Tomorrow Is It!

I'm seeing Inception tomorrow at 2:45 p.m., catching the last matinee showing.

And I'm so excited!

What previews will I see beforehand? Trust me, I'll let you all know!

So. . . since I don't know anything about this movie, here is a list of questions that I'm hoping it will answer (and I'm sure they'll be answered, but still): Answers I'm Dying To Know:

1. What role does Ken Watanabe play? Marion Cotillard?

2. How does Leonardo DiCaprio know Ellen Page? She's like 20, he's like 35. Are they coworkers? Friends? Relatives? Because I cannot accept the possibility that they date.

3. Why are they all in suits?

4. Is Joseph Gordon-Levitt a bad guy? (I shudder to think!)

5. What does Inception mean, anyway?

6. Is Leonardo DiCaprio a bad guy? (Because that would be interesting.)

7. Why are the buildings collapsing?

8. What is it all about, anyway?

And here is something else that I find WAY interesting:

August 16, 2009: Go to see (500) Days Of Summer starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt

July 16, 2010: Go to see Inception, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

Um, is this not abso-freakin'-lutely the craziest thing ever? If Inception is good (which, how can it NOT be?) then I am proclaiming JGL to be the next big summer star.

AND one more thing:

Inception

The Dark Knight

The Prestige

Memento

Following

All Christopher Nolan movies, all 3 syllables! Cool, right? And those are like, 5 out of 7 films of his (Insomnia and Batman Begins).

Can't wait! This has been by far, one of the longest weeks of my life.

Casting News

Not really, but whatever. (I am honestly too excited for Inception this Friday to write a respectable posting. . .)

So Edward Norton won't be the new Hulk. Guess who might be?

Mark Ruffalo!

I was once going to devote an entire posting on how much I love Mark Ruffalo and how universally likeable the guy is. I don't know why I never did it. Maybe I will now?

I think I would see him as the Hulk. I think it's a little too soon, but if push comes to shove I might go see Mr. Ruffalo as Bruce Banner (that is the guy's name, right?). What do you guys think?

In other casting news, Tom Cruise (or his people, at least) have confirmed that he's up to playing Ethan Hunt in Mission: Impossible IV.

Um, is Tom Cruise even relevant anymore? How many people went and saw Knight & Day? Am I the only one who thinks it's time he tried a different profession? And he can keep it in Hollywood, too -- I think it's about time the man tried directing something. Enough with being on camera; I'd like to see him off it.

So that's my casting news. And Spencer Pratt somehow wound up near the Inception premiere last night while The Hills after-party was going on. . . I can't wait!!!

Question of the night: Should I see the midnight viewing of Inception, or wait like most normal people and see it as regularly scheduled, on Friday? Thoughts?!

Edward Norton. . .

So they've made an announcement that Edward Norton will not be playing the Hulk in the Avengers movie. You know, the one with everybody.

Frankly this kind of annoys me. Like, you sign up to play a pretty popular/at least, well-known superhero in comic-book world and then you drop him like a hot potato. Maybe I'm taking this too far, but Ed Norton is letting me down! And I like him!

So who's going to play the Hulk? Definitely not Eric Bana. I swear, if they ask him -- or, dreadfully, he says yes -- then it only proves that something is wrong with our planet.

I mean, it was one thing to have Maggie Gyllenhaal to play Rachel Dawes in The Dark Knight when Katie Holmes played her in Batman Begins. The news of the casting aggravated me, yes, but once I saw the movie I was like, Okay. This'll work. She's not Batman; she's a love interest. Fine.

But Norton is the Hulk! (Frankly, I can't remember if that movie got any good reviews, but Norton's a fine actor and I personally like it when "serious" thespians take on roles that usually go to less-than-serious actors.) He redefined the role! The role, the character, of a man who turns into a green giant could be cliche, stupid, and altogether campy, but somehow he pulled it off. I took it seriously.

So what does this mean for the Hulk franchise? EW.com is compiling a list of "potential" Hulks -- I didn't click on the link, but beside the headline is a small picture of Matthew Fox. I don't know. Maybe.

How does anyone else feel about this? I think Sam Worthington would make a good Hulk -- but he's been in so many big budget movies (so quickly for his career, too) that I think it would be more beneficial for his career if he started doing more indie films. Anyway.

So, any more Hulk potentials? Joss Whedon is writing the Avengers movie -- maybe if he handpicks someone I'll feel better. Because I trust Mr. Whedon (see: Firefly, Doctor Horrible's Sing-Along Blog).

The Hills series finale tonight! Inception is only a few days away! Can't wait!

Summertime Movies!

Well, folks, I picked up the newspaper today and read yet another thing about Inception. So this means absolutely NO Entertainment Weekly for actual movie business-related posts.

I know, I'm sad, too. But by now I am forming a very general (I repeat, it's very loose, but still) idea about what the movie is about, and although I still don't know I really need to watch what websites I go to.

So, here's my idea: Summer is the best time for movies. Why?

Because they're on all the time. And I'm not just talking pay-for-theater-movies. I am talking about regular TV.

When I was younger one summer I started writing this letter to a friend I had lost touch with, telling her all about the movies I got to see. There were like 30 of them and it was all in the summer! I am telling you, summer has got to be the best season ever.

So how many movies do you think you have seen so far, blog-readers? And these can be movies you've already seen. If you ask me, I'm going to say around 30 -- 40?

Emmys!

So, I think I'll do my commentary by category. First up: Outstanding Drama Series!

What's up with snubbing Grey's Anatomy? The two-hour finale is one of the finest two hours of television I have ever seen. Months later and still, just thinking about it gives me shivers. Still, I'm glad to see Lost is there -- it's got my vote! I think it's going to win. And really, what a bittersweet way to end the six-season long show.

As for actor and actress, still no Grey's, but I would've bet a nickel for Timothy Olyphant's name on the list for Justified. So many people liked him in that! But MATTHEW FOX -- again, I'm rooting for Lost all the way. Actress. . . don't really care, I don't watch any of those shows.

Supporting Actor and Actress -- so glad to see more Lost action, but again, I don't watch any of the Supporting Actress shows! If anything, I'd put my money on Elisabeth Moss or Christine Baranski. . . I don't know. Moving on.

Outstanding Guest Actor/Actress: I'm saying it right now. John Lithgow and Elizabeth Mitchell. Since I (regrettably) tuned in to some of Lost's final episodes I know what's going on with Mitchell's Juliet (don't know about the actual finale, though) and from what I've heard about Lithgow's character on Dexter (nothing good. . . about his character, but plenty of rave reviews) I'm putting my money on those two.

Normally in the Outstanding Comedy 30 Rock takes everything, and so I'm wondering if Glee is up to the challenge this year. Modern Family might have a chance, but still, my money is on 30 Rock. Glee is too much a dramady.

That being said, Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin for Outstanding Actor; Jane Lynch and Neil Patrick Harris for Supporting. I'm so glad to not see Jeremy Piven in this category; I used to think if he never won, it'd go to NPH. So I'm hoping it's his year!

Now, the Guest categories. . . I'm going to go with an SNL here, either Tina Fey or Betty White, probably Betty White. And I am ecstatic to see Mike O'Malley on the list (as Kurt's surprisingly understanding father in being okay with his son's sexuality) but again, Glee isn't straightforwardly funny! It has its deep and emotional moments too. Still, I'm rooting wholeheartedly for Mike O'Malley because he makes the show great.

The whole reality stuff I don't honestly care about, but it'd be nice to see Top Chef win something. I also really like Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, so as long as either one of those two win, I'll be okay.

But best music! I've never watched the version of Batman, but it's there for a reason, right? Ramin Djawadi has composed for Iron Man, I believe, and also Prison Break (which I loved) but to be honest (and I know I might be ruffling more than just a couple of feathers here. . .) I'm rooting for my man Michael Giacchino. I mean, just listen to this video! (And I mean all the way through.)

Any thoughts? Any more serious snubs left off? I know Entertainment Weekly is upset with the absence of Vanessa L. Williams of Ugly Betty and Courteney Cox of Cougar Town. I think I would have liked to see someone from Chuck, but most of my distress is from no Grey's Anatomy. Unless it premiered too late/early to be considered for nomination, since that can happen sometimes.

So sound off, please!

Mark Your Calendars: August 29

Ladies and gentlemen, yet another important announcement: Emmy nominations are out! (But you've probably already read them already. Still.)

Though the Academy Awards come first in my book, the Emmy Awards are still a big deal. Despite the fact that this post is not about movies, I say you should still read on, because these nominations celebrate the best of the best in shows and miniseries. Here is the list:

Outstanding Drama Series

Lost

Breaking Bad

Dexter

Mad Men

True Blood

The Good Wife

Outstanding Actress in a Drama

Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife)

Mariska Hargitay (Law & Order: SUV)

Glenn Close (Damages)

Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer)

January Jones (Mad Men)

Connie Britton (Friday Night Lights)

Outstanding Actor in a Drama

Jon Hamm (Mad Men)

Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights)

Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad)

Hugh Laurie (House)

Michael C. Hall (Dexter)

Matthew Fox (Lost)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama

Sharon Gless (Burn Notice)

Christine Baranski (The Good Wife)

Christina Hendricks (Mad Men)

Rose Byrne (Damages)

Archie Panjabi (The Good Wife)

Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama

John Slattery (Mad Men)

Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad)

Martin Short (Damages)

Terry O'Quinn (Lost)

Michael Emerson (Lost)

Andre Braugher (Men Of A Certain Age)

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama

Beau Bridges (The Closer)

Ted Danson (Damages)

John Lithgow (Dexter)

Alan Cumming (The Good Wife)

Dylan Baker (The Good Wife)

Robert Morse (Mad Men)

Gregory Itzin (24)

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama

Mary Kay Place (Big Love)

Sissy Spacek (Big Love)

Shirley Jones (The Closer)

Lily Tomlin (Damages)

Ann-Margaret (Law & Order: SUV)

Elizabeth Mitchell (Lost)

Outstanding Comedy

Glee

Modern Family

Curb Your Enthusiasm

Nurse Jackie

30 Rock

The Office

Outstanding Actress in a Comedy

Lea Michele (Glee)

Tina Fey (30 Rock)

Toni Collette (United States of Tara)

Julia Louis-Dreyfus (The New Adventures of Old Christine)

Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie)

Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation)

Outstanding Actor in a Comedy

Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm)

Alec Baldwin (30 Rock)

Matthew Morrison (Glee)

Steve Carrell (The Office)

Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory)

Tony Shalhoub (Monk)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy

Jane Lynch (Glee)

Kristin Wiig (Saturday Night Live)

Jane Krakowski (30 Rock)

Julie Bowen (Modern Family)

Sofia Vergara (Modern Family)

Holland Taylor (Two and a Half Men)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy

Chris Colfer (Glee)

Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother)

Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family)

Jon Cryer (Two and a Half Men)

Eric Stonestreet (Modern Family)

Ty Burrell (Modern Family)

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy

Christine Baranski (The Big Bang Theory)

Kristin Chenoweth (Glee)

Kathryn Joosten (Desperate Housewives)

Tina Fey (Saturday Night Live)

Betty White (Saturday Night Live)

Elaine Stritch (30 Rock)

Jane Lynch (Two and a Half Men)

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy

Mike O'Malley (Glee)

Neil Patrick Harris (Glee)

Fred Willard (Modern Family)

Eli Wallach (Modern Family)

Jon Hamm (30 Rock)

Will Arnett (30 Rock)

Outstanding Reality Show Host

Ryan Seacrest (American Idol)

Phil Keoghan (The Amazing Race)

Tom Bergeron (Dancing With The Stars)

Heidi Klum (Project Runway)

Jeff Probst (Survivor)

Outstanding Reality Show Competition

Project Runway

Top Chef

The Amazing Race

Dancing With The Stars

American Idol

Outstanding Reality Program

Antiques Roadshow

Dirty Jobs

Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution

Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List

Mythbusters

Undercover Boss

Outstanding Variety, Music, or Comedy Series

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart

The Colbert Report

Real Time with Bill Maher

Saturday Night Live

The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien

Outstanding Miniseries or Movie

The Pacific (HBO)

Return to Cranford (PBS)

Outstanding TV Movie

Endgame (PBS)

Georgia O'Keefe (Lifetime)

Moonshot (History)

The Special Relationship (HBO)

Temple Grandin (HBO)

You Don't Know Jack (HBO)

Outstanding Music Composition in a Drama

Batman: The Brave and the Bold (Michael McCuistion, Lolita Ritmanis, Kristopher Carter, Michael Jelenic, James Tucker)

FlashForward (Ramin Djawadi)

Lost (Michael Giacchino)

Psych (Adam Cohen, John Robert Wood)

24 (Sean P. Callery)

I included the last above category (music) just because I am a music nerd. Of course, there are plenty of other categories I did not include, like best directing, cinematography, hairstyling and makeup. . . but these few kind of round everything together that most viewers find the most important.

My thoughts will be in the next posting, since frankly, I think these are a lot of words to process in just one post!

Going Crazy

So paranoid! Literally, I am scared of seeing anything when an Internet site loads. There are ads everywhere -- not to mention the fact that I gravitate towards entertainment-related sites.

It's in my blood, or something.

But still, with the time coming to a very close end (almost just one week away) I think I might stay away from my normal haunts: People, EW, and imdb.com. It just seems safer that way.

However! Still stick around, keep checking daily for updates/humorous anecdotes/irrelevant ramblings about whatever's on my mind. Just because I'm avoiding Inception news does not mean I'm going to avoid blogging! Good night!

Isn't This Cool?

Blue and Orange!

I found a small article in (you guessed it) Entertainment Weekly (the actual magazine this time, not the website) which discussed Hollywood's liking towards orange and blue movie posters. You think every Jennifer Aniston rom-com DVD looks the same, wait till you see some of these pictures!

EW mentioned a lot of them -- Transformers, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Iron Man 2, The Last Airbender, GI Joe, Inception (which I did not know), The Taking of Pelham 123, Jonah Hex, Legion, and The Sorcerer's Apprentice. A lot, right?

What, you don't believe me? Just look at the pictures below, my friends.

Upon reading this, I was like, What?! So I did some snooping myself. And I came up with more movies!

Isn't that really cool? (And I like to think 500 Days Of Summer counts, but you tell me if you don't think it does.)

In addition to movies, there are some video games that display the orange-blue color scheme, including the first two Mass Effect games:

Apparently it all started after The Bourne Identity. Charles Reimers spoke to Entertainment Weekly exclusively, saying "Orange and blue are complementary colors, so just by nature they give you that jolt that you need. The studio's always saying 'Make it pop' and those two are the big favorites."

Huh! I guess it works for me, since I have truthfully seen the majority of those movies. I wonder if it's another marketing ploy that they all happen to be relatively big-budget, "major" movies -- and have the orange and blue!

Anyway, the next time you find yourself at a movie theater or a Blockbusters, look out for the blue and orange! Can anyone find other movies not mentioned above? I've already got a few I can add: The Dark Knight, Dragonball: Evolution, Into The Blue, Watchmen, Slumdog Millionaire, the first Iron Man, City Of Ember, and Australia.

**And don't you dare say I have too much time on my hands. It's summer! I've got all day!**

Paranormal Activity 2! (and I did NOT disappear)

Despite not posting since July 3, blog-readers, I am still here, just back from a quick and relaxed vacation at the beach. It seems that no matter where I am I always get in a movie or two, and Ocean City was no exception: Anchorman and Starsky & Hutch, back to back!

While summer is an excellent way to see light, irreverent and often stupid movies (right now I am actually watching the epitome of these three adjectives, All About Steve...don't ask) it is also the perfect season for trailers to upcoming movies in the fall and winter, where movie moods darken as quickly as the weather. Case in point: Paranormal Activity 2.

I did not see the first movie--and, if I remember correctly, had troubles just watching the trailer--but I did see the preview for the sequel and I must say, I am intrigued. Probably not enough to see it in the theaters or at home, but still, nonetheless, intrigued.

WATCH: On the actual movie's website (look for: pots and pans in the kitchen; the chair rocking in the baby's room; and the shot of Katie (the character from the first movie) in the baby's room (as in, what's missing that, according to the mirror, shouldn't be?))

Finally, after all that, keep watching until the very very end, where the screen stops after the trailer is over and the shot is of the baby's room. What's written on the mirror?

Apparently it's a message that reads, What's happening to Hunter? This is either implying that Hunter is the baby, or the dog/someone else. I also read on other websites that there's another version of the trailer with the words Hunter does not exist or something like that written on the floor (not in the mirror's reflection, but the actual floor) however I haven't come across that one yet.

Still! Scary, right? I predict that this trailer will be in front of Inception, as well as Super 8, J.J. Abrams' new super-secret project (a la Cloverfield.)

Any thoughts? Is anyone going to see Paranormal Activity 2 in theaters? I know I won't!

50th Posting!

I'm celebrating my 50th post (which I guess isn't that big of an accomplishment, but still) today, blog-readers! Woo-hoo!

So in the spirit of celebration, of course I needed to do something about it. I wandered over to my favorite, always-reliable website, EW.com, and found a perfect (headline-wise, at least) link to provide you guys with, so you can celebrate with me! But naturally, I had to read it first.

Well, I clicked on the link, and I spotted two pictures first, right off the bat: Toy Story 3's Woody (hatless, at that!) and the gun-toting Mr. Leonardo DiCaprio himself, all suited up for Inception.

I really don't want to read the rest of the article, especially given what it's generally about (the 2011 Oscar race so far) because I'm afraid it might give away details of Inception (like, Best Picture? Best Actor? Best EVERYTHING??) but if you blog-readers want to go ahead and read it, be my guest!

The 2011 Oscar Race So Far | Entertainment Weekly

Happy 4th of July Weekend, everybody! Party safe!

Counting Down The Days. . .

Inception is almost here. Today marks the two-week point. I've been racking my brain for ways to celebrate but so far, I've come up with nothing. Ideas?

Check back later tonight, I might figure something out if I'm away from my computer.

-Claire

It's Picture Day!

Major-ish depressing news today, blog-readers (and I found this out on People.com, which somehow makes it worse):

Andrew Garfield is the new Peter Parker. You may have heard that they're looking to "reboot" the series for the fourth movie, helmed by (500) Days Of Summer director Marc Webb. Only instead of making it continue after the third, they're placing Peter Parker in high school.

This sounds awesome, first of all, but it'll sound only awesome-er if they get the right guy to play Spidey. Let's remember, everyone, that they're looking for someone for a high school Peter Parker. Here are the rumored actors, followed by Andrew Garfield (pictures).

Jamie Bell (Defiance, Jumper)

Josh Hutcherson (The Kids Are Alright, Journey To The Center Of The Earth)

Aaron Johnson (Nowhere Boy, Kick-Ass)

Honestly, I don't think these guys photograph well. All three of them are attractive, and while two (Johnson and Bell) are British, I might've seen them as Spidey. They're young and have already established themselves (kinda) in Hollywood.

Now, ladies and gentlemen, I introduce you to the newest Spider-Man, the relatively unknown and too-old-to-be-even-considered-for-this-part Andrew Garfield!!!!

(Seriously, he's like, 26.)

Um. Am I the only one who thinks this is really, really wrong? This is what People has to say about it and this is what Entertainment Weekly has to say about it. Like, I understand that Tobey Maguire was 27 when he starred in the first Spider-Man movie. However! He actually pulled off the geeky superhero look. Am I just not getting it? Was the Peter Parker in the original comic books not as geeky as we think he was? I mean, I guess it would explain why all these teen heartthrobs were rumored for Peter Parker.

Anyway, so that's that. Moving on for more pictures. . .

Entertainment Weekly has a link to some pictures of Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow in the upcoming fourth movie of the Pirates of the Caribbean series. Check 'em out! Doesn't really give us much, but hey! It's still good ol' Cap'n Jack!

Well, blog-readers? What do you have to say about: Andrew Garfield being the new Spider-Man; or Johnny Depp pictures in Pirates? I think it's kind of interesting we saw Andrew Garfield in the trailer for Never Let Me Go, a trailer yours truly supplied to you all just Wednesday. . . .