KICK-ASS of a day without Justin Bieber

Alright, for those of you living under a rock, the Justin Bieber "mini-concert" here down under got canceled due to raging tweens gathering and practically hurting one another.

Let me tell you how ridiculous this was. It was so ridiculous that they compared the event to when THE BEATLES - yes, The Beatles - came down to Australia. You don't believe me? Have a look at Sunrise:



How crazy are those girls?! So to appease the crowds they do this:



What happened to sticking your ground? Are tweens really going to start a riot for the sake of a 16-year-old-YouTube-phenomenon? Well, worst thing have happened. But honestly people! What I want to say is, for the parents who let their kids go without them, I hope your children are safe at home now, and next time, go with them. For the parents who did go with their children, I hope your ears have recovered and that you're all home safe, and next time, watch from the comfort of you're own TV screen.

Alright, that aside let's go to:
Kick-Ass starring: Aaron Johnson, Chloe Maretz, Christopher Mintz-Plasse and Nicolas Cage

Dave Lizewski (Johnson) was a normal teenage boy who was a typical geek. Into the comic book scene and the typical bottom of the food chain target for bullies and corner street muggers. Asking his friends, "If normal people can be superheroes, why doesn't anyone ever try to be one?" the response was, "Because you'd be dead in a day." And they were right - well sorta.

One accident of fate that leads to a series of unlocking mafia intelligence, gaining the inside scoop on the real deal superheroes and even the key to the hot chick's bedroom door brings Dave's life to an ultimate race to save his life.


The is a freaking AWESOME movie! It's your into hardcore ass-kicking (pun intended for literal purposes) this movie is definitely for you. I'm not a big fan of Aaron Johnson or Nicolas Cage, but this was an awesome cast! the most outstanding performance I think definitely comes from Chloe Maretz ("Hit-Girl"). Coming from her "little sister role" in 500 Days of Summer, she no stranger to what it's like in the real world. She was just soooo good at kicking-ass (another intended pun).

What I really liked was that it was predictable but unpredictable all at once. It totally was not what I expected and that the greatest thing about it. You think one, but it totally isn't. It's definitely not a movie to take your kids to, it's not like Superman, Spiderman or even Batman, it's LITERALLY "Kick-Ass".

stricklyLeisure star rating: 4.5 Stars.


Next on stricklyLEISURE: Robin Hood and Mother's Day (sorta...)

Time Traveling with JB

Ok, I know how random this must be, but I do blog about music, so bear with me as I talk about the new craze called "Beiber Fever". But let me start with:



The Time Traveler's Wife starring: Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams

A love story tested by the hands of time. Clare Abshire (McAdams) has known Henry DeTamble (Bana) since she was six years old, and when she finally meets him in the present, she is bewildered by the man she's loved ever since he first appears to her. And for Henry, he is no longer alone, there's a hope of a future, even if it means traveling to the past.

Not following the themes of Back to the Future where Marty McFly changes time in order for everyone's life to be a little bit better, The Time Traveler's Wife acknowledges that history cannot be change, but must be lived.


Ok, I am a big cynic when it come to "time traveling," I will tell you now, I DON'T BELIEVE IN TIME TRAVEL. There is no way any person can go back and forth in time. Why not? Because, that would mean history is always repeating itself, it means no one ever really dies it also means if anyone had that power or that chance, they know too much.

That aside, I though the film was well made. There is that consistency of the issue of time travel that I pointed out. My theory is, Henry just keeps time traveling until all of him is dead. Sorry to ruin the ending - or did I? - I mean think about it. Henry will just have to keep re-living his death just like he has to keep re-living his mother's death. He is going through the motions, which means no one really dies either. Which hypothetically means, everyone is traveling through time with him (ha! ha!).

stricklyLeisure star rating: 3.5 stars.

Now:


Thanks Charlie!

But honestly:



This 16 year old is taking the world by storm and I am convinced he is no longer cracking. People are always telling me I'm wrong, but I'm serious man -come on! I just thought I'd write about "Baby" because it is the only song by him that I like, and it's only because I can dance like Charlie who can dance like Justin - and no, I don't have it on video, and maybe I should.

But anyway:

Baby - Justin Beiber Ft. Ludacris

The song's about Justin's first love breaking his heart by saying that they're no longer a couple and that they've degraded to "just friends" status without Justin even knowing. Apparently that's how it goes down.

But the video is one of those videos where the video has nothing to do with the song's story. The Story line is, some chick catches his eye at a bowling alley (presumably a girl from school) and she's playing hard to get. Then it turns into the typical boy versus girl hip hop dance off - while Ludacris does his thing. It ends with them ending up together.


What I can't get over is he sounds like he's 10 (don't hate me) and he's talking about love. I mean I'm 19 and even I cannot say that I have ever loved another person the way that JB is describing. Personally, I don't even know if you call that love - but anyway. I just don't get it. I also wanna point out that he's 16 and is not old enough to be in Vagas - mind you I could be wrong about the setting, but if that's what you're going for with the neon lights good for you - I mean it's like Miley Cyrus and Party in the USA, "Walk in the club..." dude, she's 17! She's not even old enough to get into a club! "Stilletoes..." I mean come on! I don't even wear Stilletoes!!! ( Is that how you spell that?)

stricklyLeisure rating: 2 stars


Next on stricklyLEISURE: "Kick-Ass"

1 Year and 4 Months of Summer

500 Days of Summer starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel

"A story about boy meets girl...but it is not a love story." Tom (Gordon-Levitt) has always believed in fate, destiny and love, but the day he met Summer (Deschanel) everything he believed in was challenged. In an age where everything can pass as "casual", Tom finds himself outside his perfect world of expectations.

For a little over a year, Tom finds his entire world wrapped around Summer and he doesn't seem to realise that the season has passed from the moment she kisses him in the copy room. In her world, everything is a summer fling - nothing is certain, and therefore there's no need for labels - just casualties.


If you liked Juno you'll definitely like this movie. I didn't mind Juno, so I didn't mind this movie. For sure there were funny part in Juno that I still quote, but, that's not the movie we're talking about!

500 Days of Summer is one of those movies where you have "LOL" moments and then you have lulls. What I liked about the movie was the creativity of the overall collaboration of scenes. I love how the days are listed for the audiences and I also love how everything intertwines. The overall weave of the movie is a great representation of relationships. There are good time and there are bad times, and yeah, there are those glimpses in life where you can see the signs when you take a second look - the ones that you blind yourself to the first time around.

What I didn't like was the cliche ending of the next girl's name: "Autumn". I mean it just says, "Love is Seasonal". I mean, if love was seasonal then love is indefinite, that there is not certainty in any relationship that we enter, essentially, love is a ride - it's another motion of life. It's like when Susan kissed Prince Caspian in The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.

For those of you who don't know, C.S. Lewis intended Prince Caspian to represent Jesus Christ. And for me, that kiss in the end just made me think, "It's the Jesus and Mary Magdalene conspiracy all over again!" Until my English teacher brought me back to life and said, "I don't think that's what Disney was thinking about when they were making the movie."

Anyways...

stricklyLeisure star rating: 3.5 Stars.


Next on stricklyLEISURE: "Time Traveller's Wife" - Time travel is IMPOSSIBLE! and Justin Beiber's "Baby" video clip.

Superchick. Hawk Nelson. News Boys.

Most amazing night of my life!

Not only did I get to see 3 amazing bands, but I ended up getting a signed CD for only $15!!!

Tuesday night (6 April 2010) I achieved two goals:

1. I got to see ONE of my favourite bands LIVE (not that I haven't done that before - McFly 2009)
2. I met them and got my CD cover signed!!!

Yes, yes, I know - those are not great goals, but they're goals never the less. And let me tell, you these things are doable, just make sure not to expect too much.


Superchick

These guys opened the show and let me tell you, they were great! I'm not a big fan, but they were absolutely brilliant! They were just so energetic!

I was pleased to see my friend Ari get to see one of her goals come true too - she'd been waiting to see Superchick for ten years! Whoa - right?

stricklyLeisure rating: 3.5 Stars


News Boys

I know, I know, they were the main show for the night, but hey! They were great too! Electrified some classic praise and worship songs that I taped for my youth music team to have a look - although, mind you, my mobile camera is only 3.5 megs.

It was nice to see the whole over turn in the room. After Superchick and Hawk Nelson were done, the kids were the one seated and all the parents and,well, older audience members were the ones standing.

stricklyLeisure rating: 3 stars


HAWK NELSON

Yes people. They only reason I went was to see Hawk Nelson live. But you gotta admit, paying $40 to see ONE band and you get TWO for free - for whoever you really wanted to see right?

Jason (Vocalist), Daniel (Bassists), Jonathan (Guitarist) and Justin (Drummer) were just B-R-I-L-L-I-A-N-T! I've loved Hawk Nelson's music since I was thirteen (that's 6 years now) and they just keep getting better and better!

I did not even imagine that they're latest album "Live Life Loud" - yes, that is called 'alliteration' - would only be sold for $15, when it's usually $20 - $25. And you know what? Jason even went into the crowd!!! He walk past me and I kinda touched him, but not really...so I don't think it counts. But I seriously had a Taylor Swift flash back, except, this time, I was close enough! I was DOWN the FRONT people! Proof:

Yep. Straight from my camera - that's not zoomed either! And yes they signed my CD. No, I don't have proof of the process, but I do have this:

I also want to thank the lady who was wearing a blue-green striped shirt, you were a good help and thanks for trying to get a photo of me with Aaron and Dan, even if I didn't get to.

stricklyLeisure rating: 4 stars - I'd give them 5, but they didn't play as long as all the other bands. I will give them 5 for their niceness to talk to me and my friends when they were signing our stuff!

OVERALL stricklyLeisure rating: 5 Stars.


Next on stricklyLEISURE: "500 Days of Summer" and why I'd hate it.

3D Experience?

Ok, so I'm seriously turned off the whole idea of "3D experiences" at the moment. The first time I felt totally ripped off was when I went to see Avatar. I don't care how many of you out there liked it in 3D, but I seriously felt gipped! I took my glasses of in the middle of the movie and I swear I was seriously contemplating keeping them off, if it weren't for the momentary fuzziness that gave me a headache I really would have!

This time around, it's Louis Leterrier's Clash of the Titans that got me into the 3D screen. The only reason I feel ripped off this time is because it's CHEAPO-TUESDAY and I still had to pay $19 for my ticket! And guess what people - PEOPLE ARE IN FREAKING 3D!!! And get this - C.O.T was not showing in a normal cinema screen! What a gip! This time I went a full 10 minutes (that's pretty long for 3D experience time) without the 3D glasses - and guess what! - I COULD SEE JUST FINE THANKS!

Ok, I've had my spastic rant, I'll get to the nice part of this blog.

(Came out on my birthday - America that is!)

Clash of the Titans starring: Sam Worthington

Yes, Aussie Avatar star, Sam Worthington heats up the screen for another action packed film, but this time we actually get to see him in the flesh (haha, I'm not funny).

Following the Greek murmurs of Homer, Clash of the Titans brings to life the whispers of the ancient poet. Perseus, son to a fisherman, has discovered his true identity, but refuses to accept his destiny. Angered by the death of his mortal father, Perseus seeks out his revenge upon Hades without the help of his father Zeus.

Zeus on the other hand is tired of his creation wailing against him and seeks out the help of Hades, only to find he is in the mercy of both his brother. Fighting for the cause of man, Perseus chooses the life he has always known to the life that subjected him to the fate of a demigod.



This is a film for all ancient history buffs - although, one that must not be misguided by the also recent 2010 film release of the books series, Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief. I personally think this is more my film. Percy Jackson was fun and all, but this is the stuff that I like - straight from history and lots of blood. (I'm really gory for a girl aye?)

It's just so great to see a great story, a great cast and a great vision for the beloved myth of all ages. I have nothing better so say really, but there are a lot of great "LOL moments" and get this - it does not even have a kissing scene! Not kidding! I'm glad to see a movie where action is action and romance has nothing to do with it!

With that I'll go to...

stricklyLeisure star rating: 4.5 stars for the film as a whole and 2 stars for the 3D bull crap.

Next on stricklyLEISURE: The NEWS BOYS, HAWK NELSON and SUPERCHICK - Live in Sydney!

I've got DRIVING LESSONS to 3:10 TO YUMA with the cast of SONNY WITH A CHANCE

Alright people give me an applause because this is officially the last time you will here me talk about, yes, Logan Lerman. I have conquered the list of films that my sister has been dying to watch and I can honestly say I do not care if that doesn't include The Number 23 with Jim Carrey.

But in this blog I'm going to bulk THREE things I recommend seeing.

Here we go:


3:10 to Yuma starring: Russell Crowe, Christian Bale and Logan Lerman

Rewinding time to the days of ranchers, cowboys and outlaws, 3:10 To Yuma tells the story of how one man does the impossible in order to provide for his starving family.

Dan Evans (Bale) is determined to make ends meet in order for his sons to look up to him and acknowledge him as their father; he also wants his wife to look at him again. When he and his boys cross paths with Ben Wade (Crowe) and his gang of murderous thieves, he is given a chance to make it happen.

The task was simple: get Wade to Contension on the 3:10 to Yuma train. What they underestimated was the speed in which Wade's gang would catch up to them. When everyone else abandons the mission, Evans and his boy Will (Lerman) are left to finish the work.


I enjoy a good western movie. I'm to the whole idea of horse riding, shooting and the intense western music. Hahaha!

But seriously...what I really liked about this film was the story. It was the typical bad guy needs to be put right by the good guy and a bit of hell raising on the side. The casting was brilliant as well and there were just moments of brilliant writing. Russell Crowe and Christian Bale were just played off one another so well and the entire ensemble had this great balance of humour and seriousness.

Overall, it was great to see a great western film again.

stricklyLeisure star rating: 4 stars


Driving Lessons starring: Rupert Grint, Julie Walters and Laura Linney

It was just suppose to be an ordinary summer job. Ben (Grint) was only helping out his mum (Linney) for the sake of appeasing all that she asked of him. But what he found was Evie (Walters).

Evie was an actress who hasn't had a break in a few years. Stuck in a time warp where every character she had ever played and where every husband she married are stacked up in rows all around her house and are overgrown in her garden. All she needed was a bit of help, and what she got was Ben.

Together the pair go on an adventure that begins with Evie swallowing the car key, progresses to a great dispute over the poetry recital organizer's assistant and ends with Evie preaching about freedom.



What I liked about this movie was that theme of "self-discovery". Ben was always the "good boy" and he never did anything wrong by his parents. Evie is the characters who seems as though she's gt everything together, but in the end there's always something that she's missing. Lara Marshall is a hypocritical control freak who likes talking over her timid husband, who in return seems to be more interested in birds rather than his family.

The best thing about this movie is how it takes the piss out of Christianity. If you're a Christian, you would laugh until your guts were bursting out with the crap that's in this movie. But the crap is so close to the truth that you can't help but understand why people ridicule us for what we believe in! I find it sad that they just don't understand it really, and what they do get their heads around they satirize. Oh! Well, you can't win everybody.


stricklyLeisure star rating: 3.5 stars



Sonny With A Chance: Season 2 Episode 1: "Walk a Mile in My Pants" starring: Demi Lovato, Tiffany Thorton, Brandon Smith, Doug Brochu and Sterling Knight.

The war between the cast of So Random and McKenzie Falls continues in the first episode of the second season. Sonny, is raising money to encourage kids to read more, while Chad is tearing down her campaign to encourage kids to watch McKenzie Falls, and Tawny is not getting any publicity space for her Skinny Jeans.

The entire show is squeezed in tight by both cast wearing Tawny's jeans and protesting against each other - while they look good. But it seems as though they've all come down with "SPS" - Skinny Pants Syndrome!!!

You'll never guess how this episode ends!


I absolutely love this show! And no, it's not just because Sterling Knight is cute, it is also because it is seriously hilarious. Demi Lovato is just brilliant and the entire cast just work so well together.

The song at the end is a treat:


stricklyLeisure star rating: 4 stars


Next on stricklyLEISURE: "Clash of the Titans" and why you shouldn't watch it in 3D.