May the Fourth Be With You

Yes, I’ve taken a horrendous break from this blog to focus my time and attention on continuing my chupacabra books series and – yes, I’ll admit it here and now – another obsession that I’m still too obsessed over to take the time away from it to write about it.  However, I am breaking my hiatus to talk about one obsession that I have purposely saved for just this day… Star Wars.  If asked what my longest and dearest obsession is, it would be my love for this space saga.

Briefly turning the clock back in order to provide some perspective, I saw the original Star Wars on opening weekend.  My dad took me as an early gift for my seventh birthday; however, I specifically remember not carrying a lick about Star Wars (I think I actually wanted to see some Disney movie instead; ironic now, I know), and I think my dad wanted to see the movie badly enough not  to care what I wanted for my birthday – and am I ever glad he did.  It is one of my earliest and favorite memories, watching the opening scene with C-3P0 and R2-D2 under attack by Darth Vader and his storm troopers.  I was hooked, smitten, captivated, and flabbergasted.  I had never felt such instant passion about anything life had to offer until that moment.  To this day, I feel like watching Star Wars defined the person I eventually would become.

As I’m sure anyone with an IQ higher than 25 knows, Star Wars is not just a movie, but an empire (pun intended).  There are all six movies, the books, the soundtracks, the board games, the video games, the collections, the toys, the TV series, the expanded universe, etc, and I have a distinct passion for each of them; so this in no means the end of including Star Wars in my obsession blog.  This submission is meant only to be an introduction for what will eventually come and to say, “May the Force Be With You.”

OMG! HFHF!?

Oh My God! Is Harrison Ford Having Fun!?

Harrison Ford has been high on my obsession gauge these last few days.  Not only is he one of the best parts of the new Weird Western "Cowboys & Aliens", but Mr. Ford has also dropped about 180 lbs. of crotchety old man.  For those who are not quite sure about what I mean, let me just say that Harrison has not exactly been known for being.... hmm, what's the word... warm?  There are many, many interviews that show Mr. Tough Guy as a little crass, guarded and, to a certain extent, paranoid.  This was always one of my least favorite qualities about one of my most favorite actors.  But I couldn't just drop him from the favorite actor roster for being grouchy; not Han Solo, Indiana Jones, Jack Ryan or his Oscar-nominated persona, John Book!  Impossible!  His personality was just something I learned to deal with over time, so it was with relief that Harrison Ford only did interviews when his contract dragged him kicking and screaming.  And, let me just say, that in the four years I worked as a publicist for feature films, "Praise Jesus, not a one of them was a Harrison Ford film!"

However, I'm changing my tune now.  You want to know why?  Because good ol' Harry looks to have changed his tune.

A couple years back, you may, or may not, remember a quirky, tongue-in-cheek feud going on between Jimmy Kimmel and Matt Damon, which consisted of their "significant others" having affairs with their nemesis's.  It all began with Jimmy Kimmel's girlfriend, Sarah Silverman, helping Matt Damon get back at Jimmy Kimmel for always "bumping" him off his show at the end of the night.  The video was called, "I'm Fucking Matt Damon" (which is absolutely hilarious!)  Well, Jimmy responded with his own, even more hilarious video called, "I'm Fucking Ben Affleck", in which Harrison Ford participates by making a very, VERY brief appearance, but the point is... HE MAKES AN APPEARANCE!!!  Harrison never does fun things like this! What the hell is going on?!? I'm not lying.  I have proof here, but don't blink, you might miss him:

Okay, so maybe this was a fluke. Maybe Mr. Ford just found a growth on his chest wasn't cancer.  Maybe Calista prepared his favorite meal (or did something else for him).  Maybe he received another residual check for Star Wars in the mail that day.  Who knows!?!

But now, during the promotion of 'Cowboys & Aliens'... Harry shocks me again!  And this time, it's not a bit part, he stars in this comedic spoof of probably his most beloved character, Han Solo.  Watch here:

So, you may have noticed, as did I, that this was another Jimmy Kimmel Production.  Perhaps the talk show host/comedian has some some dirt on Harry (hehe, Dirty Harry)  But I don't care!  Harrison Ford is not only a gifted actor, but his level of commitment to comedy truly makes him a uniquely funny man (but we'll just forget about 'Working Girl' right about now.)

Thank you Harrison Ford for embracing your celebrity, coming out of your cantankerous closet and being the well-rounded performer I always knew you could be.

The Weird, Weird West

The other day I received another advance screening invitation for Cowboys & Aliens (starring obsession, Harrison Ford), and although I was not displeased with the movie, I did not find it anything to get obsessed about.  Therefore, I will not be doing a review as I am trying to keep this blog about what I DO obsess about.  However!... seeing as though this film was in my Top 5 most anticipated movies of 2011, it would be acceptable to explain my mounting excitement for this film and why I have obsessed about seeing it since the day I heard about it.

There is a relatively new genre known as "weird fiction" or "weird western" that is popular in select circles.  I am not sure of its origins, but I assume "steam punk" is an influence of this weird genre or vice versa, which is basically taking the western setting and mixing it with at least one other genre, such as horror, technology or science fiction.  I have been obsessed with this cross-breeding genre since the mid-90's and just to give an idea of the level of my obsession for this genre, I have started my own book anthology that is a weird western combination of Western/Thriller based on the elusive and legendary, el chupacabra.  (see other posts on this subject)

What is it that I find so appealing about weird westerns? - Not sure.  It's just one of those things in life that I find exciting, original and entertaining.  Maybe it's because there are very few weird western stories out there to experience, that the fascination stems from the unfamiliarity of fantasy or horror that has not been re-chewed and spat out onto a movie screen or in a book.  Of course, the western setting is not the only time period that is being churned into its own genre.  There is a fairly popular book that is being turned into a movie set in the Elizabethan area that is a Horror/Comedy, called 'Pride and Prejudice and Zombies', and a civil war action/horror story based on one of our most popular United States President's, 'Abraham Lincoln - Vampire Hunter', both books that I'm getting a little obsessed about reading in my spare time (insert laughter here).  There has even been a weird, popular film series already produced called, 'Pirates of the Caribbean, which is a good example of the weird, throwing together of two genres, which I would classify as Colonial/Paranormal.

But hopefully, thanks to Cowboys & Aliens, this introduction of good 'weird western' to the general public will be welcomed with opened arms (ignoring the atrocious abomination, 'Jonah Hex' and even the highly disappointing 'Wild, Wild West').  And even though the film did not meet my exceedingly high expectations, it is still a good movie that I wish for nothing less than incredible success.

One review-like detail I will comment on about Cowboys & Aliens… Harrison Ford's performance is FANTASTIC!

1 Little Obsession + 1 Little Obsession = 1 Little Obsession?

Every since The Notebook was released in 2004, I've had a little obsession with Rachel McAdams. I just think she's brilliant and engaging. Her comedic timing is flawless and she is very beautiful (hopefully on the inside too).

In fact, one of my previous publicity assignments was to "talent handle" Ryan Gosling as he was publicizing Lars And The Real Girl. This was back when he and Rachel were an item. Now, I thought Ryan was great too, and after spending the entire day with him, I still think so. But don't think for a moment that as the day went on, I wasn't wishing that Rachel would come to the press day to surprise him (and surprise me respecitvely.)

So, Rachel McAdams is 1 little obsession.

Another little obsession is Harrison Ford. Now, I KNOW I'm not the only one. Come on! Star Wars! Indiana Jones! Working Girl! --- nevermind. Scratch that last one.

I would say; however, that Harrison has dropped down my obsession scale in the last decade just because he has done very little to warrant a higher status, but he will always be on it.

So, Harrison Ford, the other 1 little obsession.

I went to the movies this weekend and watched a trailer for a movie that I had only heard about until that moment. The movie looks "movie theatre" good, but not "opening weekend" good; however, it stars both Rachel McAdams and Harrison Ford. It is called MORNING GLORY and is scheduled to be released domestically on November 12. I guess the problem that I'm facing is that I should be MORE excited for this movie. I should want to see it opening weekend, much less... opening day! But I don't for some reason. With two little obsessions in the same movie, you would think that seeing MORNING GLORY would be a Big Obsession, but it's not. I'm having a real problem disecting this.

I'm not entirely sure as to my point of this post. I guess I don't have one. I think I'm just looking for an answer that nobody can answer for me. But as an afterthought, it would be fun to document my current excitement level for this movie and then compare it to how I feel after I actually watch the movie. Maybe the two little obsessions will become 1 Big Obsession and I'll watch the movie over and over? I guess we'll find out sometime in November, but probably not opening weekend.