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Wednesday, August 04, 2004 · posted at 9:29 PM

Left on the pedestal. Every week I peruse the Target sale ad to see what those crazy designers Todd Oldham, Michael Graves, Cynthia Rowley and Isaac Mizrahi are up to now. Something that's disturbed me recently, however, is that there is always a sale on DVDs. Rock bottom prices like "2 for $15" and "2 for $20."

I have a problem with this. Why? I'm Chinese… I should be ecstatic! It's not even that I paid more for them, although the "I just washed my car and then it rained" syndrome can be a bummer. It's just… I think these movies are good and don't understand why they're at such bargain bin prices. You get what you pay for... and a $7.50 movie is seafood-flavored ramen, not fettuccine with lobster and shrimp. How is one to measure worth and value if not with a monetary value?

Recent disappointments (see Spider-Man 2 review) and experiences (see X2 entry) have led me to question my movie preferences.

Does Wing Commander move me? Does Waterworld speak volumes to me? Is Armageddon really on my Top 5 list?

I don't see anything wrong with having shelves of movies such as Never Been Kissed, Ever After, Bridget Jones’ Diary, Sleepless in Seattle, While You Were Sleeping, 10 Things I Hate About You, and any movie with the word "wedding" in the title (e.g Wedding Singer, Wedding Planner). I'm a sucker for the cheesy romantic comedy. These are not "chipper chicken" movies demoted to "Value" status. I’d like to think that these movies are so good that they are popular and mass produced to the point where there remains excess amounts that can be sold at factory cost (or below). But I think it's time to face the grim reality that I like shelves of chick flicks to go along with my shelves of chick lit.

Some abhor these cheesy happy endings. Mostly they are guys afraid of the high standards set by cinematic Prince Charmings and Mr. Rights, or feel their masculinity is threatened by admittance that The Cutting Edge is a damn good movie. There are a few women who claim romantic comedies are "ungood for the soul" because they create a false sense of reality and trick the audience into thinking It Could Happen to You (which I have on laserdisc).

"Isn’t that so cute?" we ask. We chime "Awwwww" and "How sweet" … but is it really? Is that really the reaction you would have if indeed, it DID happen to you?

"Why don’t you even do that?" a girl might ask of her boyfriend about filling a room full of lavender roses. The honest reason? Because you would freak out if you walked into a room filled with roses!

Time to be real. How would you feel if you found out a high school peer took pictures not just OF you, but WITH you… WITHOUT you knowing it. Sorry Lloyd Dobbler, but that's the kind of thing that sends shivers up a girl's spine – and not the good kind.

If someone really responded to every request with "As you wish" would you say "He loves me!" or would you think "Sissy boy! Stand up for yourself for once!"

A guy you've barely spoken to all four years of high school writes you a love letter after graduation. He's leaving town the next day. Do you a) meet him at the train station for a goodbye smooch or b) breathe a sigh of relief that you will be miles apart?

Tv shows, due to time allowances and story development, are much better at showing the realistic side of romance. Ben admits that Felicity moving from California to New York didn't really flatter him as much as scare him. Laura Winslow finds her neighbor Urkel's acts of unrequited love annoying rather than endearing. Sam Weir finally hooks up with object of his desire, cheerleader Cindy Saunders, only to discover they can't be soulmates – she doesn’t like Steve Martin’s The Jerk.

In real life, you never want to feign appreciation for a glass rose. Mortification is being serenaded at a ritzy waterfront restaurant in Seattle. Awkwardness is sitting through a 4 minute song with lyrics like "you smell like Plumeria." Someone says, "I was born to kiss you," you reply, "Thaaaanks."

We want to watch Hollywood kisses and destined lovers on the silver screen at a safe comfortable distance… we don't want to be confronted with real life Romeos knocking on our doors… and knocking… and knocking.

Romantic comedies DO create a false sense of reality, but it's not that this stuff is supposed to happen. The false reality is that you want it to happen.

You think you want the crème brulee… but what you really want is the Jell-O.



	Wednesday, August 04, 2004 · posted at 9:29 PM Left on the pedestal. Every week I peruse the Target sale ad to see what those crazy designers Todd Oldham, Michael Graves, Cynthia Rowley and Isaac Mizrahi are up to now. Something that's disturbed me recently, however, is that there is always a sale on DVDs. Rock bottom prices like "2 for $15" and "2 for $20." I have a problem with this. Why? I'm Chinese… I should be ecstatic! It's not even that I paid more for them, although the "I just washed my car and then it rained" syndrome can be a bummer. It's just… I think these movies are good and don't understand why they're at such bargain bin prices. You get what you pay for... and a $7.50 movie is seafood-flavored ramen, not fettuccine with lobster and shrimp. How is one to measure worth and value if not with a monetary value? Recent disappointments (see Spider-Man 2 review) and experiences (see X2 entry) have led me to question my movie preferences. Does Wing Commander move me? Does Waterworld speak volumes to me? Is Armageddon really on my Top 5 list? I don't see anything wrong with having shelves of movies such as Never Been Kissed, Ever After, Bridget Jones’ Diary, Sleepless in Seattle, While You Were Sleeping, 10 Things I Hate About You, and any movie with the word "wedding" in the title (e.g Wedding Singer, Wedding Planner). I'm a sucker for the cheesy romantic comedy. These are not "chipper chicken" movies demoted to "Value" status. I’d like to think that these movies are so good that they are popular and mass produced to the point where there remains excess amounts that can be sold at factory cost (or below). But I think it's time to face the grim reality that I like shelves of chick flicks to go along with my shelves of chick lit. Some abhor these cheesy happy endings. Mostly they are guys afraid of the high standards set by cinematic Prince Charmings and Mr. Rights, or feel their masculinity is threatened by admittance that The Cutting Edge is a damn good movie. There are a few women who claim romantic comedies are "ungood for the soul" because they create a false sense of reality and trick the audience into thinking It Could Happen to You (which I have on laserdisc). "Isn’t that so cute?" we ask. We chime "Awwwww" and "How sweet" … but is it really? Is that really the reaction you would have if indeed, it DID happen to you? "Why don’t you even do that?" a girl might ask of her boyfriend about filling a room full of lavender roses. The honest reason? Because you would freak out if you walked into a room filled with roses! Time to be real. How would you feel if you found out a high school peer took pictures not just OF you, but WITH you… WITHOUT you knowing it. Sorry Lloyd Dobbler, but that's the kind of thing that sends shivers up a girl's spine – and not the good kind. If someone really responded to every request with "As you wish" would you say "He loves me!" or would you think "Sissy boy! Stand up for yourself for once!" A guy you've barely spoken to all four years of high school writes you a love letter after graduation. He's leaving town the next day. Do you a) meet him at the train station for a goodbye smooch or b) breathe a sigh of relief that you will be miles apart? Tv shows, due to time allowances and story development, are much better at showing the realistic side of romance. Ben admits that Felicity moving from California to New York didn't really flatter him as much as scare him. Laura Winslow finds her neighbor Urkel's acts of unrequited love annoying rather than endearing. Sam Weir finally hooks up with object of his desire, cheerleader Cindy Saunders, only to discover they can't be soulmates – she doesn’t like Steve Martin’s The Jerk. In real life, you never want to feign appreciation for a glass rose. Mortification is being serenaded at a ritzy waterfront restaurant in Seattle. Awkwardness is sitting through a 4 minute song with lyrics like "you smell like Plumeria." Someone says, "I was born to kiss you," you reply, "Thaaaanks." We want to watch Hollywood kisses and destined lovers on the silver screen at a safe comfortable distance… we don't want to be confronted with real life Romeos knocking on our doors… and knocking… and knocking. Romantic comedies DO create a false sense of reality, but it's not that this stuff is supposed to happen. The false reality is that you want it to happen. You think you want the crème brulee… but what you really want is the Jell-O.	Recent Posts Curtain call. Today was the last day of productio... 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