Come Sunday Night

The 87th Academy Awards are on Sunday night, and I could not be any more excited. I'm so excited I forgot to use a pun just now. Weird! 

The Oscars have been a big deal to me ever since I was a teenager. When I still lived at home, Sunday night was family night. After church let out around 7, the family would either get pizza or Chinese on the way home, and then eat and watch a movie in the den. Always fun times. Once I became a full-on movie buff, there was one night of the year that I didn't want to watch a movie. I wanted to watch the Oscars. I didn't always win over the family vote, but if I didn't I had my own room right off the den where I could go watch the Oscars all by my lonesome, thank you very much. So Joe Moore usually won either way. Kudos me.

I still haven't caught all the Oscar nominated films from this past year, but that's okay. I've seen almost all the ones I absolutely had to see. As long as Birdman and Boyhood walk away with a few wins, I will be more than content. What I want to chat about now is some of my own personal opinions on who was snubbed this year.

Keira Knightley - Begin Again

Sure, she got a Best Supporting nod for The Imitation Game, and that's great because she was wonderful, and it's been a few years since the Academy honored her work. However I feel the role Knightley truly shined in this past year is her starring role here. She gives dimension to what could've been a one-note role. She's more spirited and fun than she has been in years, and who knew she could sing?! She should've at least gotten a Golden Globe nomination. But it has been a busy year in the Lead Actress category.

Speaking of which!

Emily Blunt - Into the Woods

As I said, this category was swamped. Blunt did get a Golden Globe nomination for her wonderful work here, and I'm very happy for that. Unfortunately the Academy forgot about her. I hate that because I feel Blunt was better than Meryl Streep (sorry, Meryl). I do realize Meryl was nominated in the Supporting Actress category. The truth is there wasn't as much competition there. Also! Where did Marion Cotillard come from? I love her, but has anyone seen Two Days, One Night? No. So if anyone deserved that fifth spot at the Academy Awards, it was Emily Blunt.

The Lego Movie - Best Animated Feature

I don't think there's too much to say here. Everyone was shocked when the nominations were released, and last year's best family film was nowhere to be found. Just typing this right now makes me upset and confused all over again. At least the directors had a good sense of humor about the snub. One of them tweeted a picture of a Lego Oscar saying, "It's okay. I made my own." Pure class.

Bret McKenzie - his music in Muppets Most Wanted

I realize not most critics liked the Muppets follow-up to their 2012 comeback. While it wasn't great, it was still fun. I enjoyed McKenzie's musical work better here. Sure, there was nothing as good as "Man or Muppet", but most of the songs were pretty catchy. My favorite was Constantine's serenade to Miss Piggy, "I'll Get You What You Want". It's so 70s and so hilarious, and I hate that it didn't get more attention. *sings "You want an Oscar nomination? Er... I'll see what I can do...* Don't worry, Bret. I still love your song.

One final snub!

anything for Nightcrawler

The Academy is a bunch of old sniffs. They hate anything that isn't dramatic or British or stuffy or whatever. This film is brilliant. Jake Gyllenhaal is better here than he has been in years. Rene Russo proves she still has what it takes. I understand why this thriller didn't get more Academy attention, but I definitely wish it had.

Okay that's a wrap. I can't wait until Sunday night. See you all at the movies!

To Be Concluded

I know everyone has been dying to know the #1 most exciting thing happening in my life from my previous post. If you haven't read said post, please click here to peruse about my oh exciting life. But don't worry. It gets much better. So without further ado...

1) I'M LEARNING FANTASMIC!!!

For the unaware, Fantasmic is Hollywood Studios' nighttime spectacular. It's been my favorite show on property since I was but a wee CP back in 2007. I remember the first time I went with some of my training friends to see the show. It was unlike anything I had ever seen. The story, the effects, the performers. It all looked like so much fun! 

I'm really glad we
survived Zombie girl's attack

I went to see show A LOT back then. Ya know, when going to the parks was a new thing for me and the crowds didn't bother me. Whether hanging with my training group friends, taking my family to see it, or going to see the one and only Lizz James perform, watching Fantasmic was always a lot of fun. I have a ton of pictures but mostly of us goofing around in the audience before show. Ya know because that's how I roll.

We're awesome

There was one specific night that I was there with the fam and our best friend/might-as-well-be-sister Caroline. Emily, Caroline, and I were sitting behind these really annoying, super obnoxious girls who were way too hyped up on Coke or sugar or something. They were taking a lot of silly pictures, and this was in the days before smart phones. So they're sitting there taking pictures with their cameras upside down. Naturally we followed suit. Thus the upside-down Fant shot was born.

While attending the parks has lost its luster in the past few years, it is fun to go back to reminisce. I went to see the show a few weeks ago because it was my babe Christy's last performance ever before she moved up to D.C. I found myself getting a little choked up not only because I was overwhelmed with emotion but also because Disney has a sneaky way of cutting into you and breaking your ice cold heart.

Still doing it

That was the first time I had seen show since at least 2011 so it had definitely been a while. Unless you count when I saw Fantasmic at Disneyland with my family last summer. Many people prefer the Disneyland show to the one at Walt Disney World, and while I mostly agree with them (the Peter Pan segment is ten times better than WDW's stupid Pocahontas scene), it was really odd seeing Mickey pop up on Tom Sawyer's cabin rather than on an enormous mountain. 

I did feel realllly bad for all the Operations cast members. You see, at Disneyland, Fantasmic is set up right in the middle of Frontierland. There's no giant amphitheater separated from the rest of the park. Everyone just kinda files in and hopes to get a good spot to stand and watch show. Meanwhile Ops is trying to get everyone who isn't watching to get outta the way before the show starts. It was kinda stressful watching the scene. Once the show started, I quickly forgot about it all. I just wanna say, good for you Disneyland Ops. 

The "Joe Moore" smirk. Created at Fant.

Oh right. This post is about me learning the show! (It's a good thing this is a separate update.) I never in my wildest dreams expected to get the phone call saying I had rehearsals coming up soon. I almost asked if they had the right number. They did though! I just had my orientation the other day. It was really surreal walking around backstage and on the island. I couldn't believe I was standing on the stage of this show I've come to love. I'm incredibly honored to be learning a show that's been near and dear to my heart for many years. I cannot wait until I'm approved and performing for everybody. So you all better come see me ;) peace! 

Left Shark's Rad Assault

I just sat down to work on my screenplay. Then I remembered I'm having a serious case of writers' block. So I'll worry about that later. In the meantime I thought, "Why not post a blog update?" You are all very welcome.

This past week has consisted of many things. 

4) Hanging with new friends. 

Okay they're not new friends. I know them from the Jedi Training Academy at Hollywood Studios. It's just very rare that I see them outside work. So when I got the invite to play a Star Wars board game with them, I jumped on the opportunity! The game in question is Star Wars Imperial Assault, and I didn't play so much as watch the other guys play. It sucked me in immediately despite the fact that A New Hope was playing in the background. Joe Moore chose watching people play a strategy game over watching a movie? Better believe it! It was a fun night, and we should do it again very soon. You listening, JTA peeps? Good.

3) The Super Bowl.

I've never been much of a sports guy, but I have watched the Super Bowl every year since 2009. Kudos me. Thanks to my former roomie John for getting me hooked. I'm glad the game that year was a great one otherwise I probably wouldn't have this new(ish) tradition.

I may or may not have watched this year just because Katy Perry was the halftime show. For those who don't know I kinda love her. I love how over the top she is, and she doesn't apologize for it. She's fantastic, and her halftime show was fantastic. Especially the "Teenage Dream/California Gurls" scene. Yup, that bit with the talking palm trees, surfboards, beach balls, and those SHARKS. Those sharks were the true MVP that night. Of course Missy Elliot stole the show, but you did good, Katy Perry. Much better than those Seahawks did with that last call. Oy.

2) SNL Californians.

Yet me explain my latest obsession. The other day at work, my partner in crime was this totally rad chick from Marina Del Ray. Or somewhere from Southern California. I was too busy giggling to hear where she's from. I'm a really nice guy, I know. Anyway, her accent reminded me of the SNL skits with Fred Armisen and Kristen Wiig. So I watched said skits for the remainder of the afternoon. I sat there on the other end of the couch giggling to myself. I then proceeded to create a pretty epic picture using ClipArt. I'm no graphic design artist, but it's pretty hilarious if I do say so myself.

Look at this mirror. It's totally jammed.

1) What's number one, you may ask? Number one just so happens to be the subject of my next post. So keep an eye out! It's pretty exciting stuff.