I have to start this off by talking about the live television version that aired last week of one of my all time favorite movies, "The Sound of Music." Any female of around my age and older is in love with the 1965 Julie Andrews version movie and if they are not, they are aliens or just stupid. It is a classic childhood favorite that moves me every time I see it. Even though it is almost 50 years old, it never feels dated or irrelevant. Naturally, I was nervous that they were attempting a new version of this beloved classic for television but I tuned in and hoped for the best. Well, If you were one of the millions like me that watched, than you know what a piece of crap they turned it into. Ok maybe that is harsh but really what were they thinking by trying to put a country singer who has never acted a day in her life in such an iconic role? Maria Von Trapp is supposed to be flighty and awkward and headstrong - essentially a loveable mess hence the song, "How do you solve a problem like Maria?" but Carrie Underwood was so controlled and perfect looking and awkward in the worst way possible. When the nuns were singing about how she is a flibbity jibbit, a willowisp and a clown, I was so confused. Her acting was so atrocious that I had a hard time watching. And don't get me started on who they cast as Captain Von Trapp. Christopher Plummer was so dreamy and the chemistry between him and Julie Andrew was spot on. The actor in the new version just looked angry all the time and there was ZERO chemistry between him and Carrie Underwood. It was like watching siblings kiss. Ew! In the original version when the kids were singing, "Do a deer" running through the streets of Austria wearing curtains and dancing, it somehow never seemed corny but in this version they looked so goofy running through the set hamming it up. And "Lonely Goatherd" in the bed during the lightning storm? no, wrong. Its supposed to be, "My Favorite Things." Hello!? And the worst offense, the absolute worst? That they are bumping, "Its a Wonderful Life" this Saturday for a re-airing of this mess. Whoever works at NBC making these decision should be thrown out on the street. Call Security! The only movie more beloved than the "Sound of Music" is "Its a Wonderful Life." Thankfully I have it on DVD and I will be popping it in on Saturday night. I do have to mention the very few highlights the show did have: the kids were adorable, the mother superior was well superior (harhar) and Max and Elsa stole the show. Otherwise, there were so many things wrong, it would take me at least 2 more blog entries to address them. I think I have made my point here..now moving on.....
Because "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" is now in theaters, I just finished re-reading the book. I have to say that I am struck by how popular this series has become given the gruesome nature of the story. It got me thinking of why this is so. The first thing that comes to mind is the battle between good and evil. It is such a classic theme throughout literature and one that is timeless. I have myself written reviews here of many stories where this is the central theme. We all want to believe and hope that the good in us and in the world will ultimately triumph over the evil that is out there, somehow. In this particular story the good and evil sides are so clearly defined. What is more innocent than children and more evil than pitting them against each other to be killed? The line is clearly drawn. We know who to root for. Suzanne Collins also gives us a heroine that is easy to root for in Katniss (also helps that the movies cast the outstanding Jennifer Lawrence...boy do I love her!). She is young, tough, humble and just cool. Its also easy to love her love interests - both of them. Peeta is pure good and Gale is the tough masculine archetype who both have the need to protect Katniss. She is also selfless being the first volunteer to ever enter the games to ensure her sister stays safe. How can you not root for her to win? I think the biggest thing that struck me about reading it this time around was the dichotomy between the 12 districts and the Capitol. Here you have another classic theme: rich versus poor. The shiny, rich, all powerful Capital against the poor, struggling, oppressed districts. I think the reason this hit me more this time around is because I know work in a very wealthy neighborhood whereas my whole life I was on the other side, technically still on that side. I grew up poor, am still poor and have always worked with the poor. I've never worked with rich people until now and I'm noticing such a sharp difference in the way they live, they way they think even. The things that are important to them are so insignificant in the big scheme of things. When I worked in those middle schools in Boston the kids and parents were concerned about things like having heat in the winter or enough food to feed the whole family and here they throw outright fits if someone is on the bike they want for spin class. I kid you not, I witnessed what I can only call a tantrum between two grown women the other morning over the spinning bikes. They complain endlessly about the silliest things like the music in the locker room, the smell of the candle burning at the front desk, the channel the TV is tuned to. I find myself getting really angry at how trivial these people are. I want to shake them and say, "Life could be so much worse!!!" I have to catch myself because they honestly don't know any different. I can't fault them for never having to suffer the strains of poverty and some of them are great people with generous wallets and hearts but so many of them are insufferable to me. It makes me really appreciate having the perspective that I do. I know what is truly important in life and what truly matters. I might not always show it but I sure as hell know it. It is so sad to me that we still live in a world where there is such a huge divide between the wealthy and the poor. It makes me motivated to give back when I am able. When I get frustrated, I have to think of them as my ticket out of being poor myself. These rich people are paying my bills and when I am one of them, I will have the means to help the people who really need me. So many of these people don't really need a trainer - its a luxury they can afford. I want to work with the people who need to get healthy and fit to save their life but who can't afford the cost. I will get there someday but in the meantime I need to put up with the endless locker room chatter about trips to Greece and Rome for the holiday and how the whirlpool temperature is one degree off. Ugh. God give me patience.
Because "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" is now in theaters, I just finished re-reading the book. I have to say that I am struck by how popular this series has become given the gruesome nature of the story. It got me thinking of why this is so. The first thing that comes to mind is the battle between good and evil. It is such a classic theme throughout literature and one that is timeless. I have myself written reviews here of many stories where this is the central theme. We all want to believe and hope that the good in us and in the world will ultimately triumph over the evil that is out there, somehow. In this particular story the good and evil sides are so clearly defined. What is more innocent than children and more evil than pitting them against each other to be killed? The line is clearly drawn. We know who to root for. Suzanne Collins also gives us a heroine that is easy to root for in Katniss (also helps that the movies cast the outstanding Jennifer Lawrence...boy do I love her!). She is young, tough, humble and just cool. Its also easy to love her love interests - both of them. Peeta is pure good and Gale is the tough masculine archetype who both have the need to protect Katniss. She is also selfless being the first volunteer to ever enter the games to ensure her sister stays safe. How can you not root for her to win? I think the biggest thing that struck me about reading it this time around was the dichotomy between the 12 districts and the Capitol. Here you have another classic theme: rich versus poor. The shiny, rich, all powerful Capital against the poor, struggling, oppressed districts. I think the reason this hit me more this time around is because I know work in a very wealthy neighborhood whereas my whole life I was on the other side, technically still on that side. I grew up poor, am still poor and have always worked with the poor. I've never worked with rich people until now and I'm noticing such a sharp difference in the way they live, they way they think even. The things that are important to them are so insignificant in the big scheme of things. When I worked in those middle schools in Boston the kids and parents were concerned about things like having heat in the winter or enough food to feed the whole family and here they throw outright fits if someone is on the bike they want for spin class. I kid you not, I witnessed what I can only call a tantrum between two grown women the other morning over the spinning bikes. They complain endlessly about the silliest things like the music in the locker room, the smell of the candle burning at the front desk, the channel the TV is tuned to. I find myself getting really angry at how trivial these people are. I want to shake them and say, "Life could be so much worse!!!" I have to catch myself because they honestly don't know any different. I can't fault them for never having to suffer the strains of poverty and some of them are great people with generous wallets and hearts but so many of them are insufferable to me. It makes me really appreciate having the perspective that I do. I know what is truly important in life and what truly matters. I might not always show it but I sure as hell know it. It is so sad to me that we still live in a world where there is such a huge divide between the wealthy and the poor. It makes me motivated to give back when I am able. When I get frustrated, I have to think of them as my ticket out of being poor myself. These rich people are paying my bills and when I am one of them, I will have the means to help the people who really need me. So many of these people don't really need a trainer - its a luxury they can afford. I want to work with the people who need to get healthy and fit to save their life but who can't afford the cost. I will get there someday but in the meantime I need to put up with the endless locker room chatter about trips to Greece and Rome for the holiday and how the whirlpool temperature is one degree off. Ugh. God give me patience.
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