The Book Challenge Week #2: Catching Fire

The second part of the Hunger Games Trilogy was pretty decent. I now know who my favorite character is: Finnick. They better pick someone rad and super f-cking hot to play him in the second movie or I am sure I will not be the only one pissed off.

OK. So I can't go on talking about this book without giving spoilers about the first one...so if you haven't read the first one do not continue to read my recap. (SPOILER ALERT)

After Katniss saves both her and Peeta at the end of The Hunger Games people in the Districts start thinking that they can flip the bird at the Capitol as well. The Capitol people get pissed and the only way to kick the rebellion in the face is to kill off Katniss...so they make the 75th Hunger Games a game of victors and Katniss and Peeta get thrown back into the arena.

Kind of depressing, but I am super happy about the introduction of Finnick. He is now my favorite character. Kind of this gorgeous douche bag. Love him. Finnick is a former victor who is fighting in the 75th games with Katniss and Peeta...he adds humour, which of course is a must for me.

I did not like the lack of Gale in this one. It pisses me off because I am definitely on Team Gale, but I am thinking that he is going to die in the next one or she is going to pick Peeta, which seems lame.

Onto book three. This will make or break the series.

Recommended.

XOXO
Jes...

In Review: 21 Jump Street

I have been staring at this screen for over 45 minutes trying to think of some sort of witty thing to write about this movie. I didn't hate it and I didn't love it. I don't do lukewarm. Lukewarm is boring. Lukewarm pushes me to write garbage like, "this is the plot and this was one stand out thing about the movie." Blah.

I foolishly thought that maybe this movie would give me a little more to work with. The trailers were hilarious and there were a couple more funny parts in the movie that gave me a little chuckle, but there wasn't much more to it than that.

Jonah Hill was funny. Not sure if it was because he was skinny or his character is not as crude as the ones he usually plays, but he didn't really pull out his A game. It was slightly disappointing. It must be the skinny thing, thank God he is packing the pounds back on.

Channing Tatum was his usual hot dumb self. Not much more to the character than that. Then there was Johnny Depp's cameo...what a disappointment that was. I actually think that scene was the low point of the entire movie.

The other cast were a bunch of duds. Forgettable, all except maybe Dave Franco, who played Eric the lead drug dealer. He has been around, but in nothing big. You know his hot older brother, James. Meow...what a sex-y fam. I could see Dave playing a Chuck Bass type character in the future and it would be sensational.

All in all, you'll get some laughs - but you will leave feeling empty inside and by the time you get to your car you will have pretty much forgotten the movie all together.


Verdict: 2.9 Stars

XOXO
Jes...

Rosie's OWN show - CANCELLED

I watched probably five seconds of an episode of Rosie O'Donnell's talk show on Oprah's network OWN...and now I will never have to endure another minute of it.

Oprah cut the dead weight of O'Donnell by announcing that she was cancelling her show with poor numbers.

C'est la vie Rosie.

XOXO
Jes...

#NowPlaying: MG's Pick of the Week: The Shins (Guest Post)

The Shins are not a new band. In fact, if you've seen Garden State (and if you haven't, please rush out now) then you've been exposed to their magic.

This week they even played on Saturday Night Live, making the show legitimate since well ... when Bon Iver performed.

I've loved the Shins for a long time. They've got a beautifully unique sound, and for some reason no matter how happy their songs sound, they're still kind of sad, and I like that.

'Simple Song' is their latest single. I could share the cool official video, as it's pretty neat, but there's dialogue that cuts in and out, and you won't get the feel for it's greatness - which would be a shame.

MG
______
Ah, The Shins. I do like them...I don't like, "for some reason no matter how happy their songs sound, they're still kind of sad, and I like that."....if anyone doubted your emo-ness, look no further. 


XOXO
Jes...

George Clooney arrested

George Clooney was arrested in Washington DC this morning while leading a protest over the Sudan Crisis. The protest was happening in front of the Sudanese Embassy when Georgy was taken away by secret service agents.
Oh George. His fight to save the world is so hot.

More than just George were arrested, but who care about them? Really, no one. But I think the goal of the protest was achieved...people are now paying attention. Way to go George.

XOXO
Jes...

Lady Gaga...no more interviews

Don't expect Lady Gaga to spill her secrets in an interview any time soon. The crazy singer did an interview with Oprah that will air on OWN on Sunday, and in it she said the following,

"Other than this interview, Oprah, I do not intend to speak to anyone for a very long time. No press, no television, if my mom calls and says, "Did you hear about..' I shut it all off."

Shoot. Well, it's not like the woman need to have an interview to have a platform. She will just make an hour long music video, everyone will watch it and then we will have had our Gaga fill. And really...it's not like she did a ton of interviews before anyways.

XOXO
Jes..

Some other things I thought you'd like to know...

WTF. One word. Asians. Is there anything they can't do?

Whitney Houston's daughter Bobbi Kristina is supposedly dating (and possibly engaged to?) to her adopted brother...different people grieve in different ways I guess. So extremely weird.

Lindsay Lohan was involved in a hit and run, or so says the manager of a sheesha bar, while she was trying to evade the paparazzi...Lindsay needs to move to Nebraska and work at K Mart...seriously, I think that would be a step up for her life at this point.


Charlize Theron adopted a baby boy...well that's nice.

The guy from Man vs. Wilde was fired...well thank God I never watched that show, I am still recovering from the TV execution of Man Tracker.

Lady Gaga told Oprah that she wanted a 'soccer team full of kids'...I would be so interested in how those muffins turned out. For real...I bet she would scold them for painting inside the lines.

XOXO
Jes...

Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum give good interview

Ha ha. This interview makes me want to see this movie even more!

I am going to guess they were both a little delirious after doing about 50 of these interviews previous to this chicks...or they were high. Oh Channing was high and Jonah was just being Jonah.

XOXO
Jes...

Gavin Degraw's Sweeter (VIDEO)

Gavin Degraw released his video for his single Sweeter.

I love Gavin, been a fan for years, but this just doesn't suit him. I can't see him as a bad ass...the thought is just foolish. Did they break into this house in the burbs in the middle of the day? I am confused.

Also...I am really sad that Gavin is going bald...he needs to get some hats that sit lower on his forehead.

XOXO
Jes...

Kelly Clarkson has a new Beau

Kelly Clarkson has a new boyfriend. It has been revealed that she is currently dating Reba's stepson. Aw cute. Brandon Blackstock is the son of Narvel Blackstock who is Reba's husband and manager.

We all know that Kelly is BFFs with Reba, so it shouldn't surprise anyone that she has made her way into the family. So jealous.

Yay Kelly. I hope it works out.

XOXO
Jes...

Arrest warrant issued for Russell Brand

An arrest warrant has been issued for Russell Brand for the whole 'throwing of a pap's iPhone through a window' incident.

He has been charged with 'simple criminal damage' and will have to pay a fine of $700.

Chump change for Brand.

UPDATE: According to TMZ Brand's arrest was bigger than a simple misdemeanor. Any property damage of more than $500 is considered a felony...which means he could serve jail time. The window was around $300 and the $iPhone like...$800? There is no way he will go to jail for this, but I am guessing the fine will go up.

XOXO
Jes...

Movie Madness: Out this Weekend

If you have a movie that you have been meaning to check out in the theatre...you should really do it this weekend before the insanity hits next weekend with the opening of The Hunger Games. Here are the movies you can enjoy this weekend without the flurry of madness.

21 Jump Street

I am not really one for remakes, but this actually looks pretty funny. And it was when Jonah Hill was not fat (not skinny, but not fat)...oh that was a nice little period of time. The original with Johnny Depp (the TV show) wasn't that funny - maybe that is what it was missing for me. Who knows. But I will go see this one.

Being Flynn (Limited)

I think this movie looks like it could be fantastic...if I was in the right mood to watch it. Movies like this are hazardous if you watch them when tired or in need of any kind of stimulant. Right mood and Robert De Niro will knock your socks off.

Casa De Mi Padre (Limited)

"The biggest international motion picture of all time..." What the hell is this? All I know is that I am not a fan of Will Ferrell...in Spanish or English...and I am truly not a fan of subtitles. Not sure if them remaking the same old story in another language is going to be a big seller...I would be surprised (except for in Southern border states where I am sure it will turn some kind of profit).

Jeff, Who Lives at Home

To be honest I haven't heard a lot about this movie. It has a pretty rad cast: Jason Segel, Ed Helms, Susan Sarandon, and Judy Greer....but unless it has a super spectacular ending, it looks like another one of those indy-"you feel slightly better about your current life situation when you leave the theatre and then realize that you just wasted two hours of your life on a brain suck when you could have been doing something useful like alphabetizing your DVDs or throwing eggs at kids from your balcony" -movies. Or it could be good. *Shrugs shoulders*

 My Pick: 21 Jump Street....cause you can't go wrong with laughs.

XOXO
Jes...

Playlist Update

I received requests that I let you know when I have updated the XO Playlist. So, because some of you are too lazy to just click the XO Playlist tab above, consider yourself notified. The playlist has been updated.

3 dead horses = a cancelled show

You may have heard that Dustin Hoffman's HBO show Luck just got cancelled because 3 horses had to be euthanize due to injuries obtained on set.

The show was about horse racing. That does not peak my interest at all.

The sad thing about this is that there was really no warning about it being cancelled when they had to lay off the entire crew without severance. Tough industry. Super lame.

XOXO
Jes...

Miley Cyrus says she will not work on a movie with Liam Hemsworth again

Rumour has it that Miley Cyrus said that she would not act in a movie with Liam Hemsworth again. This is music to my ears. Not that I ever thought there was a remote chance that she would get cast in either of the other 2 Hunger Games films, but this pretty much puts that thought in a dark black hole with no escape.

They need to cast Finnick though...so I can get on with my life.

Also, I have decided that these movies are going to suck because they are going for the PG rating. Which means...we are not going to get to see kids slaughter each other. The UK version has already been reduced by a few seconds to take away shots of blood.

WTF. This movie is all about killing! How are they getting away with not showing the murders. F-ck. So lame.

XOXO
Jes...