Aquamarine (2006)

Directed by Elizabeth Allen (1)

Cast: Emma Roberts (2), JoJo (3), Sara Paxton (4), Jake McDorman (5), Arielle Kebbel (6), and Dichen Lachman (7)

(Watch the trailer)

My favourite quotes - "Why go through life unnoticed?", "I don't think they would have wanted you to be afraid of life, I think they'd want you to be friends with it.", "Who needs Raymond? I found 2 new men to love, their names are Ben and Jerry. Raymond... Who needs Raymond?", & "I've been to lots of places. But I've learned it's not where you are, it's who you're with."

Did You Know? - Aquamarine is based on a novel of the same name written by Alice Hoffman. Alice Hoffman has also written the novel the film Practical Magic was based on and wrote the screenplay of Independence Day. JoJo is a singer who's real name is Joanna Levesque. Sara Paxton would go on to do another fairytale inspired film the year after Aquamarine was released titled Sydney White.

Blink & Miss It - Dichen Lachman has a blink and miss it part in Aquamarine as one of Arielle Kebbel's sidekick. 

Disney's The Little Mermaid is by far my favourite Disney fairy tale growing up. There's just something about Ariel's lust for life and ardent belief in true love that I adore. Perhaps growing up watching all those happily ever after Disney fairy tales is why I have an overly idealistic view on love and romance. 

While Aquamarine is not the first feature film adaptation of The Little Mermaid fairy tale by Hans Christian Anderson (See the post The Fairytale Reboot: Tales Come Alive), it is definitely the most updated version of the tale. And it does a good job of keeping with the times. The original Danish fairytale was given a bonafide Hollywood-teenage-film makeover and the result is Aquamarine.

Aquamarine: I have to find love. We don't have it where I'm from. And if I can't find it in 3 days I'm sunk.
Claire: You don't have love?
Aquamarine: No. My dad says its just a myth. We marry who our parents pick. And my dad thinks I have bubbles in my brain because I believe in love. He says that the only way I can get out my wedding is if I can prove to him that love exists. But that means I only get 3 days. Or else I'll be swimming down the aisle with that... that blowfish. 
Hailey: But if you don't have love, how do you know it exists? 
Aquamarine: I saw it once. And I want it. With him.
Hailey: Raymond?
Claire: Raymond!
Aquamarine: Raymond...

Besides being set in modern times, Aquamarine also takes a more down to earth approach to the idea of love.

Aquamarine: You know what I think of love? Love stinks. No wonder we don't have it back home.
Hailey: Please don't give up yet.
Aquamarine: Why because of your wish?
Hailey: Let me tell you something. My dad said he loved me. He said he loved my mother and then he left us. He left us for some other woman. But I guess that's just the way it is. And love doesn't always work.
Aquamarine: I don't understand.
Hailey: That's life. That's how it is here. But when you find love I guess it's really beautiful, or at least that's what I read in magazines, and I don't know as much about it as I say I do but I know that there's a reason why everybody wants it so much.
Aquamarine: And what's that?
Hailey: It's the closest thing we have to magic. Don't give up yet. 
Aquamarine: Oh my God. What's happening to me? I'm leaking!
Hailey: Aqua, you're crying.
Aquamarine: I'm leaking saltwater. I'm falling apart.
Hailey: No they're tears. You body makes them when you cry. I guess you wouldn't have them living under water. 

But I like that while they recognise that "love doesn't always work", it's still something you should fight for and keep hoping for because "it's the closest thing we have to magic". I like that exchange between JoJo's Hailey Rogers and Aquamarine. Through Aquamarine, we are taught about the true nature of love and how love isn't always enough but still something worth having.  

Aquamarine: Raymond, do you love me?
Raymond: Well, I mean, we've had 1 date. But don't get me wrong. I like you, I really really like you. I think you're smart and beautiful and different than anyone I've ever met before. And I'd like to see a lot more of you.
Aquamarine: But you don't love me.
Raymond: Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Wait, wait, wait. Hey, are you crying?
Aquamarine: Yes. Apparently it's something I do.
Raymond: I don't understand. I mean why do I have to be in love with you today? Why can't we just work our way there?

I think the words 'I love you' are too carelessly used these days. People say it without truly understanding what the phrase is actually meant to convey. That is why I like that Aquamarine has tried to be more realistic in terms of the whole 'love at first sight' thing. The way Sara Paxton's Aquamarine goes from a giggly love crazed mermaid to become a mature mermaid with a good head on her shoulders sits better with me. There's enough fantasy to swallow in having a mermaid turn up in real life, it would be hard to believe she is able to get her Prince Charming to fall in love with her in 3 days! And say 'I love you' as well. 

I mean "love is just love" (See post on the film The Wedding Planner). Relationships require a lot of work. And if you just rely on the feelings of love, well sometimes, love just ain't enough.

But love comes in many forms. Love between friends, and of course love between family members. While our family members more often than not will drive us up the wall, at the end of the day, your family loves you. 

Penelope (2006)

Directed by Mark Palansky

Cast: Christina Ricci (1), James McAvoy (2), Catherine O'Hara (3), Peter Dinklage (4), Reese Witherspoon (5), Russell Brand (6), and Simon Woods (7)

(Watch the trailer)

My favourite quotes - "I like myself the way I am.", "But I had my own changes to cope with. And while I miss the face that had caused so much trouble, the world had moved on. And I was determined to find my own way, and determined to always follow my own heart, and my conscience.", and "It's not the power of the curse, it's the power you give the curse."


I ushered in the New Year in Athens with the view of the Acropolis from the comforts of my home away from home there. And throughout my holiday in Greece I did a lot of walking, especially on New Year's Eve. That gave me time to do a lot of reflection about 2012 and what I want for 2013. And for some reason, the scene from Penelope when she yells "I like myself the way I am" kept flashing in my mind. Do I like myself the way I am? 

My answer was no. 

I'm on a holiday with a friend I've known since I was 18. He and I spent Christmas and New Year together in Greece. (Yes, we are JUST FRIENDS) And he told me that I haven't changed much, and that he agreed with the assessment of 2 of our mutual friends, that I don't finish what I start, or that what I say I want to do or want to achieve, I never do or take steps to achieve them. We also talked about what perception do we want others to have of ourselves and what kind of person we want to be or work towards being. 

I think I have changed quite a bit. But hey, everyone's entitled to their opinion right. And if that is the perception people have of me, then no, I do not like myself the way I appear to be to others. And in all honesty, I don't like myself the way I am. Well, not entirely. Appearance wise, I would like to go back to being at a healthy weight and size. I want to be more presentable and when I look at the mirror, I want to be able to feel good about how I look. And I'd like people to perceive me as an intelligent, determined and sensible person, not ditzy, clumsy, and unworldly. 

So seeing as this is the first day of 2013, I am going to aim for the following...

1) I am going to live a healthier lifestyle so that I can attain a healthy weight and size.
2) I am going to read at least 1 book a month.
3) I am going to write at least 10 entries a month in this blog or write 120 entries in 2013.
4) I am going to start saving up for retirement.
5) I am going to "like myself the way I am" by 2014.

Yes, I got this all from the quote "I like myself the way I am". 

Now about the film Penelope, this is a film that I really love A LOT! Firstly, I love fairytales and the fact that the film has a magical and fairytale feel to it makes it a winner in my book. The story is about a girl named Penelope, who was born with a pig's nose and the only way to break the curse is if "one of (their) own kind claims this daughter as their own till death do they part". Now obviously there's a lot to learn from such a premise already. It's a film about seeing past the outside and loving a person for who he or she is. And this is evident in one of the early scenes in the film when Edward who has just seen Penelope's face runs off to the police to report her. 

Edward: Are you going to arrest her or not?
Policeman: On what grounds? Ugly blind date? If being ugly were a crime I'd have to arrest half the people in the city. 

It's sad isn't it, that some people cannot see past what's outside. However, we shouldn't forget the importance of looking presentable and I realise that how a person dresses and carries himself or herself is important especially since everyone is trying to get me to dress better. I know that while its more important to be a beautiful person on the inside, it doesn't hurt to take care of how you look on the outside because your outside is still a reflection of what kind of person you are on the inside. 

Penelope: Are you a fan of George Rockham?
Max: Who?
Penelope: The book you've got in your jacket.
Max: Right. You caught that huh? Well, yeah. Yeah, it's a great book.
Penelope: So you've read it.
Max: Well yeah.
Penelope: Funny I thought that was the only surviving copy.
Max: Well, you know what, I meant to read it, but the library wasn't always out and er... I saw it was a first edition and I figured it might be worth something.
Penelope: So you were stealing it?
Max: Yeah. I was stealing it.
Penelope: So you're a fan of the money.
Max: I'm a big fan of the money. Although it doesn't much care for me.
Penelope: Well maybe you and the money weren't meant to be...
Max: Hey I wouldn't go that far. Jinx me.
Penelope: There are 326 first editions in that room, of those, 300 are worth over 50 thousand, a dozen or so are worth over 25 thousand and I'm afraid there's only one that's valued under a 100. 
Max: Only one huh?
Penelope: A little novel, written by a little nobody, that never amounted to anything.
Max: You don't say... under a 100...
Penelope: I'm afraid so. And I'm afraid that means that it's time for...
Max: But your favourite just the same.
Penelope: What?
Max: I said your favourite just the same.
Penelope: I heard you... I...

Franklin: Sweetheart, what's wrong?
Penelope: I thought he just knew but it says it right here.
Franklin: Still he chose it. The 2000 books that aren't your favourite, he chose the one that is...

Now this whole exchange brings to mind the fact that some things are maybe meant to be. I don't know about you, but I am a believer of 'things always happen for a reason' and 'if it's meant to be, it's meant to be'. Call me a hopeless romantic, I don't care. So what if I am. This is who I am. But I mean, out of so many books, he picks the book that is worth so little in the monetary sense but worth so much in the eyes of the girl he ends up with. If that's not a sign, what is? (Another film that talks about signs can be found in another film that I really like titled He's Just Not That Into You.)

Because I Said So (2006)

Director: Michael Lehmann (1)

Cast: Diane Keaton (2), Mandy Moore (3), Lauren Graham (4), Piper Perabo (5), Stephen Collins (6), Tom Everett Scott (7), Gabriel Macht (8), 

(Watch the trailer)

My favourite quote - "I just want you to understand something about motherhood okay. I mean, it's the most impossible love. You tell me when it ends. You tell me when it stops. All I know is, it's absolutely fine for me to teach you how to walk and talk, and then you grow up and you head off in the wrong direction toward a cliff. And I'm supposed to just stand there and wave and go, "Well, kids, good luck. It's Mom. I'm here. " Well, I can't do that. What am I supposed to do, huh? Am I supposed to just put my feet up at the end of the day and say to myself, "Well, you know, they're on their own and she says she's fine. " Well, you won't be." 

Mama by Spice Girls 
(Video linked from Youtube)

She used to be my only enemy and never let me be free

Catching me in places that I knew I shouldn't be

Every other day I crossed the line

I didn't mean to be so bad

I never thought you would

Become the friend I never had

Back then I didn't know why

Why you were misunderstood

So now I see through your eyes

All that you did was love

Mama I love you, Mama I care

Mama I love you, Mama my friend

You're my friend

I didn't want to hear it then but

I'm not ashamed to say it now

Every little thing you said and did was right for me

I had a lot of time to think about

About the way I used to be

Never had a sense of my responsibility

Back then I didn't know why

Why you were misunderstood

So now I see through your eyes

All that you did was love

Mothers know best. Do they really? It's the time of the year when working adults get their "report cards" regarding how they've fared at work in the past year. The reward/results come in the form of bonuses and pay increments. I fared very badly. And I cried as the reality of the results sunk in. I cried because this thought came into my mind - "What do I tell my mother?" 

Let me explain. In recent months, my mother has been first hinting, and now blatantly telling me I should get a new job. A better paying job. A 9 to 5 job that pays better. She's been encouraging me to apply for a "creative position" at Google without really knowing if what this "creative position" her friend has been talking to her about entails. And just recently, while watching the Zombieland blu ray together she dropped a "so are you going to start applying for jobs" line just before the opening titles rolled out when the huge chunk of words under the heading "WARNING" appeared. Suddenly I wasn't sure if the "WARNING" sign was a huge hint about my mother's "nudging" or a warning against piracy. 

All this reminds me of the way Diane Keaton's character, in Because I Said So, "convinced" and "manipulated" her daughter, played by Mandy Moore, to date the man she deems suitable for her daughter. 

A mother's love. That's what Because I Said So is mostly about. Mothers may or may not always be right. But mothers do what they do because they love you. 

It was only after I went to Australia to study that I became a little closer to my mother. You see, I come from a traditionally Asian family where the parents are the stern father and mother figure in their children's lives. Not like in western culture where mothers can be best friends with their daughters and father are buddies with their sons.

She's The Man (2006)

Director: Andy Fickman (1)

Cast: Amanda Bynes (2), Channing Tatum (3), Vinnie Jones (4), Amanda Crew (5), Robert Hoffman (6)

(Watch the trailer)

My favourite quote - "Be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them." 

My full name is Monica Alexia Goh Li Li. And these are just a few nicknames my friends (who are also my colleagues) have given me: Manly Monica, Monly Manica, Monica Gor Gor (Gor Gor means older brother in Mandarin), Lily G, Alex Gor Gor, Hamburglar, Go Li. Quite a number of the nicknames above have something to do with the word 'man'. You see, they all think I'm very manly. And according to them, in my office, where there a number of pretty manly guys, I'm ranked the second most manly person there. Second only to my big boss. 

I don't know if I should be happy or distressed by the fact that I'm a woman, and my friends/colleagues see me more as a man than a woman. What has this got to do with the film She's The Man you ask? Well, firstly, the phrase 'She's the man' is something my friends/colleagues would probably use to describe me. Secondly, it brings to mind the fact that some women can do the same things men can do. That is the gist of what I love about the film. 

Even if a woman is manly or does a manly sport doesn't mean she's not a woman at heart or that she cannot do something a man can do. Outwardly, a woman can be as strong as any man or have mannerisms like a man, but that doesn't mean she doesn't want to be treated well and as an equal to the men she dates. Likewise, it doesn't mean that if you're a man, that you are not sensitive or shy as Channing Tatum's Duke is. Some men can be so manly on the field or in their careers yet be so sensitive and considerate regarding their partners. And some woman can be so outwardly manly yet need and crave to be well treated and respected by their partners. 

I think what women now want is to be respected for what they can do in their careers yet still be pampered and taken care of by their man. Yes, women want the best of both worlds. I want that. Call me greedy all you want, but hey, that's the truth. Not all women are like me of course, but I'm speaking for myself. 

I love watching She's The Man because of the plot and its themes, but also because of its comedic timing, the talented cast, and the allusions to Shakespeare's Twelfth Night littered in the film. I used to study Shakespeare at school, and though I cannot say I fully understand all his plays, I do enjoy watching modernised versions of his plays. Among all the modernised Shakespearean plays made to film, I love She's The Man, Get Over It and 10 Things I Hate About You the most. Romeo and Juliet is the skeleton of SO MANY films, its hard to like everything. Although Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet is not a fully modernised version, since they spoke in Shakespearean English, it is my favourite modernised version of Romeo and Juliet so far.

She's The Man also has a great cast, and my favourite being Amanda Bynes who plays the lead Viola Hastings. It is also in this film that made me sit up and notice Amanda Crew. The next time I saw her in film was the film adaptation of Charlie St Cloud. But first, back to Amanda Bynes. I think she's an amazing actress, I recently re-watched her performance in Easy A and heard her singing in the film adaptation of Hairspray. I think she has great comedic timing and I think she managed to be exaggerated (as the role calls for) but not give an over-the-top cringe-worthy kind of performance. 

This film also made me notice Channing Tatum. I can't remember which I saw first, She's The Man or Step Up, but either way, I think he did a great job in this film. He portrayed the jock-type personality extremely well, but I did not expect to enjoy his softer and more sensitive moments he shares with Viola in the film, but I did. And I totally did not think he would be funny at all but he was so funny in the few scenes where he had to be comedic. The rest of the cast, including the coach of Illyria played by Vinnie Jones (he actually plays football and is a retired footballer) was fantastic. 

She's The Man may not be liked by everyone, but I love it because it speaks to me. After all, in the words of Viola Hastings' friend Paul - "Just remember, inside every girl, there's a boy. That came out wrong, but you know what I mean." It's a film about remembering to be just the way you are, because those who love you for who you are are the ones who matter. And, just go for what you want!

(1) Director Andy Fickman has directed films like Race To Witch Mountain (2009), You Again (2010), and Parental Guidance (2012).

(2) Amanda Bynes has acted in films like Big Fat Liar (2002), What A Girl Wants (2003), Lovewrecked (2005), Hairspray (2007), Sydney White (2007), and Easy A (2010). She is well-known for playing the lead role, Holly Tyler in the televisions series What I Like About You (2002-2006).

(3) Channing Tatum has acted in films like Coach Carter (2005), Step Up (2006), Stop-Loss (2006), Fighting (2009), Public Enemies (2009), G.I. Joe: The Rise Of The Cobra (2009), Dear John (2010), The Vow (2012), 21 Jump Street (2012), Magic Mike (2012), and G.I. Joe: Retaliation (2013).

(4) Vinnie Jones has acted in films like Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels (1998), Gone In 60 Seconds (2000), Swordfish (2001), Eurotrip (2004), X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), Year One (2009), and Smokin' Aces 2: Assassins' Ball (2010)

(5) Amanda Crew has acted in films like Final Destination 3 (2006), Sex Drive (2008), The Break-Up Artist (2009), Charlie St Cloud (2010), and Sisters & Brothers (2011).

(6) Robert Hoffman has acted in films like Coach Carter (2005), Step Up 2: The Streets (2008), and Aliens In The Attic (2009).

The Eclectic Reviewer thinks… She's The Man will not just make you LOL, it will also remind you to just be yourself and go for what you want. Nothing is impossible, as long as you work hard to achieve what you set out to achieve. (4.8 of 5)

* Movie Poster from Wikipedia

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The Devil Wears Prada (2006)

Director: David Frankel (1)

Cast: Meryl Streep (2), Anne Hathway (3), Emily Blunt (4), Stanley Tucci (5), Adrian Grenier (6), Simon Baker (7)

(Watch the trailer)

My favourite dialogue - 

Andrea: She hates me Nigel.
Nigel: And that's my problem because... Oh wait. No, it's not my problem.
Andrea: I don't know what else I can do because if I do something right, it's unacknowledged. She doesn't even say thank you. But if I do something wrong, she is vicious.
Nigel: So quit.
Andrea: What?
Nigel: Quit.
Andrea: Quit?
Nigel: I can get another girl to take your job in five minutes. One who really wants it.
Andrea: No, I don't want to quit. That's not fair. But, I, you know, I'm just saying that I would just like a little credit for the fact that I'm killing myself trying. 
Nigel: Andy, be serious. You are not trying. You are whining. What is it that you want me to say to you huh? Do you want me to say, "Poor you. Miranda's picking on you. Poor you. Poor Andy"? Hmm? Wake up, six. She's just doing her job. Don't you know that you are working at the place that published some of the greatest artists of the century? Halston, Lagerfeld, de la Renta. And what they did, what they created was greater than art because you live your life in it. Well, not you, obviously, but some people. You think this is just a magazine, hmm? This is not just a magazine. This is a shining beacon of hope for... oh, I don't know... let's say a young boy growing up in Rhode Island with six brothers pretending to go to soccer practice when he was really going to sewing class and reading Runway under the covers at night with a flashlight. You have no idea how many legends have walked these halls. And what's worse, you don't care. Because this place, where so many people would die to work, you only deign to work. And you want to know why she doesn't kiss you on the forehead and give you a gold star on your homework at the end of the day. Wake up sweetheart. 

You know something is very wrong in your life when work takes precedence over your cat's well being. The cat or animal lovers would agree with what I just said, but those who don't think much of animals or pets will think I'm crazy.

My cat was really sick yesterday and I had to bring him to the vet. After some blood tests, the vet was very concerned as said they will do more tests to check if my cat has leukemia or diabetes as well. Then they asked me if I could bring my cat in the next day for an ultra sound. My response: "I can't. I have to work tomorrow."

If my cat were human, concerned citizens would berate me and scream neglect and call child protective services. Now, you may argue this: "It's just a cat!" Well, my cat has been a part of my family for 8 long years, he is not an it, he is a living and breathing being that I love no matter how troublesome he is going to be when he gets older and weaker.

This situation brings me to this movie The Devil Wears Prada. How busy and stressed out does one have to be before realising that something is wrong with your priorities? With Anne Hathaway's character Andrea Sachs, she gives up so much for the job that it starts to change her without her even realising it. Are you like that as well? Do we put so much focus on working and earning our keep that we neglect the things that truly matter? Like love, family, friends, and integrity?

Sometimes we don't see how much we've changed because of our jobs, but when we do finally realise the truth, the important thing is what you will do about it. Andrea chose to walk away when she can. Me, the verdict's still out, I am not sure if I can or if I want to walk away. I don't think I am at the extreme end yet, but when I do get there, I hope I will be able to screech to a halt and do the right thing for myself.

The film's wonderful fashions and glamorous setting makes it very easy on the eyes. But that is just the outer layer of the film. The inner message is what hits home for me. That we all need to slow down and reflect on our lives and what is truly important in our lives.

The Devil Wears Prada hit a home run with the casting of the film and was blessed with a fantastic group of actors and actresses that made the movie truly amazing. It was this film that I noticed the lovely Emily Blunt who blew me away as the Emily Carlton. Meryl Streep was awesome as always and was able to make me empathise with her character, Miranda Priestly, despite her manipulative and demanding ways. Stanley Tucci and Anne Hathaway blew me away in the roles they played in the film. And even Adrian Grenier and Simon Baker who both only had minor roles in the film caught my eye with the portrayal of their characters.

Now I've argued that we should focus on the things that are truly important in our lives, like family and friends, love and relationships, I think that this film also asks your this fundamental question - How much do you love your job?

Sometimes when the going gets tough at the place where I work now, I repeat this to myself: "I love my job! I love my job! I love my job!" And I do, of course sometimes I hate it and whine about the workload, and all the other crap. But most days, I love my job. I love to write, and the fact that I do get to write almost every other day, in the industry that I love - really, what more can I ask for? If you want to get far in something you're passionate about, then you just got to suck it up and work your butt off! Nothing comes easily. Where you end up at is entirely up to you. (Read: Star Trek - "Spock, you are fully capable of deciding your own destiny. The question you face is - which path will you choose. This is something only you can decide")

So ask yourself this question. Do you love your job? To what lengths will you go to achieve what you set out to achieve? Are you Emily Carlton or Andrea Sachs? Once you've figured out which character you are from The Devil Wears Prada, then you know what to do next.

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That's all...

(1) Director David Frankel has directed films like Marley & Me (2008) and The Big Year (2011).

(2) Meryl Streep has acted in films like Sophie's Choice (1982), Out Of Africa (1985), Death Becomes Her (1992), Music Of The Heart (1999), Adaptation (2002), The Hours (2002), The Manchurian Candidate (2004), Mamma Mia! (2008), Julie & Julia (2009), It's Complicated (2009), The Iron Lady (2011), and Hairspray (2007)

(3) Anne Hathaway has acted in films like The Princess Diaries (2001), The Other Side Of Heaven (2001), Nicholas Nickleby (2002), Ella Enchanted (2004), The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004), Havoc (2005), Brokeback Mountain (2005), Becoming Jane (2007), Get Smart (2008), Rachel Getting Married (2008), Bride Wars (2009), Valentine's Day (2010), Alice In Wonderland (2010), Love And Other Drugs (2010), One Day (2011), The Dark Knight Rises (2012), and Les Misérables (2012). She's also voiced the characters of Red Puckett in the animation Hoodwinked! (2005), and Jewel in Rio (2011).

(4) Emily Blunt has acted in films like The Jane Austen Book Club (2007), Dan In Real Life (2007), Charlie Wilson's War (2007), Sunshine Cleaning (2008), The Young Victoria (2009), The Wolfman (2010), Gulliver's Travels (2010), the Adjustment Bureau (2011),  The Muppets (2011), Salmon Fishing In The Yemen (2012), The Five-Year Engagement (2012), and Looper (2012). She has also voiced the character of Juliet in Gnomeo & Juliet (2010).

(5) Stanley Tucci has acted in films like The Pelican Brief (1993), A Life Less Ordinary (1997), A Midsummer Night's Dream (1999), America's Sweetheart (2001), Road To Perdition (2002), Maid In Manhatten (2002), The Core (2003), The Terminal (2004), Shall We Dance? (2004), Lucky Number Slevin (2006), Julie & Julia (2009), The Lovely Bones (2009), Easy A (2010), Burlesque (2010), Captain America: The First Avenger (2011), and The Hunger Games (2012). He's also voiced characters like Herb Copperbottom in Robots (2005), The Senator in Space Chimps (2008), and Boldo in The Tale Of Despereaux (2008)

(6) Adrian Grenier has acted in films like Drive Me Crazy (1999), Hart's War (2002), and Anything Else (2003). However, he is well known for his role as Vincent Chase in the television series Entourage (2004-2011).

(7) Simon Baker has acted in films like L.A. Confidential (1997), Something New (2006), Women In Trouble (2009), and Margin Call (2011). He is well known for his role as Patrick Jane in The Mentalist (2008-present).

The Eclectic Reviewer thinks… The Devil Wear Prada doesn't let the beautiful outfits and the glamourous setting detract from the heart of the story - Passion and Priorities. This is a film that will get you thinking about what you really want out of your life and your career. (4.5 of 5)

* Movie Poster from Wikipedia

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John Tucker Must Die (2006)

Director: Betty Thomas (1)

Cast: Brittany Snow (2), Jesse Metcalfe (3), Penn Badgley (4), Sophia Bush (5), Arielle Kebbel (6), Ashanti (7)

(Watch the trailer)

"It's not you, it's me. You are the girl I want to marry, but right now, I'm too young and I don't wanna be tied down. I want to spread my wings and fly, I want to experience life before I settle down." How many of you (girls) have heard a line like this or some derivative of this line? Well, it happens a lot. And to all kinds of women, and sometimes to men too. I guess when you're in high school or when you can blame your youth for all the stupid things you say and do, this breakup line has been used more than once or twice. You could get mad, or get even with guys (or girls) like this, but would you? Really?

I agree with what the younger Tucker played by Penn Badgley said. Girls know that John Tucker is a player, and yet they still fall head over heels for him. Are they asking for it? Well, I hate to be a bitch, but I think so. If they did not know what he was like in the first place, then yes, I'd say the guy was at fault. But if the girl knew what he was like and still blindly went into a relationship with the guy, then the fault cannot lie solely on the guy isn't it? Maybe they thought he would change for them, or that they were special enough that a player like John Tucker would change for them. Well, the Chinese have a saying: 男人不坏, 女人不愛 (If a man is not a bad boy, the woman would not fall in love with him). And sometimes I agree with the statement. Some women do make it hard on themselves and fall for the bad boy types. 

But still, this is a fun film with a simple and straightforward premise. The cast may not all look at all like high school students, but hey, that's Hollywood for you I guess. The antics are cute if not crude, but it gets the idea across. The acting, well, I think Brittany Snow did more than a decent job playing Kate. She struck a good balance between sweet and innocent vs. sultry and vindictive. The three vindictive masterminds of the 'John Tucker Must Die' operation play their individuals roles well and when the four females get together to plot their evil plans, I do feel like they are kindred spirits pushed together by the fates. Jesse Metcalfe is good looking and he played his character well enough for the story to move along. Although I cringe a little every time he comes onto the screen. There's something about his acting in the film that I didn't quite buy. Playing his younger brother Penn Badgley did not look at all like the younger brother. Or maybe my wires got crossed and Jesse is supposed to be the younger brother. Either way, throughout the film, I heard more than I saw or felt their brotherly relationship, which really isn't good, cos with film, you show not tell. Anyway, I think the brother's did not have any chemistry to speak of. At the very least, the only "successful" relationship in the film, between Brittany and Penn, was done well enough to make their sub-plot believable.

The bottom line is, I enjoyed the film although I feel I wasn't drawn in or invested in the characters in the film.  Which is a pity because John Tucker Must Die could have done better for itself but it fell flat in the end and left me unsatisfied.

(1) Director Betty Thomas has directed films like Dr. Dolittle (1998), 28 Days (2000) and Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (2009)

(2) Brittany Snow has acted in films like The Pacifier (2005), Hairspray (2007), Finding Amanda (2008), Pitch Perfect (2012), 2and Syrup (2013). She also played Margaret "Meg" Pryor in the television series American Dreams (2002-2005) and has guest starred in series like Nip/Tuck, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Gossip Girl, Mad Love, and Ben & Kate. 

(3) Jesse Metcalfe has acted in the television series Desperate Housewives (2004-2009)

(4) Penn Badgley has acted in films like The Stepfather (2009) and Easy A (2010), but he's known for his role as Daniel "Dan" Humphrey in Gossip Girl (2007-Present)

(5) Sophia Bush has acted in films like Van Wilder (2002) and Chalet Girl (2011), but she is known for her role as Brooke Davis Baker in One Tree Hill (2003-2012)

(6) Arielle Kebbel has acted in films like American Pie Presents: Band Camp (2005), Dirty Deeds (2005), Aquamarine (2006), Vampires Suck! (2010), and Think Like A Man (2012). She has also guest starred in shows like CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Gilmore Girls, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Entourage, CSI: Miami, The Vampire Diaries, True Blood, Life Unexpected, 90210, and Hawaii Five-0. 

(7) Ashanti  is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, dancer, actress, and model who has acted in films like Coach Carter (2005) and had a cameo appearance in the film Bride and Prejudice (2004)

The Eclectic Reviewer thinks… John Tucker Must Die is a film with a lot of fun, but without much heart. It has the potential to send a strong message that revenge is not healthy for the soul, but doesn't quite deliver the goods. It tries to send a positive message of what true friendship should be about but it doesn't get much airtime to do a proper job of that. (2.5 of 5)

* Movie Poster from Wikipedia

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