Dark Shadows an Hour Too Long

By Albert Angulo

Sometimes you have a pretty strong feeling about a movie before you see it and my movie radar was going off like mad when I watched the trailers for “Dark Shadows.” This is the latest Johnny Depp/Tim Burton collaboration which re-imagines the 1960’s TV camp soap opera.

Depp plays Barnabus Collins, a man who was alive in the 1700’s. He was in love with a woman named Josette (Bella Heathcote) but had a dalliance with a maid named Angelique (Eva Green).

 Angelique got her revenge by having Josette jump off a cliff and by turning Barnabus into a vampire. She could do these things because she was a witch. Then she added insult to injury by having the townspeople bury Barnabus alive.

The movie does have some comic moments but they are not enough to bring this movie to life. It all plays out like a joke in which only director Tim Burton and star Johnny Depp are in on the humor. They seem to be enjoying it immensely but the audience and most of the cast are scratching their heads and trying to figure it all out.

This movie even made me do something I never do during a movie: I actually checked the time on my watch because I was so eager for it to be over. I just couldn’t wait for it to end; so I guess you could say that the Dark Shadows overcame Depp’s work this time.

The Guardian Express and Albertations " the blog" @ the Billboard Awards 2012

 by Albert Angulo

Las Vegas Nevada, Sunday the 20th, was an exhilarating experience as The Guardian Express stepped onto its first red carpet at the Billboard Awards and received an exceptional welcome from all fellow media colleagues. From the MGM Grand hotel, the 2012 Billboard Music Awards recognized the best and most unique beats that moved the music industry this year.

The red carpet was full of celebrities like Justin Bieber (definitely the one who got the audience most frantic) who later won an award for Best Social Artist and performed his latest single, "Boyfriend," while thousands of fans screamed the lyrics as he sang; and Usher, who arrived at the 2012 Billboard Music Awards in style, looking ready for the summer months in a robin's egg suit, also gave us a great presentation of his new single, "Scream."

Taylor Swift, was one of the most shocking celebrities I've ever seen in person, as she appeared to flow thorough the air like a Barbie Doll. Even without her famous curls, Taylor looked smart and sophisticated in her snappy red dress.

Katy Perry, following a record-breaking year on the charts, made her grand entrance in Vegas sporting a sleek lavender gown. The guys form The Wanted also made a flawless appearance on the red carpet. It's been a great comeback year for Nelly Furtado, who was amazing to the press: all smiles, in a classy, pre-performance ensemble and showing off her newly learned Spanish skills. She was more than willing to say a few words in Spanish for our incredible bilingual newspaper! "Hola amigos de el Guardian" she said as she laughed at her own accent. It was refreshing to see how humble and accessible all these celebrities were and to feel the sense of selfless comradery that all the reporters from different networks and media have. It was like being at a party with old friends!

 

It was no surprise that Miley Cyrus caught the camera's eye in her non-bra risqué blazer-meets-miniskirt combo. Cool as always, Miley not only looked great but she behaved as the high-class celebrity she is-- very classy. Sporting a chic summer ensemble, Billboard R&B favorite, Brandy, greeted the press but was unable to say anything to us as she ran down the red carpet. She was in a hurry because she was one of the first presenters. Definitely the queen of the red carpet was Carrie Underwood looking like a princess in an Oscar De la Renta gown.

Once inside the ceremony there were amazing performances but definitely one of the most electrifying performances of the evening was by LMAFO with his single "I'm sexy and I know it," making everybody in the audience wiggle wiggle wiggle.

 

Usher and Bieber goofed around in the front row during the show after Bieber got the crowd moving with his "Believe" single. Another dream illusion performance was brought to life by Katy Perry performing her never before heard single, "Wide Awake," while flying through the arena; and of course Chris Brown had to show his dreamy abs by taking off his shirt during his performance.

CeeLo Green was in a great mood as his one-legged soldier/dancer stole the show during their performance.

But it was not all party mode. Things got very emotional as icon award winner Stevie Wonder performed with a chorus, and John Legend and Whoopi Goldberg walked onstage to celebrate Whitney Houston. Jordin Sparks reached for the rafters during her tribute to Whitney.

Way to go Billboards 2012! The Guardian team and Albertations is looking forward to being there again next year.

Obama Emotional Words on Same Sex Marriage

 I know is all politics and also know is kind of  pathetic  to fall into this emotional  campaing move that actually is going to be very helpful for the president  , but Iam still a human being and I can't help it , I merley teared when I saw him  talking about such an emotional topic for me , as I  have always battle between the idea of  having a wedding without being percive as a total joke nor  being an embarrasment  specially to my  Dad and Brother, so a big time WOW crossed my mind as I was listening to the first black president in history taking on another historical  moment, I honestly didn't think I  was going  live to see all than   have seen in my adult years but I guess this is the future than I so eagerly wanted to experience  when  I was a kid , so here we go ....

WASHINGTON D.C. May 9th 2012 , In a dramatic shift in public opinion, Barack Obama on Wednesday became the first sitting president to announce his support for same-sex marriage.

For such a momentous announcement, President Obama surely picked an interesting way to break the news.

Obama’s disclosure on Wednesday that he supports same-sex marriage came not in a news conference, not in a policy address and not in a campaign event, but in an interview with the co-host of a morning talk show:

"I have to tell you that over the course of several years as I have talked to friends and family and neighbors when I think about members of my own staff who are in incredibly committed monogamous relationships, same-sex relationships, who are raising kids together, when I think about those soldiers or airmen or marines or sailors who are out there fighting on my behalf and yet feel constrained, even now that Don't Ask Don't Tell is gone, because they are not able to commit themselves in a marriage, at a certain point I’ve just concluded that for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same sex couples should be able to get married," He said .

 

He added “You know, Malia and Sasha, they have friends whose parents are same-sex couples. There have been times where Michelle and I have been sitting around the dinner table and we’re talking about their friends and their parents, and Malia and Sasha, it wouldn’t dawn on them that somehow their friends’ parents would be treated differently. It doesn’t make sense to them and, frankly, that’s the kind of thing that prompts a change in perspective "

President Obama’s decision to embrace gay marriage may add a political complication to his reelection bid, but it is also unleashing a wave of new financial support from gay and lesbian donors who were already major backers of his candidacy.

The Lucky One” Not So Lucky After All

Once again is a pleasure to write for you my weekly Movie review and this time I went to see a movie than it might have never been my own choice but I accepted the suggestion and give it the opportunity , the movie was The lucky one , and just by the title you know it going to be a corny chick movie which I have no problem with, if they didn't actually used so sacred things to me in order to hook the audience

 

U.S. Marine Sergeant Logan Thibault (Efron) arrives in a small town and seduces a young, single mother in "The Lucky One," an adaptation of the Nicholas Sparks

 

Number one they use patriotism ,very intelligent move , everybody loves our troops ,I personally not 100% comfortable with the whole concept of war ,but I kneel myself in front of any soldier than have the guts to say : you are going to sleep safe tonight because I am in charge, I admire that and it really bothers me when Hollywood use this particular sentiment of the American society just to sell some movie tickets, and they dress some Disney boy named Zac Efron as a marine , but I have to give it to the producers they are very intelligent , they do know what sells , you should have seen the reaction of the audience inside the theater I was full of teenage girls when Disney boy Zac took half his pants off , it was pandemonium.

 

Unfortunately Zac’s newly renovated six pack abs and big arms and thighs did make it up for his acting in this one, oh my God this guy acting skills could put a child on ibuprofen ansd starbucks to sleep, but I don't want to be completely bashful to this move because there are some good things about it , while everybody was waiting it to be Zac’s biggest crossover ,from child actor to young male roles , it was in fact a revelation of his co - actress Taylor Schilling, a strikingly beautiful new actress who I have never seen before but I am telling you that girl can seriously act, she had the whole audience in tears in one of the most beautiful scenes I have seen during a movie . So 2 thumbs up for Schilling.

 

Another thing that I couldn't’ help notice was the beautiful photography and gorgeous scenarios of this film , god job on that ! I mean once you get over the film's chilling narcissism , there is not a single actor in the movie who is not blonde and blue eyed , and just by merely coincidence the "bad guy “ happened to be a brunette, if I didn't know the author of the book Nicholas Sparks , I would bet this movie was written by a republican old white lady, and his perfect idea of the world, so this creation of the 7th art in my humble opinion ultimately makes for a pleasureless fantasy.