Happy Birthday To Me

Ok so this is a milestone for me; my 1 year anniversary. I've spend hours, days and even months trying to figure out how I could commemorate this occasion. In the end the idea just kind of hit me out of the blue. I wish I could say it was my intellect and imagination that inspired me but alas no, it was in fact a movie.

So with out further ado I present to you my thoughts on the magic that is movie moments. Now your probably sat there reading this thinking what is she babbling on about and what the heck is so special about movie moments.

Let me explain...

To me movie moments are those time where you find yourself doing something that just makes you smile. Its those instants that mimic those from cheesy 80's movies with that corny inspirational music in the background.

For me it can be something as simple as being sat on the deck reading a good book with the sun shining down. That's really all it takes because in that moment I can be blissfully happy. Everyone is different but no matter what it is that make that tell tale smile grace your lips you should embrace it. Grab hold of everyone of these moments and bask in them because it really is these moments that make life worth living.

Seriously!

They fucked with Pams face! Are you freaking kidding me. I know I'm not the only person who was screaming at her TV screen last night. Why would you mess with perfection. I know this is a great opportunity for Kristin Bauer to prove what a fantastic actress she is. Although most of us already know how fabulous she is but really did you have to mess with the face. Now am I going to get through the week. I must admit even though I hate what they've done to her I am looking forward to seeing how ruthless Pam will get, you know its going to happen. No chance the witches will get away with this she'll rip them apart.

Here's a photo to remind us what Pam is like in all her glory and hopefully will be restored to soon.

My Leading Lady

Phoebe Halliwell/Alyssa Milano

From the very first episode I loved Phoebe. Her rebellious nature and honest heart makes for a truely fascinating woman. She started out as a young girl who tended to shy away from responsibility but she grew into a mature and successful woman. As I watched her journey progress my affection for her grew, she had to deal with so much; from her evil husband and his demonic spawn to her lost loves and family. Yet she dealt with it all and moved on with her life, she refused to let it hold her back and showed her true strength. One of the things that first drew me to her was her willingness to embrace magic, unlike her sisters she was exciting by their transition into witchcraft. After all she was destined for something special.

My Weekly Addiction

Charmed

For a long time Charmed had been a dominant feature on my list of favourites. It got everything a girl could want in a show. Girls power, sisterhood, action, power, and of course a personal interest of mine; magic. Watching these sister witches battle evil week after week really has made me happy. That may sound silly but its true. A truly good show leaves you smiling regardless of the context. Another great aspect of the show is that you cant help but love each of the main characters. I of course adore Phoebe and Piper and I was gutted when Prue died because I really liked her but then Paige came along and I came to love her too. for a show to replace a beloved character with yet another wonderful one successfully is amazing. Perhaps one of the best things about this show is its ending. Now that may seem strange but when a show has to end you always hope it does it well. Unfortuanty this is rarely the case. In fact I think Charmed may be the only show where I've actually liked the ending. For them to tie up all the lose ends and give you a glimpse into the future of the character was the perfect ending to a wonderful show.

My Leading Lady

Shirley Schmidt/Candice Bergen

What can I say about Shirley Schmidt. Well she brilliant. She fought her way up that greasy pole and punched her way through that glass ceiling and she did it with her integrity in tact. Shes been kidnapped, had a knife held to her throat, put up with Denny Crane and survived it all. Now that’s impressive.

My Weekly Addiction

Boston Legal

I love this show. that’s all there is to it. From the very first episode I fell in love with this show. I was instantly drawn in by the fast talk and wit that these lawyers just ooze. They manage to fight against these big bads of the world and they do it with such a flair you can’t help but love them. Each one is quirky in their own way but damn are they loyal to one another. Their a family, if you take on one you take on them all. What’s wonderful about this show is that it makes you laugh, but while your laughing your also think about these issues that are integrated deep into the society we live in. It takes a truly great show to do that. The writers are geniuses, its as simple as that.

My Leading Lady

Buffy Summers/Sarah Michelle Geller

I couldn’t really choose anyone else now could I. Don’t get me wrong I love pretty much everyone in this show. Willow, Faith, Tara. I really wanted to pick Willow. She’s cute + a witch + gay = AWESOME. But Buffy is… well she’s Buffy. She kicks ass on a daily basis and does it while battling her way through her complicate social and romantic life. She’s young, hot and can wield sarcasm almost as well as she can a wooden stake. She may looks fragile but you really wouldn’t want to mess with her.

My Weekly Addiction

Buffy The Vampire Slayer

I’ve mention my love of all things vampire a couple of times before I believe. Of course I consider my self a true vampire fan not a twilight junkie. Don’t get me wrong I like twilight but a I was a fan of the fang long before glittering vampires entered the scene. One of my first flings with the vampires was Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I personally think it’s a pretty good place to start. Admittedly the show revolves around killing the vampires because there the bad guys which is a tad different to what I normally go for but it still kicks ass. Besides it has Angel and Spike who are basically good guys, even if there are a few bumps along the road. We get to see a group of teenage friends band together to fight all thing evil. I can’t tell you the number of times my mind wandered during class to how much more interesting it would be to fight vampires than to sit through long division. The show managed to blend the humorous and romantic with the dark and twisty. The balance between the two opposite made for a great viewing opportunity. I also feel the musical episode deserves a special mention. It was utterly ridiculous in and stupendously fantastic way. It may have been a bit odd but damn once those songs are in your head they fight like hell to stay there.

I’ve got a theory…

…it could be bunnies…

My Leading Lady

Henrietta 'Hetty' Lange/Linda Hunt

Ok its impossible not to love this woman. Hetty kicks some serious ass. She might be small but I wouldn't want to mess with her. Its so fun to watch this tiny woman ordering about these big burly men with such ease. But what's really great is that you can see how much the entire team respects and looks up to her. That is what makes a truly great leader.

My Weekly Addiction

NCIS: Los Angeles

I was introduced to this by the same friend as NCIS. Of course it was inevitable really that I would follow on from NCIS with it sequel. At first I thought it cant possible be as good as the original. Luckily I was wrong. NCIS:LA manages to create a unique version if what is a hit show. It combines the same team mentality but with a completely new setting as well as its own approach. The team members once again each have their own unique dimensions. Some more complicated than other, but they all gel together perfectly.

My Leading Lady

Cate Hennessy/Katey Sagal

Ok so this is sort of a rare occasion: an actress has made her second Leading Lady feature. But really its not that surprising since the woman is Katey Sagal. In this show we get to see another side of the multitalented Katey. In 8 simple rules we get to once again see the loving mother aspect only with less guns. This time we watch a mothers development from a loving wife to a grieving widow and eventually to a woman in search of love. Her journey is vast considering the short life of the show. The character of Kate is almost complex in her simplicity. If that makes sense. What I mean is she is like so many women out there; she works, raises a family and just lives a normal life. But of course no two people are the same and you get to see her own unique way of dealing with the normal routine of life. An added bonus is we get to see Katey reflex her vocal muscles a couple of times, one episode even features one of Katey’s original songs. I want to reaffirm a simple truth: Katey Sagal rocks!

My Weekly Addiction

8 Simple Rules

I grew up watching shows like 8 simple rules. But it’s not just when I was younger I watched the show I love to watch it now. I have always loved watching this tight-knit family interact with each other and the world around them. Even through it wasn’t the same after the death of Paul (John Ritter) the show still managed to carry on, successfully too. It held on to many of the aspects of what made it great. The characters you care about and their everyday life to which you could relate. The storyline are great in the sense that they’re everyday occurrences that we all could easily experience, rather than being filled with explosive drama it allows you to focus on the people involved. I wish the show had continued; it had so much potential. However I understand that all good things must come to an end.

My Leading Lady

Melanie Moretti/Valerie Bertinelle

One of the things I love about this show is that it has four great strong characters, so when I came to picking my favourite it was a difficult choice. But when it came down to it I couldn't help but go with Melanie. She has this innocence about her that is so endearing. Sometimes she comes across as naive but really its just her faith in the world and the people living in it. Its quite cute and refreshing to see a character who has lived their life in the real world and yet managed to not become jaded. I also admire the strength of the friendship she has with Joy and Victoria and the developing relationship with Elsa. She's such a sweet person you can;t help but love her.

My Weekly Addiction

Hot In Cleveland

I figured this was an appropriate show to follow on from last weeks addiction. Hot in Cleaveland is so similar in many aspects to Golden Girls but with a more modern twist. Its just as entertaining, providing us with a much needed fix. HIC once again features the lives of four women who live in the same house all of them once again are more mature but still utterly fabulous. I find the show to be a refreshing take on an old classic that is completely by the fact that it once again features Betty White. Proving she truly is a legend. Its fun to watch these women adapt to a life so different from their old one is judgemental L.A. Overall the show passes with flying colours.

My Leading Lady

Blanche Devereaux/Rue McClanahan

To be honest when it came to choosing which of the girls was my favourite it took a while for me to decide. I love them all. But for me one in particular stood out; Blanche Deverux. The Southern belle struck a chord in me, she’s so free and completely content with herself which is something I admire. She’s not afraid to do what she want regardless of what people think. She’s has the best qualities of all the girls and is endlessly entertaining.

My Weekly Addiction

Golden Girls

Golden Girls finished long before I came to discover it. In fact I think it ended before I was even born. But that didn’t stop it from becoming one of my favourite shows of all time. There are so many things I love about this show, one of the key ones been how refreshing it is to see a whole main cast made up entirely of female characters. Not only that but women over the age of 50. It redefined the genre of comedy for me. Each character has their own unique quality that make for laugh out loud comedy. Rose with her general ditziness and St Olaf stories, Blanche with her somewhat sordid romantic life, Dorothy and her sharp sarcastic wit and of course Sophia whose motherly influence over the other girls provides endless comic situations. Another great aspect of this show is that it has so much more depth than appears at first glance. Its ability to handle several tough issues and emotional storyline, combines seamlessly with the comedy. The entire show is a winning combination.

My Leading Lady

Morticia Frump Addams/Carolyn Jones

There was really only one woman who could qualify for Leading Lady. The one and only Morticia Addams. With her long black hair and flowing dress she’s a gothic vision. She oozes class, despite her somewhat unusual interests and appearance. She’s a woman of many talents who somehow manages to always get what she wants. However she has a very warm heart and frequently shows a great deal of kindness to complete strangers. Her kindness isn’t always received as well as it was intended, in fact sometimes it merely frightens the recipient. However she always make for interesting viewing. Of course she’s rather intimidating. After all if you cross her, her plants will eat you.

My Weekly Addiction

The Addams Family

I’ve decided that my theme for the week is Black and White. In accordance with my theme my addiction of the week is the Addams Family the original black and white version of course. Its my favourite although I love them all, the shows and the films. I think the fact that its in black and white helps to set it apart from the others. It helps add to the whole quirky and slightly creepy feeling of the show. I love the whole concept of the show. I’ve always been a fan of the freaky and gothic which the Addams family are whole heartedly. I’m actually finding it difficult to find the words to describe what exactly it is I love about the show, I just do. The concept on a whole is brilliant and the individual episodes each have their own magic.

My Leading Lady

Irina Derevko/Lena Olin

My choice might seem strange since Sydney’s mother does not feature frequently except in the second season, however her character has always fascinated me the most. Irina Derevko/Laura Brisow is one of the most complex personalities I’ve come across. I am usually quite could at predicting the intentions of a character but Irina always managed to keep me guessing. You can never truly tell where her loyalties lie. With her family who I honestly believe she loves or to her “job”; if you can call it that, I’m not quite sure what the definition is for what she does. She keeps you guessing right until the end. I think I’ve probably said this before but I have a weakness for wild women and you don’t get much more wild than an assassin.

My Weekly Addiction

Alias

OK so it can’t exactly be said that I’m difficult to please when it comes to shows, in fact I guess you could say I’m positively easy. However occasionally there is a show the surpasses all my expectations. Alias is one of those shows. I can blame a friend of mine for this particular addiction. I’ve always been a bit of a thrill junky, just give me some guns and hot women and I’m in. Of course Alias ticks both these boxes but it is so much more than that. You find yourself enthralled in the lives of the character, desperate for the bad guys to get what they deserve and the good guys to defeat them. One of the things I love the most about this show is the relationships that Sydney has with all those around her. Its unusual for a character of this type to make strong connections but Sydney breaks that particular mould. Of course her complex spyfam is particularly fascinating to watch as well as her romantic affair with Michael. Overall the whole show is an excellent mixture of action, love and drama.