She Likes Purple

Movie Review: Brave

I was lucky enough to be invited to an early screening of Brave last night (this time it was actually a screening and not some star-studded, business-casual-means-wear-a-ball-gown premiere) and I was a little bummed that the time and place of the screening would make it impossible for me to bring Kyle. We've only taken him to one in-theater movie before, and he did pretty well. I thought it'd be fun to take him to another. Well, small miracles that I ended up inviting Natalie instead.

We saw the 3-D version, which I didn't realize before showing up. I was a little disappointed since 3-D isn't really my thing, but this was the first 3-D movie I think I enjoyed more than I would have otherwise. It was visually spectacular and the VisitScotland marketing campaign is pretty genius because that's exactly what I took from the movie: I need to get to Scotland ASAP.  

The story itself -- outside of the breathtaking LOOK of it -- was a little disappointing. The plot wasn't at all what I was expecting. I thought it would be a coming-of-age adventure where this young girl is tested either by her circumstances or ambitions or something along those lines. It started that way, and I thought I knew where it was going until BAM, sharp (and strange) turn in an entirely different direction. I just couldn't really invest IN the story in a big-picture way, and it disappointed me that such a beautiful film wasn't matched by a beautiful story.

I feel I should also say, as the parent of a three year old, I wouldn't take Kyle to see it. He hasn't seen ads for it -- I don't think we watch much live television, only reason -- so he's not asking to go (makes my decision easy) but I also know that big, loud noises and kind of scary animals/somewhat violent scenes frighten him a little bit. The sharks in Finding Nemo just stopped freaking him out a few months ago. So, knowing MY KID, I wouldn't take him, but it's probably fine if your kid varies wildly. As a blanket statement, I'd say that it felt better suited for ages 5-6 than younger pre-schoolers.

Interested to hear what you thought (if you've also seen it early) or think (when you do see it).

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(A big thanks to VisitScotland for the invite, by the way. It's refreshing when someone takes the time to personalize a pitch note and not make the interaction all about them or their client. The publicist didn't ask for anything, not a review or tweet or "remember this hashtag!" Nothing other than my guest's name. It was really nice, and I do appreciate the invite a lot.)

TNT's Dallas Premiere

I was invited to a screening of TNT's new version of Dallas -- set to premiere June 13 -- last night, and when I read "screening" in the email, I thought I'd sit in a room with other bloggers, watching the pilot and tweeting. (My brain, it is adorable.) Guys, I can watch/tweet the heck out of a TV show, just ask anyone who has ever met me, and I also like going out on work nights from time to time, where there might be adult beverages and fancy snacks. So, yeah. I was game.

I noticed the screening was at a somewhat fancyish opera house in town, but the dress said business casual, so my mind assumed it was in a room within the opera house or maybe that was just the point of reference and it would be nearby? Or maybe they were pulling out the stops for a small group of tv-loving bloggers.

I invited A'Dell and we grabbed dinner beforehand. I was wearing a (cute, I think) dress from Target, and while I wasn't going to stop traffic, I thought it was appropriate for a small blogger-type event with a business casual dress-code.

Yeah. My thoughts. They were off-base.

It was the premiere! Of the show! With all the actors and media and probably C-list stars from Dallas-based reality shows! On a red carpet!

As far as I could tell, not a single other person was wearing Target.

There were plenty of people wearing ballgowns, though. With sequins. That kicked-off a fun game in my head I now call Who Invited the Poor Suburban Mom to This Fancy Event?

(At one point, we had to actually walk down the red carpet and on one side was a fountain-type wading pool and A'Dell said, "Please don't fall in," as I was taking a picture. She said it with experience as my friend, you guys. She said it because if there was anyone in the world to be invited to a fancy tv show premiere and then FALL IN THE FOUNTAIN, it would be me.)

Still, you know, it was a crazy awesome people-watching opportunity and I don't think I'll ever be in a room with Patrick Duffy again (or Parker from Veronica Mars!) so I enjoyed it. Even though I kept thinking WHY AM I WEARING COTTON? It was exciting. Also, a high-up at TNT gave a very sweet talk about how he took his now-wife out on their first date the night of the original Dallas series finale and they're still married and look! He's J.R.'s boss now! It was really cute.

Unfortunately, the show was....oh guys....not great. I know, this is coming from a girl who is very liberal with her DVR "record" button and who just last week watched (and enjoyed!) a few episodes of Hart of Dixie.

I thought it might have potential, being filmed in Dallas -- a grittier, less-produced feel or something -- but it fell short. The storyline also went wildly all over the place and the dialogue was so cheesy and emotionless, I literally rolled my eyes at times. While the end had a fun twist (sorta) that might lure viewers to tune in again, the twist happened standing on the star of Cowboys Stadium. Who schemes on the 50-yard-line of a football field? It was reminding you, too often, that this was happening in Texas, YEE-HAW.

Pilots are generally bad, I know, so perhaps the kinks will get worked out. I just couldn't help but think of Friday Night Lights, a show also filmed in Texas -- a show with "Texas Forever" as one of its catchphrases -- but a show that was basically about Anytown USA. It had such heart. (Why was I not invited to THAT premiere, I wonder!)

Anyway, some photos I snapped.

You can't tell, but I'm wearing my new Texas necklace. This is what I planned to lead with if anyone questioned my non-ballgown-attire. DO YOU SEE MY TEXAS NECKLACE. I HAVE MAD STATE PRIDE.

Do you see the very faint arrow? That guy was hugging a lot of people. He was either Someone Very Important or just huggy. Hard to tell.

You can kinda see the pool at the mid-left section of the photo. I did not fall in, praise everything.

I've circled Jesse Metcalfe. He's very pretty. He's also quite possibly the worst actor there has ever been.

This is Josh Henderson. He has been in ... some shows and stuff. I mainly know him as the guy who was dating Ashlee Simpson when her reality show first kicked off. (And I have vague memories of him dumping her via...text or something? Jessica was not impressed.) Anyway, if you just cringed because I WATCHED the Ashlee Simpson Show, I should tell you that it was better than Dallas.

Texas Forever

I spend a lot of time online -- marketing for work, blogging for fun, spending all our money on Etsy -- but it still feels a little strange when I blur the lines. For instance, when I talk about work here. I imagine some of you don't particularly care that I market books all day, but when my job includes a book on Friday Night Lights, I get twitchy at the prospect of not telling you about it.

There is no better show on tv now or ever, in my opinion, and I know that betrays my deep-rooted and everlasting love for Veronica Mars, but I betray because I must. The show is stunning in its brilliance and its subtlety, sometimes both in the same scene. It's not perfect, and it's not like any other show I've ever seen, but it's the best show I've ever watched, both by episode and overall. I like to say we named Kyle after Kyle Chandler, and although that's a big, fat lie, Coach Taylor's portrayer would be a damn good namesake.

It ends its five-year run next Friday on NBC. I've seen the finale (it aired on DirecTV this spring), but I will re-watch it again through my sobs, I'm sure, and I'll be reminded that amidst all the reality tv (that I watch, admittedly) and crappy sitcoms that still employ a laugh track, and dramas that are as predictable as they are cheesy, there is still tv out there to love, to be proud of, to remember.

I know, it's just tv. But, then again, it's not. If you've ever found a show you really and truly love, you know it's not.

In our book, A Friday Night Lights Companion (with an intro by Deadspin founder, Will Leitch), there are heartfelt and smart essays on what we love about this show and why and even a little on each character (try not to nod along to the few pages devoted to why we love Tim Riggins). It's a great read, and you can get it NOW on Kindle and next month in paperback. You can and should read Jonna's essay on the Taylors' perfectly imperfect marriage, specifically.

One of the passages I've re-read a zillion times is from Jacob Clifton's "Come Home: West Texas Identities" because it reminds me so much of what I feel as a liberal woman who's lived in conservative Texas for 18 years:

"There is no conservative lock on patriotism, any more than liberals have a monopoly on charity. But liberal patriotism feels like nitpicking, the attempt to create a better country through constant complaint, and conservative charity looks suspiciously like church."

The whole book is that good and both on the show itself and the bigger picture the show paints for us.

Anyway, I think you should absolutely read the book (and watch the show, my god, if you aren't already). In fact, if you have a blog (book-focused or not) and want to review the book on your blog, here's your lucky day. I have ten review copies to give out. (Edited to add: these aren't giveaway copies, unfortunately, but review copies for bloggers! Sorry if that wasn't clear.)

Just leave a comment or email me at shelikespurple AT gmail.com. I'll put a copy in the mail to you as soon as I can, if you're one of the first comments or emails.

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(And, hey, if you don't like books or Friday Night Lights or me talking about work, big apologies! I won't do it that often, pinky swear.) 

Food Lush on Facebook!

Speaking of food, Food Lush is all grown-up! It has a Facebook page, which officially means it's big time. Or maybe it means we created a Facebook page for it. The former sounds better, so let's go with that.

We'll include links to our posts and other fun, internet, food finds, so if Facebook is your social media drug site of choice, give us a "like" and follow along.

Food Lush on Facebook!

(And a big, huge amount of thanks for your continued support for both Lush sites.)