Love according to Hollywood #friday #atozchallenge #atoz #lovebomb

 

“I wanna love you, I wanna love and treat you right. I wanna love you every day and every night. We’ll be together, with a roof over our heads, to share the shelter in a single bed. Is this love, is this love, is this love, is this love that I’m feeling?”

“Is This Love” by Corinne Bailey Rae is one my favorite songs to listen to -- many of you might be surprised to learn that I didn’t like Rae’s music when she first came out. Now, I can’t get enough of her. Excuse me as my letter alignment gets a little funky as the A to Z Challenge progresses. I also chose “Lovegame” by Lady Gaga as an honorable mention and while Gaga fits the L letter of the day appropriately, I don’t listen to that particular tune as much as Rae’s track, so the slow song wins over the frisky one.

It’s interesting how we find ourselves asking if we’re in love or wondering whether we know what it is -- what it looks like, what it feels like. Maybe it’s a gesture such as writing a whole bunch of letters to one’s significant other to help him or her cope with loss or serve as a reminder to smile, such as what makes up the storyline in “P.S. I Love You” starring Hilary Swank and Gerard Butler. This movie has been sitting in my Netflix queue for some time and I tried to watch it at the last minute before writing this post -- until I found out that it’s not available for streaming.

So, I’ve compiled some quotes on love from film actresses, as I wait for this DVD to arrive. Here they are for your reading pleasure if you want to share them with fellow guests at a bridal shower, bachelorette party, afternoon tea or even Thanksgiving. These quotes on love could make for some great conversation starters -- especially since everyone tends to have clashing views on the subject.

"I don't need someone to make me whole" - Hayden Panettiere (Remember the Titans; Scream 4) on the best relationship advice she’s ever received. (Cosmopolitan Magazine, 2008)

"I was never one of those girls who dreamt of my wedding and Prince Charming....To piss my mom off, I used to say ‘I’m never having kids I'm going to be be a fabulously rich old maid with cute butlers and dogs’ " - Jessica Biel (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The A-Team) on having kids and her relationship with Justin Timberlake. (Elle Magazine, December 2011)

"You have to give love your all, and if it doesn’t work out, he wasn’t your man...Now that I’m actually in a healthy relationship, I know that what came before wasn’t real" - Ali Larter (Resident Evil: Extinction; Legally Blonde) on romance. (Cosmopolitan Magazine, 2007)

Also, since March, I’ve been participating in a group called Love Bomb, which sends out weekly missions for members to spend 5 minutes each week sending words of encouragement, hope or simple kindness to people who may need an extra ray of sunshine during a hardship. These Love Bombs are done in the form of comments on the person’s blog or a blog operating on his or her behalf.

The Love Bomb recipients are everyday people like you and I such as a woman named Susan, whose stroke affected 2 arteries in her brain and there were many loving messages sent to her -- I sent one to her, myself. Unfortunately, she passed away within days but those messages are still there and can hopefully comfort her family.

Another memorable Love Bomb that I participated in was sending support to a budding California based photographer named Kim who lost her best friend Jenn to suicide in mid-February. After some dark days filled with sadness, Kim wrote a new blog post expressing her gratitude for all of the love and support, as well as providing an update on her efforts to get back into the swing of things -- enjoying the outdoors and soaking up the sunshine, trying to live her best life!

While I never thought that I could squeeze out any extra time in my day for something that may seem so trivial on the surface, participating in the Love Bomb missions reminded me of how powerful genuine love or caring can be -- even when it comes from strangers, but ESPECIALLY when it comes from a close friend or family member. Therefore, it’s five minutes well spent, in my book!

If you haven’t already, check out the Love Lessons from Leonardo DiCaprio!

Did YOU see “P.S. I Love You” in theaters or on DVD? If so, how would you rate it on a scale of 1 to 10?

Do YOU agree or disagree with what these actresses had to say regarding love and/or romance?

How do YOU know when you’re in love?

Karma isn’t so Black and White, like ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ #thursday #atozchallenge #atoz

 

“What goes around comes around, what goes up must come down”

“Karma” by Alicia Keys is one of the more upbeat tunes on my playlist that I enjoy listening to often. In the song, she talks about an ex-boyfriend who ended their relationship and now wants her back. Although this tune focuses on matters of the heart, the subject of karma has a funny way of playing out in various aspects of our everyday existence.

I’ve come to realize that the whole "nice guys finish last" saying can apply to anyone, regardless of age or gender. Sometimes, I feel like those who engage in questionable behavior such as theft, lying, fraud, murder or even living recklessly still get over while those who are relatively upstanding citizens get the short end of the stick. Take social assistance programs for example, welfare, child care subsidies, health care -- many (not all) people manipulate these programs for their own greedy interests while others who could really use the help get nothing more than a cold shoulder from society -- such as military veterans, the disabled or the elderly.

Who knows if everyone will see how karma comes into play in their lifetime. Sometimes it doesn’t balance things out and other times, it arrives just in the nick of time. It reminds me of the movie "It's a Wonderful Life" because the main character George spent a lot of his life giving his time, money, compassion, support and energy to others, despite rarely getting anything in return.

Just when George is at the point of no return in his worst of moments due to the potential loss of his business and ever-mounting legal troubles, his friends provide enough resources and support that that inspires him to get a new lease on life.

You have the power to create some positive karma in the spirit of giving to others while also getting some reciprocity by conducting a Secret Santa themed DVD gift exchange that can include both new and used items, at your next holiday party.

The gift exchange doesn't even have to be exclusive to the holiday season. You can hold a "Christmas in July," “Summer Santa” or a "Kwanzaa in July," etc. exchange for birthday parties, graduation parties, dinner parties, anniversary parties or whatever you are celebrating. Add any other movie memorabilia or merchandise such assoundtracks, etc. if you want to mix things up. 

Add an extra dose of generosity by collecting $1 or so from each guest at your party, to donate a piece of movie merchandise to a charity that you choose or one that guests vote on. If I attended a party where a Secret gift exchange was being held, I would probably give away my “The Box” DVD since it’s in like-new condition. I’ve only watched it once, just like I probably played my Lord of the Rings stratego board game once or twice, so I could give that to someone else who would make better use of it. If I were hosting a secret gift exchange party, I would use the money collected from donations to purchase gifts for child hospital patients, through the Childs Play charity.

I’m no video game fiend but learned about Child’s Play charity last year and it’s among one of the coolest organizations that I’d be proud to support. This organization partners with retailers such as Amazon and provides entertainment for young children undergoing medical treatment.

Supporters purchase gifts from the wish lists of dozens of hospitals around the country where a DVD or movie related video game that is donated through Childs Play is then given to one or more children who are patients at a particular facility of your choosing. As of this writing, I see that the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh has an Xbox360 LEGO “Pirates of the Caribbean” game on their wish list. Since I’m in Pennsylvania, that particular hospital and item would likely be my donations picks.

Do YOU believe in Karma?

If The Madlab Post was sponsoring a donation of one DVD movie to any hospital around the country, which hospital would YOU want it to be sent to? Why that one?

If The Madlab Post was sponsoring a donation to any one charity around the country, which one would YOU want this blog to support?

Just the Way You Are with Gender Benders in Film #wednesday #atozchallenge #trivia

 

“Don’t go changing to try to please me, you never let me down before -- I would not leave you in times of trouble, we never could have come this far. I took the good times, I’ll take the bad times. I’ll take you just the way you are...”

I‘ve played “Just the Way You Are” by Billy Joel on repeat on a few occasions and it’s among the older songs that I rarely get enough of listening to. The song reminds me of how greater life can be when unconditional love is present, whether it comes from a parent, friend, romantic partner or even a stranger -- it is something that no one should ever take for granted. Families are often expected to have unconditional love for one another, so when anyone lacks even that much, it is very hard to find that elsewhere, out in the world. I find “Just the Way You Are” to be a wonderful tune, however, because it also illustrates the joy that comes from giving it, not just receiving it.

Expressing love or compassion toward another human being can be powerful with regards to changing one's perspective on what is considered normal and abnormal, as well as possibly even helping people see themselves in a new light.

It kinda has me thinking about that jail scene in “Boys Don’t Cry” starring Hilary Swank, where Lana tells Brandon “I don’t care if you’re half monkey or half ape, I’m getting you out of here!” -- all gender bending aside, that was a key moment in the movie because Lana could have easily ended their friendship or relationship but she chose not to because the person that Brandon was meant more to her than his real gender.

In fact, if X and Y chromosomes were switched for a brief moment, would you be able to tell the difference between who is who at your job, out in public or even while watching a movie? The next time you are entertaining guests at home, play a “Truth or False” or "Name that Movie" dinner party game where players have to answer questions about gender bending movies where actresses take on roles as men and actors portray female characters onscreen.

Here is a little Just the Way You Are: Gender Bender Movie Party Game that I put together to get you started.

Gender Bending Movie Casting Trivia Questions:

What male comedian played a woman named Jill in the movie "Jack and Jill?" _______
What Actress played a man named Jude Quinn in the movie, "I'm Not There?" _______
What male actor played a transgender female in the movie "The Crying Game?" _______

Gender Bending Movie True or False Questions:

Actor Patrick Swayze played a woman named Rachel Tensions in the movie "To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar." True or False? _______
Actor James Kirk played a teenage girl named Viola Hastings in the movie "She's the Man." True or False? _______
Actress Julie Andrews played a man named Count Victor Grazinski in the movie "Victor, Victoria!" True or False? _______

Gender Bending Movie Trivia Question:

In What movie did Gwyneth Paltrow play a man named Thomas Kent? _______

Play the game by answering one or all of these questions, in the comments section....

-and/or-

Answer this: What does the phrase “unconditional love” mean to YOU?

Extra credit - the movie poster for "Boys Don't Cry" reads "A True Story about Having the Courage to be Yourself." In YOUR opinion, how can people find the courage to be themselves no matter who they are?

*Want a Just the Way You Are: Gender Bender Movie Party Game sheet, complete with an Answer Key, to play at home with your family or friends, courtesy of The Madlab Post? Just let me know and I’ll send one your way.