S. Darko, Directed By: Chris Fisher

• Director: Chris Fisher
  
• Writers: Nathan Atkins, Richard Kelly
• Producers: Adam Fields, Ash R. Shah, Jennifer Lane Connolly, Jim Busfield, Kent Beyda
• Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD-Video, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English
• Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Studio: 20th Century Fox
• DVD Release Date: May 12, 2009
• Run Time: 103 minutes
• ASIN: B001RP975G
  
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• Reader's Annotation: S. Darko follows the Youngest Darko sister 7 years after her brother Donnie Darko meets his fate in the original Richard Kelly masterpiece film. Samantha Darko & her wild best friend flee the mess left behind only to find their own bizarre Darko-esque reality.

Courtney's Opinion: I am going to try to be kind here. Oh, who am I kidding. No, I am not. Here's the deal. Girls: Yes, Jackson Rathbone a.k.a. Jasper "Twilight" Cullen and Ed Westwick a.k.a. Charles Bartholomew "Chuck" Bass of Gossip Girl are in this film. Breathe. Release. Guys: Yes, Daveigh Chase (apparently the Gyllenhaal are capable of morphing into child model hotness) & Elizabeth Berkley of Showgirls and Saved by the Bell (Well, some of us remember this one...) are indeed in this film. So, what do you get when you combine a Vampire who can crack a ball like a god, an upper east side brat you love to hate, a mother-i'd-like-to-hug stripper, & model girl-child? Um, nothing. No nothing is a compliment. It's in the negative. And here is why.We've seen these guys and gals doing fine work here and there. We even LOVE some of them. And we all loved Donnie Darko (for me, it's one of my favorite films of all time). Sadly, something happened to all of the above and it goes by the name of Chris Fisher. (I Don't wanna leave out the writer, Nathan Atkins for writing such stunning, dialogue as: Corey: Only two more good mornings. Sam: Only one more day. Corey: We're so perfect. Sam: Immaculate. Yea...well, you get the idea...) So here's the thing. If you haven't seen Donnie Darko, please do. And if I were you I would see it in place of this. But, if you must get your Rathbone-Daveigh-Westwick-Berkley fix so be it. But don't say I didn't warn you. This is by far the worst film. Ever. I think I brushed my teeth 8 times just to kill the time until it was over. 

Stars: 1 (And only for two reasons. 25% goes to Rathbone for being pretty, 25% goes to Westwick for rolling cigarettes in his sleeve and keeping a straight face, 25% goes to the zexy guy i watched it with just for being hot and distracting me from the atrocity in front of me (yea, j...your quarter surely spillz into another star; but alas, i just couldn't give it to the film), and the last 25% goes to the sheer laughs we got from watching it. Minus 4 stars for sullying the perfection of Donnie Darko-Which I refuse to acknowledge ever happened as I plan to travel back in time to retrieve every minute I wasted watching this thus making things as they should be. 

Notes: This movie is rated R. Parental supervision is strongly suggested. Artistically inclined parents & their multi-talented children may want to consider discussing artistic integrity and other issues with their children after or before viewing this film. Or throughout the entire film as a means of drowning out the dialogue. 

An R-rated motion picture, in the view of the Rating Board, contains some adult material. An R-rated motion picture may include adult themes, adult activity, hard language, intense or persistent violence, sexually-oriented nudity, drug abuse or other elements, so that parents are counseled to take this rating very seriously. Children under 17 are not allowed to attend R-rated motion pictures unaccompanied by a parent or adult guardian. Parents are strongly urged to find out more about R-rated motion pictures in determining their suitability for their children. Generally, it is not appropriate for parents to bring their young children with them to R-rated motion pictures.

Richard Kelly (and the original team) did NOT endorse or work on this film at all. In fact Kelly publicly denounced S. Darko.

Donnie Darko Link: http://www.donniedarkofilm.com/

Donnie Darko imdb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0246578/

Donnie Darko Trailer:

 

Official S. Darko Link: http://www.sdarko.com/ 

I have to say, the website and trailer far surpass the film itself.

S. Darko imdb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1231277/

Official S. Darko trailer:

 

Rotten Tomatoes: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1209496/

Just Because I feel so bad for them, here are some incarnations of a better them: Daveigh Cook in Big Love, Jackson Rathbone in Twilight, Ed Westwick in Gossip Girl, & of course: Elizabeth Berkeley in Saved by the Bell.

Generation Dead, By Daniel Waters

By: Daniel Waters

Publisher: Hyperion Book CH

Publish Date: May 6, 2008

ISBN: 142310921X

Page #: 400 pages

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Fantasy, Horror, Romance, Racism

Age Level: Older Teen

Series Titles: 

Generation Dead (Book 1)

Kiss of Life (Book 2) (Release Date of Sequel: May 12, 2009)

Subjects: Living Impaired, Zombies, Romance, Comedy, Fantasy

Reader's Annotation: Nobody is sure why dead teens are coming back, but scientists guess it may have something to do with a cross between raging teen hormones and too much preservatives from fast food. One thing is for sure, nothing will be the same for the living impaired Tommy, still living Pheobe, and the high school football team: ever heard of dead weight?

Synopsis: In a literary world taken over by Twilight* and the undead, maybe it's time for a love interest who has one dead, dragging leg behind him instead of superhuman speed & strength. Perhaps the living impaired Tommy can become your anti-Edward. Pheobe, Generation Dead's main goth girl (who practices the irony of dressing up dead amongst dead people) has her eyes set on the wrong guy: Tommy. Tommy is a zombie. Excuse me, the politically correct term would be living impaired. I apologize for my insensitivity to the undead community. I did not mean any harm. At any rate, Pheobe has never been part of the "in" crowd, but Tommy's crowd is outside even the outside crowds. In fact, Oakvale High is aghast with disgust over Pheobe falling for the dead kid that heads the crowd that no one wants to talks to. The living impaired are ignored in every way possible in this school. Zombies are treated more like segregation in the south then kids who just don't fit in. But, Pheobe crosses the line that the other kids won't dare cross; And what happens when her living best-friend gets left in the dust? I couldn't help falling for her and her infatuation with the zombie Tommy. This is not a book to be missed. Generation dead is funny, witty, romatic, and resplite with gooey dead people! Just don't call 'em Zombies! 

*By the way, I enjoyed Twilight, but sometimes too much of a good thing can be a bit zombifying.

Notes: A great book to read for the zombie fan but also a fresh take on segregation.

Stars: 5 

Extras: Author Blog http://danielwaters.com/

Tommy's Undead Experiences Blog http://mysocalledundeath.blogspot.com/

Zombie rights march on Boing Boing http://www.boingboing.net/2006/09/27/zombie-rights-march-.html

Brown v. Board of Education on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_v._Board_of_Education

Juno, By Jason Reitman, Written By Diablo Cody

Directed By: Jason Reitman

Original Screenplay By: Diablo Cody
Company: Fox Searchlight
Publish Date: 2007

Length: 96 minutes
Classification: Non-Fiction
Genre: Dark Comedy
Age Level: PG-13 Older Teen
Series Title: n/a
Subjects: Teen Pregnancy, Growing Up, Adoption

Tag Line: "A comedy about growing up... and the bumps along the way."

Annotation: A smart and quirky young girl has an awkward sexual moment that turns into an awkward nine months.

Synopsis: I am sure that a semi-large group of people may have missed the subtle reference to Goddess Juno (who reigned over fertility), but that wouldn't have gotten by Juno. Juno is a clever, teen girl who has a sexual experience with a geeky boy who likes to run a lot. Although a truly likable character, Juno doesn't consider him to be her boyfriend, and even if she did the world that Juno lives is doesn't want a baby. She considers abortion but ends up finding a seemingly perfect couple who can't have children to adopt her baby. Over the next nine months the baby within her isn't the only things the grows and transform. Juno begins to see her life differently, the boy with the sperm differently, and even the perfect family she chose to adopt her child. This is not only a comedy about teen pregnancy, but a comedy that explores growing up, family, and harsh realities. Juno does all this with a laugh through its witty writing and genuinely enchanting cast. 

Notes: Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material, sexual content and language.

It has been received with mixed reviews from the conservative side due to it's laissez faire attitude about sex and teen pregnancy, but at the same time it explores options other abortion. 

Without an R rating, it is acceptable for older teens to watch, and may even spark some healthy dialogue about pregnancy, sex, and family.

Stars: 5

Awards: 1 Oscar Win, Diablo Cody, for Best Original Screenplay

Extras: Movie Site http://www.foxsearchlight.com/juno/

Trailer: 

Stardust, By Neil Gaiman

By: Neil Gaiman

Publisher: Harper Perennial

Publish Date: June 19, 2001

ISBN: 0060934719

Page #: 272 

Classification: Fiction
Genre: Fantasy
Age Level: Older Teen
Series Title: n/a
Subjects: Romance, Good Vs. Evil, Fairyland, Magic, Comedy, Pirates, Fallen Stars

Reader's Annotation: In the town of Wall, nobody goes beyond the wall. But when Tristan sneaks through he finds out his heritage is something out of Fairyland. In this romantic adventure you'll meet Falling Stars, Flying Pirates, King & Princes, & the most evil queen in Fairyland!

Synopsis: Written in a style reminiscent of the greatest Fairytales ever told, Stardust tells the story of Tristan Thorn. In Tristan's town of Wall, there is a Wall that separates the town from the forbidden "other" side. Tristan's mother comes from the other side of that wall, although Tristan is unaware of his heritage. After falling in love with the prettiest girl in Wall, Tristan sets out to bring her a fallen star in exchange for her hand. Sneaking beyond the wall, Tristan's whole world is changed as he sets out on the most romantic, magical, journey of his life. Although by the time he finds his fallen star, his heart may betray him for another.

Not your average Fairytale, the master storyteller Neil Gaiman writes what is one of my favorite books of all time. A comedy, a love story, and an Adventure, both boys and girls can get on board. 

Notes: 

Stardust was made into a film in 2007 starring Claire Danes, Charlie Cox, Sienna Miller, Ricky Gervais, Jason Flemyng, Peter O’Toole, Michelle Pfeiffer and Robert De Niro! Though everyone always says don't see it before reading the book, I am going to say it with even more fervor here.

Stars: 5

Extras: Neil Gaiman's Teen Page for Stardust  http://www.neilgaiman.com/works/Books/Stardust/ed/118/

IMDB  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0486655/

MOVIE OFFICIAL http://www.stardustmovie.com/index2.html

17 Again, Zac Efron

Directed By: Burr Steers

Actors: Zac Efron, Matthew Perry, Leslie Mann, Thomas Lennon, Michelle Trachtenberg, Sterling Knight, Melora Hardin
Producer: Adam Shankman, Jennifer Gibgot
Cinema: New Line Cinema's Offspring Productions
Release Date: April 17th, 2009

Classification: Comedy
Genre: Comedy/Romance a.k.a. RomCom
Age Level: Teen
Series Title: n/a
Subjects: High School, Romance, Teens, Fantasy, Marriage, Sci-Fi Geeks

Tag Line: What would you do if you got a second shot at life? 

Synopsis: A graduate from high school in the 1980's, Mike O'Donnell was the star on the high school basketball team with a college scout in the  bleachers and a successful future ahead of him. But instead, he give up his dreams to support his pregnant teen girlfriend Scarlet (Scar for short). Almost two decades later, Mike's carefree high schools days, where he was on top of the world, are behind him. His marriage to Scar has ended, he lost his promotion at work, his teenage kids aren't so keen on him, and he has been leveled down to living with his nerdy high school best friend (who is now a techno-made zillionaire) Ned.

But Mike is given another go at it when he is magically transformed back to the age of 17. While at first he things he's being given a chance to choose a better path, he soon realizes he's been sent back to his younger body for a completely different reason. 

Though not a huge Efron fan, this film changed my mind. Expecting to see a "Big" knockoff and not so great writing, the film itself proved to be hysterical, mostly due to Thomas Lennon and his hilarious ways. He makes me laugh on Reno 911 and the role of Sci-Fi geek saves this film from the impending doom of the same old stupid movie that makes money just because Efron is über hot, which he is.

Notes: A good film for teens and parents can enjoy it as well! 

Stars: 4

Extras: http://17againmovie.com/

Trailer:


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Pride & Prejudice & Zombies: The Movie?

NEWS ABOUT BOOKS

(NOTE: THIS IS NOT A BOOK REVIEW)

P&P&Z THE MOVIE?

As if I wasn't already beside myself excited about the novel which will release in April, I hear now the book of our dreams is going to be the film of our dreams. Thanks to Megan for the Book tip and to Vlad for the film tip.

Article Source

"Jane Austen is rolling around, decayed and foul, in her grave. I am sure by now you have heard about the novel Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, which Seth Grahame-Green has 'tweaked' from the original Pride and Prejudice romance novel by interspersing scenes of terse, reserved protestations of love and propriety with zombie carnage. Genius, you say? Yes. Total genius. But now, studios are in a bidding war over who gets to make this into a movie. Now that Jane Austin is public domain, her work is up for grabs (hear that, people?) and studio execs with no original thoughts can mush her work into anything they think will make money. What's next for studios, Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights where Catherine returns as a Japanese ghost to haunt and terrorise Heathcliff? Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre where Mr Rochester keeps something worse than his wife in the attic? George Eliot’s The Mill on the Floss with human sacrifice?
Er, you better read on...
“It quickly became obvious that Jane [Austen] had laid down the blueprint for a zombie novel,” said Pride and Prejudice and Zombies author and comedic genius Grahame-Smith to The UK's Sunday Times. “Why else in the original should a regiment arrive on Lizzie Bennet’s doorstep when they should have been off fighting Napoleon? It was to protect the family from an invasion of brain-eaters, obviously.”
Zombie slayers, kung fu, and Fitzwilliam Darcy as a ninja, cannibal hordes from London sweeping the moors putting a damper on croquet games and garden teas - it just doesn't get better than that."

Living Impaired. Again.

What I am waiting for:

Generation Dead: Kiss of Life

Release Date May 12, 2009



Pre-Review via Amazon

The Kiss of Life.

The phenomenon that's been sweeping the country seems to be here to stay. Not only are the teenagers who have come back from their graves still here, but newlydeads are being unearthed all the time. While scientists look for answers and politicians take their stands, the undead population of Oakville have banded together in a group they're calling the Sons of Romero, hoping to find solidarity in segregation.

Phoebe Kendall may be alive, but she feels just as lost and alone as her dead friends. Just when she reconciled herself to having feelings for a zombie -- her Homecoming date Tommy Williams -- her friend Adam is murdered taking a bullet that was meant for her. Things get even more confusing when Adam comes back from the grave. Now she has romantic interest in two dead boys; one who saved her life, and one she can't seem to live without.

Bloodsucking Fiends: A Love Story, By Christopher Moore

(Adult Book ONLY...Unless your parents say it's ok!) 

Bloodsucking Fiends 

By: Christopher Moore

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster 
• Publishing Date: March 2008
• Age Level: Adult
• ISBN: 1416558497

Series Titles: Bloodsucking Fiends: A Love Story

You Suck! A Love Story

Reader's Annotation: LOVE BITES! No seriously, it really does bite. 

Synopsis: Attention! I am about to review a title that is one of my favorite romps of all time. It's funny as hell, and no it's not YA, but if you can stomach a little crass, tongue in cheek, dig in! This the red velvet cake of vampire satires.

Jody, is in her mid 20's with a series of bad relationships under her belt when she hit's satan's lottery and is turned into a newborn gorgeous vampire. The vamp who made her leaves a fat bundle of cash with her and with that she sets off into her new life. Or un-life in this case. But she needs someone who can do her bidding in the daylight. Enter C. Thomas Flood. No, you are not reading it wrong. It's hysterical. And as accurate a literary name as you could get for this young boy who left Incontinence, Indiana to come to San Francisco to be the next Jack Kerouac (personally, with a name like that he might one to stick to dollar a page erotica, but at any rate...) While working a night job at a supermarket, Jody vamps her way into his life, and turns it upside down and inside out.

From turkey bowling in the supermarket, to raunchy un-dead love-making; From failed date-o-holic to rockin' hot vamp, Bloodsucking Fiends is a ride that will have you flying through the pages at a preternatural pace!

Notes & Warning: Terribly lewd & Hysterically bad launguage ensues; References to drugs and the drinking of blood follows; Undead & living, outright sexual gambols prickle their way through the book. SO don't say I didn't warn you...

Now, if you can handle THAT, which I believe you can (because you are smart enough to read into the implications of Moore's insanely funny, bizarre, & sometimes freaky style), then you will be in for a big treat. Bloodsucking Fiends is and always will be one of my favorite books ever.


Extras: 

Quote from Bloodsucking Fiends

"This is horrible."

"What is it?" Tommy insisted.

"I just realized-I'm always going to be a pudgette. I have jeans I'll never get into. I am always going to need to loose five pounds."

"So what, every woman I've ever known thought she needed to loose five pounds."

"But they have a chance, they have hope. I'm doomed."

"You could go on a liquid diet," Tommy said.

"Very funny." She pinched her hip to confirm her observations. "Five pounds. If only he'd waited another week to attack. I was on a yogurt and grapefruit diet. I would have made it. I'd be thin forever." She realized she was obsessing and turned to Tommy. "How's your neck by the way?"

READ BLOODSUCKING FIENDS ON GOOGLE BOOKS FOR FREE HERE! 

"Read the Good Trash" January 2009-December 2009

Yup, you heard right.



Sick of the same old bad writing? Try some old bad writing! Full of angst, filth, and wonderfully sinister ways...V.C.Andrews is the queen!

"READ THE GOOD TRASH MOVEMENT" January 2009-December 2009
(Ahem...That's a long time people...Cough it out. You can do it.)

I just have to give a nod to Reviewer X. In my ravenous youth of which I never truly departed, a superbly trashy group of books entered my life. First Flowers in the Attic, then...Dawn, by V.C. Andrews. Ah the memories of the Logan Family Woes. So alas, I will put my weight behind what I find to be the best trash ANYWHERE. If you are gonna read crap. This is the best crap you can find.

AS Reviewer X put it, "Their are two kinds of trash in the world. The GOOD and the BAD."

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