Monday Biography Feature: Dr. Maya Angelou

(Image from newsinfo.iu.edu)

In eleventh grade, I had my very first experience with Maya Angelou’s work.  Our teacher, Mr. Martin, assigned to us “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.”  We were to read it and do a book report on it.  English was my favorite subject in school, so this assignment was something I actually wanted to do!  I had no previous knowledge about the book, but had heard many wonderful things about it’s author.  After arriving home from school that day, I immediately started reading it.  ( Did I mention that I LOVE to read?)  I didn’t get very far.  There is a specific point in the book where she tells of an experience of sexual abuse.  At first, I couldn’t get any farther, the part in the book just having this enormous effect on me.  I didn’t want to pick it up and read it.  The book had hit home with some of my own personal experiences, and I just couldn’t do it.  So.. the next day, I went to the English teacher and spoke with him privately about my wish not to read the book.  I asked to be assigned something else.  He did try to explain to me that if I could get past that particular part, it’s truly a wonderful read.  I told him I would take his word for it.

After a couple of months passed and I had completed my English assignment and had read a different book… something in the back of my mind started to wonder if I hadn’t been wrong about Maya Angelou’s book after all.  A lot of my other classmates had read it and loved it.  So, I checked it out from the local library.  Once I started reading it again, and got past the part I had previously had trouble with, I really just devoured the book.  It was and IS a FANTASTIC book!  I am so glad that I had changed my mind about reading it!   Since then, I have become a huge fan of Maya Angelou’s work and I am excited to share with you all what I have learned about her during my research!

(Image from Harlem World Blog)

Her Early Years

Dr. Maya Angelou, originally named Marguerite Ann Johnson, was born on April 4th, 1928 in Saint Louis, Missouri.  She was born to Bailey Johnson, a doorman and Navy dietician, and Vivian (Baxter) Johnson, a real estate agent, trained surgical nurse, and later, Merchant Marine.

At a young age, her parents’ rocky marriage ended.  Maya and her brother where sent alone by train to live with their father’s mother, Annie Henderson in Stamps, Arkansas.  They lived with their grandmother for four years until, their father appeared unexpectedly and uprooted Maya and her brother Bailey Jr. again, this time returning them to their mother’s care in Saint Louis.

At the age of eight, while living with her mother, Maya was sexually abused and raped by her mother’s boyfriend, Mr. Freeman.  She confessed what had happened to her brother, who then told the rest of the family.  According to what I found on Wikipedia, Freeman was found guilty, but was only jailed for one day!  I can’t even fathom how Maya must of felt at him being released from jail so quickly.  It had to have been frightening to say the very least.

Four days after Freeman was released, he was found murdered.  The whole experience was so traumatic to the young Maya, that she became mute, thinking her voice, naming him, had killed him.  She felt her voice could kill others too.  She remained mute for nearly 5 years.  Shortly after Freeman’s murder, Maya and her brother were sent back to Stamps to live with their grandmother.

With guidance from a teacher and family friend, Mrs. Bertha Flowers, Maya began speaking again.  Flowers introduced her to authors such as Shakespeare, Dickens, Poe, and Douglas, as well as introducing her to African American female artists like Frances Harper, Jessie Fauset, and Anne Spencer.

When Angelou turned 13, she and her brother returned to live with their mother, who was residing in San Fransisco at the time.  She went on to study dance and drama, on a scholarship at San Fransisco’s Labor School.  At 14, she dropped out to become the very first African American female cable car conductor.  Maya later finished school and gave birth to a son at 17, naming him Guy.  Now the young, artistic, and intelligent woman had another road ahead of her… that of a young single mother.

(Image from anthurium.miami.edu)

(Image from achievement.org)

Early Adulthood and Career

As a young, single mother, Angelou supported herself and child by working as a cook and waitress.  However, she had a strong passion for poetry, music, dance and performance and it would soon take center stage in her life.

During 1954 and 1955, Dr. Angelou toured Europe with a production of the opera, Porgy and Bess. She studied modern dance with Martha Graham, danced with Al Ailey on television variety shows, and also recorded her first album, which she named “Callypso Lady.”

In 1958, she moved to New York and joined the Harlem Writer’s Guild and delved very deeply into her writing.  Although her writing was her main concentration, Maya had also managed to find time to act in the historic Off-Broadway production of Jean Genet’s The Blacks and wrote and performed Cabaret for Freedom.  Quite a busy woman!!!!   And what an amazing life so far!

In 1960, Dr. Angelou and her son Guy, moved to Cairo, Egypt, where she worked as the editor of the English language weekly newspaper, The Arab Observer. By 1962, she was on the move again, this time to Ghana, where she taught at the University of Ghana’s School of Music and Drama.  She was also a feature editor for the The African Review and wrote for The Ghanaian Times.

Throughout her years of extensive traveling, Dr. Angelou read and studied insatiably, mastering French, Spanish, Italian, Arabic, and the West African language, Fanti.  While living in Ghana, she met Malcolm X, and in 1964, she returned to the United States to help him form his new Organization of African American Unity.  Unfortunately, soon after Angelou’s arrival, Malcolm X was assassinated, and the organization dissolved.

After Malcolm X’s assassination, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. approached Dr. Angelou, asking her to serve as the Northern Coordinator for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.  King was assassinated before their plans for a peace march could reach fruition, and Maya was devastated.  Dr. King was killed on her birthday, and for that reason, she did not celebrate for many years.  Instead of celebrating, she sent flowers to Dr. King’s widow every year until Mrs. King’s death in 2006.  At the encouragement of a friend, novelist James Baldwin, Dr. Angelou dealt with her grief and then went on to channel her energy into her first autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, which brought with it her first international recognition and acclaim.

(Image from famouspeople.com)

(Image from Boston College Chronicle)

Later Career and Life, Present Day

A groundbreaker in both television and film, Dr. Angelou wrote the screenplay and composed the score for the 1972 film, Georgia, Georgia. Her script, the first by an African American woman ever to be filmed, was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.

Dr. Angelou has continued throughout the years appear on films, such as Roots, and Poetic Justice, and has been a guest on television shows such as Sesame Street and The Oprah Winfrey Show. The list of her public writing, both fiction and non-fiction now includes more than 30 best selling titles.  In 1996, she directed her first feature film, Down in the Delta.  In 2008, she composed poetry for and narrated the award-winning documentary The Black Candle, directed by M.K. Asante.

My choice to write about Dr. Maya Angelou for my first biography feature was a very personal one for me, because her work truly touches me in many ways.  Her struggles in her life and in her books have always resonated with me and inspired and encouraged me to strive for better in my own life.  If you have never read a book written by Dr. Maya Angelou, I would highly recommend picking one up at your local library.  You won’t be sorry you did.

My Favorite Maya Angelou Quotes:

“A bird doesn’t sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song.”

“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.”

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

“I can be changed by what happens to me.  But I refuse to be reduced by it.”

“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.”

(Image found via random Google Image Search)

Bring on more Jonny!!!!

I was so excited to read the other day on this site: http://jrhysmeyers.com/ – that Jonathan Rhys Meyers is set to star in a new movie!  The movie is a French love story, set during the World War II era.  Jonny will play a Jewish diplomat who begins an affair with a married Swiss woman ( played by Natalia Vodianova).  Filming will start on October 25th on location in Geneva, Switzerland and then Italy.

I really think that JRM has a fantastically large acting range and I am excited to see what he does with this role.  While I enjoy his parts in action movies, I would much rather watch him in movies with a bit more substance.    Hopefully, this movie will be what us JRM fans are waiting for!

I will keep you updated!

****Image found via Google Image search

“The Duchess”

When I first saw the trailer for the movie, “The Duchess,” starrring Keira Knightley and Ralph Fiennes, I was immediately intrigued.  I love historically based movies (no, kidding, right?) and I wasted no time in snooping online to find out just exactly who this “Duchess” was.

From the moment I began to read about Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire, I was hooked.  She is exactly the type of historical figure I admire, and her story is very unconventional.  My favorite kind!

I finally saw the movie last week, and I have to say, even this small glimpse into the Duchess’ life was amazing.

As a young girl who seemed to have the world at her fingertips, I am sure marriage to a very prestigious Duke was the icing on the cake for Georgiana.  Poor girl could not have been more mistaken about how her life was to be.  Of course, in those times, a woman really couldn’t expect much from a marriage, as such things were arranged without much consideration for the bride in question.  But, as it turns out, the Duchess of Devonshire had more to contend with than most wives of her day.

Lack of common interests and a string of mistresses and miscarriages served to drive her and the Duke apart.   Georgiana is forced to raise her husband’s bastard daughter after the girl’s mother dies, which she handled with grace and dignity, always treating the child with kindness.  I am sure Georgiana must have been so disheartened at the state of her marriage, wanting to bear the Duke the son he so desperately needed and wanted.  The Duchess eventually succeeded in giving the Duke his desire, giving him two daughters and a son.

In the movie, you get a glimpse into how Georgiana reacted to the strains of marriage, how the unexpected heartbreaks, such as the miscarriages, and then eventually a betrayal by her best friend shape her and her ideals.  It could not have been easy to have one the thing near and dear to her, with the exception of her children, taken away by her husband.   Befriending Elizabeth Foster, helping her when she was in a desperate situation, and then being utterly betrayed by her had to be quite a crushing blow.  Even in modern times, that is pretty ruthless and just plain rotten behavior from a dear friend.

As if that weren’t bad enough, being forced to live in a menage-a-trois of sorts with her husband and Elizabeth.   Elizabeth lived with them as if she were also married to the Duke and I am convinced that this was both hurtful and humiliating for Georgiana.  But, like all historical female figures I admire, she rises above it and manages to make the best of the life handed to her.

She was a fashion icon of her time, she hosted “salons” with some of the most popular and intriguing writers, artists, poets, and figures of the “Whig” party.  She also loved to gamble and go to parties frequently, even though the Duke and her parents did not approve.

The most difficult part of the movie for me was when Georgiana confessed she was pregnant as a result of her affair with Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey.  Her husband, the Duke, forced her to give the child up to Charles’ family.  It was excruciating to watch as she hands the baby over to Charles’ father and the baby is crying and she is just completely torn up, watching the baby go.  I do not even want to imagine how that must have felt.  Being a mother myself, it tore at my heart.  Fortunately, at the end, we do find that the Duchess eventually has a secret relationship with her daughter, whom she names Eliza.  It’s a small comfort in the face of such sadness.

All in all, I felt the movie was done wonderfully, and tastefully.  The only complaint I have is that I felt things were glossed over fairly quickly, only concentrating on a small frame of time in the Duchess’ life.  It left me wondering about quite a few things.  I have decided to find a copy of Amanda Foreman’s “The Duchess” as soon as possible, so I can get a more detailed and in depth understanding of Georgiana.  I am very much looking forward to the read!

***All images found via Google Image search

Miss Lohan…..Marilyn you are NOT!!!!!!

I was horrified when I saw a post in one of my favorite Marilyn Fan Community blogs, “1962” found here:  http://community.livejournal.com/1962/.

Apparently, Lindsay Lohan is portraying Marilyn Monroe in some sort of comedy film……http://www.tmz.com/2010/07/30/lindsay-lohan-shamwow-sham-wow-vince-shlomi-offer-underground-movie/.

The pictures to go with the post are even more horrifying…….

No…. just… NO!!!!  I realize she may be doing some sort of parody, but this is not the first time Lindsay Lohan has done some sort of Marilyn imitation.  She tried to recreate one of Marilyn’s last photo shoots not so long ago and that was scary enough.  Why does the girl insist on torturing us????

There are a lot of actresses, models, etc, who have done Marilyn imitations and have done a fabulous job.  I CANNOT say the same of Lindsay Lohan.  Give it up, girl.  This isn’t even a “quit while you’re ahead,” it’s a “please put us out of our misery” type of thing.

***Images courtesy of TMZ  at http://www.tmz.com/

Love of Frida

Back in 2007, I was laid up in bed with complications from a surgery.  A really good friend brought me several movies to watch, to pass the time.  She highly recommended that I watch the movie, “Frida,” starring Salma Hayek first, telling me I would absolutely fall in love with Frida Kahlo.

It turns out that my friend was indeed correct.  I fell in love with Frida Kahlo.  I will be the first to admit that I know absolutely nothing about art….. but I do know what catches my eye, what moves me.  Frida’s art does that and more.

Honestly, it’s not completely all about her art.  It’s her character, her life, who she was that is also very magnetic to me.   I have always been intrigued by and and drawn to women throughout history who were strong, independent and unique.  Frida Kahlo is just such a woman.  She had a very turblent life, both physically and emotionally, and her art represents those times in her life.  Her work is mostly biographical.  When someone had once dubbed her a surrealist, she laughed almost derisively and said, “I never paint dreams or nightmares… I only paint my own reality.”

Frida Kahlo was married to the famed Mexican muralist, Diego Rivera (another artist I admire), and was an active member of the Communist Party.  She led a very full life for someone who died at the young age of 47, and there is speculation to this day as to whether her death was really a result of pulmonary emobolism.  Some had thought that perhaps she had found a way to commit suicide.   Her last words, found written in her diary were, “I hope the end is joyful, and I hope never to return.”

I was privileged enough to be able to view her work up close and personal when it was on display at the Walker Museum of Art in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  It was a very emotional experience for me.  It was as if her feelings at the time she painted each piece just reached right out to you.  You could even see marks in the canvas where her emotions got the best of her and she struck the canvas with something or had stabbed at it.  It was very remarkable to be so close to something she had created, something she had touched.  I will never forget it.  Here is a small picspam of some of my favorite paintings done by her.

If you would like to learn more about Frida Kahlo, there is a wonderful fan site dedicated to her here:  http://www.fridakahlofans.com/

****Images have all been found via random Google Image search

Eclipse *Warning: Spoilers in this post!*

Amidst all the 4th of July hoopla, I found time to go see the third installment of the Twilight Saga, Eclipse.  I am happy to report that the movie was as fun to watch as I was hoping it would be.  With most book-turned-into-a-movie kinds of series, I am usually disappointed, things tend to fall flat, especially as the series progresses.  Such is not the case with the Stephanie Meyer books.  In fact, it is my opinion that the movies are getting better each time!  I do feel that you can never fully capture the essence of a book when you turn it into a movie, as things get inevitably left out or glossed over, but I think they did a great job with Eclipse.

While I did read some rather harsh reviews of the movie, I personally enjoyed watching it.  I have read all four books and I read Eclipse in two days.  I literally just couldn’t put it down.  I was quite eager to see it come to life on the big screen, bad reviews or not.

The love triangle between Edward, Bella and Jacob was considerably more poignant than New Moon, and it stabs you in the heart to watch Jacob tell Bella he loves her and will love her until her “heart stops beating.”

There are some humorous moments, as Stephanie Meyer writes her characters with a sly twist of humor, and it’s fun to watch Edward and Jacob give eachother a hard time.  There is a part in the movie where Edward asks Bella if Jacob owns a shirt, because Taylor Lautner is shirtless in almost the entire movie.  I have to say, even though I certainly enjoy a shirtless Lautner, I wondered the very same thing, LOLOL!

There are, of course, the usual romantic moments between Edward and Bella, especially when Edward proposes, and it just makes me wish you could see a little more emotion on Kristen Stewart’s face as Bella.  At times she seems very “wooden”.  Robert Pattinson, on the other hand, is VERY wonderful at playing a tortured vampire, much to my delight.  He just had Edward down to a “t”.

I found my self almost cheering like an animated child whenever the wolves came onto the screen.  This is one thing I think they have done a very outstanding job with.  The way they created these wolves, you can see the personality of the character shining through in their eyes… the way you would envision it while reading the book.  I very much love Jacob in his wolf form… it had me wishing I had my own wolf friend, LOLOL!

The action scenes in the movie were pretty great too.  You get so swept up into all of it, and it’s all happening so fast, because the vampires are so quick… you find yourself almost holding your breath.  It’s fun!  I really enjoyed watching the vampires and the wolves working together as a team to get rid of the “newborns” that were terrorizing Seattle.

Speaking of the “newborns,” there are some new things you get to learn in this movie as well.  For instance, you learn how both Rosalie and Jasper became vampires.  You finally get a deeper glimpse into who they are, and how they came to the Cullen family.

Rosalie was viciously attacked and raped by a man she thought wanted to marry her…. Carlisle found her and changed her.  She eventually got revenge on the man who destroyed her dreams.  She explains to Bella that she would have liked a choice and that is why she cannot be in favor of Bella changing.  It’s nice to finally have some clarity as to Rosalie’s character.

Jasper was a Confederate soldier, who was changed by a vampire coven of three women.  He thought he had a loving relationship with the coven leader, Maria, only to find that she was merely using him to control other newborns and teach them how to fight for her.

Jasper, using his knowledge of newborn vampires,  helps the others to fight the newborns that have been accumulated and trained to look for Bella.  And Victoria, bad ass red headed vampire is behind it all.  Revenge, ladies and gentlemen.  Plain and simple.

Of course, the Volturi have a hand in whether or not to let the battle happen, and they choose to let it happen, I am thinking in hopes that the Cullens are destroyed.  They are a powerful family and Aro still wants Alice and Edward to join him.

We also get to learn more about Jacob’s tribe, the Quileutes.  His father tells the tale of how they came to change form into wolves, what they have learned of the “cold ones” and how it is passed down from generation to generation.  Bella gets to sit in on this “council” meeting, in hopes it will help her to better understand them.

Two new wolves join the pack… one is a girl, which I think is awesome!  Her name is Leah and she has a pretty big chip on her shoulder.  It’s quite clear that Jacob doesn’t like her.  Seth, her younger brother has also phased, as one of the youngest to ever phase, being only 15.  He is eager to learn and has a very large heart.  I immediately liked his character when I first read about him, and I liked him onscreen as well.

I loved the part of the movie where Bella, Jacob and Edward are camping in the woods together while waiting for the newborns to arrive.  Bella is freezing in the snow storm, and the only way to keep her warm is for her to cuddle close to Jacob.  As Bella sleeps, the two men have an earnest talk about who and what is best for Bella.  There are some humorous jibes, but mostly you feel sad for them both, as the knife can twist both ways.

The battle scene happens fast and furious and the Cullens quickly win with the help of the wolf pack.  The newborn vampires are clearly taken by surprise by the unexpected participation of the wolves and it’s soon over.  Edward battles with Victoria and a guy she had clearly been brainwashing into thinking she loved him so he would do her bidding.  He almost loses the fight, but Bella manages to distract the vampires with the scent of her blood.  Edward kills Victoria and all calms down for about a minute… until the Volturi show up.  And what timing, right?  Funny how they show up AFTER it’s all over, lol!  They make mention of the fact that Bella is still human and remind the Cullens that the Volturi do not give second chances.  They destroy the newborn, Bree, as they will not give her a second chance either.  The Cullens tried to save her, but to no avail.  The Volturi leave just as quietly as they appeared.

Jacob is hurt in the battle, having nearly been crushed, so Carlisle has to set to work resetting his bones.  Bella visits him and explains that she belongs with Edward and it is not going to change.  Jacob admits that he will always be there for her and love her… maybe even after her heart stops beating.  It’s sooooo sad!  I admit to tearing up during that scene.

Last scene in the meadow was so colorful and beautiful.  Edward and Bella talk about their future, about getting married.  The movie ends with Bella telling Edward that they have to go do something very dangerous…… tell Charlie their plans to marry.

All in all, I loved this movie and I can’t wait until it comes out on DVD so I can watch it over and over again!!!!!!  I am VERY much looking forward to seeing what they do with “Breaking Dawn”!!!!

***Images found via Google image search

Sex and the City 2…. Still fabulous? **Spoiler Alert!**

For avid Sex in the City fans, I have to sadly report that the long awaited sequel was a bit like “jumping the shark”.  Of course, in the true spirit of the series, it had the usual glamour, the gorgeous fashion (although some WAS a bit too much), the wonderful friendships between the four women, and it updated us on what married life is like for Carrie and “Big”.  Unfortunately, for those of us hoping for a plot we could sink our teeth into, this was not to be.

The beginning of the movie was actually a lot of fun, doing a sort of retro thing, Carrie takes us back to how and when she first met Charlotte, Miranda and Samantha.  It was quite hilarious, actually, and it really made you think the movie was off to a great start.

The movie kicks into high gear with an enormously over the top wedding for Stanford and Anthony.  It’s touching and humorous in parts, but mostly I found myself wincing and slinking down in my seat as Liza Minelli did a rendition of Beyonce’s “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)” as an after wedding performance.  It was pretty painful to watch her using the same moves as Beyonce does in her video.  I know Liza was great in her time, and she still has great legs, but in my opinion, it’s not the sort of thing I want to see her doing.

Carrie starts to realize that her married life has settled into a sort of hum-drum routine, with no “sparkle”, Miranda is feeling very taken for granted at her job, Charlotte is feeling the pressures of motherhood overwhelming her, and Samantha is struggling with aging and menopause, but not going down without a fight.

Other cameos besides Liza Minelli include Miley Cyrus, who shows up to Smith Jarrod’s premiere in the same glittering cocktail dress as Samantha, and Penelope Cruz plays a banker who flirts with and chats up “Big”.

As the girls decide to take the plunge and make their way to Abu Dhabi (first class all the way, of course), things come up, such as Charlotte worrying about Harry cheating on her with the nanny and Carrie pondering over “rules” for marriages and what is appropriate and what is not.

When they arrive in Abu Dhabi, you instantly start to get a sense of the movie just being plain overdone and everything starts to look like a fantasy Disney movie.  It’s all just way too much.

Miranda instantly becomes a motivated planner during their trip, and I have to say, it’s nice to see her smile so much and have such a zest for life again.  It’s a side to her that I really enjoyed watching.  Charlotte becomes obsessed with reaching Harry, to ensure he is not cheating with the nanny.  Samantha’s vitamins and hormonal supplements get confiscated which leads to low libido and hot flashes.  Carrie is still pondering how to be married and still have sparkle when she runs into ex-boyfriend Aidan at a marketplace.

Things quickly go south from there.  They REALLY could have done without the scene where the four women get up and sing “I Am Woman,” on karoake.  HORRID.  What’s worse, is that they actually overdubbed and smoothed out all the wrinkles in their voices to have this overproduced, cheesy sound.  NOT a good moment for the usually fabulous ladies.  They could have at the very least picked a better song.

One of my favorite parts in the movie, is an ironically touching moment where Charlotte and Miranda confide in eachother about the hardships of parenthood.  It’s really wonderful, as throughout the series, they had always been at odds with eachother, especially about that particular topic.  It’s heartwarming to see them coming together and bonding over it.

And then… it hits bottom.  Carrie and Aidan kiss and she completely freaks out, not knowing if she should tell Big and worrying that she will lose him if she does, Samantha gets arrested for inappropriate behavior (gee, couldn’t see that one coming!), and as a result of Samantha’s arrest, the Sheik drops his business with Samantha and they have to high tail it out of the hotel in a hurry!  Carrie decides to tell Big about her kiss with Aidan and he responds by cutting her off and not speaking to her.  After lots more cheesiness and a lot of crazy stunts (like Samantha losing it in the middle of the marketplace and flashing condoms at the conservative Muslims), the finally get on the plane to go home.  Whew!

Back in New York, Big is no where to be found.  Carrie sweats it out.  Meanwhile, Charlotte finds that she is happy to be home after her break, Miranda finds that she CAN be a lot of fun, and Samantha is only too happy to have her vitamins back!

Big finally returns…. it’s a very good part of the movie, so I won’t spoil it, but it helps to make up for the previous lack of meaning throughout the movie.

The movie ends the usual Carrie way, with her insight and showing some changes in the lives of the four women, but somehow you left the theater feeling like if they were going to go to the trouble of making a sequel they really should have done a hell of a lot more with the two and a half hours that they wasted telling us nothing we didn’t already know.

All in all, Sex in the City fans, I would wait until it comes out on DVD.  There are some great laughs, and some good moments, but it’s an unfortunate fact that we really could have done without this sequel.

Naomi Watts and Michelle Williams…Marilyn Material?

Being a fan of Marilyn Monroe since I was about 10 years old, I have to weigh in on the new movies portraying her.  My very honest first instincts?  Uneasy… skeptical…cynical… and defensive.  Marilyn has been portrayed several times in movies now, and I feel that most of them only barely touch on who she really was.  People only want to see the tragedies and the drama and believe the rumors and legends about her, they don’t want to know who the person inside actually was.  And, it’s sad.  Because she was very beautiful.  More so inside than out, and it’s extremely clear she was stunning on the outside.

The movie Naomi Watts is to star in is based on the book, “Blonde,” by Joyce Carol Oates, which happens to be ficitional.  While I understand it’s pure fiction, it still angers me a little to read it.  I feel it does an injustice to Marilyn.  But, I guess, people have a right to fictionalize whatever they want, right?  Maybe I am a bit biased with this particular movie to start with, but I also have my reservations about Naomi Watts as Marilyn.  I really just don’t see it.  Here is a promo pic… you be the judge.

Compare with the real Marilyn:

While it is known that wonders can be done with makeup to make a person look similar to someone else, will Naomi have what it takes to actually portray one of the most photographed women to ever live?  It’s not just looking like her, it’s a whole lot more.  There was no one like Marilyn and for fans like me, it’s hard to watch if it’s not quite right.

Michelle Williams is to star in a movie as Marilyn as well.  “My Week With Marilyn,” documents the time Marilyn spent in England while filming “The Prince and the Showgirl” with Laurence Olivier in 1957.  I am more interested in seeing this movie than in seeing “Blonde.”  Most likely, the reason is because it’s a more fact based movie, rather than the stereo-typical washed up sex symbol movie most people insist on doing about Marilyn.  I am not sure what to think of Michelle Williams portraying Marilyn yet…. here is a pic of Michelle Williams, and one of Marilyn.  You be the judge…. which one do you think will make a better Marilyn?

Compare with the real Marilyn:

I somehow can’t help but feel that Michelle Williams may be able to give Marilyn more depth than Naomi Watts.  Oh, and did anyone sort of think it’s strange that two women who had serious relationships with the late Heath Ledger are now starring in the same role, only different movies?  Strange coincidence, or are the publicists using this to have a field day and create buzz?  Again.. something to ponder….

When You’re Strange

For all you Doors fans out there, this one is NOT to be missed!  “When You’re Strange,” a documentary about The Doors is being broadcast tonight, on your local PBS station at 8pm CST.  It’s narrated by Johnny Depp, whom I also happen to be a huge fan of!  Could this get any better?  I am sure it’s been edited for TV and all that, but if you are one of thousands of fans out there who were bummed that this wasn’t playing in a theater ANYWHERE near you, this is total win!!!!

Here is what the director of the movie wrote:

“The story of The Doors is one of the most compelling in the history of American rock music; three hugely talented musicians and a lead singer whose commitment to artistic freedom was so intense he rocketed them to a success that always hovered on the edge of chaos. As an independent filmmaker this sensibility affected me greatly.”
– Tom DiCillo, director and writer, When You’re Strange

I think that says quite a bit, don’t you, ladies and gentlemen???

“The movie will begin in five moments
The mindless voice announced
All those unseated will await the next show.

We filed slowly, languidly into the hall
The auditorium was vast and silent
As we seated and were darkened, the voice continued.

The program for this evening is not new
You’ve seen this entertainment through and through
You’ve seen your birth your life and death
You might recall all of the rest
Did you have a good world when you died?
Enough to base a movie on?”

(Lyrics from The Movie by The Doors)

More lyrics: http://www.lyricsfreak.com/d/doors/#share

Here is a link for more info:

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/when-youre-strange-a-film-about-the-doors/about-the-film/1543/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=ad&utm_campaign=AmericanMastersWhenYou’reStrange

Sex and the City 2… can’t wait!!!

I just watched the trailer for “Sex and the City 2” and I have to say, I am super excited!!!!  Set to the music of Jay-Z’s “Empire State of Mind,” it instantly brings you to Manhattan with the girls, wondering how you waited so long for the sequel in the first place!!!  Check it out here!

http://www.sexandthecitymovie.com/

I have been a dedicated fan of the show since day one of it’s first season on HBO and I am amazed at how it just keeps getting better!!!!!  I am excited to see what marriage is like for Carrie and “Big” two years later…. to see how motherhood has changed Charlotte, to see what’s new with Miranda, and of course, I can’t wait to see Samantha’s new escapades!!!  ALWAYS entertaining!

I have to weigh in on the writers bringing Aidan back.  I am FREAKED out by this!  I really love the relationship they have written for Carrie and “Big” and I am only hoping that by bringing Aidan into the mix, it makes Carrie appreciate her relationship with “Big” all the more.  But, who knows?  Maybe they are setting us up for a third movie???

All I can say for certain is, “Bring it on!”  This new movie can’t come out soon enough for me!!!