Carrying the Banner

Is there anything better than a bunch of good-looking guys dancing and singing through the streets of New York City? Hang on, let me ask my Magic 8 Ball. Yep, just as I suspected: "Concentrate and ask again."

Wait, what? Oh yeah, my Magic 8 Ball actually dehydrated and I had to throw it out. Sad day. So, let me answer for it. Is there anything better? My sources say no.

Newsies came out in 1992. I remember this vividly, as I was a twelve year old girl, and things like cute singing and dancing boys stick with you when you're twelve. My sister and I must have seen this movie at least a dozen times in the theater (hooray for the dollar movie!), and to this day we still quote it at appropriate times. (Which is more often than you might think.)

The film is purportedly based on a true story, set during the Hearst/Pulitzer era around the turn of the (last) century, and dealing with issues of child labor. I'm not sure how much of it is really true. My guess is most of it, because everybody knows that's what they do in New York: spontaneously dance and sing in perfect harmony all over the city.

But whatever factual issues there may be (and really, I have no idea what they are, I have never researched it), this movie is fun. Great songs, cute boys, and Christian Bale waaay before he was Batman. And cute boys. Did I mention the cute boys? There are cute boys. (Yes, I'm still twelve years old.) Check it out. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. And plus, it's a winner! It says so, right on the cover!

(P.S. Make sure you watch the credits all the way through until the backdrop unfreezes. You can thank me later.)

Trifectas

Things in life seem to come in threes. Like, if one bad thing happens in your life, look out, because numbers two and three are probably on the horizon. And I heard on the radio once that celebrities seem to die in triplicate. Then there's math: peanut butter + jelly + bread = three awesome ingredients. And that one Len Barry song. And how could you get to 12 without first starting with "1, 2, 3?" You couldn't, that's how.

And then there's movie trilogies. You've got your Star Wars, your Indiana Jones (because let's be honest here, the fourth one doesn't count), and your Lord of the Rings. All classic, epic adventures.

But don't forget one more classic adventure trilogy: Toy Story.


Go ahead. Make the alien "oooooh!" noise. You know you want to.

The Toy Story series is one of the best film series of all time. And even though 15 years (half my life!---er, I mean, was I even born when the first movie came out?) lapsed between the first and the third installments, the first doesn't feel dated, and the third still feels fresh.

In the first movie, you fall in love with Woody and Buzz and the whole gang. And you really hope that burn mark will come off of Woody's forehead. And you think it's hilarious that Sid wants to ride the pony. And you add a whole bunch of quotable lines to your repertoire. And after watching it, you secretly set up cameras in your room in hopes of catching your toys, you know, at it.

In the second movie, you marvel at the even crisper animation even as you think how disgusting that cheese dust looks on the villain's fingers. You want a Bullseye of your very own, because he's adorable. You stay to the very, very end and learn why they call him Stinky Pete. And you figure that these toys have had a good run from 1995-1999, and you say goodbye, satisfied.

And then, to everyone's surprise and elation, along comes the third movie, eleven years later. And you laugh---you laugh a lot---at Ken, at Mr. Pita Head, at Spanish Buzz, at "Mr. Pricklepants"...and that jellybean stuck to his head. You are terrified by Big Baby on the swing set. (Seriously! Creepiest. Toy. Ever.) You cry a little watching Andy and Bonnie. And if you're anything like me, you're genuinely worried for the welfare of these characters that you have come to know and love.

If I sound a little...over-the-top seriously nostalgically in love with these movies, it's just because I am. They are wonderful in every possible way. I think the middle one is the weakest of the three, and even it is fantastic. There is simply nothing not to love. See these movies, now. And then watch them again and again and again.

And then please don't ever leave your toys in the sandbox. Seems like a rough place, what with all half-melted soldiers and, uh, Lincoln Logs.

Something borrowed, something blue...

In honor of this first post of the New Year, I shall review something...old.

Le Nozze Di Figaro is my favorite opera. Granted, I don't know a whole lot of opera. I blame this on the fact that my very first experience with opera was a terrible production of La Boheme when I was about 13 years old. It was long, it was dull, it was poorly sung, and it had no supertitles, so I was confused, bored, and lost. I determined then and there that opera was not for me, and it was not until many years later when I started pursuing music seriously as a discipline that I discovered that opera is, in fact, kind of awesome. And very fun to sing.

I have a soft spot in my heart for La Nozze, partly because I am familiar with and really like the French play (and its prequel, The Barber of Seville) from my days as a Theatre Studies major, and partly because I saw a fantastic production of it at Utah Opera, but mostly because the first aria I ever sang, "Deh vieni, non tardar," is from this opera. And also, one of my favorite duets that I have ever performed, "Sull'aria," is also from this opera. So, yeah, I like the Mozart.

My dad picked me up a recording of Le Nozze at a library book sale for a dollar. What a shame that nobody was checking this out (and it doesn't look as if anyone ever has, based on the wear and tear---or lack of it---on the booklet and CDs themselves), and what a shame that it was being practically given away...but what a great find for me! Featuring Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau as the count, Gundula Janowitz as the countess, Edith Mathis as Susanna, and Hermann Prey as Figaro, this recording, made in 1968, sounds just as great today as I'm sure it did then. Everyone's voices are clear and bright, and the music is flawlessly performed by singers and musicians alike.

One of my favorite things about this recording is how everyone performs their chunks of recitative. Sometimes I'm not wild about the way certain arias are performed; I do think "Deh vieni" is a little lacking in energy and "Sull'aria" drags a bit for my taste, and at times, Ms. Janowitz' vibrato sounds a little constricted to me. But every single recitative is incredibly fun to listen to. Everyone sings their lines with such conversational ease. I don't speak Italian. I'm don't have the libretto memorized. Frankly, it's been a while since I've seen or read it, and I can't remember all the finer points of the plot and dialogue (and it's kind of confusing!). But I feel like I can understand what's going on just by the inflection these wonderful performers give their lines. Recitative can make or break an opera, in my opinion. If the singers don't really know what they're saying or aren't really comfortable with the language, it just becomes laborious and dry. But it's clear that every single one of these performers knows exactly what they're saying and how to say it. It's a joy to listen to.

If you think you don't like opera, give this one a chance. I think you might change your mind. And then see what else your library is selling for a dollar...and give me a call so I can clean them out.