Videography: Britney Spears (Part IV - In the Zone)

By the time Britney released her 4th album, In the Zone, she was only 22 years old. She had exerted her independence and sex appeal with her previous album and videos. But that was not enough.

Britney had recently ended her years long relationship with fellow teen idol Justin Timberlake (whatever happened to him anyway?). And she wanted more independence and respect. So in the next few videos, we have the beginning of transitional period. She had reached the top and there was no where left to go but down.

Order: 18

Title: "Me Against the Music" (feat. Madonna)

Album: In the Zone (2003)

Song Premise: A woman (or two?) describe their complicated desire for music.

Video Premise: Inside a fancy New York dance club, Madonna dances on one side of a wall and Britney dances on the other. They sense each other's presence. Britney chases Madonna and eventually catches up to her. However, Madonna vanishes just before they kiss.

Comments: Meh. Lesbianism for the sake of attracting males. Isn't that obvious? But I get what they're doing here with the collaboration: 80's Pop Princess meets Millennium Pop Princess. Too bad I'm not really a Madonna fan.

Order: 19

Title: "Toxic"

Album: In the Zone (2003)

Song Premise: A woman has a dangerous addiction to a man.

Video Premise: The video begins with Britney as a blonde flight attendant who pulls an overweight passenger into the bathroom. He transforms into a hottie as they make out and she steals a black pass from him. Later on, she drives through Paris as a redhead. Then she breaks into a research facility, steals a vial, and poisons her unfaithful boyfriend. All the while, there are several scenes of Britney writhing on the floor in a nude, diamond covered suit.

Comments: This one was big. Big song, big video. I, personally, never got the hype. The song has always seemed a little shrill to me. And the video is meh.

Order: 20

Title: "We Will Rock You" (feat. Beyonce and Pink)

Album: Another Pepsi Commercial

Song Premise: Pepsi Will Rock You!

Video Premise: It's ancient Rome. Enrique Iglesias is Caesar. Britney, Beyonce, and Pink are gladiators. But instead of fighting, the women throw down their weapons and rally the crowd into the singing.

Comments: Interesting concept. Good costumes. Sure. Why not?

Order: 21

Title: "Everytime"

Album: In the Zone (2004)

Song Premise: A woman struggles with a break up she caused.

Video Premise: Britney, accompanied by her boyfriend, arrives at a Las Vegas hotel and is bombarded by paparazzi. Her boyfriend grows violent with them and they fight. To cool off, Britney takes a bath and drowns. After running through the hospital, she decides to be reincarnated as a newborn baby.

Comments: I love videos about the fame! After "Lucky", this is only the second to deal with these themes. This one is a bit darker and was originally meant to end with Britney dying of a drug overdose ala Marilyn Monroe. I love the slow-motion cinematography and the ironic foreshadowing. Super depressing, yes, but I am a fan. And the boyfriend is hot.

Order: 22
Title: "Outrageous"
Album: In the Zone (2004)
Song Premise: BrItnEY's OuTrAgEoUs!!!!
Video Premise: Gangsta Britney plays basketball with Snoop Dogg and then licks his face.

Comments: Britney hurt her knee during the shoot and it was never completed. Given the clip, I'm not to disappointed.

30 Day Movie Challenge - Day 7

Day 7 - A Movie From Your Childhood That You Hated


Like I stated in my previous post, I am an only child, so I pretty much got to watch WHATEVER THE HELL I WANTED. When I went to a friend's house for a sleepover, we usually agreed on something we both wanted to watch. (Note: Coyote Ugly was from my adolescence, not my childhood). I even went on to IMDb searching for craptacular kids movies I may have been subjected to and had gladly forgotten. Alas, I could think of nothing, so...

Fantasia (1940)


Fantasia is chosen by default. Certainly there are many kids movies that NOW as an ADULT, I would rather shave my eyebrows than watch. But, admittedly, I kind of liked FernGully when I was young. In fact, the closest I can come is Mighty Morphin Power Rangers or Space Ghost, both shows I watched at daycare against my will. But, those are TV shows and this is the 30 Day Movie Challenge.


When I was very young, we owned a limited number of movies. (We were renters, remember?) But one of them was Fantasia. My dad, being a child of the 60's and former Dead Head, would often watch this flick with sound turned down and the likes of It's A Beautiful Day or Iron Butterfly playing (Psychedelic 60's bands, you ignorant whippersnappers!) This is how my dad and I would bond.


Not only did we not have a big video library, I was an equal opportunity watcher. I felt each of my movies should be watched the same number of times. So even when I had the urge to "run the hidden pine trails of the forest", I would look sadly at that black VHS clamshell case and go for Fantasia. It was only fair, right? And I sort of liked the centaurs!

Hate is the wrong word to use when describing Fantasia, but I've still seen it too many goddamn times. It's too long. It's bloated and self-righteous and boooooorrrrrrring! I don't like it and feel the reason was my childhood associations.

30 Day Movie Challenge - Day 6

Day 6 - A Movie From Your Childhood


I've been watching movies my whole life. That may seem like kind of a "duh" statement but you'd be surprised how many parents won't let their children watch audio/visual entertainment at all! How I worry about the future of this country...Anyway, I was given quite the opposite treatment. My parents would gladly slap me in front of the TV with a juice box and my blanky. In fact, my first memory of life is watching The Wizard of Oz. But that is not the childhood classic I'll be discussing today.

Edward Scissorhands (1990)


A long, long time ago, before Netflix and Youtube and streaming media, there were these neat things called video stores. How it worked was, you picked a video from a shelf, paid a fee to the owner, and you got to take that movie home for a predetermined number of days. My family frequented video stores. My parents always picked a movie for themselves and then I got to pick one of my very own! Being an only child I never had to take turns or compromise with a sibling. It was always WHATEVER THE HELL I WANTED and it usually rotated between three choices: Disney's Cinderella, Disney's Sleeping Beauty or Edward Scissorhands. 


One of these things is not like the other.


Don't ask me why, because I still don't know what my three year old self could have possibly enjoyed about Tim Burton's signature film. It is the story of Edward (Johnny Depp) the unfinished creation of the Inventor (Vincent Price) who died before he could replace the young man's scissors for hands. Peg Boggs (Dianne Wiest) the local Avon lady, comes a-calling to Edward's gothic mansion and decides to bring the sensitive shut in down to her her suburban utopia. Despite his strangeness, he is accepted by most of the neighborhood and discovers a talent for hedge trimming, dog grooming, and hair styling. However, Edward falls in love with Peg's daughter Kim (Winona Ryder) and longs for a normal existence.


At age 23, I fully understand why I love this movie. It's quirky and original. It mocks suburbia and has amazing art direction. The score is fucking tear-inducingly beautiful. Plus, it's a "Beauty and the Beast" variation that takes the story a step further; you can love an "ugly monster", but can you love someone who will hurt you if he touches you? 

As mature as I like to think I was in elementary school, I still know all the social satire and romantic philosophy was way above my head. Plus, it's kind of creepy. At first glance, Edward is a freaky looking dude, especially to a three year old. And even if said three year old can watch until the end, it gets a little intense and bloody. Through and through this is just not a kids movie, so I have to wonder, what the hell was wrong with me?


Even though I repeatedly watched Edward Scissorhands as a youngin', I did not grow into a goth kid. My favorite band is The Carpenters and frankly, Hot Topic makes me nervous. It's just one of those mysteries of life. Certainly, if I was baby-sitting it wouldn't be the first movie I'd pick for entertainment. (Although that would be incredibly amusing to me to watch a three year old's reaction to it...which is why I'm never having kids.) 


So maybe it wasn't the smartest move for my parents to let me watch Edward Scissorhands. Ten minutes in, they could have had a weeping hysterical child on their hands. But since they didn't make a big deal about it --"Just close your eyes during the scary parts, honey!"-- I, therefore, didn't make a big deal about. And with a foundation like that, how could I not become the fucking awesome proficient film viewer that I am today? Thanks Mom and Dad!

30 Day Movie Challenge - Day 5

Day 5 - A Movie That Disappointed You Terribly


I usually get my hopes up. I know you're not supposed to do that, but just like death, taxes, and a Meryl Streep Oscar nomination, it happens. The thing is, my expectations are often met when it counts, when I really, REALLY think I'm going to like a movie. After all, I was right about Bridesmaids and Easy A and Revolutionary Road and Peter Pan (2003) and...you get the picture. Still, we can't always bowl a 300, and some gutter balls hurt more than others.

Spider-Man 3 (2007) 


Maybe this is an easy out. Practically EVERYBODY who ever cared about Spider-Man as a character/comic book/TV show/multi-million dollar film franchise was disappointed by the third installment of Sam Raimi's trilogy. But you have to understand how much I love Spider-Man. 


The first two movies got me through high school. Literally. I was in love with the Big Man on Campus Prom King Homecoming King Varsity Football Player. And if you've ever seen a teen movie, you know what kind and understanding gentlemen they can be. So, to deal with my unrequited love for him, I turned to movies...movies with nice, nerdy boys stuck in the same romantic shit-uation as me. Nice nerdy boys who could save me from rapists and then kiss me upside down in the rain...sigh.


Plus, I've always had a thing for Tobey Maguire since 1998's Pleasantville, where he also plays a sensitive, trivia obsessed nerd who saves women from rapists.


Anyway, I love Spider-Man. I loved the first movie from the get go. Spider-Man 2 took a little longer. You see, I didn't think Peter and M.J. should have gotten together until the third movie. I think it should've just ended when Norman Osborn tells Harry to AVENGE ME!!! But no...M.J. had to leave that poor astronaut at the altar, which meant her and Peter's relationship would have to be fucked up come the sequel.


And, boy howdy, is it! Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire), nerdy college student by day, and web-slinging superhero by night, has finally reached his life long goal of dating girl next door and burgeoning Broadway star, Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst). But what goes up must come down. Peter's former BFF Harry Osborn (James Franco) still thinks Peter murdered his father and becomes New Goblin to take his vengeance. Then there's Flint Marko (Thomas Haden Church), an escaped convict who falls into a particle accelerator and emerges as Sandman who robs banks to save his poor dying daughter. Then there's Eddie Brock, Jr. (Topher Grace) a rival photographer at the Daily Bugle desperate to out-shoot Peter. THEN there's Peter's cute and bubbly lab partner Gwen Stacy (Bryce Dallas Howard) who may or may not have a crush on him. AND THEN there's this mysterious black goo from space...you get the picture.


The common complaint of Spider-Man 3 is too many villains, too many plot lines, too many love triangles, too much thrusting and too much guy-liner. 

All this could be forgiven if only IT WEREN'T THE LAST IN THE TRILOGY. To me, the great tragedy isn't the eager chaos of Spider-Man 3, it's the poor legacy it leaves. It's a sad conclusion to a trilogy that began with a BANG! Gee Whiz awesomeness and improved by an emotionally satisfying, yet still action packed sequel. And this, this is how it ends. [SPOILERS] Harry is dead. The whole Venom story is compressed and wasted. Peter and M.J. basically have to start all over because he hit her...arg. I had high, high, high hopes for a Spider-Man 4. Maybe it could bring it back down earth? Maybe it could bring some honor and respectability back to the franchise?


But, wait a minute. What's that you say? They're rebooting the Spider-Man movies?


I guess now is as good as ever to tell you that we here at Popped Density whole-heartedly support the reboot, The Amazing Spider-Man (2012). We also support Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker due to his stellar acting chops seen in The Social Network and quotes like this:

“I had the wonderful fortune of meeting [Tobey] after we finished shooting, I didn’t seek him out, but he sent a very, very, very nice email I think once it was announced to [the producer] basically giving me his blessing. It meant the world to me because I respect him so much as an actor generally, and especially what he did with the role that I’m now assuming."

Plus, he looks like this:

All that being said, I still like Spider-Man 3, even if it is the weakest of the trilogy. I don't love it, mind you...but I could never hate it. I even saw it in theaters 5 times just in case it was the last time I got to see Tobey Maguire as Spider-Man on the big screen. Good for me for having foresight. 

30 Day Movie Challenge - Day 4

Day 4 - A Movie That Pleasantly Surprised You

I don't mean to be snide, but I usually know if I'm going to like a movie or not. Years of practiced movie watching have led me to this place of superiority. Still, even the most profound film viewer often finds herself watching something that, by all reasoning, she knows she shouldn't be sitting through. Sometimes it's out of duty, sometimes it's nagging, persistent friends, and sometimes it's simply grotesque curiosity.

Cinderella III: A Twist in Time (2007)

Of course it's supposed to be shit, right? I mean, for one it's a sequel to a Disney Animated Feature. Two, it's a sequel to a sequel of a Disney Animated Feature. Three, it's a sequel to a 57 year old movie so all the original voice cast is either dead or dying. And four, it's about time travel. In the spring semester of my freshmen year of college, my friends and I just had to pull over and see the freakish roadside attraction Cinderella III was sure to be. But then I committed the cardinal sin and ended up liking it. Oops.

One year after the ball and the pumpkin and slipper, former scullery maid Cinderella (Jennifer Hale) and Prince Charming (Christopher Daniel Barnes...also the voice of Prince Eric in The Little Mermaid) are happily married and celebrating their one year anniversary. But not everyone is living happily ever after. Cinderella's stepmother, Lady Tremaine (Susan Blakeslee) and her stepsisters Anastasia (Tress MacNeille) and Drizella (Russi Taylor) hate having to do their own chores and still don't understand how Cinderella managed to pull off the impossible. Then, Anastasia discovers the Fairy Godmother's (also Russi Taylor) magic wand and gives it to her mother. Faster than you can say "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo", Lady Tremaine turns back time to the moment Anastasia tries on the slipper and makes it fit her, leaving everyone to believe the ugly, awkward redhead was the mystery girl from the ball. As with all of these fairy tales, Prince Charming and Anastasia are to be wed later that night, which leaves Cinderella a few hours to figure out what the hell is going on and save her prince from a most awful fate...and she must do it without the aid of her Fairy Godmother.

Yeah, it's still kind of shit. But entertaining shit, with twists and turns and chase scenes. Trust me, you won't get bored. Everyone in this film is far more active than in the previous two installments of Disney's Cinderella franchise. The titular heroine manages to find her way to the palace without a pumpkin carriage this time. And Prince Charming! He's actually charming and brave and has a whisper of a personality. He's still no Flynn Rider, but he does try to save Cinderella at one point. The pair seem to have an actual chemistry and he takes an interest in her when she's dressed in rags. Yay!

Cinderella III is not a good movie, but it is a good Disney Sequel (Perhaps even my favorite of the Disney Sequels...hmmm). It takes a story we can recite verbatim and fucks it up just enough to make us wonder if love will conquer all. Yes, it still has those irritating side characters and unnecessary slapstick, but what are you gonna do?

Cinderella III also brings layers into the story. Several times Prince Charming has a feeling that something's not quite right, that Anastasia is just not THE ONE, despite Lady Tremaine repeatedly putting him under a spell. The film deals with issues of destiny; it can only take you so far and then it's up to you to make happen. And Anastasia herself struggles with being her mother's pawn. She too is hot for Charming but does she want to spend the rest of her life living a lie?

Layers. I was pleasantly surprised by Cinderella III's layers. Especially since the first movie is a Love At First Sight snooze-a-rama. If you watch any direct-to-video Disney sequel this year, please, make it this one.

Also, all the trailers on Youtube have the audio blocked so here is a fan made music video to the end credits song "I Still Believe (in Destiny)":

30 Day Movie Challenge - Day 3

Day 3 - A Movie You Watch With Friends


Boy, I struggled with this one. There's just so many directions you can go. I mean, which friends are we talking about? My closest friends? Friendly acquaintances? A group of people I don't really want in my house that just so happen to be there and wanting to watch a movie? And then, there's the gender factor. Is this a mixed group? Because I have a complex about watching chick flicks with guys... And are we actually watching the movie, or are we drinking and talking and occasionally pausing to watch a Youtube video?


Sigh. After spending way too much time deliberating on a simple daily blogpost, I decided to just go with my instincts and pick...

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)


When choosing a movie to watch with friends, (who I assume are going to talk through most of it) there are three important rules to follow:


1. Choose something gender neutral.
Here I go, gettin' on my sexist horse again...but if you know men and women, you know there are certain movie elements that are more appreciated by one sex than the other. If you put in something like Sex and the City 2, you're going to get cranky boys who will probably break off from the pack and start their own conversation about cars and sperm count and that local sports team. In the spirit of unity, pick a movie that has universal appeal. Which leads to...


2. Choose a big blockbuster hit.
There's a reason why certain movies are huge at the box office. And there's a reason certain movies do respectably well at the box office. Usually the Number 1 movie of the year is pretty damn good and, let me say it again, GENDER NEUTRAL. Universal appeal, that's all I'm sayin'.


3. Choose something at least five years old.
Not that the quality of American cinema has gone down hill since 2006...it's just, you want something EVERYBODY has already seen before. That way you don't get that one dumbass trying to shush everybody so they can listen to the dialogue. AND if you're going to pick a film from a popular franchise, pick the FIRST FILM, just in case that same dumbass doesn't know Darth Vader is Luke's father.


These simple rules are what led me to choose Raiders of the Lost Ark, the top grossing film of 1981 and the first in the mega-popular Indiana Jones quadrilogy. It's 1936 and Dr. Henry "Indiana" Jones (Harrison Ford) is a professor of archaeology who enjoys the more hands on approach to his field of interest. Shortly after returning from an expedition thwarted by his long time rival René Belloq (Paul Freeman), Indy is sent on a mission to obtain the mystical Ark of the Covenant. With the help of his ex-flame Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen) and his faithful sidekick Sallah (John Rhys-Davies), Indiana must find the Ark before those blasted Nazis use it to TAKE OVER THE WORLD!


Action. Adventure. Romance. History. Fantasy. Melting Nazis. 

See? Something for everyone.


Andrew, that git, got it absolutely perfect with Pirates of the Caribbean. If given the choice you know some dUmb bItch gIrlfrIENd is going to pick the younger movie (Because you know she's the one who'll make her opinion known...I digress). Plus, Pirates has yet to reach full on Nerd Status the way other blockbuster hits have, which is why I chose Raiders over Star Wars or Spider-Man. Because this about universal appeal, damn it. It's about pleasing everybody. And if you're not pleased by Indiana Jones, then you can get the hell out of my house and go watch Coyote Ugly on your own time!

30 Day Movie Challenge - Day 2

Day 2 - A Movie You Hate (Or Just Plain Really, Really Don't Like)


It would be too easy to do The Notebook. Plus, I'm supposed to cover it in my Jordyn vs. Nicholas Sparks series (Oops). Therefore, I'll pick another movie that grinds my gears. The #1 Slumber Party Staple of Oakesdale, Washington's Class of 2006: 

Coyote Ugly (2000)


Violet Sanford (Piper Perabo) is just a small town girl livin' in a lonely world with big dreams of being a songwriter. So after saying goodbye to her family and friends, she heads to the Big Apple in search of fame and fortune. What she finds is not what she expected! Everyone rejects her demo tape! And her apartment gets robbed! Bummer. Luckily, Violet meets Lil (Maria Bello) the owner of Coyote Ugly, a saloon where all the bartenders are skinny, mid-driff baring hotties. The other gals, Cammie (Izabella Miko), Rachel (Bridget Moynahan), and Zoe (Tyra Banks), show Violet the ropes and she slowly overcomes her crippling stage fright.


Yep. That's pretty much all that happens. Oh, her dad (John Goodman) has a heart attack or something. And she has a romance with some banal, but hot Aussie named Kevin (Adam Garcia). And of course, she eventually becomes that famous songwriter who pens tunes for LeAnn Rimes. Literally LeAnn Rimes. She has a cameo. :-)


Coyote Ugly is one of those movies that, at first glance, it's just a movie. A sort of stupid, but vacantly entertaining-at-the-moment movie. But if you don't love it, the way I didn't in junior high, and you are forced to watch it at every damn birthday/sleepover you attend, well, that mild entertainment fizzles. You soon realize just how fucking stupid and plotless and unoriginal it is. (Seriously how many times have we seen the small town girl try to make it big?)

I suppose if the female form gets your rocks off, you'll probably enjoy the writhing T&A that makes up most of Coyote Ugly. Which is why I've never understood the appeal of this movie to my thirteen year old peers. Unless it was to live vicariously through the table dancing and bottle twirling? That must be it. Mystery solved. They were too young shake their kitties for tips n' drinks then, but now that we are of age, I wonder if this movie is still enjoyable for them?

30 Day Movie Challenge - Day 1

In the grand, epic, life changing history of this blog, my dear friend Andrew (Diversion 2.0) has ripped off several of my series. And now, stuck in small town America, friendless with flickering Internet connection, this is my chance to rip him off. As of today, Andrew has kicked off a new series: The 30 Day Movie Challenge.This run of blog posts will work much like the 30 Day Song Challenge, only this one deals with (you guessed it) cinema. And this time, Andrew is calling the categories. The fate of this blog is entirely in his hands, so if it gets boring, please feel free to leave him aggravated, snide comments.

Day 1 – One of Your Favorite Movies (But Not Your Favorite Favorite)

Get Over It! (2001)

If you are a long time reader of Popped Density (or one of my close, personal friends) you know all about Jordyn's Official Canonized List of Favorite Movies. As of July 18, 2011, there are 73 lucky films on this list. Honestly, any of the 73 (other than my Favorite Favorite, of course) would have worked. The challenge here was to find a movie that I doubt could be used later in the 30 Day Movie Challenge. So, I decided on Get Over It!, an unassuming rom-com from the Silver Age of teen movies.

It is the story of Berke Landers (Ben Foster) who, in the first five minutes of the film, is dumped by his long time, Pretty & Popular girlfriend Allison McAllister (Melissa Sagemiller). Now a free woman, Allison hooks up with Bentley "Striker" Scrumfeld (Shane West) the lead singer of Britain's latest boy band smash, Swing Town Lads. Despite Allison's former distaste for theatre, she finds herself auditioning for a musical version of A Midsummer Night's Dream along with her new boo. Berke decides if he's going to win her back, he needs to get into the play too, so he enlists the help of his best friend's little sister, Sweet & Simple aspiring songwriter Kelly Woods (Kirsten Dunst). To complicate matters, Allison, Striker, Berke and Kelly are cast as the four romantic leads. And I bet you'll never figure out what happens.

Many believe Get Over It! falls in with other teen flicks that borrowed from classical literature. It started with 1995's Clueless which transplanted Jane Austen's Emma to Beverly Hills 90210. Then came Baz Luhrman's ultra-chic Romeo + Juliet. By late 90's, the sub-genre exploded: 

• Great Expectations (1998) 
• She's All That (1999) = Pygmalion 
• 10 Things I Hate About You (1999) = The Taming of the Shrew 
• Cruel Intentions (1999) = Dangerous Liaisons 
• Whatever It Takes (2000) = Cyrano de Bergerac (sort of) 
• Hamlet (2000) (the one with Ethan Hawke, remember?) 
• O (2001) = Othello 
• She's the Man (2006) = Twelfth Night 
• Easy A (2010) = The Scarlet Letter (sort of) 
• From Prada to Nada (2011) = Sense and Sensibility 

Oh, and let's not forget that little MTV version of Wuthering Heights (2003).

While these films are more or less "accurate" reworkings of their source material, it's not really fair to put Get Over It! in this camp. Yes, there are similarities between Lysander/Hermia/Demetrius/Helena and Berke/Allison/Striker/Kelly, but it is so muddled that Shakespeare purists (or anyone who's actually read the original text) would scoff at the damn thing.

Truly, it's a "play within a movie". That play is A Midsummer Night's Rockin' Eve, ("classical Shakespeare with a contemporary musical twist") the brainchild of failed Broadway hopeful, Dr. Desmond Forrest-Oates (Martin Short). He was most likely inspired by Kiss Me, Kate and West Side Story or perhaps, by the millennial trend of Shakespeare "gettin' jiggy wit it".

This film is such a beautiful mess of 2001. It tries so hard to please with its cameos from Carmen Electra, Coolio (oh, Lord), and one hit wonder Vitamin C (as we go on, we remember, all the times we had together...). Sisqo (yes, "Thong Song" Sisqo) plays Dennis, a basketball player who "saves the play" with his secret stellar dance moves. Then there's the teen comedy tropes we all know and love: oversexed parents, oversexed friends, a hormonally imbalanced dog that humps everything in sight...But perhaps best of all is Dr. Forrest-Oates, the domineering drama teacher. He sports a sad little soul patch and spouts references to TRL (remember when, kids?) all in an effort to remain relevant to the youth.

Get Over It! is not destined to become a cult classic. It's already ten years old and I'm certain everyone but a handful of people have gladly forgotten its existence. But, it still remains a favorite movie of mine, not my favorite favorite, but its place on Jordyn's Canonized List of Favorite Movies is pretty well cemented.

I wanted to post the trailer, but the only available version on Youtube is in French, so here's one of the many awesomely bad musical numbers:

DAF #36 - Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)

Milo: "Who are you? How did you get here?"
Helga: "I came down the chimney. Ho, ho, ho."

Year: 2001

Rated: PG (for action violence)

Run Time: 1 hour, 35 minutes

Starring
Michael J. Fox as Milo James Thatch
James Garner as Commander Lyle Tiberius Rourke
Claudia Christian as Helga Katrina Sinclair
Cree Summer as Princess "Kida" Kidagakesh
Corey Burton as Gaetan "The Mole" Moliere
Phil Morris as Dr. Joshua Strongbear Sweet
Don Novello as Vincenzo "Vinnie" Santorini
Jacqueline Obradors as Audrey Rocio Ramirez
Jim Varney as Jebidiah Allardyce "Cookie" Farnsworth
Florence Stanley as Wilhemina Bertha Packard
Leonard Nimoy as King Kashekim Nedakh
John Mahoney as Preston B. Whitmore
 
Plot: A young adventurer joins an intrepid group of explorers to find the mysterious lost continent of Atlantis.
Based on: Original story...and the myth of Atlantis.
Setting: 1914, Washington D.C./Atlantis.

First Viewing: 2006. First Disney Marathon.

Comments
2001. I was thirteen and about as far away from caring about Disney Animated Features as I ever was. Yes, I still loved my old favorites, but I, along with nearly everyone else, recognized that the Disney Renaissance was over. The sun had set on the golden empire and who knew if it would ever rise again? At that point, I think I had maybe seen Tarzan, probably on TV and probably because nothing better was on.

Coming off of the Disney Renaissance, I guess the company wanted something new and different. To hell with fairy tales, big Broadway songs, and and romance! We want action, action, ACTION! Explosions! Sci-fi! Fart jokes! And those oh-so-precious teenage boys who never liked their movies to begin with would certainly pay to see a movie with all that! Thus, in 2001, Atlantis: The Lost Empire was released.

In 1914, a nerdy young lad named Milo J. Thatch works in the boiler room at the Smithsonian. His true passion is to find the lost city of Atlantis through his linguistics and cartography skills. After the Smithsonian board members refuse his theories, Milo is contacted by his grandfather's millionaire best friend who has found the mysterious Shepherd's Journal, an ancient tome with directions to Atlantis. The millionaire (settling up on a bet) offers to fund the entire journey and supply a dream team of experts.

On the expedition, Milo is eventually accepted by his comrades including the overly supportive Commander Rourke. After several hardships, the surviving (and most interesting) members of the crew make their way through tunnels and into air pocket revealing Atlantis. The group is met by Princess Kidagakash (a.k.a. "Kida") and some fellow Atlanteans who willingly accept the new visitors. In fact, the king is the only one who objects.

In the mean time, Milo and Kida bond over Atlantean culture while she explains the history of their dying way of life. Milo realizes that the blue crystals all the Atlanteans wear are powered by well, the Force essentially. When the pair return to the main city, Rourke and the crew are in the middle of capturing the Heart of Atlantis, meaning to sell it to the highest bidder.

Rourke, Milo, Kida, and the king travel to the Heart of Atlantis's location where Kida is chosen as its carrier. Rourke encapsulates her and transports her to the surface. Eventually the rest of the crew abandons their mercenary ways and side with Milo. Action, action, action...Rourke explodes. Milo saves Kida. The crew returns to the surfaces with riches and the lie that Atlantis was never found. Milo stays with Kida and helps the Atlanteans restore their culture to its former glory.

Sorry to have to do this, but I'm going to cheat. After a re-watching of Atlantis: The Lost Empire, it has come to my attention that I don't like it as much as I remember. I know, I know, it's sad, but these things happen.

But, let's start with what I do like: Milo James Thatch. Prrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Once upon a time, he was my most boneable of the Disney heroes. (His title has since been usurped...but you'll just have to wait to see by who...) I think it's probably obvious by now that I have a thing for nerds and Milo is certainly the nerdiest in the canon. Nearly all the other Disney male protagonists are strapping, virile, pinnacles of manhood. It's such a change up to have a hero who is more brains than brawn.

That's not to say that Milo can't hold his own in a fight. He does, after all, defeat Rourke who is twice his size. In my opinion, it's not the video games or the unopened action figures or the Star Wars bedsheets that turn women off to nerds...it's the assumed fragility. Nerds have a notorious (and unfair) reputation for being weak, perhaps cowardly and unable to protect said women if there was danger. Lorraine Baines from Back to the Future puts it best "I think a man should be strong so he can stand up for himself and protect the woman he loves." My point is...Milo Thatch is an underrated hero because not only is he super intelligent (in linguistics) but can also kick some ass when the situation calls for it.

Plus he's voiced by Michael J. Fox. Prrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Notoriously, Atlantis is one the DAF's with an actual princess that is not part of the Disney Princess Franchise. As of now, it's Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Pocahontas, Mulan, and Tiana. (Rapunzel is due to be added later this year). To get completely technical...Cinderella, Belle, and Tiana only become princesses through marriage. Pocahontas is a chief's daughter which (if you're trying to cover all your races and ethnicities the way those marketers are) is akin to a princess in 17th century America. And Mulan is the daughter of a soldier who marries a general. The closest she gets to royalty is hugging that emperor.

This is really a bullshit grievance. No one really likes this movie and those who do don't like it because of Kida. Seriously, the only thing interesting about her is her design. There's nothing negative about her per se. She is trying to help her people. No other Disney princess can claim that, certainly. But frankly, she's just so boring! However, boring or not, if she were Latina, you know her ass would be on those bedsheets right beside Belle and Aurora.

I think my problem with Atlantis is a common complaint among Disney-philes and the average boob: it's a story that's been done to death and a story that's been done better. (No, I don't know a damn thing about Stargate).There really isn't anything special about the movie, save for finally having a nerdy hero. But I'll bet I'm one of the few that thinks this is a good point. I just don't really enjoy it.

Still, I respect it for daring to be different. And I pity it. (You know how I am about movies that nobody likes).I would never wish it out of the canon, despite its box office disappointment. But I would never just pick it off my shelf to watch.

Songs
"Where the Dream Takes You" - Mya
"Atlantis 2002" - No Angels feat. Donovan (from the German release)

Favorite Song: "Atlantis 2002"
Favorite Moment: The initial meeting of the crew.
Favorite Character: Milo Thatch

You wanna know why his pants are so puffy?
Because he's PACKIN'!

Next DAF: The Black Cauldron (1985)

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 30

Day 30 - A Song That Describes You

"Any Way You Want It" by Journey, Departure (1980)


Remember that guy I liked in high school? Yeah, he loved Journey, so I came to love Journey. (Truly, I'm thankful for the music he introduced me to). Then I went to college and as a way of keeping him fresh in my mind, I would play a lot of Journey. Then I started being known as the girl who loved Journey...and I claimed this one as my theme song because I feel the lyrics apply to me. Simple as that.


I promise it's not because I'm lazy, it's just that I think the song can speak for itself...or for me, I guess. 

Ah, so many danced upon tables...


Well, this concludes my 30 Day Song Challenge. Yeah, it took way longer than 30 days, but I'm happy to report that I sort of had a life during those 30+ days, so suck it! There are rumors that Andrew is going to extend his 30 Day Song Challenge and I will happily participate if he does it...cough, cough, hint, hint.

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 29

Day 29 - Your Favorite Song By Your Favorite Artist

"Only Yesterday" by The Carpenters, Horizon (1976)


I briefly mentioned The Carpenters in my A Song You Hate By an Artist You Love post. Now, I get to rectify their good name by talking about my favorite song of their's, "Only Yesterday".


The Carpenters song choices were a bit bipolar. On one side, you had blissfully, upbeat songs like "Close to You", "We've Only Just Begun", and "Top of the World" all about finding love and those groovy feelings that come with it. Then on the other hand you had "Superstar", "Rainy Days and Mondays", and "Goodbye to Love", all songs about loneliness, depression, and isolation. 


"Only Yesterday" is my favorite Carpenters song because it starts in a dark place -- "nobody knew the pain I was going through and waiting was all my heart could do" -- but then lightens up with the arrival of this new dude -- "hope was all I had until you came" -- and just keeps getting better...

"Only yesterday when I was sad 

and I was lonely,

You showed me the way to lead the past 

and all its tears behind me 

Tomorrow may be even brighter than today

Since I threw my sadness away,

Only yesterday..."

Karen Carpenter could pull off both the happy and the sad with her sweet, pitch perfect, velvet voice. As we know now, she was a complex individual dealing with the pain of a deadly disease and the anxiety of her unluckiness in love. However, she slapped on a smile and positive attitude. Knowing how much she suffered in her private life makes these songs all the more haunting.


This is how you know I'm serious...Youtube clip!

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 28

Day 28 - Your Favorite Song This Time Last Year

"Never Knew I Needed" - Ne-Yo, The Princess and the Frog: Original Songs and Score (2009)


Remember my rant about horrible Disney end credits songs? Well, luckily, that trend ended some time in the early 2000's. This was due to Disney releasing movies that lacked original songs. Oh, believe me, there were still end credits songs, but they usually had nothing to do with the film, nor appeared anywhere in said film.


The Princess and the Frog's end credits song still stays away from that evil formula of beautiful ballad + chimes and woodblocks = soft rock gold. While all the other songs and score were written by two-time-Oscar-winning songwriter Randy Newman, the last one was, for some reason, written by R&B singer Ne-Yo. Why? Cause he's black maybe? And they figured since the movie is about a black girl maybe there should be at least one song by a black person?


I don't really care about the pseudo-racist marketing strategy behind the decision because "Never Knew I Needed" is easily the best song on the soundtrack. There, I said it. Lyrically, the song fits with Tiana and Naveen's unexpected romance. But it's still a late 2000's R&B song and doesn't fit with Randy Newman's craptacular stab at 20's era jazz. Personally, I wish they had "broadway-ized" Ne-Yo's song. Now wouldn't that have been interesting?

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 27

Day 27 - A Song You Discovered After Everyone Else

"Halo" - Beyonce, I Am... Sasha Fierce (2008) 


I've always been a little slow on the musical uptake. It's usually due to a friend's mix CD that I'm ever introduced to new music. And by then, the tune is yesterday's news. Now, there was a time in my life that I reveled in liking moldy oldies, but then I started to feel left behind. It all came to a head in spring of 2010 when somehow (seriously, I don't remember) I heard Beyonce's Top 5 ballad and was shocked to discover that it was more than a year old. Oh the shame!


I decided to keep an ear open from then on. I have since religiously scoured the Billboard charts for rising hits and faithfully downloaded each #1 hit...no matter how much it pains me. (Black and yellow, black and yellow, black and yellow...)


As for "Halo" itself, this was one of my bigger favorites of the year. The song is about a formerly jilted woman who has found a pure and, if you will, angelic love. Easily one of the best love songs out there.

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 26

Day 26 - A Great Song You Just Discovered

"Last Friday Night (TGIF)" - Katy Perry, Teenage Dream (2010)

Every once in awhile you'll find a song that exemplifies exactly what you're going through. Or sometimes, you'll find a song you want to exemplify your life so you do everything possible to make it happen.

Luckily, my urges to have ongoing crazy drunken nights are...well, not few, but far between at least. I suppose it started with Lady Gaga's "Just Dance" and was followed by Ke$ha's entire discography. Recently Avril Lavigne's "What the Hell" added itself to the Drunk Bitch Anthem playlist and now Katy Perry's latest single has become my number 1.

The past few weeks have been a bit insane for me. I won't go into detail, just know that several details in this song actually occurred in my life. I do not blame the music for perpetuating my bad behavior. It's all my doing, I'm just glad I live in a time where popular music can be my perfect soundtrack.