Friday, November 16, 2012

Hostess Movie Culture

The news is out... Hostess bakeries are closing for good. The variety of sweet snacks we have known to love is coming to an end (at least for now, since companies will be buying the recipes from Hostess as soon as they become available).



Thanks to social media, I have had a slew of friends and acquaintances contribute their own stories, pictures, and ideas of doing a shopping spree to horde as many of the delicious snack cakes as possible. One of my good friends commented on renting a particular film that featured one of the Hostess products. This led to a pop culture conversation.... and inspired me to blog for the first time since New Years.

Product placement and marketing is one of the many things thrown into movies. Sometimes they are put there with the intention that if a movie watcher were to see it, they would want said product and go buy it. Other times, a product is discussed by one or more characters and develop its own following by the audience (think about Reese's Pieces in ET... a lot were sold that year because of the film). Now, Hostess products have made appearances in both ways and I would like to demonstrate that to you. Bring on the movie culture of Hostess products!!!

Zombieland



I'm with Tallahassee... find a Hostess truck abandoned on the side of the road, invade and find something you love. While it didn't work out for him at this point of the film, it made my taste buds water for Sno Balls.




True words Tallahassee, and we don't have a Zombie Apocalypse (yet).


Ghostbusters



Ah, the infamous scene where Egon uses Twinkies as an example on how to explain energy. This got a second wind of pop culturedom when these scene made an appearance in Zombieland in Bill Murray's house. It also got me wanting Twinkies. **Drool**


Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby



Some of you may not realize that Wonder Bread is a product of Hostess Bakeries Inc. This is really going to hit a lot of people when all the grocery stores have empty spaces in the bread aisle. Product placement was used in a ridiculous manner in this film, as it is somewhat comical as to how many products are promoted on Nascar vehicles (for a movie that makes fun of product placement and subliminal messages, please watch Josie and the Pussycats).


Wall-E



I know it doesn't show it in the scene, but right after the clip cuts off Wall-E gives the cockroach a Twinkie. It was meant as an inside joke for adults about the correlation of a post-apocalyptic world and the shelf life of the yellow snack cake.


Weird Al Yankovic "Fat" Music Video



Okay, I know this isn't a movie clip, per se, but it represents Hostess through Ding-Dongs. :-)


As I was doing research on this blog, I was reminded (thanks to Wikipedia) that Hostess Brands was a Kansas City based company. Being a lifelong Kansas City girl, I take pride in anything that is from my hometown. I haven't watched any of the local news yet, but I am banking that someone is going reflect on that as they report the end of Hostess Bakeries Inc.

On a final note, as we say goodbye to the company I hope that whoever purchases the recipes for our favorite snack cakes is someone who is as passionate as Tallahassee in Zombieland, who simply wants a taste of a snack cake that reminds them of happiness.

Monday, January 2, 2012

Movie Monday: Looking Forward to A Lot of Movies This Year


One of the first things that I realize after celebrating a new year is that movies I have been looking forward to "suddenly" got closer to the release date. And, wow, I have a shitload of movies that I am really excited to see within the next 12 months.

Without further delay (and in order of release date), I will showcase several films that have caught my interest the past few months... and maybe get many of my friends and readers to get excited for what will be future blockbusters! :-D


Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (February 17th)



I had no idea that a sequel was in the works, let alone about to be released in theaters. Maybe it's just me, but it seems as if Nicholas Cage is in a comfort zone in which all he wants to do is create sequels. However, I enjoyed the first Ghost Rider film so I am interested in watching this.

This Means War (February 17th)



Cute concept... also very possible that this will be watched by many couples following Valentine's Day.

Act of Valor (February 17th)



This will be seen by millions... especially those who have connections (or serve) in the armed forces. Kind of appropriate to release this film the same year as a presidential election.

The Raven (March 9th)



Murders based on the works of Edgar Allen Poe.... yes, please!!!!


The Hunger Games (March 23rd)



Out of all the movies I have included in this blog, this film is the movie I am looking forward to the more. I knew that the three book series was going to be adapted to four films as I read them all over the summer. If you have not read these books, I strongly suggest doing so before March 23rd. You will not be disappointed.

American Reunion (April 6th)



I find it highly amusing (and awesome) that the movie that was basically my coming-of-age film has a new chapter 10 years after I graduated high school. Talk about perfect timing. I am very excited to see the gang I grew up watching onscreen since I was fifteen years old. I expect to laugh my ass off, especially after this amazing teaser trailer.


The Five-Year Engagement (April 27th)



It's amazing, how in just a movie trailer, you can wholeheartedly understand what a couple is going through. I will definitely be seeing this, especially since Jason Segel is in it... rawr!!! ;-)

The Avengers (May 4th)



Nothing says awesome like an ultimate geek film of this magnitude. I absolutely love how several different  movies based on Marvel comics have collaborated with the same actors to form The Avengers (which was also a Marvel comic). There are a couple of this films that I need to watch (Thor, Captain America) before going to see this... most likely at the midnight showing. What? I am a geek, after all! :-P

Men in Black 3 (May 25th)



I have noticed a recent trend of creating a sequel several years after the last installment (see Scream 4, Toy Story 3, American Reunion). The formula seems to work very well, at least on my experience in film watching. I really like the concept of this new MIB film... and am excited to see it in 3D. What a way to begin Memorial Day weekend!

Rock of Ages (June 1st)



Everything I love about the 80's plus my favorite classic rock songs... one badass Broadway show. I am hoping the movie adaptation will encompass what made me fall in love with this musical last Spring. There are already plans for a group outing to see this movie, either at the midnight showing or anytime on opening weekend.

"Don't stop believing...."

Snow White and the Huntsmen (June 1st)



I like how Hollywood has taken the fairy tales I grew up watching and have given them a dark, epic setting. More like how the Grimm brothers had created these stories centuries ago. This telling of Snow White looks pretty badass to me and I love that Charlize Theron is the Queen.

Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (June 8th)



In the world of Dreamworks versus Pixar, I am more of a Pixar person. I do love a lot of Dreamworks films but I see that they are getting to the point where they are making just as many sequels as original films. I am not sure if I will go see this in theaters, but I know at some point this will be watched. I am a parent, after all...

Brave (June 22nd)



Oh, Disney and Pixar Animation Studios, how I love you so for going Scottish. I will see this movie whether my son want to go or not. Hehehe... and yes, I am serious about that.

The Amazing Spider-Man (July 3rd)



I was very skeptical about a reboot of the Spiderman franchise, especially within 10 years of the series that starred Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst. Watching this trailer proved any doubts that I had out of the water. 4th of July week will be exciting for this future summer blockbuster.

The Dark Knight Rises (July 20th)



And, for the final chapter in Christopher Nolen's Batman franchise. I am curious to see if this will break the box office records that The Dark Knight did, or if it will not live up to the previous film. Either way, I will be there. I am ready to see how Anne Hathaway plays her role... since what I saw in this preview got me very excited.
The Hobbit (December 14th)



Ah, a J.R.R. Tolkein book that I was actually familiar with before the Lord of the Rings trilogy was in theaters. I am looking forward to seeing this movie as soon as it hits theaters (and then the second part in December 2013). What an epic film to wrap up the year!!!


As I said last year... who is ready to invest some money at the box office with me?

Sunday, January 1, 2012

2011 And All It's New Experiences

Another year has come and gone... and 2011 had a lot in store for me. I had a lot of new things that I did over the past 365 days. Compared to the blog I wrote back in 2010, I did a lot more new things... and opened up to a lot of new experiences, socially. I hope you enjoy reading what I have done over the past year, because I certainly did!
January:
-Purchased a lottery ticket (I couldn't resist trying to win $355 million, even if I didn't win anything that night)
-Drank Irish Ale (Boulevard) in an Irish Pub (Kelly's in Westport)... my ancestors would be so proud of me!
-Wore a corset. It was black and hot pink, from Torrid (hotness) and I showed it off at the Rocky Horror Picture Show (with a lot of good reaction, hehe) :-)

February:
-Ate prime rib (courtesy of a coworker that mixed up 2 rib dinners with prime rib)

March:
-Had an article published by a Kansas City newspaper (It was for The Pitch and it was on their Wayward music blog)
-Ate gumbo (on Fat Tuesday... how appropriate, hehe)
-Attended a movie pre-screening (Kevin Smith's Red State- followed by a Q&A session)
-Went to a convention (Planet Comicon) featuring comic books, Star Wars, and other various geek stuff :-)
-Had a published article that included quotes from a local celebrity (radio personality Kelly Urich, for the Kansas City Pitch)

April:
-Witnessed a coworker get fired (yeah, that sucked)
-Performed in the shadow cast for the Fishnets and Floorshows production of the Rocky Horror Picture Show (as Magenta)



May:
-Visited an erotica house (I thought I was going to a birthday party for a friend, who did not specify to me what kind of house it was. For the record, this particular place wasn't actually that bad, meaning that it was very clean and comfortable- not dirty)

June:
-Started couponing when grocery shopping (I'm not talking about a coupon here or there, I mean combining sales and coupons to get mega deals with a small budget)
-Learned how to dance on a stripper pole (at Club Monaco for a friend's birthday party- with another friend teaching me some simple tricks)

July:
-Pushed for a promotion and earned it (from EXPO/food runner to server at a grill and bar)

August:
-Became a director (co-director) of a show/production- Kansas City's Fishnets and Floorshows (Rocky Horror Picture Show)

September:
-Attended a divorce party
-Had a (recent) ex-boyfriend become obsessive/stalker-like after a breakup, which led me to having to remove him from all social networking connections

October:
-Participated in a walk in support of a good cause- Zombie Walk for Hunger. Dressed as a zombie fairy.



November:
-Purchased tickets for a concert just hours before the event began (Yo Gabba Gabba! Live for my son and myself)
-Considered poly amorous relationships
-Gave a guy my phone number without having to be asked for it beforehand. :-)
-Ate Korean food (and it was on my birthday!)
-Bought a case of beer for myself (New Belgium Snow Day Ale... best winter/seasonal drink, in my opinion)

December:
-Fell in love with someone in less than two months (although we had been friends for over 14 years)


And... that pretty much sums up my year of new things. Happy New Year everyone!!!! I plan on having a great 2012 and I hope you guys look forward to a great year to come. :-D