Author Archives: popjudgment

Oct 24 2012
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Music, THINGS WE LOVE

“Begin Again”: Correct Maturity Level

Guys, we know we’ve been a little MIA recently, and we apologize for that. But fundamentally, there hasn’t been that much exciting stuff in pop culture for us to be talking about. Yesterday, ALL OF THAT CHANGED.

Yes, indeed–Taylor Swift’s fourth album, Red, was officially released yesterday, and we’ve been listening to it ever since. Look, we know you have too. And honestly, we’ve been enjoying it a lot! It’s been entirely too long since we had some new T-Swizzle, and Red on the whole is pretty great.

BUT THEN! Today, she went even further in our excitement and released a new video. We didn’t even cover her video for “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” because we hated it so much, so we’re glad to have something we can actually talk about. Tay-Tay released the video for “Begin Again,” a very pretty song about starting over in a new relationship. In the video she wanders around Paris in a lot of pretty outfits looking sad for most of it. Here, watch:

Some thoughts:

  • Sorry, the image of Taylor biking in that skirt is really hilarious to us for some reason. Right? Not that anything about it is wrong in any way, it is just hilariously pretentious.
  • Unsurprisingly, Tay-Tay drinks an espresso shot more slowly than anyone ever.
  • Do we think those are her actual sketches at 1:09? Because they’re pretty impressive.
  • Okay, the new guy is very cute in general, but what is up with his hair??? We are not on board with that amount of gel. Gentlemen, take note: it’s not cute.
  • Love that purple dress. Its sole purpose seems to be to look pretty (not really sure what she’s doing sitting on that ledge in general) but it is EXCELLING at that.
  • We would probably not get involved with a guy whose version of a pick-up line is taking our picture. It’s a personal choice and not one we’re judging Taylor for, but this clearly would not work for everyone. We would move away slowly. Maybe it’s different in France?
  • What is with the tart interlude? Does she leave the guy and go to a different cafe? So confused.
  • Can we talk about how much more age-appropriate this guy is for Taylor than the 18-year-old Kennedy she’s dating? Too soon?

Anyway, overall we really enjoyed “Begin Again.” Though it is admittedly a little overwrought and… well… Taylor-y, it is in the right direction, which is away from “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” and people dressed like animals. Stick with angst and cafes, Taylor–you never go wrong there.

 

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Sep 23 2012
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Joseph Gordon-Levitt Remains Awesome

 

 

 

Short post today folks, because… guys, seriously. If you haven’t watched Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s “Saturday Night Live” you should. SNL has a very hit-and-miss reputation, and this past Saturday, it was a whole bunch of hits! The combination of Joseph Gordon-Levitt being an amazingly talented host and the impeccable writing of the SNL staff was phenomenal! The commercials were especially great, the uninformed voters PSA and tampons made by Republicans commercials were brilliant. Even though we will list the highlights below, go watch the whole thing. It is completely worth your time!  

Highlights

1.) Opening Monologue: Joseph Gordon-Levitt admits his favorite movie of the summer was Magic Mike. (It was ours too.) Then he and the SNL cast members reenact everyone’s favorite part. You know which part we’re talking about. It was hilarious and we hope Mr. Gordon-Levitt makes the cut for the Magic Mike sequel.

2.) The Son of the Most Interesting Man in the World: This concept of the skit is already funny, but when you add Joseph Gordon-Levitt to it, it becomes something more… it becomes genius. Whether he was riding a scooter or arguing with his father, we were dying. It was just so good.

3.) Weekend Update: Did not include Joseph Gordon-Levitt but Kate McKinnon’s Ann Romney was amazing. She is a relative newcomer (just added last season) but is hilarious! We can’t help but laugh everytime she does a funny northern accent.

 

Just go watch it. Seriously!

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Sep 16 2012
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Movies

End of Watch: Bald Jake Gyllenhaal?

We are complete suckers for crime dramas, Anna Kendrick, and Jake Gyllenhaal, so when we first heard of the new movie End of Watch we were really excited! Then we saw the trailer and became… less excited? We are not sure exactly what it is about this trailer that makes the movie seem less appealing. Maybe it’s because it reminds us of the movie Savages. Which yes, we saw. Unfortunately. Perhaps it’s because it looks like someone decided to make a movie of “The Shield” without Michael Chiklis. Perhaps it’s because Jake Gyllenhaal, even bald, is still too pretty to be a believable badass cop. But the most likely reason is that the trailer, while using a documentary style technique does not make any of the characters look particularly real – it’s simply the ‘good guys’ vs. the ‘evil Mexican cartel.’ After years of watching crime dramas with morally questionable policemen and criminals like “The Shield” or “The Wire” … honestly this movie looks kind of flat and boring.

Trailer Summary:
So the trailer opens with these two awesome cops who are partners and best friends! [Insert family scenes here.] And then we learn that they somehow stumbled upon this cartel. And now the cartel wants to kill them. Conflict ensues. Also the guy who wrote Training Day and The Fast and the Furious wrote it.

Sounds good right? Buuuut, we have our doubts.

Problems We Have With It:

  • Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Peña have great chemistry, but they seem too good to be true. They are the “city’s TOP GUNS.” The capitalization is not an accident folks. They are just that good. However, the awesome crime dramas we prefer tend to have characters that are flawed but still likable for some reason. Michael Chiklis’ Vic in “The Shield” or Dominic West’s McNulty from “The Wire” are so much more interesting.
  • Note that the villain in the movie is simply referred to as “The Cartel.” Hmmmmmmm.
  • It is a ridiculously macho looking movie.


Now perhaps when it comes out, this movie will prove us completely wrong and show us a complex picture of crime in America. However, it looks like a Bourne-type action flick masquerading as a more provocative ‘film.’ We might see it when it comes out September 21. But then again… we might just re-watch some of “The Shield” instead.

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Sep 12 2012
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Movies

Celeste and Jesse Forever: Romantic and Hilarious

As you might have already extrapolated from previous posts, we are NBC devotees. Yes, we recognize that our eisre for a network to succeed is not actually rational. But nevertheless, we sense the spirit at NBC and by association love its many talented actors and actresses–particularly those in comedies.

So obviously, we were super pumped when we saw that Rashida Jones (The Office, Parks and Recreation) and Andy Samberg (Saturday Night Live) were starring in a movie together! Better yet, we saw the trailer and were genuinely excited to see Celeste and Jesse Forever. Rom-coms are obviously our jam, especially when they are written by women! Yes, Rashida Jones actually co-wrote Celeste and Jesse Forever, allowing us to hope that the movie would at the least have more three-dimensional characters than in your average rom-com.

On that front, our hopes were not disappointed in the least. All of the characters felt fully fleshed-out and like people that you could meet in your everyday life. We especially loved Elijah Wood as Celeste’s best gay friend who tries and fails to be sassy. Even when we were frustrated with Jesse and/or Celeste, we were rarely asking “Why would they do that??”

We were pleasantly surprised by the direction that the movie took–one that we hadn’t anticipated from watching the trailers. The setup for Celeste and Jesse is that Celeste and Jesse got married very young, grew apart, and decided to divorce but remain best friends. While we found that a super interesting dynamic to explore, we weren’t sure it could carry an entire movie. Don’t worry–it isn’t asked to. As much as anything, the movie is really about Celeste and Jesse each finding their paths to actually growing up.

Celeste and Jesse Forever was both adorable and hilarious–as well as making us cry at one point. Go support women in filmmaking and see this movie–and spend time with the delightful Rashida Jones and Andy Samberg. It’s a win-win situation, people!

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Sep 09 2012
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Movies, THINGS WE LOVE

The Master: guys just go see it

Okay, guys, the previously retired actor JOAQUIN PHOENIX is back. In a movie about a CULT. How awesome is that? How much more do you need to know to want to see this movie??? If unconvinced, watch the trailer below!

MIND BLOWN. And that’s just the trailer. Imagine how great the movie will be! Some of the many awesome things about this trailer:

  • JOAQUIN PHOENIX IS IN A MOVIE AGAIN. It’s actually him!
  • The director. Guys – Paul Thomas Anderson is kind of amazing. Not only did he direct the epic There Will Be Blood, his long term partner is Maya Rudolph from SNL. He’s a winner.
  • Paul Thomas Anderson said that Phllip Seymour Hoffman’s character is loosely inspired by L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology. Phillip Seymour Hoffman + Scientology??? We are intrigued.
  • Jesse Plemons is in this movie! Obviously if a movie has any actor from “Friday Night Lights” in it, we’re going to see it. But ESPECIALLY Landry. We love Landry!
  • Also, Phillip Seymoure Hoffman looks AMAZING in it. We would probably join his cult…
  • Amy Adams – always a plus. Ever since the The Muppets we are totally on the Amy Adams bandwagon.


Just in general this movie looks so. good. This is one of those movies where everything seems to come together and a truly unique and amazing movie is made. WE ARE SO EXCITED. EVERYONE SHOULD SEE THIS MOVIE.

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Sep 05 2012
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Movies, Music

Sparkle: Only For You, Whitney

When we first saw the trailer for Sparkle, we could not have been more excited. Whitney Houston’s last on-screen appearance! A plot that looked a lot like Dreamgirls! What more could you want in a movie?

Well, as it turns out… kind of a lot. We sat through that movie, and it was mostly long and boring.

The biggest problem with Sparkle? The title character is easily the most boring person involved in the entire movie. Here, let us describe the major characters for you:

  • A former alcoholic/druggie/singer who has become an upstanding member of society. She is mother to three daughters, owns a dressmaking shop and her own home, and is a pillar of her church community.
  • Whitney Houston’s eldest daughter, who has moved back home after a failed marriage. She’s approaching 30 in an era where that means death in the marriage market but is exceptionally pretty and can really put over a song. Though she’s sometimes over-focused on material things, she cares deeply for her sisters.
  • The second daughter, who is crazy smart and plans to go to medical school. She is only interested in a singing group because it would help her pay for med school. She does cool, unconventional things like shaving her head.
  • The youngest daughter, whose only characteristics are “good girl” and “likes writing songs.”

Yes, as you might have guessed, the last one is Sparkle. Also named Sparkle, which seems unlikely considering that her sisters go by “Sister” and “Dolores” and their mother is vehemently opposed to their vanity. What?

So everyone in it was fine. It was great to see Whitney sing “His Eye Is On the Sparrow” and all. Carmen Ejogo, who played Sister, was awesome. Jordin Sparks did what she could with what she had. Everyone sounded great. We just kind of kept wishing that the movie was much, much shorter and/or had far more musical numbers.

That being said: we’re glad we paid to see Whitney’s last movie role. She really was a once-in-a-generation talent, and hearing her voice truly reminded us of that. If nothing else, Sparkle just reminds us all how Whitney can make even something dull shine.

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Sep 02 2012
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Movies

The Words: Say What?

Ok, so when we saw the trailer to this movie we were just like… what? The music and copious typewriter shots indicate that this movie should be artsy and good and like… really get to the HUMAN EXPERIENCE YOU KNOW!? But somehow it just falls short and looks kind of boring. Watch the trailer below to witness the confusing blandness that is The Words.

Things that Continue to Confuse Us

  • The cast: Bradley Cooper, Dennis Quaid, Olivia Wilde, Zoe Saldana and Jeremy Irons are all pretty famous people. What are they doing in this movie?
  • 0:32 – J.K. Simmons returns playing the role of The Mean Editor again. We got really excited for a moment that this might actually be a Spiderman movie! Alas… Tobey Maguire never showed up…
  • 0:38 – Zoe Saldana, the love of Bradley Cooper’s life in the movie shows up wearing a FEDORA. We do not support Fedoras. Ever. Do you really want to tell your children, “When I first met your mother, she was wearing a Fedora…”? NO. UNACCEPTABLE.
  • 1:16 – Bradley Cooper finds a mysterious manuscript in a briefcase that is sitting in the open on a shelf that literally anyone could find and see. Come on. No secret compartment? Is this real life?
  • 1:42 – Jeremy Irons, the ‘actual’ writer of the best selling manuscript shows up, in cinema super-spy/drug dealer style on a park bench wearing a trench coat and… A FEDORA. We cringed.
  • The trailer then ends with emotional music and a series of really vague statements that are actually a list of MIND BLOWING EPIPHANIES:
    • “Some dreams test us”
    • “Some stories connect us”
    • “Some moments change us”
    • “Some choices stay with us”
    • [insert dramatic pause]
    • “FOREVER”


Wow. Why are there so many fedoras? Why are so many good people in this movie? Are we missing something? Why is this movie being made? We have so many questions! As usual, we resorted to Google / imdb.com to help answer some questions but it just got even more confusing! The Writer / Directors of this movie are both new to this. Brian Klugman’s imdb.com profile indicates that he is a relatively successful actor with many small roles in television shows and some big movies. He has never directed anything else before and neither has his co-director and writer, Lee Sternhal. How in the hell did they get to direct a big movie with such a star studded cast? What on earth? We are intrigued. Almost enough to even go see this movie! Almost. In reality we will probably just take a pass and see Finding Nemo 3D instead.

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Aug 29 2012
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Music, THINGS WE LOVE

“Blow Me (One Last Kiss)”: Yes, Pink Is Still Awesome

We love Pink. No qualifications, no apologies. She is a total badass, a great singer, and never seems to be trying to be someone other than herself. What’s not to love?

So no surprise, we are absolutely obsessed with her new single “Blow Me (One Last Kiss).” First of all, how great is it that she named her song “Blow Me”? It is so much more fun to tell people, “Oh, I’m listening to BLOW ME” than about 99% of most song titles. Plus, no one can hate on Pink and make fun of us for listening to her in the same way that we have to suffer for our enjoyment of Demi Lovato. No regrets.

Getting back on track, “Blow Me” is both an amazing break-up song and generally the perfect thing to drive around to singing loudly, especially with summer winding down. Making it even more fun, Pink’s video for it is crazy. Like, even for her. Check it out:

Things to note:

  • The video is both black and white and apparently ostensibly French, as all of the credits are in French. However, the song remains in English. Oh, Pink.
  • Pink’s jewelry in the first shot is INCREDIBLE. Seriously, we aren’t entirely sure what to call that jeweled collar thing but we know that it is gorgeous! And those pearls!
  • This guy she’s dating is a sleazebag, though admittedly hot. Answering the phone during a romantic picnic? Also… why does he have a cell phone? The costuming made us think this was a period piece, but now it is apparently not?
  • So PINK is the only color in the video! Oh the symbolism. Just watch her wine splashing over his face!
  • Pink later strips to an old-timey bathing suit, further confusing us on this setting. Also on why she’s stripping, but you can’t hope for everything. Inexplicably, she decides to take off the jeweled collar. Then she goes to a pretty French house and is an artist’s model. As you do.
  • The outfit Pink wears to crash the sleazebag’s party is pretty awesome. She puts on a black power suit, slicks her hair back, and dances with his other girlfriend to scare the crap out of her. But then he proposes to her! Right in front of Pink! Does he have a death wish??
  • Wait, her next outfit is even better. She wears all black, including a mask and a parasol, to the guy’s wedding!
  • Then some fairy creature, we guess, comes in on a bike in the air (???) and blows up a pink heart to splash all over the whole wedding party. So many questionable things about this. Pink just looks like a dominatrix and glories in the whole thing while everyone else at the wedding screams and runs away. It’s amazing, obviously. Then she leaves on the flying bicycle. What? …but also, props, Pink.

Basically this video could be summed up as: doesn’t matter that she’s a mom now, Pink is and forever will be a badass. And we love her for it. May she always be so cool.

 

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Aug 26 2012
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Movies, THINGS WE LOVE

Taken 2: Kidnapping is Still Bad Guys

Guys, Liam Neeson has finally answered all of our prayers by making a sequel to the movie Taken, titled….wait for it…..Taken 2! Now we don’t know about the rest of you, but the moment we saw this trailer we rejoiced. Out of all the bad movies Liam Neeson has found himself in the last few years (Batman Begins being the exception), Taken is definitely our favorite. Liam Neeson may seem an unlikely action star, but we absolutely LOVE watching him kick ass to save his daughter from evil human traffickers. Basically, Liam Neeson is kind of the best and we’d rather watch Taken over James Bond any day. (Sorry folks, it’s true – no disrespect to 007 intended.)   

Now as many of you know, sequels are always iffy because they bring up the question: ‘Will the director totally change the plot / invalidate a lot of the first movie?’ For example, after Ocean’s Eleven, a movie about how eleven people pulled off a truly incredible heist successfully, they decided to make Ocean’s Twelve, a movie about how they weren’t actually that successful because Andy Garcia figured out who robbed him and wants his money back. They then have to go rob some folks in Europe to get his money back. Whoops. Seriously, don’t try to pull one on Andy Garcia. However, we don’t have to worry about that with Taken 2, because based on the trailer they are not changing anything. They actually seem to be making the exact same movie as the first one!!!

Ladies and gentlemen, observe the basic arc of the Taken trailers.

Beginning

  • HUGS: Obligatory hug from daughter in first minute of the trailer, this establishes that they are happy and everything is all good. (0:12 in Taken and 0:40 in Taken 2)
  • HOTELS: Several shots of them being in hotel rooms with lots of windows…. this establishes that they are on vacation. Why are they always on vacation? WHY ARE THEY NEVER AT HOME?


Middle:

  • The Kidnapping: The kidnappers show up and this is where the windows (see: ‘Beginning’) become important. The daughter either watches the kidnapping through the windows or climbs out of one.
  • THE PHONE CALL: Liam Neeson gives instructions to people over the phone, during which he establishes that he is a complete badass and the kidnappers should just give up right now. BUT THEY DON’T. Fools.


End:

  • EXPLOSIONS: Liam Neeson wins. Always.


For more proof see the trailers below:

 

Taken

 

 

Taken 2

 

In sum, Liam Neeson knows if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

 

 

 

 

 

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Aug 19 2012
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Music

On The Rise: Miss Willie Brown

Okay, we know we’ve been featuring a lot of country music videos lately. Sorry we’re not sorry–it’s summertime and not much music is doing the job quite as well as country for us right now.

That being said, nothing in country music (Taylor Swift’s new single obvi doesn’t count) has made us quite as excited this summer as the new duo Miss Willie Brown. Kasey Buckley and Amanda Watkins are the two ladies making up this duo, and we have not stopped singing their debut single, “You’re All That Matters To Me,” since we first heard it. As a bonus, their video is ADORABLE. It is seriously the best video that we’ve seen all summer. Check it out:

RIGHT?!? So cute. Best things about this video:

  • It takes place in an auto shop. These girls are working on cars?! Clearly badass.
  • Pranks on each other: our personal favorite is Amanda jacking up the car with Kasey inside.
  • When they decide to get over the guy they’re fighting over and tell each other how much they matter. Aw, bestie love!
  • That hot guy with the race car driver helmet at the end. Hottest race car driver we’ve seen since Arie from The Bachelorette.
  • How freaking catchy this song is! Seriously… we constantly find ourselves humming it these days.

To sum up, Miss Willie Brown is clearly awesome and is definitely a band to look out for in the future! “You’re All That Matters To Me” is the perfect song to wind down your summer with, and it is now or never for getting on board to be able to say, “Oh, I liked them before…” So get on it, people!

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