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Cirque du Freak: An Unnecessary Addition to Vampire Entertainment

BuzzSugar — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:30:09 -0700

With Halloween just around the corner, October is the perfect time for movie studios to unleash their creepiest films, since we're all in the mood for a good scare. Combine with that the insatiable desire for vampire entertainment, and you've got Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant; a tween fantasy movie that plays out like R.L. Stein's Goosebumps novels on the big screen - but not nearly as scary.

Based on the book series by Darren Shan, Cirque du Freak is the story of Darren (Chris Massoglia), your typical 16-year-old boy trying to quell his high school boredom. Dubbed "Mr. Perfect" by his mischievous best friend Steve, Darren follows the rules, has plenty of friends, and does whatever his parents tell him to do - that is, unless Steve can convince him otherwise. The boys pick up a flyer for the Cirque du Freak and decide to check it out.

That's just the beginning though, so to see what I thought of the film, just read more.

Things go awry when Darren finds himself tangled up in the world behind the Cirque, particularly that of Larten Crepsley, a crotchety vampire who couldn't be bothered with a teenager. When Darren gets himself into a sticky situation, the only way he can bail himself out is by selling his soul to Crepsley, becoming his half-vampire assistant.

If you thought sorting out all the vampire lore in Twilight and True Blood was confusing, get ready for the most convoluted yet. In this story, a war is brewing between two breeds: the Vampanese represent the blood-suckers that are all for killing their prey, while the run-of-the mill vamps prefer to sedate, feed, and then letting their victims return to regular life. As a half-vampire who's reluctant to lose what little human qualities he has left, Darren obviously joins Larten Crepsley's team, while his best friend Steve joins the evil Vampanese.

As for the actual Cirque du Freak, the group of misfits and outcasts are more X-Men and less Carnivale. The crew includes unusual children who were abandoned by their parents (like "Snake Boy" and "Monkey Girl"), along with a few other vaudeville acts like the Bearded Lady (Salma Hayek) and a woman who can regenerate her limbs (Jane Krakowski). Some are friendly, others are surly, but the cirque in itself is more campy than scary; little hideout is basically an island of misfit toys.

The film isn't boring, but it's not exactly packed with pizazz either. Director Paul Weitz was sure to stay on the safer side of the movie's PG-13 rating, rarely pushing the envelope on what could have been a much creepier film. John C. Reilly is always reliable for a good performance, and he has some great comedic timing as the voice of brutal honesty to Darren's naivete. Massoglia gives decent performance for a newbie, and even reminded me of a young Emile Hirsch at times. That said, the movie is also packed with confusing subplots and some truly corny dialogue that evoked collective groans from the audience.

If you're looking for a fun movie to get you into the Halloween spirit, this might do the trick. Just make sure you're in a tween state of mind.

Photos courtesy of Universal Pictures

How to Move Beyond Your Administrative Assistant Role

SavvySugar — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 13:30:22 -0800

There's a reason why the adage "you have to start somewhere" has stuck around. Perhaps it's only mildly comforting to hear when you're in a job-hating state of mind, but the truth is most people have had to work their way into their successful careers. A common job title for recent graduates is administrative assistant, a position with a job description that usually doesn't do it justice. This jack-of-all-trades job has more of a career growth track than it did five years ago, according to a survey of executives, and several experts shared information with The New York Times on how to make the most of an administrative position. See their comments when you read more.

What career paths are open if you join a company as an administrative assistant? The most common opportunities for advancement are in marketing, human resources, operations and facilities management.
One key to advancement is showing that you can handle more challenging responsibilities. How can you do that? Begin by thinking about what areas of the company you're interested in and figure out how you'll add more responsibilities to your current duties. Volunteer to help with projects that are related to your areas of interest but add these activities in slowly so you don't spread yourself thin.
You don’t want to appear uninterested in your job as soon as you are hired, so how long should you wait to start looking for additional responsibilities? Excel in your administrative assistant position for six months to a year so your boss sees that you are invested in your job.
How can you convince your boss to support you in your efforts to move up in the organization? And if you can’t get that support, how can you make sure that others know what you’ve accomplished? Make it clear to your boss that you are serious about making a career in the industry and be prepared with examples of how you can make yourself more valuable to the company. Keep a record of everything you've accomplished in case your boss isn't willing to help you move up the ladder.

UK Won't Clarify Assisted Suicide Law For Sick Woman

LibertySugar — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 09:00:56 -0700

Debbie Purdy is 45 and suffering from debilitating and progressive multiple sclerosis. Worried that her husband would be prosecuted in the UK if he traveled with her to Switzerland so she could die, Debbie asked the public prosecutor for a legal opinion. When the prosecutor refused clarification of the UK's assisted suicide law, she went to the High Court to argue that her human rights were violated because she was not provided guidance. This week, the UK High Court ruled against her, and Debbie says she still does not know whether her husband will be prosecuted if he helps her commit suicide abroad.

The court explained that the ambiguity in the law was there on purpose: "The offence of assisted suicide is very widely drawn to cover all manner of different circumstances - only Parliament can change it."

To find out how UK courts have treated previous citizens that went abroad with relatives to help them die, read more.

Although the relatives of the 100 UK citizens who have traveled before to a Swiss clinic have not been charged, aiding and abetting a suicide carries a penalty of up to 14 years in prison. Do you think Debbie's human rights have been violated? If Parliament decides to change the law, should they just make assisted suicide legal?

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Brilliant or Baffling? Outsourcing Your Assistant

SavvySugar — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 08:17:23 -0800

While most of us don't have the means or necessity for a full time personal assistant like most of the stars that will be appearing at the Oscars on Sunday, some of us could use an extra hand now and then. Now, thanks to globalization, you can hire an assistant in an Indian call center for about $16 an hour. Your personal assistant will make your appointments and calls, do research, send you reminders, and wait on hold for you. However, they won't make any arrangements involving adult entertainment.

One of the 150 "remote executive assistants" for a company called Brickwork in Bangalore said,"The main advantage is the time difference. We're able to do tasks for people while they're sleeping. You wake up to an email telling you it's done."

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Fittingly Mad: Don't Touch Me - Yoga Assists Gone Wrong

FitSugar — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 14:13:27 -0800

Over the holidays, I went to a Primary Series yoga class. I pretty much knew what to expect - the sequencing of postures is the same no matter where you take it. But I wasn't expecting Mr. Touchy-Feely Yoga Assistant.

Getting assists in class can be awesome - when they're done correctly and with respect. Assists help with your alignment, and can safely and comfortably get you deeper into a pose.

But this guy was clearly new to assisting, and didn't really have the ever so important "gift of touch." It was more like the "gift of force."

I was peacefully in Butterfly Pose, just enjoying the moment, and Mr. I-Know-What-I'm-Doing came up behind me. Before I could say a thing - he placed both hands on my knees, put his sweaty chest on my back and leaned all his weight into me. I felt a piercing pain in my left hip.

"Oww," I yelled, and pushed him off with my back. "Oh, was that too much," he said. I politely nodded, but thought, "Uh, yeah, you idiot. Don't touch me ever again."

So here's the deal. Only qualified and experienced people, should be laying a finger on you, and only when and if you want them to.

Fit's Tips: Before a new class of any kind, let the instructor know if you have an injury or if you prefer to be left alone. After going to the class for a while, the instructor will get to know your body's limitations, so when they do touch you, they'll know how in a helpful and respectful way.

And be sure to speak up. If someone's doing something you don't like, be sure to tell them instead of breathing through it. Nothing should hurt or make you feel bad in any way.

Video of Charlize, Rachel, & Kristen Bell Out For Charity & Our Weekend Movie Reviews!

PopSugarTV — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:28:43 -0700

Charlize Theron and Jeremy Piven tell us about working with Matt Damon, Rachel Bilson dishes on How I Met Your Mother while out in LA with Kristen Bell, and find out if Amelia, Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant, and Motherhood are worth seeing in theaters this weekend.

Do You Support Assisted Suicide?

TresSugar — Sun, 24 May 2009 01:00:00 -0700

A terminally ill woman took her life this week, before cancer could. Linda Fleming is the first person to die under Washington state's "Death with Dignity" law that became effective in March.

Over 60 percent of Washington voters approved the law, which allows willing doctors to prescribe a lethal dose of drugs to a person over 18 who has been declared competent by the state. In addition, two doctors must certify that the person has six months or less to live, and the patient must make two oral requests, 15 days apart, along with written requests witnessed by two people. These provisions will hopefully prevent abuse of the law, which some fear could be applied involuntarily against marginalized patients or as a form of health care cost containment.

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Me and Orson Welles: A Likeable Film For Theater-Lovers

BuzzSugar — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:00:33 -0800

Zac Efron can act, people! Okay, so he's not going to win an Oscar for his performance in Me and Orson Welles, but he does take a step away from the tween territory of High School Musical and 17 Again to prove that he can hold his own among more experienced performers.

Efron stars as the "Me" in Me and Orson Welles, an over confident aspiring young actor named Richard whose only prior work includes a couple of high school productions - until he lucks into a bit part in Welles's stage production of Julius Caesar. Richard has a romanticized view of theater, but once he enters Welles's company, he's forced to learn the real nature of what goes on behind the scenes.

For more on the film, read more.

Ready to burst his bubble is his new mentor, Orson Welles (Christian McKay). A philanderer and liar with an inflated ego, Welles takes Richard under his wing but knocks him down at the same time. Throw into the mix Welles's tenacious assistant Sonja (Claire Danes) who makes goo-goo eyes at the young guy, and it's clear that Richard is in way over his head (even though he seems clueless about it).

British actor Christian McKay as Welles is larger than life - he plays the role as if the director is always acting and putting on a show, even in his personal moments. Welles could be an unlikeable character, but McKay makes him a guy you love to hate. Even though Efron is the more recognizable face and handles his role well, McKay's performance is the one most critics will talk about.

The film is enjoyable, but it fails to pull you in. My biggest concern is that it won't find an audience. Older viewers might appreciate Welles and the music of the era, but the appeal of Efron might be lost on them. On the other hand, Efron's fans might find the Welles element to be a snooze. Honestly, it's probably best suited to those who have a passion for theater. I enjoyed watching rehearsals with the Caesar cast (which features a ragtag mix of faces, including Ben Chaplin and James Tupper). The office politics and mini-breakdowns that take place before the curtain goes up make the film fun.

My advice? If you do choose to see it on the big screen, catch it quickly before it goes to rental.

If you'd like to review a movie you've seen recently, check out the Movie Reviews Group in community. I may even feature your critique on the site!

Jude Prepares For Another Tell-All From the Women in His Life

PopSugarUK — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:58:50 -0800

Jude Law was smiling as he left a Midtown East office building with his assistant in New York yesterday, despite the news that his ex-wife Sadie Frost is reportedly planning a tell-all book. John Blake, the publisher, says: "You couldn't wish for more in an autobiography. We haven't discussed the finer detail, but we would expect it to contain pretty much everything. Sadie has a very good sense of humour and is very self-deprecating." Following Samantha Burke's revelations about her relationship with Jude in her interview with Hello, I would have thought Jude could do with a break, but as Sadie has publicly defended him recently it sounds like the former couple are on great terms. Would you be interested in reading Sadie's book?

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What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 06:30:00 -0800

It's Tuesday, so you know what that means - new DVD releases just in time for the Thanksgiving break! I've already shared some fresh music picks, but here are three movies to add to your Netflix queue for the weekend.

Funny People

Adam Sandler plays a comedian who tries to turn his life around and befriend a past love (Leslie Mann) after being diagnosed with a blood disorder; Seth Rogen steps in as his idealistic assistant. Both men turn in solid performances in Funny People, and there are laughs, even though this is way more serious than director Judd Apatow's previous work. One of my complaints in the theater was that it was much too long, but that's the good thing about DVDs - you can always hit pause and go back later.

The single disc version includes a gag reel and a feature commentary with Apatow, Rogen, and Sandler. (Normally I don't watch with the commentary on, but in this case, I might just tune in for their wise cracks.) The special two-disc collector's version is loaded with extras, including a 13-year old Seth Rogen doing stand-up!

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Two more DVD releases to check out when you read more.

Four Christmases

I love Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon, and while they don't necessarily have any sparks in Four Christmases, they still serve up a cute comedy. The pair star as a couple stuck visiting four sets of relatives around the holidays - his mom, her mom, his dad, her dad. And while it's not the funniest or most charming film that either actor has done, I still had a few laughs, especially thanks to the supporting cast of quirky characters (Jon Favreau and Kristin Chenoweth in particular). Even if it doesn't stack up against the classics in my holiday movie faceoff, it's worth trying if you're looking to get into the spirit of the season.

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Angels and Demons

Tom Hanks fans have Angels and Demons to look forward to. The actor is incredibly long-winded in the follow-up film to The DaVinci Code, but at least he's no longer sporting that ridiculous bouffant hairdo. This time, Robert Langdon tries to save the Vatican from an ancient group known as the Illuminati. Personally, I was bored by the first half when I saw the film in theaters, but the second part is actually fun - so if you catch it at home, you may want to fast forward a bit to get to the good stuff.

Special features include behind-the-scenes featurettes.

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