Kathryn's comments (member since Sep 09, 2008)

Kathryn's comments from the The Rory Gilmore Book Club group.

DJ wrote: "Meghan I think your comment 23 is an excellent idea and hopefully accepted as a good alternative...."

Agreed! :-)

I like the idea of having a "Group Discussions" every few months. This would give more opportunity for people to join in and fit the book with busy schedules, and also keep the Group Read idea going, but also allow more time for us to manage our busy lives and keep up with other books on our non-Rory list! :-) Good idea, Kristel!

No offense at all, Jenny! I, too, joined the group for that reason! :-)

I am with Artic--it seems sad not to have a monthly discussion to "unify" the group, but at the same time I, too, have been extremely busy (or not interested in a given selection) so I have not participated much with the monthly readings, either. It is often hard to fit the reading into a set monthly schedule. So, I think your solution to just form various individual discussions based on books of common interest seems like a good one and I trust we will keep in touch through the various book discussions and, of course, "Gilmore Girls" tidbits! :-)

I am sorry to say that I rather agree with you, Katri. I mean, I HOPE it will be good and that ALW felt truly passionate about the project, but this just feels like something marvelous (the original version) that he shouldn't mess with! I kind of liked the open-ended ending and now the new musical will spoil a lot of people's perceptions of what happens... (Assuming, of course, that they actually go see it, haha!)

I have not seen "Phantom of Paradise" but it sounds quite neat! Thanks, Dottie.

It's a sad reason she had to join the cast, but is good to see her getting work!

"NEW YORK – NBC Universal is confirming that Lauren Graham has joined the cast of NBC's upcoming series "Parenthood."

Graham, best known from the longrunning "Gilmore Girls," steps into the "Parenthood" ensemble as a replacement for Maura Tierney (MOHR'-uh TEER'-nee). Tierney was forced to drop out of the series this summer after being diagnosed with breast cancer, for which she continues to get treatment.

Originally slotted for a fall premiere, "Parenthood" is now set to debut in early 2010. NBC said Monday that production begins in mid-November.

Also starring Craig T. Nelson, Bonnie Bedelia and Mae Whitman, the series is based on the 1989 movie that starred Steve Martin."

OMG!!!! This is the first I've heard of this! Andrew Lloyd Weber has created a "sequel" (which he views as a "stand-alone piece") to "Phantom of the Opera"

Below is the link to the full article and here is an excerpt:
The new musical will be called "Love Never Dies." It is due to open in London in March. It x will be staged also in New York beginning in November 2010 and will open in Australia in 2011.

The musical picks up a decade after the original's conclusion, and has the Phantom trading his customary hideout beneath the Paris opera house for Coney Island, the iconic Brooklyn amusement park known for its roller coasters and "Nathan's Famous" hot dogs.

Lloyd Weber said he wanted to produce a sequel because the original's ending, which sees Christine leave the brooding Phantom for his rival, Raoul, was unsatisfactory.

"Christine goes off with this boring guy, the Phantom disappears," Lloyd Weber said. He said he wanted to set the piece at Coney Island because, at its turn-of-the-century heyday, it was "the eighth wonder of the world."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091008/ap_e...

WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK!?!?!? On one hand, it is exciting to think of a new ALW musical but, then again, I am nervous about the idea of tampering with "Phantom" and Broadway sequels tend to be terrible. Still, I want to hope for the best! :-)

I've been meaning to read this! Maybe I will finally get to--and with all of you :-)

My sister and I watched "Penelope" last night. Overall, it was an odd but fun movie. I was wrapped up in the romance by the end, sighing and swooning away hoping for the happy ending. It was a visually very beautiful and almost artsy film and I liked that it had a sort of enchantment about it. Plus, it was fun to see some British actors in diverse roles, MacAvoy and then the guy who played the young doctor in "Cransford"--totally different role in "Penelope" haha!

However, I had a few problems with it, too. For one, I am not sure what the target audience was. Unlike "Enchanted" which I felt could appeal to both adults and kids, "Penelope" seemed to really disregard young kids in terms of audience, choosing to include material such as affairs and illegitimate children, drinking, gambling problems and sexual innuendo.

Also, I wondered, was it really necessary for Penelope to be beautiful? Truly, there was nothing "hideous" about her except the pig-nose and while the overall message is one that is commendable (i.e., you are not your looks) the very fact that Penelope's end looks are ones that most girls would envy seems to undermine things just a bit. I'd have rather Penelope been an average-looking girl, who happened to have the pig-nose--she could still wish for the pig-nose to go away so she could be "normal" but at least "normal" would have really been NORMAL rather than movie-star beautiful.

Still, overall, it was an enjoyable film. I just include these cautions since it really seemed billed as a "family" movie but I would not want show it to my little kids.

I finally saw "It Happened One Night" with Clark Gable and Caludette Colbert. LOVED IT!!! So funny and romantic and sexy and wonderfully "old fashioned" yet more clever and interesting than a lot of today's movies.

DJ wrote: "Hi Kathryn,got an idea for you.Why don't you get you husband to get you it for your 1st Wedding Anniversary-its paper after all.(ok,I know modern is tin but paper is the traditional gift).If you do..."

What a sweet idea! Actually, my anniversary is in June so it's already too late for that. But, I will be sure to keep the book in mind for the future.

That is so sweet, DJ! Thank you for sharing. I will watch for that "Brides" book. I got married last year, but I suppose I am still newlywed enough myself that I could even get it for myself! ;-p

I will probably wait for this one to come to DVD but I am still looking forward to it even if it's nothing amazing.

Me, too, Robbie! :-)

I saw the movie on a cross-country flight and that was pretty much the perfect setting for it as I actually stuck it out until the end since I hate flying and the film was at least a distraction! I thought it was OKAY but I did not really like it and actually found parts rather sad/depressing. Not the fun rom-com I had hoped for. It pretty much killed my (already limited) interest in reading the book. BUT, I know the book is very popular so I'm eager to see what you all think of it! :-) Maybe you will change my mind!

I loved the movie, too, and echo all your comments, Ann! I do think it was a little anti-climactic when the identity of the Half-Blood Prince was revealed (it was such a key mystery of the book--especially once we all knew the title and could start pondering!!!)

If I recall correctly, there are some Miyazaki fans among us so I wanted to mention that my husband and I saw his latest film, "Ponyo" in theaters on Saturday. It was the first of his films that I actually saw in theaters and it was neat seeing it on the big screen--he is always so visually "magical" with the animation and the music is stirring. Sadly, there were only about a dozen people in the theater and we went on the day after opening day. Well, at least they brought it to the US and I know his largest audience/fan base is definitely Japanese. The movie itself was great--among his best, I think (or, at least, my favorite of his!). It seemed to combine some of the more magical elements of, say, "Howl's Moving Castle" with more of the young-child focus of "Totoro" and of course the "Little Mermaid" source material--yet made it wholly unique ;->

So glad to see the discussion continuing and I appreciate all the comments and suggestions. Keep 'em comin'! ;->

I think it looks like it could be a great movie--such a relevant concept and I think Bledel could be very good in it. From the preview, it looks a bit cliched but perhaps the overall film will be better. At least it looks fun!