30 Day Film Challenge: Day 24

Day 24: Your Favorite Animated or Children's Film

South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut (Trey Parker and Matt Stone, 1999)

Definitely not for children, this animated film is not only one of the funniest films I've ever seen, but it's also one of the smartest and shrewdest attacks on American hypocrisy when it comes to censorship and parental control.

What's Going to Happen Tonight?

Will any of the Best Song performances be as amazing as this?



Will any of the winners deserve the Oscars more for their speech than the actual performance they won for? (Follow the link here)

"This moment... is so much bigger... than me!"

Will someone freak out like this when they don't win?



Will someone make a controversial speech that will overshadow their actual win like this?



or this?



And, finally, will someone get an emotional standing ovation like this when they win?

Five Song Friday

It's simple. Every Friday, I pick five songs that I've been loving for the past week. They don't have to be new songs or even singles from the album...the only requirement is that they're amazing.

Amy Winehouse "Love is a Losing Game"
I was going to include her last week after her big Grammy wins (5 in total, including 3 of the 4 big ones!) but I simply forgot. The reason I chose "Love is a Losing Game" is because, frankly, I'm sick of pimping out "Rehab" to get you to listen to her and this probably the next best song on her CD. It's so touching and earnest that you can't help but to feel for her.




Sheila Broflovski and the Parents of South Park "Blame Canada"
I just did an oral presentation in my Literature and Culture class about how this song related to American culture, so I've naturally been listening to it like mad to get everything I can out of it. Best lyric: "Don't blame me/For my son Stan/He saw the darn cartoon/And now he's off to join the Klan!"




Janet Jackson "The Pleasure Principle"
I hadn't heard this song in awhile when it came up on shuffle on my iTunes, and after listening to it I quickly remembered why this is my favorite Janet Jackson song.




Celine Dion "Alone"
Did anyone else see Celine's fabulous TV special last week? I was with a friend who's also a fan of the French-Canadian diva when we stumbled across it channel surfing. The special was great and Celine, as always, was flawless, singing songs from her latest CD Taking Chances. The best song from there is this cover of the 80's classic "Alone" by Heart, which Celine transforms into an even bigger melodramatic opera of a song on par with "It's All Coming Back to Me Now".




ABBA "Love Isn't Easy (But It Sure Is Hard Enough)"
Just because I love ABBA and this song was stuck in my head all day yesterday.

A Warped Sense of Humor If I've Ever Seen One

Okay, so I've been told (or at least I like to believe) that I have an unique sense of humor. Think of the most offensive thing you could possibly say and I'll probably laugh. For example, I've said to my Jewish friend Sammi repeatedly that her people killed my Savior (even though I'm an Athiestic Catholic---more about that later). So, if you'll indulge me, I'd like to explore my sense of humor and the various places it comes from:

1. The Golden Girls: As I've said before, I have watched "The Golden Girls" on Lifetime since the 6th grade. I've probably seen every episode 15 times and can almost quote word for word some of my favorite episodes. How does this affect my sense of humor?: I think it's in the way the girls make fun of each other and can take a joke while still loving each other. From Sophia's cantankerous, old-age quips and Dorothy's yelling and general mean disposition to Blanche's bitchy, aging Southern belle rants and Rose's random confusion. I especially love it whenever they gang up on Rose whenever she tells a St. Olaf story...priceless.

2. South Park: I first started watching this show after my friend Ashley told me about it back in 11th grade. I fell in love with the show and have seen almost every episode. How does this affect my sense of humor?: What other show can you think of that can make fun of "The Passion of the Christ", Catholic priests, Tom Cruise and police framing black people? I'd love to say that this where the offensiveness of my sense of humor got started.

3. Duck Soup: Everytime I see this 1933 Marx Brothers classic, I fall more and more in love with it. How does this affect my sense of humor?: The randomness of the one-liners and, come to think of it, almost every other joke, really inspires me. If only I could write a screenplay in which every single line is a one-liner just like in this one.

4. Keaton and Chaplin: The greatest of the silent clowns (I don't get Lloyd) and every film of theirs is a masterpiece (well, maybe there are a few duds...). How does this affect my sense of humor?: I laugh everytime I see someone fall down.

5. World War II: Now, this is rather offensive, but hear me out. What Hitler did was terrible, but can you think of another dictator who is this much fun? I mean, Jesus, he inspired "Springtime For Hitler"! Add to that concentration camps, the Holocaust, Japanese kamikaze's and the Hiroshima bomb and you've got plenty of offensive hilarity to last for a long time. How does this affect my sense of humor?: Ashley and I have been thinking about writing "Holocaust! The Musical" ever since Photography class last year (quietly, of course, because we didn't want Mr. Dewey to hear).

Well, here's the basic components to my screwed up sense of humor. Tell me what you think with a lovely comment.