Happy Autumn!

My long two-pointed ladder's sticking through a tree 

Toward heaven still,
And there's a barrel that I didn't fill
Beside it, and there may be two or three
Apples I didn't pick upon some bough.
But I am done with apple-picking now.
Essence of winter sleep is on the night,
The scent of apples: I am drowsing off.

- selection from "After Apple Picking" by Robert Frost

Maybe it's because he grew up in New England and enjoyed many crisp October days, but no one seems to capture the beauty of autumn quite like Robert Frost.  Read the rest of the poem here, although the tone becomes increasingly downhearted past the selection above.

On a lighter note, Happy Fall.

Cutesy music videos? Think again

Happy three-day-weekend Friday!  Labor Day is just about here along with the conclusion of summer and the end of white being an acceptable color to wear...or not?  DC Goodwill Fashionista offers some great tips for keeping the crisp neutral season-appropriate.

In case you're needing a quick distraction on this long workday, check out these zany music videos, which manage to combine a Disney-like cuteness with Tarantino-style violence.  Don't worry: it's nothing too gory, and this is coming from the woman who closes her eyes during Jurassic Park. 

The first video is Neko Case's "People Got a Lotta Nerve," from her latest album, Middle Cyclone.  The paper-doll look of the little girls and animals makes me think of a Victorian Children's Safari Guide gone terribly awry.  Lesson learned: Never groom a tiger.




Second is She & Him's "Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?" from their debut album, Volume One.  The retro-pop tune is tempered by the multiple demises of songstress/actress/fashion icon Zooey Deschanel while M. Ward strums along, looking both confused and amused.  Moral of the video: Zooey can pull off just about any style (cowgirl, nightclub piano player, etc.) even amongst a horde of ghosts and a series of decapitations.




If you like what you heard, listen to more songs from Neko Case and She & Him on their respective MySpace pages.  In the meantime, have a great Labor Day Weekend!

Reading Round-Up: Names, Vampires and Potato Peel Pies

The last book I reviewed was New Moon from the Twilight series nearly three months ago (see post).  Needless to say, it's time to catch up on which books I've been reading.  In lieu of long, tedious critiques, here's a quick round-up of my latest adventures in literature (including some light lit as well).

1. The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri: In a word, wonderful!  Lahiri is a master storyteller who has an eye for detail and quirky observations.  The story of Gogol Ganguli feels very real because it mixes the right amount of humor, heartache and cultural confusion.  I highly recommend The Namesake, which is Lahiri's only full-length novel (her other two books are collections of short stories).  The film version staring Kal Penn is quite good, but not as great as the novel.

2. Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris: Book one of the Sookie Stackhouse novels, which spawned the hit HBO series, "True Blood," is a wonky combination of sci-fi and mystery.  Although Harris' writing reads like your typical paperback novel, the plot— a telepathic waitress falls for the lone vampire in a small Louisiana town amidst a string of grisly murders— is enough to keep your interest.  Will I read any more Sookie Stackhouse books?  Maybe.  Will I tune in for the second season of "True Blood"?  Definitely.

3. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows: A novel written as a series of letters— brilliant!  Set in 1946, the story follows a London writer's correspondence with residents on the island of Guernsey.  At first the sheer number of letter-senders and recipients is confusing, but it soon becomes apparent who the main characters are.  This book has all the warmth and sweetness of an English tea party: overall, a cozy little novel.

4. Eclipse by Stephanie Meyer: It's hard for me to give an objective review of the third book in the Twilight Saga since I've become one of their starstruck fans.  The unexpected plot twists of the previous two novels give way to a more introspective story in Eclipse, which focuses on relationships.  What the book lacks in climactic tension it more than makes up for with character development and romantic tangles.  No wonder it's many readers' favorite.

Alright, that's my two cents on these four books.  In case you missed my new gadget on the left, I'm currently reading Salman Rushdie's The Enchantress of Florence.  It took about 60 pages for me to get used to Rushdie's writing style, but now I'm enjoying it.  I'll give you the final verdict when I finish.

An overdue introduction

Today, the blog is four months old.  And while that's not an impressive feat, it made me realize that I've neglected to write an introductory post...whoops. With the new banner and design format, I think now is as good a time as any for the preliminaries. 

What's with the blog's name?
Sometime around 2 a.m. a few months back, I had a slew of possible names scrawled down including such kitschy titles as "The Neverending Nautilus" and "The Night Writer" — don't ask. I couldn't think of a unifying theme for the blog since my interests are all over the place, so I turned to something more general, like my favorite color. Tiny problem there: Blogs with "green" in the title are typically eco-friendly in their content. While I'm all for conservation and green living, I'm no expert in the field.

On a whim, I pulled out Hailstones and Halibut Bones—one of my favorite childhood books that explores colors through rhymes. The poem dedicated to green includes the following lines:

Green is a grasshopper
Green is jade
Green is hiding
In the shade

Sure it's simplistic, but it works. Plus, I get a plant for a mascot.

What's J&S about? Your posts are all over the place.
If the posts come across as disjointed, I can only credit that as a reflection of their creator. My interests are so across the board (books, movies, travel, fashion, food, satire, music, science, sci-fi, coffee, etc.) that there's no telling what the next post will be. In college, I was one of those students who declared her major as undecided for as long as humanly possible, before picking one and then changing it twice. Ultimately I graduated with a degree in journalism— a popular choice for us indecisive folks who love writing— but that doesn't mean I'm any less scattered.

Expect more disjunctions.

And who exactly are you?
Ciao! My name is Nicole and I am a 23-year-old writer who dreams of getting published, visiting every continent at least once, owning a Diane von Furstenberg wrap dress and having a coffee named after me (do I ask too much?)

I grew up in a small city named Spartanburg in South Carolina but have no Southern accent; go figure. I moved four hours northeast to North Carolina in 2001, graduated from high school and made a beeline for the wonderful UNC-Chapel Hill where I had the best four years of my life (so far!) In 2008 I graduated and landed an internship with a magazine in DC. Due to the economy and iffy job market, I moved back home after the internship ended. Cue quarterlife crisis and trailer to Post Grad, i.e. my life, more or less.

Up next on my agenda: working overseas.  As a friend so eloquently explained, "People who have midlife crises buy sports cars; people who have quarterlife crises go abroad." Should all go according to plan, I will be moving to an international city this January. No details on where I'm going since it's not definite yet, but I'll blab as soon as possible.

In the meantime...
Thanks for stopping by Jade and the Shade!  Feel free to ask questions or leave remarks in the comment boxes.

Merona borrows from Madden

Notice a similarity? Last month I hit Target at the perfect time and walked away with two pairs of ballet flats for $13 each. One pair is a silken leopard print while the other, more quirky pair (above right) have some funky buttons and sequins. Imagine my surprise last week when I was in the illustrious shoe department of Nordstrom and came across its designer influence (above left).

It turns out these adorable ballet flats aren't the only Steve Madden style to influence Merona. My cousin bought these lovely sandals (below right) from Target after coveting their expensive Madden counterparts (below left).

Bottom line: I'm going through the Fall Steve Madden catalog with a highlighter and then making a beeline for Targét.

Ellie Krieger's new cookbook

The blog is still under construction, but I had to share news about Ellie Krieger's upcoming book. Last summer, I bought my first ever cookbook, The Food You Crave (also by Krieger), which has helped bridge the gap between my fancy foodie appetite and my ability to cook. And while I'm no Julia Child (or Julie Powell for that matter), I have managed to whip up several recipes from The Food You Crave while learning a thing or two about healthy eating. Krieger has a masters in nutrition from Columbia University so the book is chock-full of helpful hints to improve your daily diet without skimping taste.

Her newest book, So Easy, will hit bookstores October 26, but I'm already drooling over some of the recipe pictures they're promoting.

In the meantime, if you decide to invest in her first cookbook, I highly recommend the following recipes:

Pumpkin Pie Muffins
Energy Bars
Hummus and Grilled Vegetable Wrap
Grilled Thai Beef Salad
Pork Medallions with Cherry Sauce
Carrot Cupcakes with Lemony Cream Cheese Frosting (see my pic!)

Bon Appétit et Bonne Santé!

Jade and the Shade gets a makeover

Hello out there?

Dear readers,

Yes, I know it's been well over a month since my last post, but never fear: the blog is not dead, well at least not yet anyways.

Jade and the Shade is undergoing some big changes— both in appearance and content— so just sit tight and we'll be back ASAP....

assuming I don't break anything.

The best nook for books

Sometimes simple is better.

Of course, Amazon has computer algorithms analyzing your preferences to give you personalized recommendations. Sure, Borders and Barnes & Noble have shelves with the, "<--If you love this, you should try these-->" signs. But despite the advanced technology and the expert book critics, the best place to check out new books that you probably have never heard of before is the local little bookstore.

For me, that place is the Bulls Head Bookshop in the Student Store on UNC-Chapel Hill's campus (their webpage doesn't do it any justice). For the first three years of my undergraduate career, this bookstore was the ideal hideout between classes. Creaky floors, odd chairs, wooden bookshelves and an instore coffee shop made Bulls Head feel like an eccentric old professor's personal library. The selection of books included big-name bestsellers as well as a smattering of oddities— I don't think Border has ever featured a table full of banned books. Bulls Head had the knack for highlighting both strange and thought-provoking material. It was almost as if an eccentric old professor really was sneaking into the shop afterhours to pick the worthy books.

While the entire Student Store underwent major facelift in 2007, the bookshop within retains its quirky personality. The area is brighter, the floors no longer creak and the bookshelves still smell new, but to my great relief, its soul has stayed the same. The picture above shows the staff recommendations bookcase, which is one of my favorite parts. At the risk of sounding high and mighty, I think every booklover should find herself an offbeat shop where she can burrow away from time to time.

In case you do not have such a sanctuary yet, here's what caught my eye during my most recent trip.

Bulls Head's Latest and Greatest

1. The Once and Future King by T.H. White — I'm a sucker for Camelot stories; anything from Tennyson's Idylls of the King to First Knight to NBC's new miniseries "Merlin," piques my interest.
2. Vintage Fabric from the States — A Bulls Head staffer described this photo book as "fabric porn," and I have to agree. The patterns are pretty and fun to look at, which might assuage the design chasm I've been in since Domino magazine shut down.
   
3. The Pesthouse by Jim Crace — Nothing makes you appreciate our world (messy as it is) more than a post-apocalyptic novel. The story focuses on the regression of America to a preindustrial state complete with plagues, slavery and religious cults.
   
4. The Guide to Getting It On by Paul Joannides — Okay, I don't really have any intention of buying this, but the title and cover art are cool enough to warrant a second look.
5. Changing Planes by Ursula K. LeGuin — Changing reality planes while waiting to change airplanes...brilliant! This sounds like my kind of sci-fi fare.

My own series of unfortunate events

Besides some crumby movies (see previous post), the last couple of weeks have been less than stellar for me: broken cell phone, broken car, subsequent pricey repairs and now no more part-time job. Rather than bore you with the details of my own unfortunate events, check out the movie posters for Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events and the upcoming A Christmas Carol. Jim Carrey's Scrooge looks a bit like Count Olaf, no?


In addition to the greedy miser, Carrey will play all three ghosts. The CG film costars Gary Oldman as Bob Cratchit, Marley and Tiny Tim (yeah, that's unexpected), Colin Firth as Fred and Bob Hoskins as Mr. Fezziwig. Princess Bride alums Cary Elwes and Robin Wright Penn also reunite in this family flick, which will premiere in early November. In the meantime, check out the teaser.

"My Life in Night at the Museum" or "Battle of the Smithsonian Ruins"?

Greetings m'dear Jaders,

I must apologize for the gap in posts, but the blog fodder has been as scarce as ice on hot asphalt. Not to mention, yours truly has succumbed to a small bout of summer sloth. Time to get back in the Shade and cool down!

And so after a fun romp of May premieres, the box office has slowed down without a single film reaching $50 million for opening weekend this entire month. Another big-budget action flick, Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen might salvage some of June's dignity with its midweek premiere last night. In the meantime...

Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian and My Life in Ruins were both blah— not good enough to have me raving but not horrible enough to warrant a warning. Like its predecessor, Night at the Museum 2 relied on slapstick humor and colorful characters to keep the story going. But as movie critic Dan Lybarger points out, our protagonist (Ben Stiller), is basically buried by the flamboyant personalities that run amok in this film. Lisping pharaoh Kahmunrah (Hank Azaria), blaring General Custer (Bill Hader), nosy Abe Lincoln (again Azaria) and too-spunky Amelia Earhart (Amy Adams) caused a sensory overload— too many people acting ridiculously muddles plot and dampens the humor. Despite a troupe of comedic geniuses and acting pros, I was most impressed by the bobble-head Einsteins (voiced by the fabulous Eugene Levy) and the boy-band Cupids (yes, they're voiced by the Jonas Brothers). Still, many critics gave the movie favorable reviews; one even claimed it was better than the original (really?). Check out Rotten Tomatoes to see the full scope of opinions.

My Life in Ruins was not as bad as I'd expected. After watching this trailer, the bar was set so low that I couldn't be disappointed. In Nia Vardalos' second meditation on Greece and Greeks, the comedy falls short but the eye candy— both her love interest and the gorgeous sites— does make some amends. The Greek characters in Ruins are not endearing and hilarious as they were in My Big Fat Greek Wedding, but the tourists, including Richard Dreyfuss, Rachel Dratch and Harland Williams are entertaining enough. Also, an interesting tidbit before you watch the film: Vardalos' real-life hubby Ian Gomez makes a cameo as a greasy motel owner (he also appeared in Greek Wedding as John Corbett's character's best friend). Gomez is in a scene involving an envelope and a proposition that is priceless— how did Vardalos keep a straight face?

Despite shortfalls in the past ("My Big Fat Greek Life," Connie and Carla, Ruins), Vardalos is still irresistably spunky despite her characters' straight-laced demeanors. Perhaps that's why I'll give her another go with I Hate Valentine's Day, in which she reunites with John Corbett (see the trailer). No movie ticket this time, but I'll certainly add it to my Netflix queue.

Coming into the Shade...
-Better movies to review!
-My music: the first edition!
-The blog's new mascot!
-A new twist to J&S;stay tuned for deets!

Bookmarked: 'New Moon' Madness

Let me begin this post by saying that I am a slow reader. I often reread sentences and paragraphs to make sure I've absorbed everything the author has shown me. As a writer, it helps me to notice the details, the descriptions, the diction and the voice. Despite my sluggishness and a prevalent rumor that the second book in the Twilight series is slow, I finished New Moon within a week— just in time for the movie trailer to grace the Web waves.

I can finally say that I "get" the whole teen-vampire mania that's been spreading like wildfire. While Twilight was a fun, fast read, it didn't hook me the way its sequel has. Perhaps it's because New Moon has more monsters and less mush. Sure, reading about how much Bella and Edward love each other is sweet, but isn't it more interesting to see how well our heroine does flying (hem hem: jumping) solo? Also, Jacob Black has a larger role in the second book. No longer a little freshman, he has grown up in many ways, but his affection for Bella has only deepened. Hello, love triangle.

The story opens at the beginning of Bella and Edward's senior year of high school. The two have shared a blissful— yet glossed over— summer together, and all seems fine and dandy. Without giving too much away, I'll divulge that certain events prompt Edward to leave Forks (oh no, the town's Web site has a Twilight map of love). Although Bella has a serious bout with depression, her recovery is an interesting and sometimes humorous process. Her loveless new life revolves around extreme sports (motorcycling/crashing) and buddy time with Jacob. But don't let these ordinary details bore you— there are more supernatural forces at work in Forks than Middle-earth. As with its predecessor, New Moon progresses at a steady pace, following a basic plot until the last third of the book. Call it Stephanie Meyer's signature move: the woman loves doing plot jack-knives once she's two-thirds through the novel. Don't plan on eating, sleeping, socializing, etc., during the last six chapters as you might find yourself in a zombie-like stupor.

In case you haven't seen the film trailer, check it out here. Just be forewarned: the preview has some spoilers. New Moon will open November 20, and in the meantime you can drool over the poster.

Next on my reading list is The Namesake by Jhumpi Lahiri. I'm about 100 pages in— time to add the film version starring Kal Penn (aka Kumar, Kutner, White House public liaison) to my Netflix queue.

Disney/Pixar keeps 'Up' the legacy

Last week I watched the 10th Disney/Pixar collaborative film, Up, which features the vocal talents of Ed Asner and Christopher Plummer. And while the idea of a grouchy old man with a cane starring in an animated movie for kids might seem risky, the gamble has paid off. Up opened two weekends ago to earn a whopping $68 million and place as number one at the box office. The Hangover snatched the top spot this previous weekend, but only beat Up by a small $800,000.

Echoing my favorite Pixar film (Finding Nemo), Up begins its story on a sad note. But don't worry; you won't be sniffling for long. Carl Fredricksen (Ed Asner), a grouchy old widower, is determined to do two things: to fulfill a lifelong dream of traveling to South America; and to save his house from demolition. Bright, multicolored balloons provide a dazzling escape from the real-estate-hungry businessmen while launching Carl into a grand adventure. Along the way he is joined by an exuberant wilderness scout named Russell, a talking dog called Dug and a 12-foot bird that looks like a cross between a Dodo and a Velociraptor. Plummer lends his voice as a nefarious explorer whom Carl idolized as a child but must contend with now. Funny, heartwarming and visually stunning, Up is your usual cup of Disney/Pixar tea, which is not to suggest that it's not remarkable. It's just that extraordinary is the norm for these films. Look out competitors, the bar has just been set a little higher. Again.

On a more technological note, Up is the first Disney/Pixar movie to offer 3-D screenings; it's also the first time I've seen a feature film in 3-D. While the sight of thousands of balloons towing a house through the air was certainly enhanced by my 3-D glasses, I'm still not sold on the whole three-dimensional movement. It seemed that in the process of making images pop out, backgrounds became smaller and colors less vivid. But then again, I'm no 3-D engineer, so take my assessment with a grain of salt.

There's more Shade to come so tune in (type in?) again!

Audio Reboot— The best $20 I've ever spent

Taking a break from the usual entertainment fare, I'm going to indulge a post to share my recent musical woes. As many of you know, my good ol' Pontiac Grand Prix (I love that the linked site calls it a "cheap fast car") has had its share of issues, including the heartbreaking demise of its CD player a couple of years ago. Since then I've relied on the radio, which is annoyingly repetitive but still tolerable. Last week the final nail in the coffin came when the radio broke. Riding in silence is an ugly thing.

Enter Philips mini speakers. Twenty dollars at Walmart has saved more than $200 to install a new in-dash deck. Of course, they're are some drawbacks — the tiny speakers can only get so loud, and it's a bit tricky to make song/volume adjustments while driving — but the sound quality and portability are worth more than I paid.

Best part? It's a toss up between the two speakers that fit cozily in my cup holders and the ability to finally listen to my iPod music in my car. Once parked, my ghetto-fabulous audio system can be compacted into a little ball that looks a lot like a hedgehog. In honor of the speakers' maiden voyage, I created two new playlists with each featuring a quirky mix of rock, R&B, alternative, pop and even some country— something you would never hear on the radio.

But enough of my audio gushing! I've got a long list of upcoming posts including a roundup of May's most popular flicks, two movie reviews and another edition of Bookmarked. Stay tuned.

Back in the Cone-Zone

Last night, Conan O'Brien made his debut as host of "The Tonight Show"— giving hardcore fans some overdue time with the zany redhead and introducing him to a new demographic of viewers. While I can't speak for the latter, longtime viewers were thrilled to have O'Brien back on television after he had handed the "Late Night" torch over to Jimmy Fallon in March.

As one of my friends put it, "This is what I have been missing for the last three months of my life— my life is complete now that Conan's back on." Amen, sister. I got chills when the gravity-defying loop of hair peeked onto the stage followed by O'Brien himself. The number of viewers who tuned in last night has yet to be reported, but if the Nielsen ratings are to be believed, "The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien" blew the competition out of the water.

Watching O'Brien dance around the stage and banter with his first-ever guest, Will Ferrell (sorry, no Leprechaun striptease) felt tenderly familiar and eased my worry that LA and the earlier time-slot would change the tenor of the show. But while some details have remained unaltered, others have changed. Here's a shorthand list of what's new and what's the same:

1. Classic: Max Weinberg, LaBamba and the rest of the gang have followed O'Brien to California.
New: They're no longer called the Max Weinberg 7, but The Tonight Show Band.

2. Classic: The opening music is the same little ditty.
New: The montage features images of LA instead of NYC (well, duh)

3. Classic: O'Brien still films hilarious little shorts, like taking his '92 Ford Taurus for a spin and hosting a Universal Studios trolley tour (sorry no links for either of those; NBC.com is slow uploading videos).
New: It's unlikely that any of these shorts will feature the more colorful recurring characters from "Late Night"— is the Masturbating Bear still on the lam with Carrie Fisher?

4. Classic: O'Brien still bounces parts of his monologue off a costar.
New: With Andy Richter back as the announcer, we might see fewer exchanges with Max Weinberg whose chill demeanor and blank stares enhanced O'Brien's exuberant humor.

5. Classic: O'Brien still does his invisible string dance despite Stephen Colbert's attempt to steal them back in February (the two are now in competing time slots, boo).
New: No sizzling nipple caresses...at least not yet.

Still want more Conan? Check out these surprising facts that a friend e-mailed me— the superhero stint is hilarious. The second episode of "The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien" airs tonight at 11:35 p.m. with guests Tom Hanks and Green Day.

Driveway Name: Sam Worthington

Aaaand we're back in The Shade after a long Memorial Day weekend. I went to Myrtle Beach with some friends and soaked up plenty of sun, surf and shell (I actually got pretty scraped up while body-surfing). I hope you all had a fun break too and are ready for some more posts.

Everyone knows celebs like Justin Timerberlake, Halle Berry and J.K. Rowling— they're household names. But as for the musicians, actors and writers who are on the cusp of breaking out, let's call them "driveway names." Their success might lead them through the front door of stardom or it might shift into reverse never to be heard from again.

One actor who has great potential to rise from the ranks of anonymity is Aussie action-hero Sam Worthington. But don't let the pretty blue eyes and chiseled jawline fool you— this bloke is a classically trained thespian. After graduating from Australia's National Institute of Dramatic Arts in 1998 (NIDA alums include Cate Blanchett, Mel Gibson and Toni Collette), Worthington has spent the last decade honing his craft. The hard work has paid off as the 32-year-old actor now finds himself engaged in three big-budget films while comparisons to Russell Crowe flit the Internet. This month, Worthington stars alongside Christian Bale in Terminator Salvation, which opened last weekend grossing $42.5 million at the box office. Despite some shaky reviews for the fourth Terminator film, Variety and Week in Rewind/Movies tout Worthington as the true star— quite an accomplishment for anyone sharing screen time with Bale.

In December, we'll get to see the newbie from Down Under in another sci-fi flick, this one directed by the master himself, James Cameron. I honestly have no idea what Avatar is about (isn't an avatar an Internet picture?), but Cameron's return to the director's chair after a long hiatus is reason enough for me to watch. Also, Worthington is currently filming a remake of Clash of the Titans (yay!) in which he'll play the lead, Perseus— let's hope he does Harry Hamlin proud! The film is slated for release in March 2010.

In the meantime, if you'd like to learn how Worthington went from brick-layer to actor extraordinaire— it's actually a pretty funny story— check out this article from Wired.

Bookmarked: 'Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister'

The latest book to leave my nightstand and find a comfy spot on my bookshelf (scratch that, my bookshelf is already overbooked) is Gregory Maguire's Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister. A clever retelling of Cinderella, this book was not as fabulous as Wicked — which I guess should be obvious since it isn't a best-selling Broadway play — but Maguire's enchanting prose and cheeky interpretation of classic tales hold true.

Set in 17th-century Holland, Confessions is like a fun cross between Wicked and Girl with a Pearl Earring. Art is all the rage throughout the book, something amateurs will relish and art history buffs will loathe. A detailed description of "The Garden of Eathly Delights" thrilled me because I've actually seen it in the Prado, but jaded experts would just roll their eyes at the painting's odd little cameo in the book.

As in Wicked, Maguire creates a strong and interesting woman as his protagonists. Whereas the former examined the subjective nature of good and evil through the life of a passionate yet quirky green girl-turned-witch, Confessions questions the value and consequences of beauty through opposites: Iris the Plain (at best) and Clara the Freakishly Beautiful. But in the end, it is Maguire's fleshed-out version of a stick-figure fable that I'll take away from Confessions, not a lesson in philosophy. To find out more about the book and read reviews, visit its amazon page.

Next up! As mentioned, I want to read Angels & Demons before watching the film, but Chocolat and New Moon are also worthy contenders. I'll let you know which one ends up on my nightstand.

***UPDATE*** While searching for a picture to go with this post, I discovered that Disney turned Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister into a TV movie starring Stockard Channing, Jonathon Pryce (i.e. Governor Swan from Pirates of the Caribbean) and Matthew Goode (Watchmen). Sadly, it's so obscure that Netflix doesn't even carry it. If it's streaming online anywhere, I'll post the link ASAP.

Calling all Angels, Demons and 'Da Vinci' dorks

This weekend was considerably quieter at the box office. Angels & Demons opened with only $48,000,000 but managed to unseat Star Trek as the number one film. Since I won't be seeing the movie until I finish the book, read what the top critics have to say on rottentomatoes.com.

So why am I determined to finish the novel that precedes The Da Vinci Code before watching the movie version, which is written as a sequel? Simply put, I don't think I'll be able to follow the story without having read the cliff notes (i.e. the book) beforehand. I've never been a huge fan of Dan Brown— The Da Vinci Code was over-hyped as a book and rushed as a movie— but the elaborate conspiracy theories that define his novels are too intriguing to ignore. If you have any doubts about its widespread popularity, look no farther than the themed-tours market that first erupted in 2006 and now draws Angels & Demons fans today.

While travel is a great option, those who are on a tighter budget might appreciate the illustrated versions of The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons. These special editions include all of the original text along with city and site maps, artistic renderings and photographs of artifacts described in the story. In short, these books are the "Holy Grail" for devoted fans (yes, horrible pun, I know).

Apparently the illustrated versions have been out for a few years, but I just moseyed across them during a recent trip to the bookstore. Had I been more observant three years earlier, I could have bought them as a birthday gift for my mother, who is starting to find signs of Opus Dei and Illuminati at the grocery store and post office. Perhaps then I could have spared myself from her many questions: "Is there any obelisk in Saint Peter's Square? Have you seen 'The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa'? What does 'novus ordo seclorum' mean?"

Happy B'day Stephen Colbert

Today is the 45th birthday of the truthiness king himself, Stephen T. Colbert. The often-egocentric host of "The Colbert Report" made no mention of his special day on the show, although he did treat himself to a couple of thousand-dollar desserts on a recurring segment, Colbert Platinum.

In addition, staff members bought him a 1973 Martin guitar (see the full story), which might make its debut on Thursday's show when Yusuf (a.k.a Cat Stevens) guest stars. So sweet of them, but I honestly won't know if he plays it or not— I can't even tell a guitar apart from a bass.

The picture above (courtesy of the Military.com) is our first glimpse of Private Colbert training at Fort Jackson, S.C.— check out the Louis Vuitton bag and over-sized shades! He's attending boot camp to prepare for the show's upcoming trip to the Persian Gulf. The time and specific location of the tour is still a mystery, but hopefully we'll see some footage of the basic training soon.

Dismissed!

Bringing Trekkie Back

DISCLAIMER: I was a Trekkie (hem hem, technically a "Trekker") long before the new Star Trek film was even in production, so you might want to take my subsequent gushing with a grain of salt.

Back in 2005, I heard rumors that J.J. Abrams was in talks for creating a new Trek movie that would feature the crew from the original series as young adults. Reports said it would be, "The O.C. meets Star Trek." I was terrified. Mixing the mature, philosophical Trek with a melodramatic teen show seemed as good of an idea as mixing orange juice with milk. I couldn't have been more wrong.

In a single word, Star Trek is amazing. Sure it's also fun, thrilling, sexy and (yes) fresh, but "amazing" is the only way I can describe the pleasant shock that kept my mouth agape during most of the film. Abrams, who was already a sci-fi whiz ("Lost," Cloverfield, "Fringe"), has outdone himself: He breathed life into a wayward franchise while still honoring the Trek mythology. You don't need to be a Trekkie (heck, you don't even have to know what the U.S.S. Enterprise is) to enjoy the film, yet there are plenty of old-school allusions for the fans.

Surprises and plot twists are half the fun of Star Trek, so I will be sparing in the details I share. Despite the smooth special effects and the imaginative glimpses of alien worlds, the highlights were definitely in the performances. Karl Urban nailed the cantankerous "Bones" McCoy to an eerie (yet hilarious) degree that made me think he was channeling DeForest Kelley himself. Chris Pine's portrayal of James T. Kirk proved that this pretty boy can act — he embodied Kirk's devil-may-care attitude toward rules without the hokey Shatnerisms. And while Kirk was portrayed as a sort of Casanova on the television series, his womanizing habits are a great source of humor in the film. Funnyman Simon Pegg clicks as the clever and colorful Scotty while Zoe Saldana adds some feistiness to Uhura while maintaining her quick wit and compassion.

But out of all the cast, Zachary Quinto shines the brightest as a young Spock who must continually struggle with his emotions while questioning which world — Vulcan or human— he truly belongs to. The actor held his own, quite a feat considering the original Spock, Leonard Nimoy, made an appearance. In addition to Nimoy, Winona Ryder, Ben Cross and Jennifer Morrison from "House" have cameos. Perhaps they are closet Trekkies?

All the strings that might have constrained Star Trek in past are cut here. In the various television incarnations, plot continuity and fixed budgets kept the stories grounded; in previous films, the age of the actors (usually in their 50s and up) kept the action safe. But there are no limits in Abrams' reimagining of Gene Roddenberry's original vision — and that's Trek at its best.

Still not convinced to give Star Trek a try? Then check out Jimmy Fallon's interview with the two Spocks (Quinto and Nimoy) and learn how to act during a starship attack.

Until next time, live long and prosper.

10 Things I love about 'X-Men Origins'

While I am totally biased when it comes to reviewing X-Men films (or anything with Hugh Jackman for that matter), X-Men Origins: Wolverine is fun, fast-paced and fulfilling. Yes, fulfilling. Where X-Men 3: The Last Stand left me upset, confused and generally discontented, the latest mutant flick exceeded my expectations. Perhaps it should bump X3 out of the Blu-ray DVD pack and take its place...

So why am I raving about this film? Here's 10 reasons why:

1. Cool cameos from some of your favorite recurring characters like a teenage Cyclops (sorry, the glimpse of Storm was held for the director's cut DVD).
2. We finally know the tantilizing secrets of Wolverine's past— did you know that Logan isn't his first name?
   
3. Will.i.am rocks his silver screen debut in a cowboy hat.
   
4. Logan's love interest, Kayla Silverfox, is low-maintenance (not psychotic like Jean Grey in X-3) and gracefully acted by "True Blood" 's Lynn Collins.
5. Liev Schreiber kicks mutton-chops as Sabretooth. This blockbuster-shy actor earned some much-needed cool points after playing a nerd opposite a dashing Hugh Jackman in 2001's Kate & Leopold.
6. The sidekick and foil mutants were not annoying in this film. Dominic Monaghan as Bolt, Will.i.am as Wraith and Daniel Henney as Agent Zero vs. Callisto, Juggernaut and Pyro— 'nuff said.
7. Unlike the dark-dark-and-even-darker Dark Knight, I actually laughed during parts of this superhero movie. Isn't that how it's supposed to be?
8. Sorry, boys, this X-Men film is eye-candy for the girls. Between a shirtless Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool), a smoldering Taylor Kitsch (Gambit), a growling Liev Schreiber and a naked Hugh Jackman, you might want to bring a pocket fan.
9. The film has an adorable elderly couple who offer Logan some guidance (seriously we haven't seen a duo this cute since Uncle Ben and Aunt May in Spider-Man).
   
10. Still wanting more? At least two more spin-offs are already being discussed: a Deadpool prequel and another Wolverine story taking place in...Japan? Really?
    

Hounding Anoop-Dawg plus 'X-Men Origins' alternate endings

For those of you who are watching this season of "American Idol," keep reading. For those of you who despise/boycott/ignore it, just skip down to the X-Men paragraph.

Chapel Hill, N.C.'s own Anoop Desai, who was eliminated from the show two weeks ago, made his homecoming Monday at UNC-Chapel Hill. Friends, family and (of course) fans gave him a warm welcome. While I was an undergrad at UNC, I heard Anoop sing a few times as a member of the male a Cappella group, the Clef Hangers. After following his success on "American Idol," I was excited to meet and congratulate him. My friend and I were lucky to get our pictures taken (see right!) and speak with him briefly. Yes, I was pestering a fellow alum like a teeny-bopper, but Anoop couldn't have been more gracious.

Also, in case any fellow Tar Heels are wondering, I asked if his outfit was from Julian's on Franklin Street. It's not, but he did say he liked their style!

In addition to my local-celeb hunting, I saw X-Men Origins: Wolverine today. I'm too tired to do a full review now, but it was dynamite (or should I say adamantium?) If you're planning to see it soon, be sure to stay until the end of the credits for an additional scene as done in X-3: The Last Stand. Apparently this film has more than one ending snippet, but you can only see one at a time (read MTV's scoop on the multiple alternate endings).

More to come soon!

"My dad's Wolverine" and the kickoff of May Movie Madness

Like all superhero flicks, X-Men Origins: Wolverine has the potential to be a great date movie. Despite the genre's penchant for long action scenes and over-the-top characters, there's always a deeper story, and it usually centers around love . While true romances (think any movie based on a Nicholas Sparks novel) are a bit too serious for the first few movie dates, silver screen incarnations of classic comics are guaranteed to keep the mood light— or in the case of Spider-Man 3, ridiculously frivolous.

But what if you don't have a date? Hugh Jackman shares his 8-year-old son's method of impressing the ladies in the "The Daily Show" interview below. And in case you're wondering, the blow-up Wolverine punching toy was first mentioned back in 2006 when Hugh was promoting X3: The Last Stand on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien." Unfortunately NBC Universal is extremely vigilant in keeping their clips off youtube, so alas I have no video of that interview. Conan had predicted that Hugh's son would get a lot of use out of the punching toy as a teenager— I guess he started early!

Also, The LA Times has an article that breaks down the quintuple blockbusters of May and picks Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian as the only candidate likely to break $100 million on opening weekend (wouldn't have been my first pick!) But with all these budget-bloated movies premiering this month, it begs the question: Will there be anything left for the rest of the summer?

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	M - Th 11p / 10c
Hugh Jackman
thedailyshow.com
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Going it alone — to see Matthew Perry as a 17-year-old

The summer movie blitz begins today — well at least in my book it does. X-Men Origins opens today with Star Trek to follow next week, which can only mean that the blockbuster season is upon us. Rather than fall behind early on, I decided to go see 17 Again today before the action onslaught begins.

Funny thing is, I went alone— something that is both liberating and embarrassing at the same time. The movie was a bit below my expectations only because I compared it to the fabulous '80s flick, Big. But overall, I enjoyed it: Matthew Perry and Leslie Mann are always fun to watch and Zac Efron's acting was actually decent. He was able to channel some of Perry's mannerisms/quirks (although I'd have loved a "Could I be any younger?" a la Chandler Bing) while adopting a more mature persona than he has portrayed in the past. And yes, of course, he did dribble and dance, but the High School Musical-esque beginning ends quickly when Efron's character finds out he's going to be a father at the tender age of 17. Imagine Troy and Gabriella having to deal with that one. Break-dancing in the OR?

But the problems of 17 Again lie in the script, not the acting or the overall story. Many of the jokes and comedic scenes are forced down the audience's throat to the point that you dread the funny parts. The best friend/sidekick, played by Thomas Lennon, is a super-geek — his bed is a hovercraft and he's fluent in Elvish — yet he's rarely funny. Also, while the film begins and ends as a love story, it seems to lose its focus somewhere in the middle by perusing too many fluff scenes that don't take the plot anywhere.

Bottom line: I went to see 17 Again mostly because the idea of Matthew Perry's personality in Zac Efron's body might just create the perfect guy. It wasn't as funny as I'd expected, but it was quite cute.
J&S Rating: 3 stars (out of 5)