It is known to you all by now that I love me my shows and movies. If I miss a show I am online the next day watching it, and I go to the movie theaters A LOT. I have many different favorites and they range in many different genres. I like movies such as Pride and Prejudice, but I can turn around a love a movie like Gladiator. I am the same way with my television shows, I can love something funny and campy like Glee, but then I love the drama of Grey's Anatomy. All very different shows, and I think they are all very good. Recently, I came across a show that I think may blow them all out of the water, and may be the king of all the shows for me. That show is Spartacus: Blood and Sand.
The show is about a man who is forced from his home, who becomes a slave, and is then thrust into the arena as a gladiator in ancient rome. The main character is Spartacus, played by Andy Whitfield, who is based on the historical Spartacus. In addition, we also have veteran actors Lucy Lawless and John Hannah, who play his masters Lucretia and Batiatus.
The buzz on this show is that it is great. It has been renewed for a second season, and the first season doesn't even premiere until tonight! It is being advertised as the "boldest" show on t.v. This basically means it supposed to have more sex, and blood than any other show on t.v. I like to think this show is a mixture of Spartacus (the 1960 movie), Gladiator, 300, and the HBO show Rome. All shows and movies I really like.
Not only do I love historical anythings, but I love me my action too. So, as you can see, this show seems made just for me. Spartacus: Blood and Sand premieres tonight at 10pm on Starz.
My one question about this promo shot for The Vampire Diaries is, why did I just see it for the first time last night?!
My friend showed me this picture because of our mutual love for the show. I must say, I was blown away by it. I just love everything about this picture. It just shows how both vampire brothers, Stefan and Damon, want Elena. It should also be noted that Damon is more focused on Elena's neck, while Stefan on her lips. Hmmm. I also love the intensity Stefan is portraying. He looks almost pained to be kissing Elena. So hot. Besides all the True Blood promos, which I love, this has to be one of the best promo pics around. It is just full of symbolism and is just overall great. I can't wait for The Vampire Diaries to come back tonight at 8pm on The CW!
My latest venture into the world of books comes in the form of a new book called "The Intimate Lives of the Founding Fathers" by Thomas Fleming. The books takes a look at the private lives of some of men that helped make American what it is today. The book divulges into the personal lives of George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison. What the book does is examine the family life of these famous men and sees how they may have effected their politics, and personality.
So far the book has been really interesting. I know many of the basics about each man, but I have never really gone into depth with some of them. I also have never really looked at their personal lives. Because of this, I have decided to give you readers some fun tidbits about each founding father once I am done with their section. I will point out things that I thought were particularly interesting. The first founding father on the list is George Washington. So, here it is, some interesting facts about the private life of "the father of our country," the first president of the United States, George Washington.
-Before his marriage to Martha Dandridge Custis, George was madly in love with his best friends wife, Sally Cary Fairfax.
-The love affair between George and Sally was discovered when a letter written by George to Sally was published in a newspaper on March 3, 1877. The letter was dated September 12, 1758. George had already proposed to Martha on June 5, 1758.
-Trying to forget about Sally, George sought out a wife, eventually he married Martha Dandrige Custis. She was the richest widow in Virginia at the time.
-Many historians agree that their marriage was one of convenience. George needed to get over Sally and wanted to move up in the ladder of life, and Martha needed a level-headed man to oversee the money, house, and farms. But, the marriage grew into a love deeper than anyone could ever imagine.
-The perception of George to most Americans is that of a composed, level-headed leader. What many people don't know is that George was known to have a bad temper, and he would sometimes lose it when confronted with a problem.
-George admitted that the hardest thing to do when going off to fight the American Revolution was leaving his beloved wife Martha behind at Mount Vernon where she was all alone. He would write to family members pleading with them to visit Martha as often as possible to help soothe her loneliness.
-George and Martha never had any children together. Historians argue that this could be attributed to George being sterile after a bout of small pox or Martha being unable to conceive after the troubling births of her 4 children (only 2 survived).
-Like most Virginians, George thought the Boston Tea Party was an act of vandalism.
I have a ton more facts and info for you all, but I don't want to bore you. After reading about George Washington's personal life I can say that I was surprised he held himself with such composure and dignity. At times his home life was a mess. Most of his relatives ended up penniless or dead, which forced George to take care of their estates and children. He provided the children with money and an education and always strove for them to do better for themselves. Since George had come from humble beginnings, he wanted his family to be the epitome of what a rich family should be, classy, educated, and graceful. For the most part they weren't. Lets just say, he definitely had some family drama. The only real beacon of light was Martha, and he loved her till the very end. She also loved him just as much. I must say, I had never been a huge George Washington fan until I read this. I still don't think I am George's #1 fan, but I do have a new respect for him. He was a poor boy, who rose through the ranks, and ended up leading our nation as the first president. I recommend anyone to read further into the miraculous life the George Washington held.
Well hello there loving readers! I am so sorry that I have not written a new post in such a long time (nearly a month!). I have had some writer's block and I just can't seem to find anything exciting or interesting to write about lately. Luckily, I remembered my hottie of the month. What a travesty that would have been to go an entire month without some new eye candy? I know, it would have been devastating! Even though there is not much of January left, I decided that I had to stay faithful and give you all the January hottie of the month. So, for the month of January, the hottie is: Richard Armitage.
I first discovered who Richard Armitage was when I began watching the BBC version of Robin Hood where he played Guy of Gisborne, the right hand man of the Sheriff of Nottingham. Initially, I had my sights set on Robin. Robin was the main character and the lead. Young and dashing, I instantly took a liking to him. But, I began to go further and further into the Robin Hood story line and Guy of Gisborne slowly, but surely, began to appeal to me. At first he was this ruthless murderer who did anything that the Sheriff said. Eventually, he began to show his true colors. He was a kind, lost person, who just felt he had no one else but the Sheriff. Suddenly, all my attention was on Guy of Gisborne, and I just wanted more and more scenes with him in it. It seemed to me that I was hooked.
I must admit, I wasn't completely convinced about Richard Armitage. Yes, he entertained me in Robin Hood, and I found myself strangely attracted to the bad guy (I usually like the nice ones). But, that all changed one fateful day in November...
I am a loyal member of Netflix and I especially love the instant movies you can get on your computer. One day while browsing, I came across a British tv serial (or as we call it, a mini-series) titled North & South. I was intrigued so I decided to watch it. While watching, I realized that the male lead was played by Richard Armitage! I had no idea. I thought this was a great treat. Before I knew it...I was absolutely blown away and completely smitten with Richard Armitage. His character, John Thornton, was just mesmerizing. He was cold and had a temper, but inside he was sincere and loving. At that moment I knew it was all over for me...I was enthralled by Richard Armitage.
Well folks, that is the rollercoaster that I have been on with Richard Armitage and it hasn't even ended! I watched more and more things with him in it such as the 2006 christmas special of The Vicar of Dibley. Everything he has been in has just been amazing and I can't seem to get enough of him. Those beautiful piercing blue eyes have my heart all a flutter. I believe he has potential to be another famous British leading man. This love affair I have with Richard Armitage is just beginning, and I can't wait to see what else he has in store.
The time has finally come. After waiting nearly 10 years, I will be seeing The Phantom of the Opera again. Why so long you ask? Well honestly, the show has never come by where I live again...until now.
The first time I saw Phantom, I was a young child. I don't exactly remember my age. I'm guessing between 8-10 years old. I didn't even know what a musical was then. I was young and naive. My mom took my sister and I along with her friend and her friends kids. I don't even remember knowing what I was about to go see. But, my mom made me sit there in this vast theater, with a nice dress on, and those dumb tights I always had to wear, but the minute the overture began to play, I was hooked.
("Look at your face in the mirror. I am there, inside.")
It was one of the best experiences ever. I loved ever minute of it. I don't remember much of the show, but I do remember the large chandelier dropping and breaking, and I remember coming out of the theater completely enthralled with what I had just witnessed. My mom even bought the CD of the show, and I would spend hours listening to the soundtrack and "performing" it for my mom and her friends. It was love at first note.
("In sleep he sang to me, in dreams he came...")
Since that performance, and since I was able to really use the internet, I've checked every couple of months online to see if my first and favorite musical would ever come near me again. Each and everytime I'd look online I was greeted with disappointment as the show was never coming to South Florida again. But, my luck changed my freshman year of college, 4 years ago, when I was in school in Boston and the show was coming to Rhode Island. I tried my hardest to find someone to come with me and a way to Rhode Island. But, back then I didn't know those states like I do now, and eventually I missed my opportunity. That missed opportunity has been bothering me since then.
4 years later, here I am at home, as I am doing my monthly check of the Really Useful Group website to see if Phantom is coming to South Florida. After years, and years, of seeing it everywhere else, there, right there in front of me, it said South Florida. To say I was estatic would be an understatement. I was elated, overjoyed, just overall happy that my show, the show that made me love musicals, my first ever musical experience, was coming back to me. The tickets were, of course, overly expensive, but I knew I HAD to go. This was the one shot I had of seeing it and I wasn't going to let this opportunity pass me by like it had before. So, I promised my mom it would be my only Christmas present, and she bought them for me. When I actually recieved my tickets in my hands I thought I was going to cry. I was just so happy.
("Who was that shape in the shadows? Whose is the face in the mask?")
Now the day has arrived. I go see the show tomorrow, Christmas Eve. What a wonderful present. Definitely, the best present I will be recieving this year. I don't know how anything else can compare. I'm doing the usual and posting some of the songs I like from the musical. I didn't want to be a bother and put them ALL up. Haha. Hope you enjoy them as much as I do!
(Start at 2:44 for the song)
Do you have a favorite show or musical that you just love? If you like Phantom, which songs are your favorites?
