAILER!!!

As I said before, I'm always worried when film franchises go for the three-quel. After watching the trailer, however, my doubts have been laid to rest. This, my friends, is gonna be EPIC.

Check it out:




Well, am I right? Stellar animation, emotion and laughter in spades, "Return of the Astro Nut" - looks like this movie is shaping up to be one awesome ride!

Only 8 months and 6 days to go!

Not that I'm counting or anything... :)

BUST or bust!

In Borders the other day, as I was doing my usual book nerd ritual of breathing in the new paper scent and drooling over the books, I stumbled upon a truly awesome magazine.

BUST, the magazine "for women with something to get off their chests," is a revelation. I never thought I'd find a magazine with all the fun of Seventeen magazine but more substance and a focus on women of all ages, not just teenagers. Then I read BUST.

The magazine is unashamedly feminist, and I love that. I hate the fact that "feminist" has become a dirty word. This magazine simply celebrates being a woman in a vast variety of ways, from an article about influential folk music legend Buffy Sainte-Marie to directions for making your own spice cabinet out of a vintage suitcase to a look at the history of lipstick. I especially loved the unusually insightful and honest interview with Ellen Page and Alia Shawkat.

I think every woman should check out this fun, awesome, inspiring magazine. It's brain food and brain candy at the same time. I can't wait for the next issue!

I'm trying, Joss, I really am...

Today's Specials: Pancakes. Or a selection of Adele DeWitt's favorite teas.

WARNING: HERE BE SPOILERS. READ ON AT YOUR OWN RISK.

I want to like Dollhouse. I really do.

For most of last season, I did. I was right there with the show, especially when we found out who Alpha was. Wow, did that ever blow my mind!

But last Friday's episode was a disappointment. It felt like a repeat of the season premiere - Echo imprints, Echo glitches, Echo and Ballard have a chat about how she can remember past imprints and how she'll help Ballard bring down the Dollhouse.

Honestly, I don't care that much about Ballard and Echo. I know they're supposed to be the center of the show - the Doll whose soul is too strong to be erased completely and the FBI agent whose sense of justice will lead him to save her and free the Dolls -but I honestly care a lot more about the other characters. Thus, this episode left me with more questions than answers. For example: Where was Dr. Saunders/Whiskey? Where was Langdon? What's he going to be up to now that he's not Echo's handler (still majorly bummed about that development - I really liked their bond when he was her handler)? Why did we have to bring November back? And what the hell is going on with Alpha? Doesn't anyone care what he's up to anymore?

Now, don't get me wrong - I don't mean to say that it's all bad. There is plenty to like about this show. I love the many questions involved in this show. What makes a person a person? Is there such a thing as a soul, and does it have power? Should we do something just because we have the technology to make it possible? I also love that we don't get easy answers. None of the characters (except maybe Alpha) is completely good or completely bad. We are allowed to see all sides of the issue and decide for ourselves. Not many shows credit their audience with that kind of intelligence.

One more thing to love about Dollhouse: I just found out that JOHNATHAN FRAKES will be directing an upcoming episode. For anyone who doesn't know, Frakes played Commander William T. Riker on Star Trek: The Next Generation. Total trekkie/Sci Fi geekout here!

So there's hope, definitely. I'll keep watching, and I'll keep hoping to feel the same love for this show that I felt for Buffy, Firefly, and Dr. Horrible. Joss deserves that much from me.

The Toys are Back in Town!

Today's Specials: Your choice of a slice of Pizza Planet pizza or a bowl of Cowboy Crunchies (the only cereal that's sugar frosted and dipped in chocolate!)

Pixar, I love you.

Really, it's enough that you continue to make movies that are beautiful not only on a technical level but also on a pure storytelling level. But you go further. You also allow me to relive some of the greatest films from my childhood.

On the big screen.

In 3D.

Toy Story 1 & 2 are awesome enough as they are. Awesome characters, great animation, the universal fear of having someone you love "outgrow" their love for you: it's all there. But three dimensions = even better.

Favorite 3D moment: The scene in which Woody knocks Buzz out the window. Scary enough in normal 2D, but even more impressive in 3D.

Geeky Bonuses:

• The people at Pixar provided "Toy Story Trivia & Treats" for those of us who stayed in the theater during intermission. My advice: do whatever you need to do (bathroom, concession stand, whatever) during the credits for Toy Story, then come back to the theater for the trivia. No Toy Story fan would want to miss this. Not only do you get trivia (with the various characters commenting as it goes), but you also get fun, short little clips, like Woody and Jessie dancing and Woody trying to beat Lenny in a staring contest.

• TOY STORY 3 TRAILER!!! I admit, I'm always a little wary when film franchises go for the third film. I mean, look at Shrek 3, Spider-Man 3, and Ice Age 3, and you'll see why. But I trust the people at Pixar, and the trailer looks REALLY good. Four words: "Return of Astro Nut." I'll post the trailer it when it comes up on YouTube.

UPDATE: I just found this little tidbit from an interview with Tim Allen:

What can we expect from 'Toy Story 3'?

They took forever to get the script right, and they did such a great, emotional, wonderful job. I can't tell you more because I respect where they're coming from. It's kind of a 'Sixth Sense.' The less you hear about it, the more you're going to be surprised. It's just like you expect it to be, but they really found a wonderful piece of business to make this thing run.

Now THAT'S what I want to hear!

Get over it already!

Here are the so-called "news stories" that I am sick of hearing about. Media outlets of the world: can we move on to some real news? Please?

• Heckle-gate: OK, Joe Wilson shouldn't have shouted "You lie!" during Obama's speech. I think most of us can agree on that. But he's already apologized. Can't we just let it go? Do we really need a resolution denouncing his actions? Do we really need him to apologize to the House? No, we don't. If bipartisanship is really what we're after, we need to stop tearing down the other side every time they make a mistake.

• Kanye West: He was an idiot, no doubt about it. And he clearly has issues if he feels the need to hijack and ruin someone else's moment. But in the end, he was a ridiculous guy acting ridiculously at an awards ceremony that no one will really remember a year from now. Let's just let it go.

• Obama's criticism of Kanye: Come on, people. He was off the record! And what's more, he was just voicing what EVERYONE was already thinking. Geez, I haven't heard this much fuss made of something so little since the uproar over Michelle Obama's shorts!
  

Fall TV mish-mash

All right, just a few notes on some of the TV shows that I'm either A) looking forward to, or B) mildly curious about this fall:

• The Jay Leno Show: After all the hype, I just had to tune in and see if all the fuss was worth it. And the verdict is: I'm not sure. Really, I think it's pretty much just the Tonight Show at a different time. Not to say that that's a bad thing: I like Jay Leno, particularly when he does Headlines like he did last night. But I'm still hoping there will be something new and exciting coming up.

• The Big Bang Theory: Ah, the show for the geek in all of us! What with the great writing, awesome characters (particularly Leonard and Sheldon) and lots of great Star Trek references, my inner geek rejoices every time I watch this show. And this fall, I'm especially looking forward to the Leonard/Penny reunion. Might they finally get together this time? Also, I'm totally rooting for Jim Parsons (Sheldon) at this year's Primetime Emmys - he's up for Best Actor in a Comedy!
  

• V: So, I don't know much about this show. In fact, I only know two things: it's a remake of an old show, and two Firefly actors - Alan Tudyk (Wash) and Morena Baccarin (Inara) - are in the cast. That last point might be enough to get me to tune in.

• Dollhouse: All hail the great Joss Whedon! I admit, it took me a while to warm up to this show, but now I see all the hallmarks of Whedon awesomeness: smart, funny writing; awesome, diverse characters; and twists that you NEVER see coming. Plus, another chance to see Alan Tudyk (!), albeit in a VERY different sort of role.
  

• Lost: OK, I admit: I kind of stopped watching this show in the middle of last season (I got busy with school or something), so I'll have to catch up before the season starts. Still, I think this is the craziest, most mind-boggling (in a good way) show on TV.
  

So, that's about it. What about the rest of you? Any new shows you're interested in? Any old shows you can't wait for? Let me know!

UPDATE: I'm also looking forward to Glee. As a former theatre kid, I know what it's like to be one of the high school losers who love to perform onstage. I saw the premiere last fall, and I loved it! The show is funny and quirky, but it also goes for the deeper things, like the very emotional reasons that the kids feel the need to perform. As I said, I've been there, and I know that everyone has a reason.

"Wicked" cool

Today's Specials: Steamed artichoke and punch with lemons and melons and pears (oh my!)

It's arguably the biggest musical theatre event of our generation. It has made huge Broadway stars of Idina Menzel and Kristen Chenoweth. And it has inspired adoration from legions of fans around the world.

And now, I've seen it.

I'm talking, of course, about Wicked, the hit musical reimagining of the story of the Witches of Oz.

I bought the soundtrack last winter and immediately fell in love with it. So when I found out that the Wicked national tour would be "flying back to the Emerald City" this fall, I leapt at the chance. Not even an $80+ ticket price could keep me away. Fortunately, the show turned out to be totally worth it.

Things I loved:

• The sets, costumes, and lighting. Seriously, I don't think it can get any better than this. Every scene was an absolute feast for the eyes.
• Defying Gravity. OMG, total theatrical ecstasy.
• Donna Vivino as Elphaba. Her Elphaba struck the perfect balance between the sensitive, compassionate soul who deeply feels injustice against others and the strong woman who must use her sharp wit to survive in a world that won't accept her. I particularly liked her cackle and the way she told Fiyero that she felt "wicked."
• The many references to the Wizard of Oz. I know, it seems obvious that a story using the characters from that book and movie would have plenty of references, but the ones I loved the best were surprising and really, really funny.

Things that disappointed:

• Popular, as sung by Chandra Lee Schwartz. All in all, I thought Chandra was a great G(a)linda. However, I didn't much care for her performance of Popular. She was far too spastic and she sounded very out of breath for the whole song.
• The plot was, at times, a bit hard to follow. For instance, I'm not entirely sure why Elphaba was suddenly inspired to go free the monkeys after talking to her sister. I know they had to get all the movie plot points in, but some of the turns in the story seemed forced.