Author Archives: Katie

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About Katie

I'm a writer and editor; a dancer and choreographer; and a passionate fan of more things than is probably healthy. I love film, literature, television, sports, fashion, and music. I'm proud to be a Nerdy Girl.

Nerdy Girl Goes to the Movies: Breaking Dawn Part 2

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Title: The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2

Rating: PG-13

Cast: Kristen Stewart (Bella Swan/Cullen), Robert Pattinson (Edward Cullen), Taylor Lautner (Jacob Black), Mackenzie Foy (Renesmee Cullen), Peter Facinelli (Carlisle Cullen), Elizabeth Reaser (Esme Cullen), Nikki Reed (Rosalie Hale), Kellan Lutz (Emmett Cullen), Jackson Rathbone (Jasper Hale), Ashley Greene (Alice Cullen), Billy Burke (Charlie Swan), Michael Sheen (Aro)

Director: Bill Condon

The Basics: Based on the second half of the fourth and final volume in Stephenie Meyer’s worldwide literary phenomenon, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 picks up where Part 1 left off, with Bella awakening to a life as a newborn vampire after the birth of her daughter, Renesmee. This half-human, half-vampire child draws the attention of the dangerous Volturi, who plan to attack the Cullens as punishment for creating what they believe to be a dangerous “immortal child” (aka child vampire). While some aspects of this film are stronger than any of the others in the series (Bella’s character most of all), the failure of the much-hyped “twist” proves that the inherent weaknesses of the source material are too much to overcome, except in the eyes of the most ardent fans, who will be especially drawn to the surprisingly emotional ending.

M.V.P. (Most Valuable Performer): Kristen Stewart has never looked better than she did in this film, and I mean that as both a beautiful young woman and an actress. There’s a strength in her performance that was largely missing from the other four films. It seems that giving Bella a purpose and plot beyond Edward and Jacob also gave Stewart purpose in her performance. The smiles feel more genuine, the passion feels less forced, and the happiness Bella feels in her new life is palpable. The maturity she gives to Bella this time around really surprised me; I especially liked the depth of chemistry between Stewart and Pattinson this time around. There is a warmth between them that feels more interesting than the obsessive, heavy-breathing “passion” that used to pass for their relationship, and a lot of that credit should go to Stewart, who I always saw as the one dragging that onscreen relationship down in previous installments. That warmth extended to her chemistry with Foy as well; I was downright shocked at how good Stewart is at playing a mother. This film was the first and only chance for Bella to show her strength as a character, and Stewart proved herself more than ready for the task.

Scene Stealer: Billy Burke has always been the scene-stealer extraordinaire in this series, and this was no exception. His dry humor, believable warmth, and undercurrent of genuine emotion have made Charlie Swan one of the most memorable and lovable characters in the Twilight movies. All of those wonderful elements are present in his performance once again, and though his time onscreen is short, Burke makes the most of it, creating some of the most humorous and poignant moments in the entire film.

Bring the Tissues? The best way to answer that question is to answer this one: Are you a fan of the series or have you ever been a fan of it (even on just a “guilty pleasure” level)? If the answer is no, then I think you can skip packing the Kleenex. But if the answer is yes, then you’ll definitely find yourself getting at least a little misty-eyed. Even as someone whose relationship with this series has soured over time, I found myself wiping my eyes by the end.

Should I Stay or Should I Go? I honestly don’t know the answer to that question this time around. Our theater was full and the people in our row were in a hurry to leave, so I only stayed until about halfway through the credits. However, you should definitely stay for at least the beginning of the credits to see a very nice (and very comprehensive) tribute to all of the actors who’ve appeared in the films throughout this series.

Most Memorable Scene: I know most people will probably answer this with “the fight scene,” but I have too many conflicting feelings about that sequence to single it out in this review. For me, the scene with the most lasting impact—the one I’m still thinking about hours later—is the ending. As Bella lets Edward read her thoughts for the first time, we see flashbacks to the most pivotal moments in their relationship throughout all five films. The way the series is wrapped up in this final scene between Edward and Bella struck a very moving and nostalgic chord with me. (I’m also a sucker for Christina Perri’s “A Thousand Years,” which was used to beautiful effect in this scene.) Then, the film concludes with a shot of the final page of the novel, which I found a very nice nod to fans that have been with the series since the books were published. I applaud the writers, Condon, Stewart, and Pattinson for creating such a fitting and surprisingly affecting conclusion to the series.

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TV Time: Parks and Recreation 5.07

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Title Leslie vs. April

Two-Sentence Summary Leslie is thrilled to learn of April’s passion for creating a new dog park in Pawnee, until she discovers that this park would be built on Lot 48, which she has been working for years to make into something worthwhile on her own. Meanwhile, Ben helps Tom look for Rent-a-Swag investors and makes a big career move of his own; Andy hits a snag in his police academy enthusiasm; and (in case you haven’t heard by now) Leslie meets Joe Biden.

Favorite Line
“You don’t let anything happen to him. You understand me? He is precious cargo!” (Leslie, speaking to Biden’s security team)

My Thoughts
Even without Joe Biden, this was a solid episode of Parks and Rec. With Joe Biden and his fabulous cameo, it was one of my favorites of this season so far. For the last few years, I’ve been amazed at how this show can operate at such a consistently high level, and it doesn’t show any signs of falling short of its own high standards anytime soon. “Leslie vs. April” may not have had as many ensemble moments as the best episodes of this show, but it did have plenty of moments of genuine laughter, character development, and earned sentiment.

Let’s start with the reason this episode was so highly-anticipated: the presence of Mr. Happy Warrior himself, Vice President Joe Biden. All politics aside, I think Biden did an excellent job in his scene, especially when you consider the fact that Amy Poehler most certainly ad-libbed a lot of Leslie’s reactions to meeting her ultimate celebrity crush. Leslie’s obsession with Biden has always been one of my favorite little character quirks of hers, so I had high expectations for this meeting from the moment I first heard about it. As it usually is with this show, I was not disappointed. It was awkward, it was hilarious, and it was played to perfection by everyone in the room.

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TV Time Quickies: Once Upon a Time 2.07 and Castle 5.07

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Thanks to a much-needed mental health (aka shopping) day off yesterday and a never-ending battle with allergies, I’m a little bit behind in my recapping/reviewing duties this week. As such, I’m going to combine my reviews for this week’s Once Upon a Time and Castle episodes into one neat little recap package, summing up five observations I had about each episode in addition to my usual two-sentence summary and favorite lines.

Enough of my rambling; let’s get on with the shows!

ONCE UPON A TIME 2.07

Title Child of the Moon

Two-Sentence Summary As Ruby faces the first full moon since the curse was broken, she becomes the prime suspect in a murder investigation and the target of an angry mod, led by King George, who is determined to get revenge on Charming in whatever way he can. In flashbacks to the Fairytale Land that was, Red finds her mother and learns to control the wolf, while the princesses inhabiting present-day Fairytale Land experience a shock when Aurora reveals that Henry spoke to her in their shared nightmare.

Favorite Line “I’m sort of an expert when it comes to rehabilitation.” (Belle)

Five Fast Observations
1.) Red/Ruby is definitely one of my favorite Once Upon a Time characters. Hers is a story about learning to love yourself for everything you are, both the good and the bad. This is such an important and empowering kind of love to represent on this show. The real monsters of Once are the ones who use their power to knowingly cause harm to others. Red is fascinating because she could so easily have become such a character, but she instead learns that just because she has the power to become a monster doesn’t mean she already is one. In fact, she’s probably one of the most inherently warm and selfless characters on the show.

2.) I like that this episode focused on the beauty and depth that can be found in platonic love. It’s so rare to see a completely platonic relationship between an attractive man and woman on television, and that is exactly what we saw in this episode between Charming and Red. You can tell how deeply they care about one another and have faith in one another, but never once did I feel like there was anything but respect and friendship between them. It’s also rare to see female friendships depicted as deep, positive relationships in the media, but this episode showcased two incredibly positive examples of female friendship: between Red and Belle and between Red and Snow. Once Upon a Time does a great job of showing that romantic love isn’t the only kind of love to exist and have power, and “Child of the Moon” showed that both platonic love and self-love can be incredibly powerful.

3.) “I didn’t save you. You saved yourself,” might be one of the most important and influential lines these writers have ever written. With so many girls, families, and young women watching this show, it’s a big deal to have a Charming tell this to Red. This show is not one for subtlety, and in this case it’s a very good thing. There’s no doubt that Red is the one in charge of her own journey, but she also doesn’t have to take that journey alone.

4.) While the main cast all gave incredibly strong performances this week, I have to admit that I was disappointed in the acting by the guest actors in the flashbacks. The line delivery was incredibly stilted in the werewolf hideout. This cast excels at taking dialogue that could be cheesy and making it resonant, but this week’s guest actors gave surprisingly flat performances.

5.) I found myself incredibly moved by the running theme of light and darkness as displayed in each character. Besides the main storyline of Red struggling to balance the good and destructive forces within herself, Regina and Rumplestiltskin were both able to show moments of total humanity with Henry, and Charming’s dark side was heartbreakingly shown by Josh Dallas when George tossed the hat into the fire. Love is able to bring out both our best and our worst selves, and the line between them is often dangerously fine. It’s a credit to the actors that they are able to tread that line so convincingly.

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TV Time: Parks and Recreation 5.06

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Title Ben’s Parents

Two-Sentence Summary Ben and Leslie’s engagement party—and Leslie’s homemade unity quilt—are almost ruined by the open hostility between Ben’s long-divorced parents. Meanwhile, Chris’s emotional state goes into a tailspin after the engagement announcement, and Tom starts to wonder if Jean-Ralphio is a good choice for a business partner if he wants Ron to invest in Rent-a-Swag.

Favorite Line “Ann, you are such a good friend. You are a beautiful, talented, brilliant, powerful muskox. Thank you, ox, for keeping this ship afloat.” (Leslie)

My Thoughts For as much as I loved last week’s episode (and will be watching Ben’s proposal on a continuous YouTube loop for the rest of my life), I think this was my favorite Parks and Rec episode of the season so far. Every single character had at least one strong moment, and the guest stars were fantastic, as is usually the case with this show. “Ben’s Parents” had all of my favorite things about Parks and Rec wrapped up in one fantastic half-hour: an abundance of Ben/Leslie love, Leslie being her wonderfully determined self, interactions between all of my favorite characters, Champion, Jean-Ralphio, lots of Tom Haverford, and amazing guest star appearances.

The side plots in this week’s episode were especially strong. I don’t know why, but I laughed embarrassingly hard at almost everything that came out of Chris’s mouth from the beginning of the episode until the end. I especially loved April and Andy’s tactics for balancing his emotions (the “Dave Matthews Band” exchange was a standout moment in an episode filled with them). Champion licking Chris’s tears was another great touch, and kudos to Rob Lowe for not breaking character at all while it was happening.

Tom’s storyline was also a very strong one. I don’t know if I’ve admitted this here yet, but Tom is—besides Leslie and Ben—my favorite character on Parks and Rec. I love absolutely everything about him, and just when I thought I couldn’t love him more, this episode happened. His initial Rent-a-Swag pitch to April and Andy was classic Tom; I loved that little bit of Entertainment 720 style reappearing (along with Jean-Ralphio). However, I also was happy to see Tom grow up in a major way by the end of this episode. The real Tom Haverford underneath all of the flashy bravado has always intrigued me, so I appreciated such a big focus on his character development this week. That’s something I really love about Parks and Rec; every character develops and has their own stories to tell.

The main plot reminded me what a dream team Ben and Leslie really are together. These two are such a perfect match. Ben’s pessimism about the party was hilarious (“Well, if there’s anyone who can bring my parents together, it’s… no one!”), and I love the way Leslie’s determined optimism pushed back against that. Leslie is never one to take no for an answer in any aspect of her life; if she wants something to happen, she makes it happen through sheer force of will and hard work. That’s something Ben needs, and something I love that he appreciates about her. There was something surprisingly sweet and very surprisingly hot about the way Ben was so obviously hot and bothered in the face of Leslie’s indomitable will. He wants her the most when she’s being nothing but her slightly pushy, passionate, stubbornly hopeful self, and that’s such a great thing to see. Ben loves Leslie for everything that she is as a person, and theirs is probably the healthiest, most realistic love story I’ve ever seen on TV.

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TV Time: Castle 5.06

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Title The Final Frontier

Two-Sentence Summary After a fangirl is murdered at a sci-fi convention, Beckett’s own nerdy past is revealed through her love for the short-lived TV series Nebula 9. As fans and the cast of the show alike appear connected to the murder, Beckett and Castle explore a world of D-list actors, alien costumes, and real laser blasters.

Favorite Lines “You’re right, okay? It was a stupid show. It was cheesy and melodramatic. I mean, a handful of academy cadets on a training mission and suddenly the earth is destroyed and they’re all that’s left of humanity? I completely understand why you hated it, but, Castle, I also understand why people loved it. It was about leaving home for the first time, about searching for your identity and making a difference. I loved dressing up like Lieutenant Chloe. She didn’t care what anybody thought about her, and I kinda did at that time. I mean, she was a scientist and a warrior, and that was all in spite of the way that she looked. It was like I could be anything, and I didn’t have to choose. So don’t make fun, okay?” (Beckett)

My Thoughts I run a blog called Nerdy Girl Notes. One of my latest posts was essentially a love letter to a science-fiction character. My Facebook photo albums are filled with pictures of me dressed up as fictional characters, waiting in line for midnight releases of movies or unleashing my fangirl tendencies on Halloween. This was a Castle episode about fandom in all of its convention-going, costume-wearing, life-changing glory.

Did I like it?

What do you think?

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TV Time: Once Upon a Time 2.06

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Title Tallahassee

Two-Sentence Summary As Emma and Hook climb a beanstalk to retrieve a magical compass that could be the key to getting back to Storybrooke, we learn about Emma’s past as a thief, how she ended up in jail, and how it all connects to the mystery of Henry’s father. Meanwhile, Aurora and Henry are both plagued by eerily similar nightmares brought on by their time under the effects of the sleeping curse.

Favorite Lines
Emma: Don’t think I’m taking my eyes off you for a second.
Hook: I would despair if you did.

My Thoughts I had been waiting for this episode since I saw the pilot, eagerly anticipating the time when we got to take a closer look at one of the most interesting and important stories Once Upon a Time will ever tell: the story of how Emma came to have Henry at 18 years old while in jail. This episode answered so many important questions about Emma, while raising a surprising number of them as well.

My one major gripe with this episode was the really poor quality of the special effects in terms of the giant and his lair. I can usually ignore the bad effects because I’m so engrossed in the story, but these were distractingly bad. I think I was especially bothered because they distracted me from Jorge Garcia’s guest role as the giant, which was something I was really looking forward to.

However, the chemistry between Emma and Captain Hook was almost blinding enough to make me forget the bad green-screen work around them. Jennifer Morrison has incredible chemistry with any actor she’s paired with on this show, and her sparks with Colin O’Donoghue rival hers with Sebastian Stan (my personal favorite match for her in terms of chemistry, and probably hers, too). I’m really enjoying the lovable roughish side of Hook; he’s a delicious mixture of the traditional Disney villain and Jack Sparrow, with the eyeliner, love for rum, and buckets full of flirtatious charm. The scene with him tying the bandage on her hand was all kind of wonderful, and their entire dynamic throughout the episode (with them both challenging each other) had me seeing some immense potential in a possible Hook/Emma pairing.

The most interesting part of the Hook/Emma partnership in this episode, though, was the way it worked to show Emma’s development as a character when viewed in conjunction with the flashbacks. When she left Hook handcuffed in the giant’s lair, it showed that she’d learned her lesson about trusting bad boys, no matter how attractive they may seem. There was a hardness to Emma in that moment that really spoke to how much hurt she still carries with her from Neal’s believed betrayal; her resolve was both sad and empowering, and I give Morrison a lot of credit for being able to pull that dichotomy off convincingly.

Morrison had to bring her A-game as an actress to make this episode work on both a plot level and an emotional one, and she did that and more. It wasn’t until this episode ended that I really found a full appreciation for what she’s done with Emma as a character throughout the course of the show so far. She’s given Emma such a believable hardness and jaded view on the world and on relationships in particular that it was almost like a shock to my system to see her so young, happy, and in love in these flashbacks. Morrison may not have looked 17, but she certainly convinced me through her performance. Her smiles, her relaxed body language, her expressive tone of voice, and the brightness in her eyes were all so different from any way we’ve ever seen Emma before. There was something so relaxed, open, and youthfully reckless in Morrison’s performance, and the way it contrasted with the detached and cautious way she plays adult Emma proves that Morrison is an acting force capable of holding her own against any of the talented members of this cast (if last season’s finale didn’t already prove that to you).

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A Distressing Damsel: An Open Letter to Princess Leia

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“I was not a damsel in distress. I was a distressing damsel.” – Carrie Fisher, on playing Princess Leia

Dear Princess Leia,

For as long as I can remember, you’ve been a part of my life. I was introduced to you when I was around five or six years old (definitely before I was seven because I have memories of watching A New Hope in the first house I lived in), and it was love at first sight. You had brown hair like I did, you were small like I was, and—most importantly—you were a girl like me. When I played Star Wars with my cousins on the playground near our grandparents’ house, I didn’t have to just watch while they played heroes like Luke and Han. Thanks to you, I got to play a hero, too, every time I pretended to be you (which was often).

You were the first female hero I met through the media, the first in a long line that took me past Sydney Bristow and Hermione Granger on the way to Zoe Washburne, Katniss Everdeen, and Kate Beckett. I may have had many fictional role models along the way as I grew up, but you never forget your first.

I was born at a time when Disney princesses were experiencing a renaissance, when Ariel, Belle, and Jasmine started showing some smarts and spark that were missing from their earlier counterparts. I loved and still love Belle with the fervor of a three-year-old watching her sing about the “great, wide somewhere” for the first time, but pretending to be Belle was never as much fun as pretending to be you.

When I pretended to be you, I got to run and climb and boss people around. I got to play a game with higher stakes than just finding a prince; I got to fight Darth Vader for the freedom of an entire galaxy.

I learned so much from you without even realizing it until much later. I learned about passion, courage, and fighting for what you believe in. I learned that women can be political leaders and military strategists. I learned that smart women are the ones who get to do all of the cool stuff, like leading attacks on the Death Star (and capturing the heart of Han Solo). I learned that there are times when even strong women need rescuing, but then there are times when they get to do the rescuing, too.

I’ve always been a tiny girl with a big mouth, and with the memory of you etched in my brain from early childhood, I’ve always felt like those things are a pretty great combination. You spoke your mind, so I grew up believing it was okay to do the same. You never let the men around you keep you from voicing your opinions; being a woman never meant you had to be silent. You were just as good a leader and a shot as the men around you, so I grew up believing I could do anything boys could do. That’s a belief that fades for a lot of girls as they grow up, but I’m so thankful that I had a fictional role model like you (in addition to the great role models I’ve had in my everyday life) to show me that women are in no way “the weaker sex.”

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TV Time: Castle 5.05

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Title Probable Cause

Two-Sentence Summary When Castle becomes the suspect in the murder of a young woman, it’s up to Beckett, Ryan, Esposito, and Captain Gates to prove his innocence. Things only get worse for Castle when the man framing him is revealed to be Jerry Tyson, also know an the “Triple Killer” or “3XK.”

Favorite Line “I know him, Lanie. He is an immature, egotistical, self-centered jackass sometimes. But he’s not this.” (Beckett)

My Thoughts There are plenty of good episodes of Castle, even more than a few great ones. But very rarely is there an edge-of-your-seat, marveling-at-the-acting, tear-jerking, nail-biting kind of episode. This was one of them.

Castle is growing up. In getting his two main characters together, creator (and “Probable Cause” writer) Andrew Marlowe allowed for a maturity and depth of storytelling that wasn’t possible before. The stakes are higher now because they’re not just unspoken, symbolic, subtext-laden stakes; they’re real stakes in a real relationship. Both Castle and Beckett know without question what they have to lose now when the threat is losing each other, and that heightened the intensity in this episode to a level that was almost unbearable at times (and I mean that as a compliment).

This new avenue of storytelling has also allowed for some great comedic performances this season from Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic, but “Probable Cause” showed that it also opens the door for a new depth to their dramatic performances as well. We’ve known from previous episodes that these two actors are masterful at creating moments of incredible emotional poignancy for a procedural (and an often-comedic procedural at that), but the stories they told with just their eyes in this episode were nothing short of brilliant. They both found a balance between restraint and vulnerability that stands up against any of their best dramatic performances on Castle to date.

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TV Time: Once Upon a Time: 2.05

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Title The Doctor

Two-Sentence Summary The mysterious Dr. Whale is revealed to be Dr. Victor Frankenstein, a man young Regina goes to with the hopes of bringing her beloved Daniel back from the dead, and in Storybrooke, Victor manages to resurrect Daniel with the hopes of finding favor with Regina but instead creates a monster that she has to let go of once and for all. In present-day Fairytale Land, Snow and Emma discover Captain Hook, Cora’s plan, and a beanstalk that could help them return home.

Favorite Line “Please, let me talk to my fiancé.” (Regina)

My Thoughts I enjoyed this episode, but it definitely wasn’t my favorite of the season. Until Snow and Emma return to Storybrooke (which I hope happens by midseason), their scenes in present-day Fairytale Land distract from the heart of each episode unless the flashbacks and/or Storybrooke scenes directly deal with or reference them (which is why I loved “Lady of the Lake” so much and why I’m really optimistic about next week’s Emma-centric “Tallahassee”). This week’s episode felt rushed in important places, which has been one of my problems with a few episodes in this young season already. I appreciate what the creators are doing in balancing these three storylines and introducing so many interesting possibilities for new characters, but I just don’t want the emotional punches that made last season so wonderful to get lost amid the growing plot.

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TV Time: Parks and Recreation 5.05

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Title Halloween Surprise

Two-Sentence Summary On Halloween in Pawnee, Ron experiences the challenges of dating a single mother when he’s left to take Diane’s daughters trick-or-treating, and Jerry suffers a mild heart attack (or “fart attack”). Meanwhile, Leslie and Ben reach a major turning point in their relationship after he’s offered a new job in Florida heading up a gubernatorial campaign.

MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD. I REPEAT: MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD 

Favorite Lines
Leslie: Oh my God, what are you doing?
Ben: I’m thinking about my future…I’m deeply, ridiculously in love with you. And above everything else I want to be with you forever. So Leslie Knope, will you…
Leslie: Wait. Wait. Okay? I need to remember this. Give me a second.
Ben: Okay…Leslie Knope…
Leslie: No, no no. Hold on. I need another second, please. I need to remember every little thing about how perfect my life is right now at this exact moment.
Ben: Are you good?
Leslie: Yeah I’m good.
Ben: Leslie Knope, will you –
Leslie: Yes!

My Thoughts

This is the only accurate way to describe how I feel about last night’s episode of Parks and Rec. I’ve watched the ending about eight times in the last 24 hours, and I still cry every single time.

This episode was titled “Halloween Surprise,” and never has an episode title been so perfect. I’ll admit it; I didn’t see Ben’s proposal coming at all. In fact, there was a brief moment where I really thought he was going to take the job in Florida. When Leslie was getting ready to back out of the lease on their house, my sister turned to me and said that she had a feeling Ben was going to show up. I told her, “If he does, I’m going to start crying.” So as soon as he walked in, my eyes got misty.

And the crying only got worse from there.

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