Did the movie trailer kill Mr. Fox?

I was looking at DVDs available from the library and came across Fantastic Mr. Fox. Recently, I heard someone refer to George Clooney as Mr. Fox - connecting his "foxy" looks with his film character. Clooney was the voice of Mr. Fox in the film.

I like George Clooney. I like animated films. I wondered why I hadn't seen the movie before. Then I looked up the trailer on YouTube. My first thought was, "Meeh."  Is the trailer why I didn't see it? I can't remember. In looking at the YouTube comments, folks didn't think that the trailer did the movie justice. I decided against watching it until I realized that the film was based on a book of the same name by Roald Dahl (other famous works James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The BFG - The Big Friendly Giant, Matilda, and The Witches).

It made me wonder, did the movie trailer kill Fantastic Mr. Fox at the box office? Can a movie trailer make or break a movie?  Maybe. Movie-trailer maker Amanda Woods (played by Cameron Diaz) said in The Holiday, "That's why they pay me the big bucks."

Can you think of a movie whose trailer turned you away from watching it, even though it might have received good reviews? Roger Ebert seemed to like Fantastic Mr. Fox.



P.S. Check out Star Li's thoughts on music and movie trailers in her Women Wonder Blog post, The Music Makes the Movie: How a Trailer Can Make or Break your Film. I totally agree with her on Miami Vice.

Week One: So far, so good. [100 Push-Up Challenge]

My first week on the 100 Push-Up Challenge passed without incident. I really want to do girlie push ups for the entire 7 weeks. LOL! Maria Bee says no, I can work my way up to standard push-ups. I think that I am going to start feeling the pain next week.

At this point, doing 100 push-ups seems both possible and impossible. Keep hope alive.

Working on fabulous arms? Tweet me and use #acapcolist1fabarms!

In Search of a Copy: Hey, Guess What? Tom Hanks's S**t Smells, Too!

Since I have been meaning to read it and Doug Hutchison is in the movie adaptation, I am also gonna add The Green Mile (written by Stephen King) to my reading list.

I am also gonna watch the movie again. He played (to critical acclaim) the nasty prison guard Percy Wetmore in The Green Mile.

According ABC News (via his website), Doug Hutchison has written a 99-page memoir entitled Hey, Guess What? Tom Hanks's S**t Smells, Too! (My Adventures in the Toilet of Tinseltown). I should probably throw Mr. Hutchison a bone and read his book too.

Anybody know where I can get a copy?

What happened to Benny Mardones?

My roommates and I used to sing Into the Night together in our dorm room while listening to Delilah's radio show. Nothing like '80s music to bring folks together. My favorite version of the song is the acoustic one on Benny's A Journey Through Time album (check out the sample below).

  

I wondered what happened Benny. I mean, Into the Night is still played like crazy on the radio. I looked him up and he's living in California (after apparently getting on the straight and narrow in Syracuse, New York). According to his website, a documentary on his life entitled Into The Night: The Benny Mardones Story will be released on DVD sometime in 2011. Until then, here's a sneak peak:

P.S. Doesn't that sound like Delilah narrating the video?

Into the Night: A Hutchison & Stodden Theme Song

Don't remember (or perhaps even know) the song Into the Night by @bennymardones that I mentioned in my post, Ripped from the Headlines: Mr. and Mrs. Hutchison? You probably think that the actual title of the song is If I Could Fly. I did too for a long time. I am so bad with song titles and lyrics. It was years before I noticed that the lyrics were kinda freaky. I blame Benny. His honey-dipped voice distracted me.

Shamefully, I must admit that I clicked through @eonline's Teen Bride Wedding Album featuring pictures from Doug Hutchison & Courtney Alexis Stodden (#dontjudgeme). She's just 16 years old. SMH. Check out an Into the Night video and the song's lyrics* below and you'll see why I think that Into The Night could be their theme song.


                                                 posted on YouTube by Evo161AOR

Into the Night sung by Benny Mardones

She's just sixteen years old
Leave her alone, they say
Separated by fools
Who don't know what love is yet
But I want you to know
If I could fly
I'd pick you up
I'd take you into the night
And show you a love
Like you've never seen, ever seen
It's like having a dream
Where nobody has a heart
It's like having it all
And watching it fall apart
And I would wait till the end
Of time for you
And do it again, it's true
I can't measure my love
There's nothing to compare it to
But I want you to know
If I could fly
I'd pick you up
I'd take you into the night
And show you a love
Ooooh, if I could fly
I'd pick you up
I'd take you into the night
And show you a love
Like you've never seen, ever seen
Yeah, Ooooh....
(etc. etc.)

*The initial inspiration for the song was more innocent than the final lyrics seem. Read Carl Wiser's (Songfacts) interview with Mardones or listen to part of it here.

Ripped from the Headlines: Mr. and Mrs. Hutchison

I swear, trying to maintain variety in my choices for the 100+ Book Reading Challenge is keeping me on my toes. Some of my reading selections are the products of my Law and Order - Ally McBeal mental mashups. Book ideas are ripped from the headlines. Dun-dun. And I often hear songs when I think of them.  It's crazy, I know.

Case in point: the EOnline.com post announcing the marriage of Doug Hutchison (character actor, The Green Mile, Lost and The X-Files) to Courtney Alexis Stodden ("aspiring" pop star) on May 20, 2011 in Las Vegas. Hutchison is 51 years old and Stodden is 16 years old (she looks way older than that in the photo on E!, doesn't she?).  Dun-dun. A spokeswoman told E! the couple said,

"We're aware that our vast age difference is extremely controversial, but we're very much in love and want to get the message out there that true love can be ageless."

My first thought was, "Vast my azz. That's disgusting." I was less grossed out by the age difference and more grossed out by the fact that she is still a teenager. Eeeeww. She can't vote, drink alcohol, or get into R-rated movies without an adult. Yet, now she is a "sadie sadie married lady."

Then, the song Into the Night by Benny Mardones started playing in my head. "She's just 16 years old, Leave her alone, they said ... Separated by fools who don't know what love is yet."

I just don't understand. I'm trying not to judge their love. Really. Um ... congrats?!? I hope everything works out for the best for them both.

So, what book popped into my head? Why Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov, of course. Sorry Mr. Hutchison. The book just came to mind as I was singing the song. #smh #dontjudgeme

Keepin' it honest. [100 Push-Up Challenge] Take 2

Okay. I had some minor setbacks (unrelated to the program) that threw me off track for my push up training program during the spring. I am now back on it, dog gone it.

To keep myself on track, I am going to report my progress every Monday on this blog. Public eyes will keep me honest. Maybe. Check back with me on Mondays starting July 11.

Also see my previous posts:

“I think I can. I think I can.” [100 Push-Up Challenge]

Kick Starting the Plan [100 Push-Up Challenge]

Working on fabulous arms? Tweet me and use #acapcolist1fabarms!