• 80's,  90's,  movies,  my view,  sci-fi

    Looking good Buckaroo- My eye candy review of Buckaroo Banzai

    So in my usual state of insomnia last night I was flipping channels and came across

    The Adventures Of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension.

    Buckaroo 7

    A classic gem (and I use these term in the loosest possible sense) from 1984 which brings forth all sorts of questions:

    Why was this on my cable TV – I mean I am paying through the nose for premium channels and this is what they come up with? Could we get a little more current Verizon?

    What was John Lithgow doing this this thing? But it’s John and he’s been known to make, well, choices and we love him for it.

    ADVENTURES OF BUCKAROO BANZAI, John Lithgow, 1984. ©20thCentFox/courtesy Everett Collection

    And lastly, why did I go and see this in the movies, like the actual theater, when it first came out? Was I that desperate for cinema in 1984? Uh… guess that’s a yes.

    And the why clearly became apparent during my late-night re-watch. Some of the dudes in this cast were serious eye candy in 1984 and right up my alley:

    The first, and seemingly most far fetched (for me), was Peter Weller, but not really though since his styling in this movie was all up and down the Adam Ant Alley which was just my 15 year old thing back then.

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    AdamAnt

    And then there was the supporting cast:

    Jeff Goldblum as New Jersey, in the most unfortunate costume this side of Pee Wee’s playhouse, but still so very Jeff:

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    Strong and silent Clancy Brown as Rawhide:

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    And that gorgeous Lewis Smith as Perfect Tommy. Talk about perfect use of peroxide:

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    And finally can we talk about the glasses? IMO this movie did more for men in glasses than any other. Yas boys!

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    Buckaroo 14

    Buckaroo 12

    So tell me in the comments what were some of your fave 80’s and 90’s movie classics.

    All the best,

    KMJ

  • interviews,  movies,  my view,  writing life

    Stay Writing… always

    The other day, while procrastinating on Twitter, as I’m often found doing, I saw a tweet go by from the amazing director of Selma, Ava DuVernay. It said that she was participating in a talk this past Wednesday for the Tribeca Film Festival. Now I was instantly intrigued and knew I wanted to be there. But me being me I had to go to my usual second guessing and I got to thinking if I really wanted to take the trip down to the city, take on driving and parking and oh who am I fooling, it all came down to if I really wanted to get dressed and put on real pants and shoes and go out.

    Well, I’m so happy the pants and better sense won out. It was my dear son’s day off from classes so he was more than happy to go as my “date” and he even urged me to bring along a copy of one of my books and some postcards (I guess paying for all those business classes isn’t for nothing).

    The two of us headed down to the west side of 23rd street and upon our arrival we were greeted with a long but patient and enthusiastic line of what seemed to be mostly were writers and film students. And to the horror of my poor DS I went to snapping pics as if I didn’t grow up in the city and attend college at FIT right up the street. Who knows? Maybe I’ve been in the burbs a little too long, but whatevs. They don’t put cameras on these phones for nothing.

    Ava 5

    Once we were inside there was a short delay as we waited for Ms. DuVernay to make it in from the airport and her red-eye flight. The delay was no big deal to us as we were inside and comfortable and the room was full of fans of her work.

    When Ms. DuVernay arrived along with the immensely talented, Q-Tip who was her interviewer for the hour, there was little doubt that the wait was well worth it. Q-Tip was a well prepared and through interviewer asking many of the questions that we all wanted answers to and Ms. DuVernay was just wonderful. She was friendly, thoughtful and candid with her answers. As well as generous with sharing her opinions and advice.

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    Here are just a few of her insightful words that resonated most with me:

    Her mission: “To magnify the magnificence of black people.”

    Wow! I could just stop with there. Isn’t that just beautiful?  I just about gasped in my seat. With all the negative images we have been bombarded with for so long and the awful injustices that have been brought to life recently thanks to social media this just makes me want to stand up and cheer.

    But I’ll keep going. She also spoke about her work and her responsibility to it saying, that it’s no one else’s responsibility to make the things she wants to see. Which also spoke to me and the stories I tell. Yes, I write for my readers and my fans, but ultimately these are the stories that speak to me and the ones I want to tell. If I’m not filling my own well then this is all for nothing.

    Getting to Ms. DuVernay’s process: I was only too selfishly happy to hear that a genius such as herself also struggles with writer’s block as I do. Now I know there are those that say there is no such thing as writer’s block and try as I might I’ve tried really hard to embrace that philosophy (mostly by searching out articles over the internet when I should be writing) but I just can’t. She also has accepted procrastination as part of her process and recognizes that she is fueled by the deadline crunch. Something else I can definitely get behind and see in myself.

    On working and ‘making it’ in a white male dominated profession: I loved Ms. DuVernay’s strong opinion and slightly ‘what of it’ attitude to it all. It is what it is and how we should just do what we do and go for it. She spoke about women too often asking for permission for things we don’t need permission for. I’ll just leave that right here with an amen.

     

    Lastly, she spoke about her motto which is “Stay Shooting.” Which means to work your creative muscle. Don’t take breaks and don’t get stagnant or stale by being stuck in one box. Very good advice. I think I’ll take up a version of that and tack onto my bulletin board:

    “STAY WRITING.”

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    Thank you, Ms. DuVernay for sharing a wonderful hour with us!

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    Lets not talk about my closed eyes on this pic. Ava is holding BOUNCE here and  that’s all that matters.

    #WeNeedDiverseRomance

     

     

    All the best,

    KMJ

  • Books,  classics,  Hollywood,  movies,  my view

    Not like I remembered…

    Now I know I read The Great Gatsby when I was a kid in school, I must have. I remember the book, the cover, the idea, and certain points of the story so well and though I get excited and a bit tingly over Leo with a cool new soundtrack as backup, this trailer is nothing like my memory.

    Great Gatsby book cover 2

    I’m thinking a quick re-read may be in my future before I see the movie. Do you like to read the books before you see the movie? I have to admit I usually don’t as the movie then never lives up, but in this case I think I will. It might be fun as I’ll not be reading it with Gatsby cast as Leo.

     

     

    All the best,

    KMJ

  • fashion,  films,  movies,  my view,  Sex and The City,  Uncategorized

    Sex and No City

    So Wednesday already? How’d that happen?

    Oh well that’s how it goes when you get a holiday Monday.  I did what I said and eased into the week by going to the spa for a bit yesterday. Well, you see once again while cleaning I found a gift from the lovey DH that was given to me almost a year ago for my birthday for a massage and a facial and it was about to expire (why do I keep doing that?). Ding dong me I went the whole year stressing and doing for everyone else and almost let this treat for myself slip away. I’m so glad that I didn’t. It was a little bit of heaven and a reminder to stop putting myself last on my list.

     

    This last weekend like a ton of other folks I went to see Sex and The City 2 and sadly like a ton of other folks I walked away disappointed.

    It was such an odd thing because I really pride myself on going against the grain of high faulting critics and being a big “go to a movie just for the entertainment” of it type of person. So after getting the DH to come with me to see it (he was one of 3 men in the theater on Friday night) I left trying to convince myself of the finer points.

    “Well Samantha was Samantha. She was funny.” I told him enthusiastically as he looked at me oddly.  “And Charlotte looked good in most of her outfits.” Still odd looks and then my mind went to a scene where she’s making cupcakes in vintage Valentino and I had to then turn to my DH and admit “It wasn’t that good huh?”

    “No” he said. “It wasn’t.”

    To me this felt like an opportunity to dress the ladies up in inappropriate hats, spice tones and brights and pose them in the desert without a proper story. I mean I’m all for fun and all for fashion but this City girls need a proper story!

    Now I’m not trying to discourage you all. Please go and see for yourself. There are things to see visually and parts that are fun. I’m just sad to say Sex without the City didn’t do it for me.

    Best,

    Kwana

  • jack,  jack pics,  motherhood,  movies,  videos

    Thank Heaven

    What’s Jack up to? Well he was way too happy in the snow yesterday. Rolling around and having a ball. I just could not muster up the same enthusiasm. Sorry Jack I’m just over it now.

    The Dear Twins will be home tonight! I’ve missed them a lot but it’s been a good miss and gone by so fast. Quickly we’ll all be back to the grind.
    In honor of the twins coming home I leave you with this trailer and clip from Gigi with Leslie Caron one of my all time favorite movies that pays homage to gay Paris!

    Best,
    Kwana

  • motherhood,  movies,  videos

    While Paris Sleeps

    Today is the twins last full day in Paris. They return home tomorrow night. Yay and sniff. Feeling the need to get as much work done and rest as possible today. That just doesn’t mix.

    I was looking for a Parisian movie while thinking of the twins, maybe I should not have come across this one. Yikes! A poor girl out of luck and money, but it does look good. I’ll have to get it from my library and check the full out.
    Have you seen it?

    I hope your day is going well.

    Best,

    Kwana