Resurfacing

Hey Kids!

I'm back. Just like that. In one of those weird twists of life, fate and the internet, I read a message my from a stranger on my husband's new Facebook page who said he enjoyed my writing and it inspired me to give the ole' blog thing another go! Then, I actually had to Google (google when it's a verb?) my own blog and it took me about five minutes to find a link to it in my email. I couldn't even remember what it was called! It's been that long.

I like to think there are legions of you out there who have been returning the The Jon Ross Spot daily - only to be disappointed each day that I've neglected to post an update. Well, I'm sorry, I know that my review of Avatar can only sustain you for so long. But your nights of sorrow are over.

So, an update: I went to and graduated from grad school, adopted another dog (Barbara Ducky), fostered scads of puppies, joined Instagram, became an extremely minor viral sensation, photographed my brother-in-law's wedding in Wisconsin, met Kit Harrington, and started working for ABC News 20/20 - not necessarily in that order. Here's me with Kit:

I'm only going to talk about that last part in the vaguest of terms, because that seems prudent for my career, and I like to keep an air of mystery about me. So I'm going to try and stick to pop culture because I think I have a lot of interesting things to say about that, and Rick starts to tune me out after a while and goes and watches sports or House Hunters International.

Before I ramble on too much here, I want to talk about something specific. You didn't guess it, it's The Sum of All Fears. Yup, that Ben Affleck and Morgan Freeman movie you probably didn't see a long time ago. In another bizarre twist of Internet Fate, I found myself watching a YouTube video of the worst trailers that gave away too much of the movie. The Sum of All Fears was one of them. It wasn't even the worst, it was like #9, but for some reason I was intrigued and decided to download the movie.

This movie was really dumb, and honestly I only made it about 2/3 through the thing. Ben Affleck was way too young and unbelievable as Jack Ryan. This was Ben at the height of his insufferable phase, before he made Gone Baby Gone and Argo. Just look at this picture of him from the movie; I challenge you not to feel annoyed:

Also, all this other nonsensical shit was happening that kept making me mad. For instance, Ben kept trying to call Morgan Freeman's character (who plays a big wig like the Secretary of State or something) to warn him that there was a nuclear bomb on US soil. But, oh, he doesn't hear his phone because he's at a football and is having too good a time cheering for Baltimore. Maybe this was before everyone was tethered to their phones, but still, if you're the Secretary of State and there's an international crisis going on, answer your god damn phone. Hillary wouldn't stand for that shit. Additionally, an Israeli jet with a nuclear bomb on it crashes in the 70's and no one finds it! Some shepherd dude finds it digging! That's dumb guys, and it takes me out of the movie. Also, Bridget Moynahan.

By far the most interesting thing about this movie for me was seeing how much technology has changed since it came out. People still had pagers. Affleck was using some kind Palm Pilot device and Liev Schieber, who played some master spy, says "hey I should get one of those. I don't even have email." I think someone had a geocities email address. Everyone has big bulky computer monitors and televisions. So I was thinking, did this movie come out maybe around '98? Nope! 2002! Amazing how much technology has changed in just 12 years.

That's all for me for right now, as it's 3AM. Hopefully I'll keep this up. Please leave a comment and let me know how you feeling about having me back, or what you though about The Sum of All Fears. It feels good though. Like Ariel with a new set of legs, I resurface, reborn. This time, with GIFS.

-JB

Avatar - why I feel robbed

So it's been a while, but I feel some intense pop-culture mojo bubbling under, and I thought the best way to channel that would be by mainlining it straight into The Jon Ross Spot.

So I saw Avatar. Who hasn't? As usual, I didn't like nearly as much as everyone else seems to. I thought Sam Worthington was a total bore and I don't understand how or why he's been cast in all these huge triple-AAA tentpole movies (Terminator, Avatar, Clash of the Titans). He's basically just a snooze for me. First of all, if you're paraplegic, yet you're a marine, wouldn't you, you know, work on buffing up your torso at least? Worthington looked scrawny, was basically a douchebag, and most importantly, I never rooted for him or ever felt connected to what he was doing.

I have a lot more criticisms of the movie (how could the Na'vi give a shit about Sigourney Weaver's character when their ancestral home was just destroyed), but I wanted to talk about my chief concern, which was that there was no hot tail-worm on tail-worm Na'vi sex. I feel robbed.

Was it just me, or was I the only one getting heated while keeping a very close watch on Worthington's tail to see exactly where it was probing around. Was I the only one thinking of those tail worms flaying around and teasing each other - Jake trying to sych up with Netiryi and her playfully pulling away? Then a sort of pulsing-thrusting action going on once they did synch up? Don't tell me it was just me.

Think how intense that would be if you could directly connect into the consciousness of your lover! Apparently there was an sex scene filmed for Avatar but it was because they wanted to aim the film more towards families. However, Cameron says that the sex scene will be included in DVD release. I'm expecting some really hot, graphic stuff James. Don't disappoint me again!

Three weeks into grad school. . .

. . .and I'm still alive. Exhausted, but still kickin'.

Week one: The seduction.

I obviously had tons of emotion going on the first week. I couldn't believe how nervous I was! Going back to school brought back all these anxieties about the first day of classes that I hadn't had since getting dropped off at college! Were people going to like me? Would I be dressed the right way? Was I going to make friends? Would I say something stupid? Would everyone be intellectual snobs and think I was beneath them for being into entertainment journalism (like my husband)? All this plus my general dislike of going to events knowing no one made me one big nervous nelly.

Then there was the excitement of just doing something. I've was unemployed for a good eight months, and it was something of a thrill to feel like part of the world again, to be one of the millions treking into the city to do something. And not just something. I was on my way to Times Square to become a writer, a journalist. I had a purpose again, and it felt good.

I went to school and up the elevator. The doors opened, and the whirlwind of the next 16 months of my life began. I met tons of people. They met me. They were nice. I liked them. They liked me. I ate free food. I drank free coffee. I relaxed. I sat through many lectures, some interesting (Dean's welcome) some not (Research services). I broke my laptop. I drank free booze. I spoke Spanish. I went home. I became Facebook friends with about 57 people. That was my first day.

Week Two: The Tease

My first week of classes began. I had that nagging anxiety again, but not as badly. It's the fear of the new. Cliques were forming, friendships were developing, I noticed a budding romance. I feel conflicted about this. Part of me wants to throw myself headlong into meeting people, going out for margaritas and asking people to lunch with me in Bryant Park. But I'm married. I've got my man. I have my dog. I have my friends. These people deserve my time too. But I don't want to distance myself from my new colleagues, or miss out on a new lifelong friendship because I'm so devoted to my home life. I'll figure it out. I'm meeting some cool new people. Classes were. . .classes. The same ole' introductions and class syllabi rigmarole. I am inspired by my teachers. Well, more by their other jobs than their teaching, so far. A lawyer for the New York Times here, a host for NY1 there, a writer for Brian William over to my left, and an NPR lady thrown into the mix. More than anything I wanted to jump in. I wanted to write, to report, to use all this glorious equipment I was being shown. I did my first "reporting," but it was more of a tease, asking softball question to people on the Brooklyn Promenade. Granted this was a self imposed easy assignment I gave myself. I needn't had worried. There were plenty of challenging assignments in my very near future.

Week Three: The Honeymoon's over

After getting into a nice rhythm during my first week of classes, I had a four day weekend. I spent a glorious and drunken weekend up in the Berkshires. By the evening of Labor Day, I was a nervous mess again. I was dreading another brutal current events quiz from my Craft I teacher. I poured over CNN and the New York Times, trying to absorb what humans had been during in the three days I had been unplugged from the world. Of course he gave the quiz. I did marginally better than the previous week. I love that part of my grade for a graduate level course involves knowing who Tila Tequila is (it was a bonus question, but still).

Then the first "brutal" assignment came. I had to ask strangers what they thought about Swine Flu, Obama's Education Speech, or Van Jones, and write a story incorporating quotes into the story. Going up to strangers and asking these questions was akin to slowly driving nails into my eyeballs. Extremely unpleasant. Come to think of it, it's more like approaching some hottie at the bar. You're dying to be received well, have a lively, interesting conversation and, to seal the deal, get those digits. I've always dreaded that. The approach at least. Still, I completed the assignment, and my skin thickened just the tiniest bit in the process. Every day I feel more and more like a journalist.

Now I've received my first real assignment for Broadcast! One and a half minute piece about whatever I want. Think I'm hittin up the Brooklyn Book Fair on Sunday. If you see me out in the field, come over and let me interview you. Fellow Jschoolers, how have your first three weeks been?

New respect for Taylor Swift

I just caught the Princess of Country on CMA Music Festival, Taylor Swift on ABC, and she seemed to be singing at Madison Square Garden, although it was a bit unclear. I must say, I was quite impressed with her maturity, control, and appearance. Also, she sounded pretty fraking good. I have to admit Swift has annoyed me countless times, but I place blame more on repetative radio stations more than on the artist herself. The New York Times also gave her concert a very favorable review.

Swift's restrained behavior stands in stark contrast to her skanky twin sister of pop-country, Miley Cyrus. While I find the "scandal" over Cyrus' "pole dancing" at the Teen Choice Awards absouloutly ridiculous, the performance was in poor taste for a teen audience. I don't think I have to say that I enjoyed the performance immensely.

Why do I get a feeling that Swift is to Cyrus as Agilera is to Spears? I get the feeling Cyrus is on a fast track to hot-messiness, while Swift will keep her class intact as she grows up. Any thoughts on either of these mavens of teen pop music?

I'm baaaaack

Dearest Friends, Family, Fans, etc.

As my dear brother pointed out this weekend, I was remiss in informing everyone that I was taking a leave of absence from my blog for the summer while I was traveling.

Sorry. Didn't mean to leave you all hanging like that.

Indeed I was away taking a long awaited honeymoon with my husband in England and Italy, as well as visiting with family both in Massachusetts and Wisconsin. Hopefully I can get to posting about my various activities over the summer soon. In the meantime, you can enjoy some photos of my adventures below.

Enjoy!

-JB

European Honeymoon

Oscar gets interesting

Variety this morning is reporting that members the Motion Picture Academy, those good people who hand out a little statuette named Oscar, announced that this year there will be TEN nominees for Best Picture. How interesting! Has this come about from flak the Academy received for not nominating fan favorites such as Wall-E and The Dark Knight? Or is it more of a clever ploy to help nominate more mainstream films, thereby generating higher viewer interest and ratings?

I'm guessing it's a combination of the two. Plus it will lead to more stuidos shelling out big bucks for "For your consideration" ads. Which probably helps the academy in some way, I'm just not quite sure how. Variety has got to be loving it though.

Ten movies is a lot! Are there any that have come out so far this year that has caught people's attention as a contender? Can a comedy make its way into a coveted nominee slot? Could Up, Startrek or a documentary make the cut?? Exciting implications abound with this announcement.

9, or make that 5 reasons to get excited for 9

One of the highlights of seeing Drag Me to Hell, beyond the scene where our heroine knocks over a corpse at a funeral, only to have it land on top of her and vomit onto her face, was the stellar trailer for 9. Ok, it's not the best title in the world. Even "The 9" would have been better. While it is simple and a bit mysterious (especially done up in all that green glowy mist), it can easily lead to conversations such as:

"Dude, I'm so excited to see 9 tonight!"
"Uh, see nine what?"
"No, you know, 9, it's a Tim Burton movie"
"Oh yeah! That dude is messed up. Why is it called 9?"
"I dunno man, it's about 9 living dolls that live in an post apocalyptic world and fight these evil machines"
"Hmm, yeah, sounds messed up. Why didn't they call it The Nine? Has a bit of a catchier ring to it don't you think?"

If you couldn't tell, that was me as Dude 2, losing another friend. But enough about the title. This movie is giving me the shivering-willies in the best way possible. Why several reasons

1. I totally dig post-apocalyptic themed fare, and this one fists the bill. The art direction looks quality, and sets the mood just right.
2. It's about time we had more adult themed animation. I still haven't checked out Waltz With Bashir, but beyond that I can't think of any other recent "mature" animated films. Sorry, but I'm really not into the Pixar films that everyone says is "not just for the kids!" Both Finding Nemo and Wall-E bored me to tears. I'm also interested to see how and to whom they market this film. It could be quite tricky as the animation angle will skew towards younger folks, but many images from just the trailer are damned near terrifying.

3. Who doesn't love evil robots? By the end of this summer audiences may be entering evil-machine fatigue after Terminator 4 and Transformers 2, but hopefully the new IP will renew interest. And just check out these freaky red eyed baddies. Waaaaaay more scary than anything from the latest Terminator.



This last picture of the bipedal AT-ST type robots reminds me of War of the Worlds and The Tripods trilogy by Samuel Youd. Both super creepy.

4. Tim Burton executive produces. The name speaks for itself. Tim Burton isn't afraid to go there and get super weird, freaky and scary. It was very smart to place this property under his control.

5. It's directed by Shane Acker, the original mind behind his award winning short. Check it out below. Anyone else excited for this pic?

All pictures property of Focus Features