My oldest turned 15 a week ago. My mind is still adjusting to that number. I'm not exaggerating when I say it just feels like I was just bawling my eyes out as I registered him for kindergarten.
Anyway, I thought he'd be getting past wanting a themed birthday this year - being such a big bad teenager and all. I was wrong.  And when he said the word "steampunk," my heart was all aflutter!

Not being typical party gear, this required going completely from scratch - a banner, steampunked  water guns for party favors, metallic paper plates/napkins, and cupcakes decorated with cream frosting sprayed lightly with silver edible spray (my new favorite thing!) and topped with mustaches (of course!).

Steampunk Water Guns

The true icing on the cake, metaphorically speaking, were the party favors.  I got the idea from - of course - Pinterest. Simple water guns transform into futuristic/retro Steampunk beauties! 

 I made a dozen, and though the gun base shape was the same, no two guns were identical once I finished. Can I tell you the ridiculous amount of joy I got out of this project?
Seriously, some times I wonder if I've grown up at all.

Materials Needed:

Standard Water Guns (dollar or thrift store)

Krylon 2340 Fusion Spray Paint, Espresso

Rust-Oleum 249131 11 oz Universal All Surface Spray Paint, Oil Rubbed Bronze Metallic

Acrylic Paints, Varied Metallic shades

Acrylic Paint, Black

Paint Brushes, per preference (a detail brush & a larger brush for dry brushing)

Krylon 2444 'Fusion for Plastic' Clear Plastic Paint - 12 oz. Aerosol

I started out with wildly bright dollar store squirt guns.  I was drawn to these particular guns by the shape, the easy fill water tank, and the steampunk feel to the rivets and pipe-like parts.

Hanging all 12 guns along a string so I could get every angle painted easily, I started with a base coat of Krylon Fusion spray paint made specifically to bond with plastic. (note: while this worked flawlessly on the body of the guns, the water tanks have shown wear and tear, peeling down to the green - in other words, not "bonding" like the paint claims. I think it's because the water tanks are soft, flexible plastic.  Next time I'll go for completely hard surfaces when I purchase guns. I don't think soft plastic can ever be completely "primed".  However, the guns still look cool because the bits of green showing through look toxic and quite awesome.)

After the brown base coat, each gun received a coating of metallic bronze spray paint.  If I could have found the Fusion paint in a metallic, I would have skipped this step.  However, I wanted to ensure the bonding of the paint with the plastic.  Thus the brown primer coat, THEN the bronze metallic topcoat.

Now for the detailing. Using acrylic paints in antique gold, bright silver, and true copper, paint the rivets, hoses, pipes, handles, fins, anything that could stand out.   I used a dry brush technique with the gold, silver and bright copper to achieve a non-streaked, true metallic appearance, particularly with the water tank which would have streaked and looked fake to try and paint solidly.

To dry brush, take a very little bit of paint onto the corner tip of a large brush or sponge. I found it helps to play around with it on a piece of wax paper first to distribute the paint a little. Then in quick, almost smashing motions, wipe and blot the paint onto the gun, concentrating on nooks and crannies.

After the color dries, repeat this dry brush technique with black over the whole gun.  I found it particularly helpful with the black to have a paper towel on hand to wipe areas I got over-aggressive with.  The combination of dry-brush and wiping with a paper towel created the exact aged look I wanted - even if it isn't an approved artistic technique ;)  It really made the details pop.

The guns went back on a line for a final clear coat (again, using the paint specific to plastic).  It probably wasn't totally necessary, but I wasn't taking any chances. I didn't want any of my hard work rubbing off, especially since mine weren't decorative, they were for real water play.   They looked SO cool hanging all in a line that I couldn't stop taking pictures.

I was so tickled with the way they turned out! More importantly, all the birthday guests were totally over the moon.  We had quite the steampunk water war in our backyard that night (and ever since!).  I included some close-ups at the end of this post to show how many possibilities can come from one gun.

Banner:
I used card stock I had on hand in browns, greens and copper tones.  The font is called exotica and can be downloaded for free from Steampunk Font. I also used KG Flavor and Frames, another free download on dafont . It has frames, mustaches, glasses, etc.

Since my banner spans a room rather than hanging against the wall, I like to have something fun on the back as well.  I printed off a few steampunky images to throw on the back. 

And the most essential element was gears.  I cut them out of dark brown & copper metallic card stock. The entire banner is simply sewn together using my sewing machine.  It's the crazy simplest way to make a banner, and it holds up really well. One lesson I learned is that the gears that were sewn through at exact center spun around all the time, which was super cool. 

Food

Cupcakes are not the most creative steampunk item I could have come up with, but they were super yummy and I love, LOVE how cool they look sprayed with Wilton Color Mist. The metallic colors are simply amazing!
 

Who can resist mustaches?

And while they've become very vogue lately, they are decidedly steampunk, and make suave cupcake toppers as well as hilarious favors and photo props! Mustache Party Food and Cupcake Picks - 25 ct

Pop the silver metallic cupcakes and some ice cream on gold metallic plates (from the dollar store) and bronze metallic napkins (Hobby Lobby), and you've got stylish steampunk! 

Bonus Photos:

Some more glamor shots of the guns - I couldn't pick a favorite.

I love moms. I mean, who doesn't? That would be ridiculous.
But the longer I'm a mom, the more I love moms for different reasons.

Sure, there are the typical poems read every Mother's Day honoring the late night sacrifices, the diaper duty, the vomit cleanup, the mess - as well as the cards and tributes that raise moms to a saint-like status of perfection.

But what I'm talking about is the beauty of individual mothering. How there isn't one right way to be a mom. And how lovely and inspiring it is to watch the women around me mother their children in such diverse and fantastic ways.

Moms are Superheroes! 
As a tribute to Superhero Moms everywhere, Coupons.com is giving away a Vitamix blender (oh, I hope I win!  I've wanted one for SUCH a long time!!)  Their reasoning? Because even Superheroes need a boost :)
In addition to the giveaway, you can take a quiz to see what kind of #SuperheroMom you are.  I took it and I'm Elasti-girl.  Funny thing is, I've always known that if I were a superhero I'd be Elasti-girl, because of my hyper mobility syndrome.  I'm literally more stretchy ;)

What kind of SuperheroMom are you?
Take the quiz and let me know!  I'm curious like that. Comment here - or on Facebook with the hashtag #SuperheroMom.

(And just so you know, check out the coupons at the bottom of the page.  Especially if you don't have a Mother's day gift yet. I'm using one to save on a gift for my Mother-in-law!  Yay!!)

I haven’t blogged in a long stretch. I’ve been beating myself up about it.

Despite the fact of my massive crossed-off To-Do list at the end of every insanely busy day and at the end of a particularly hurricane force few weeks, I pound my head over the remaining list items that would likely require Superman turning the earth back a few times in a row for me to actually end up accomplishing. 

We do this. 

We women who struggle beneath the burden of our own over-expectations. 

We write off our accomplishments as so much nonsense, and instead pick at the scabs of our flaws and insecurities until they become scars.

Yesterday I had this all brought home in a beautiful and poignant way that I hope I’ll remember.

I have a lovely neighbor who is sweetness personified. She is the kind of person who notices people and acknowledges their best selves. The kind of person I aspire to be when I’m in my less cynical and introverted moods. Her name is Lanea, and she dropped by with cookies yesterday. 

In the course of conversation, she said: “you are just so amazing. You are brilliant, and literary, and you always stay up on the coolest new music, so you’re just so cool. And if that weren’t enough, you sew and craft and I want my kids to be just like yours…” At which point I, blushing, interrupted her with, “WOW! You make me actually sound like I’m really something!” and she replied, “how is it that you don’t know you are?”

We moved on with our conversation, but my mind kept dwelling and ruminating on that phrase. 

HOW IS IT THAT YOU DON’T KNOW YOU ARE? 

How is it?

How do we let ourselves forget?

How do we get drowned in minutiae, dragged down by insecurity, misdirected by a false definition of humility until we don’t see ourselves clearly? 

Because in complete and total honesty, I had nowhere near the perception of myself that sweet Lanea painted.  I feel awkward and square-peg-in-the-round-hole and never, ever enough or else WAY too much.

We are told many, many times not to define ourselves by the perceptions of others, but to have our own inner sense of self – and I do think this has merit.  I can’t begin to tell you the ways I’ve been described that are VERY far off from Lanea’s (too often including the B word) – but sometimes the mirror of a loving friend can help remind us that we are more than a sum of our accomplishments vs our failings - the running tally we keep in our heads.  We are each so much more than that.

HOW IS IT THAT YOU DON’T KNOW YOU ARE?  It is critical that we know. When we allow ourselves to let go of fixation on what’s wrong or annoying or frustrating about ourselves, we stand taller, stop beating ourselves up, and are proud of our divine nature. We understand more clearly what our talents are and what we can offer the world.  And our daughters will be proud of us and themselves.

I wonder if Lanea had any clue how deeply she touched my heart, or what a turning point it has been in my thinking.  That is the power of a good woman, saying good words in the right time. 

I'm starting right now. To work harder to think better of myself.  To treat myself with the same level of compassion I'd give another human being. And then especially to pay it forward with words of validation and reminder to those women I admire all around me. Who inspire me and encourage me and yet I rarely step out of my little box to speak those heartfelt words for fear of sounding silly. Having just been on the receiving end - it is so far from silly. It means the world.

May we all speak up with power and confidence to lift one another.

Because you are amazing. You are powerful. You are talented. You have the ability to make a difference. And if you say, “I'm not sure you're talking about me, that makes me sound like I’m really something,” I say, “HOW IS IT THAT YOU DON’T KNOW YOU ARE?”

I admit it.  I'm a sucker for the arts.  Ever since I was cast as Carol in "A Christmas for Carol" (go ahead and groan, I still do), in 4th grade, I've loved live theater! And since I also love the vintage feel of the early & mid 1900s, last Saturday night turned out to be quite a treat.  If you're on the hunt for a fun idea for a date night, or a neat family activity, we found a new - old spot you might enjoy too.

Tysen and I were invited to see the play "Kiss Me, Kate," a Cole Porter classic, at the Empress Theater in Magna.  Saturday happened to be one of "those days," with the kids - you all know what I mean. So we slipped out a little earlier than planned, grabbed some dinner and found ourselves on Main Street Magna with a full 40 min to spare before the play!

We considered napping in the car, but instead decided to take a walk around.  If you've never been, Magna's Main street looks like time stopped around a hundred years ago.  Hand painted signs, brick store fronts.  There are quite a few run down spots, but it's still a fun walk.  One of my favorites was the Magna Museum, closed for the season, with items inside glass cases that were labeled "Do not touch" anyway. We scratched our heads trying to figure out how anyone could possibly touch!


Then we sauntered on over to the Empress Theater.  The building is distinctive. I took pictures in sunlight, in
twilight, then again as the lights came on. I even tried a selfie!  (Note: I am seriously selfie-impared.  I don't know if there's a program or a class for it, but it's real. I'm a witness)

The Empress was built in 1916 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. It is a community Theater, functioning on volunteer and community involvement.  If you're a history buff, like I am, you can find out all the crazy cool history of the building here.

We were lucky to have a backstage tour where Tysen was thrilled to hear some ghost stories of the building (Note to Tysen fans: he HAS been on a paranormal investigation there, and he was bummed that he hadn't heard all the significant stories so he could have known more at that time).

With all the history, feeling like I'd walked back in time, the choice of play was absolutely perfect! I felt like I should have been wearing a seersucker dress and then it all would have been complete!

Tysen hadn't seen "Kiss Me, Kate" before, so it was fun experiencing the humor of it with him for the first time.  The music and the energy of the play is so delightful!  At first, when the opening number started, I admit I had my doubts.  I knew this was community theater, volunteer actors.  But I also knew that they have many auditions and their casting can be pretty rigorous.  Still, it started off a little rocky.  I was concerned I was in for something similar to a church production.  It was opening weekend though, and kinks work out as things warm up.  Within only a few minutes everyone found their groove and we thoroughly enjoyed the performances.

  Particularly delightful are the leads, Josh Astle as Fred Graham and Emily Wells as Lilli Vanessi.  If you don't know the story at all, it is a play within a play. Almost all the cast are playing actors who are in Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew."  The parallels outside the Shakespeare play, in the lives backstage, create a brilliant level of comedy juxtaposed with Shakespeare's text.

The show almost gets stolen by the hilarious performances of Troy Larsen and Kevin Pope as a pair of gangsters. They perform the always awesome "Brush Up Your Shakespeare," and they do so with style.  Other favorites done especially well are the high energy "Too Darn Hot," the hilarious "Where Is the Life That Late I Led?" and the vintage feeling "So In Love."


The great thing about a night at The Empress is that for the cost of a movie, you get a live arts experience.  It is a wonderful place to get kids interested in theater.  (I hear their next play, "Shrek, the Musical" is a particular favorite with the younger crowd).

 A ticket costs $10, and group prices are $8 per ticket.  As large as my family is, we almost qualify for group pricing too!!  Anyone want to go out with us so we can all get cheaper tickets together? ;)

A disclaimer - It IS community theater.  All of the actors, etc. have day jobs.  The sets and costumes rely on donations. So it's not Utah Opera Company glitz.  Some patience is sometimes required.  But it is decidedly quaint. And charming. And talent and passion abound.

 I couldn't help but think, as body mics popped or malfunctioned, what could this place be capable of given the proper funding? And oh, how I would LOVE to do just that? (Speaking of which, if you are planning on celebrating Love Utah Give Utah day this Thursday, March 20th, supporting local organizations, and you haven't decided WHICH local organization you'd like to support yet, might I suggest The Empress? Visit Here)

For a fun and different date night, or as a great family activity (performances are always Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays btw), check out the 2014 Season - which has the theme of "Build Character" as the guiding principle. How cool is that to have such a positive overarching theme?

Kiss Me, Kate: March 14-April 12
Shrek, The Musical: April 25- May 17
My Darlin' Clementine: May 30-June 14
State Fair: June 27-July 26
Once On This Island: August 8-30
Camelot: September 12-October 4
Ten Little Indians: October 17-November 1
Mary Poppins: November 21-December 22

If you can check your attachment to reality with your luggage as you board Non-Stop, starring Liam Neeson, it is a fun ride - in a classic murder mystery style. If not, don't bother.

Neeson’s character, Bill Marks, is an Air Marshal on a flight that goes horribly wrong when a threat is made to the plane.  Instead of a straight-up hijacking, this is a mind game.  The villain sends texts threatening a death on board every 20 minutes unless $150 million is deposited in an account.  So much of the plot and so many of the details are completely implausible, but with a great cast, fast pacing, and focus on the mystery itself, I found it pretty easy to dismiss my disbelief and get caught up.  Along the way the hidden mystery villain casts suspicion on Marks, who ends up being the one accused of hijacking the plane.  This gives the mystery a heightened element of risk, turning CLUE into Chess and blocking Neeson’s moves at every advance.

There isn’t much original about the film. Stereotypes abound almost to the point of camp.  The brooding Neeson, the corrupt partner, the child traveling alone. There’s the busy but vulnerable traveling businesswoman, the cop, the Muslim doctor, the loud belligerent punk… Within the first few minutes of the film the plane is already in the air and much of the cast is already identified by easily recognizable types.  But that’s part of what makes it fun.  The butler, Colonel Mustard and the rest – categorizing people helps set up the expectations, which leads to suspicions when we start trying to figure out ‘whodunit.’

 

So what makes this rather mediocre B-movie enjoyable is the same thing that makes people host murder mystery dinners.  Can we figure it out before anyone else does? Are we picking up on all the clues? Who is hiding in plain sight? And Non-Stop does this part particularly well.  Every person on the plane is suspect at some point (well – maybe not the little kid). I have a nasty habit of predicting endings, and this one kept me guessing. 

For parents, this is a rather benign PG-13.  I know I’ve taken issue with the level of violence allowed in PG-13 lately.  Non-Stop does have action-related violence.  Just watch the trailers. Neeson is rough.  At one point, Neeson’s character kills a man in a fight (in an airplane bathroom! Not much is shown, it’s mostly sound effects due to the close quarters).  People die from poisoning, which is depicted as foaming at the mouth – disturbing, but not graphic. Guns are featured, mostly waved around and used for threatening, fired a little near the end.   Most upsetting for younger viewers would probably be the plane crash landing. Again, not graphic, just scary.  As for language, mild cursing throughout, with the obligatory one use of the F word.  I would not have a problem with my 14 year old seeing this movie – and maybe my 12 year old.  I don’t think my younger kids would be interested, and I think the general theme is frightening enough that I’d steer clear with them.

For couples, this is a viable option for a night out.  Enough action for the guys, enough story and mystery for the gals.  Roll-your-eyes-fun. And while Neeson and Julianne Moore are the big names headlining the film, when the head flight attendant stepped on the screen, my husband leaned over and whispered, “recognize her?” My response was “pfsshff, seriously? You have to ask?” Yes, my Downton friends, Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) serves drinks rather than being served, as Nancy, the loyal and courageous flight attendant!  Very fun to see her in this role.

Frozen is not my favorite Disney movie.  There were many things I found just ok, and even downright annoying.  However, in the past couple of weeks, fellow bloggers of religious ilk have targeted the movie for its immoral messages or – ready for this? – its hidden gay agenda – of which parents need to beware.  I acknowledge their vigilance. I appreciate their courage.  I also think they are over-analyzing (this coming from a rabid-analyst) and not giving kids nearly enough credit.

Let’s start with the most reasonable arguments.  Some are taking issue with the transformation of Elsa from good girl Elsa into sexy Elsa as well as the lyrics to her anthem, “Let it Go.”  I admit, I’m uncomfortable with my girls singing this song over and over at the top of their lungs – which my husband and I discuss in a Podcast on the topic (Reinforcing the Positive Messages Disney Films Teach your Girls). 

I happen to agree that the lyrics convey a message of rule breaking and rebellion right alongside those of self-discovery and empowerment.  However, I disagree that Disney was doing it subversively, advocating anything insidious, or trying to blur the lines between right and wrong.  There is a simultaneous moment of learning and growth going on, but she's also filled with fear, rage and rebellious angst.

Elsa is throwing a tantrum.  With a catchy song.

But that’s simplifying - it’s way more than a tantrum – Elsa is taking dangerous steps down the road toward becoming the villain.  Luckily, because of the faith, devotion and love of her sister, her journey toward isolation and cruelty is stopped.  WHICH IS THE STORY.  Instead of Frozen: How the Ice Witch Became Evil – we sort of get, Frozen: The Journey Towards Becoming a Scary Evil Witch and Back Again. 

The only thing I can think of to convey what I’m getting at is a Star Wars analogy: if Anakin Skywalker were singing as he turned into Darth Vader, it would be something along the lines of “Let it Go.” 

Giggles. I know. The visual of that happening makes me giddy.  I'm kind of ridiculous and now I want to write a Star Wars musical. But think about it for a minute. It works. Sort of. An extremely powerful, talented young adult rebelling, pushing limits, wreaking havoc, journey to the dark side, return to the light, in this case, because of his son. (Now I've got the "Tell your sister, you were right about me," line stuck in my head!)

But seriously.  Yes, Elsa’s song is powerful.  Anger feels powerful. Rebellion feels powerful.  Yes, for that moment she feels like she’s on top of the world.  She is finally using beautiful talents that have been misunderstood. And Yes, she is absolutely leaving the good girl and rules behind.  But the film does NOT advocate this as desirable behavior.  Unless you walk out of the movie right there, in which case, I can see your point.  

However, shortly after the song during which she truly discovers the wonder of her powers, her talents almost kill her sister then create a monster to throw them off a cliff!  Hello. Villain.  Just look at her eye makeup – she’s a villain ;) Only Maleficent rocks the eye shadow harder. 

Which brings me to her somewhat vampy look people are decrying.  Here’s my question I’d like to pose to the board for consideration: If Elsa had started off the movie as THE ICE WITCH, an evil antagonist, and she looked EXACTLY the same as she does in her ice castle scene, would anyone be pitching a fit? Just sayin’  

The big difference in this film is, again, that we’re seeing how a villain becomes a villain.  We’re getting the back story.  The transformation.  Not that a tight shiny dress and eye shadow are evil, but hopefully you get my point.  Besides, that dress is hardly groundbreaking in the revealing category when you consider Tinkerbell…

Ah, you say, but children are not sophisticated enough to see this.  They sing the song, they want to dress up like Elsa, they want to be like her so they’ll think it is ok to leave the “good girl” and “right and wrong” and “rules” behind like Elsa does.  To that I respond with two answers.

First, back to Star Wars – pretty sure that every kid ever has dressed up like Vader at some point or another.  Pretty sure society is still in tact.  Sometimes the villain is just cool.  And Elsa pulls herself back from becoming the villain.  She shows strength of character to stop that path.  Not too bad a morality lesson. 

Second, ASK THE CHILDREN!  They get it.  While us frantic adults run around the internet analyzing and policing, all it takes is a conversation to see that sometimes we’re the blind ones.  

Here’s my dinner conversation with my children:

Me: You keep singing that song.  What does it even mean?

Chloe: It’s about how Elsa has been locked up in her room and now she’s free to use her powers.

Me: So it’s a good song?

Chloe: Well, sort of – because she’s also running away and doing some bad things too.  So she only thinks she’s free. But then, she's not really bad because she's really just a lot scared. 

Me: She builds an Ice Castle though – that’s pretty cool.  And powerful.  Is that when she’s most powerful?

Lily: No.  She isn’t.  Because she can’t control it and she hurts people. She isn’t really powerful until she can control her powers at the end.  When she loves her sister she is most powerful.

Hello. Counterarguments anyone?

Out of the mouths of the children themselves.  “When she loves her sister she is most powerful.” What are kids getting out of this film? Let’s stop speculating and ASK THEM! As we advocated on the podcast, talking to our children about what they are ingesting from media is the best way to turn it into a positive parenting tool. 

As for the gay agenda in the film – I don’t really have much to say.  Except if you’re looking for anything, you’ll find it.  Magical power to create snow and freeze things is EXACTLY like being gay.  Why didn’t I see that?  (Where is my sarcasm font when I need it?) 

Also, the family gloried in her power UNTIL IT ALMOST KILLED SOMEONE.  Only then came the fear.  Um, wouldn’t you be afraid?  It’s not shaming, it’s protection.  And if it is a gay agenda, why make Elsa’s power dangerous. If the film is advocating, the figure representing the agenda would have a talent that is  universally positive and misunderstood, rather than one both dangerous and literally and figuratively “cold”.

The gay agenda argument made is simply based on how Elsa is encouraged to hide, and then finally “comes out.” I’m going to blow your mind right here, all of you who believe this.  Don’t watch the Little Mermaid. Gay agenda.  Being human= being gay. Ariel wants to be human but has to hide it, even from her father. His reaction to her human (gay) tendencies is entirely predictably violent. Only when he accepts that she IS human (gay) do we get the happy ending.  Oh wait, don’t watch Beauty and the Beast.  Gay agenda. The Beast hides away in his castle afraid of what others will think of him.  And when he finally does transform, that hair…totally gay.  Wait, wait…Tangled.  She’s shut away in a tower because of her special power that must be hidden from the world!  The only reason she doesn’t end up special in the end is because her power is destroyed by a man –OH NO – maybe we can watch that one because he fixes her and she is all better.  Hey, watch out for Merida – she doesn’t want to get married, and she rides horses and wields weapons… wow, SO gay agenda.  Don’t even get me started on Mulan. Oh, that Disney…

All I’m getting at here – facetiously, I admit, is that if you look for it, you can make whatever agenda you’re jonesin on fit whatever you’d like to demonize.

Or we can encourage positivity. 

Ask kids what they are learning.  Because I think they are more sophisticated than we are sometimes. If they pick up questionable messages, nip it in the bud. But pulling out the positive, the uplifting, and the wholesome teaches our children to do the same - with people and with the world around them. Even though, go ahead and attack me now, I thought Frozen was boring and not nearly the equal of Brave, I love that my girls got out of it that “when she loves her sister she is most powerful.”  I’m good with that.

Set in the future (2028), though with not much discernibly different from current life beyond the obvious robotics advancements and Samuel L. Jackson’s bizarrely retro fashion, the Robocop reboot attempts to tell a human story, make social and political commentary, AND be a violent-but-not-too-violent action film.  The villain of the film is corporate giant Omnicorp, run by Raymond Sellars (Michael Keaton) who capitalizes on the near fatal injury of Detroit police officer Alex Murphy (Joel Kinnaman) to create the robotic human hybrid - Robocop.

Analysis 

From the opening sequence with Samuel L. Jackson delivering a Glenn Beck-like diatribe on the safety of America, complete with a live TV robot execution of middle-eastern suicide bombers, including a young teen boy who is merely incidental, it is clear that this is a message film written at the level of a melodrama.  By mid movie I almost expected the audience to cheer the hero and call out “BOO” every time the villain appeared.  Taken a little farther it could have been campy or satirical, but as it is, it's just annoying and contradictory.

While shoving a political agenda down our throats, it's busy shooting everything that moves.  It demonizes corporate mega-giant 1%ers as amoral, profit driven, freedom hating, inhuman monsters – equating Omnicorp without any subtlety to criminals – yet the film itself is capitalizing on its market in such an immoral way it got under my skin.  The whole time I was watching, I couldn’t help but think about how my 14 year old son knew the movie was coming out before I did, and how much he wants to see it.

 The PG-13 rating and marketing have been SO focused on a teen boy audience.  Much has been said about how the violence has been sanitized from the original R rated Robocop.  Sanitized, yes, but in a disturbingly consequence-free way.  At one point, Robocop takes on a whole warehouse full of opponents with automatic weapons.  They specifically make mention of the caliber even.  Yet the moment of engagement, Robocop, and the camera view, switches to “heat vision,” which makes the whole thing look like a video game – removing the connection to the serious reality of the resulting deaths and injuries. 

The lack of blood-spatter may clear the way for the rating and opens the door for teen viewing, but what does it teach about what happens when you take a gun in hand?  Some have even compared the clean quality of the violence to blockbuster superhero films like Ironman.  I’d counter that there is something fundamentally different in the fantasy comic-book scenarios, which usually involve explosions of buildings or lasers and aliens, and real world guns and police officers. 

Important to note that I’m not categorically against gun movies.  Our love affair with the shoot-out runs deep, and I enjoy an action film probably more than the average girl. But juxtaposed with irresponsible marketing and coupled with a heavy-handed soapbox message, this film just falls flat.

The Robocop reboot does redeem itself somewhat by stacking up the acting heavyweights.  Given the over-the-top nature of the melodramatic script, it is amazing that Keaton and Kinnaman were able to pull off such relatable characters, but they totally do. And Gary Oldman is the highlight of the film as the conflicted doctor, torn between the prospect of scientific advancement of saving officer Murphy and his knowledge of how Robocop will be used, and what must happen to his humanity in order for him to function as necessary.  I’ve loved Oldman ever since Rosencrantz and Gildenstern are Dead, and his performances remain stellar.

Summary: What to know if you want to see it

As an action-adventure junkie, my final verdict on Robocop is that it is mediocre.  The visuals were good. Action sequences were like video games, especially at the end.  His motorcycle is awesome!  Mainly, I just found it tedious how soapboxy the whole thing was.  Give me mindless fun with a sub-standard plot before you preach to me about politics and get all didactic.  It can be handled well, with satire or with wit – but Robocop opts for the dumptruck method of delivery.  I got so sick of Samuel L. Jackson I wanted to slap him. However, if you go in prepared to overlook the posturing, you can enjoy the CG and the action.

As a mom, I give Robocop a total thumbs-down.  It is deceitful to give it a PG-13 rating.  On top of the violence, there is much that is just plain disturbing. In a scene where Alex Murphy asks to be shown how much of his human self is left, the CG team shows off by removing the suit, leaving a few dangling body parts, functioning lungs, exposed brain… you get the picture.  My stomach did a flip, and I’m pretty solid.  An opening scene shows a middle eastern child (maybe 11 years old), rushing to defend his father from a robot, is blown up in close-up. I know that they took blood spatter out to get this rating, but it is NOT deserved. I will not be allowing my children to see this film.  It is violent at its core.  For further parental advisory, there is moderate bad language for the rating and an intimate scene when Alex Murphy takes his wife’s shirt off.  She is wearing a bra the whole time. 

You and I are bound to be friends if, when I say, "Sunday night," you immediately envision gorgeous Edwardian era gowns, chandeliers, valets and footmen.  Even with the Olympics at stake, Downton takes precedence.  Did you watch last night? I mean, seriously, what is Rose going to do next? And could you BELIEVE that Edith almost went through with it?!  And come on - as if we can't see what's going to happen with Mary. 



I desperately need someone with whom to discuss, gasp, giggle and conjecture.  And share favorite Dowager Duchess quotes!

I was recently asked to be a Downton "expert" guest host on my husband's popular podcast, The Shrink Show, when they covered "The Psychology of Downton Abbey." (click link for show). We covered everything from the time period, to appeal of the show - including the touchy feminism topic.  I was humiliated after recording to realize a huge flub on my part, when one of the show's hosts got me confused about a character name.  How embarrassing!
One thing I claimed on the podcast was that among the biggest draws of watching are the opulent visuals.  The costuming, the Abbey (Highclere Castle, if we're being accurate), the hair - ooo la la! Eye candy! Admit it - part of the reason we love to watch is to see what Lady Mary is going to wear to dinner! Ralph Lauren himself was so inspired that his Fall 2012 line was introduced to the Downton theme music. And since my youngest tells everyone that I'm a "Designer," I'll admit I'm in the process of trying to figure out how to achieve Downton inspired Easter Dresses for my girls this year.  I sure wish they'd show more children.


Once we're all sitting around in our Edwardian attire, we realize how pedestrian our surroundings are, eh? At the House of Antique Hardware Blog, they've come up with a Downton Abbey collection to bring the decadent decor home.  I love this line from the blog; "hardware is like jewelry for the home," which, if it's true, no one knows jewelry like Downton! 

Now, typically, my decorating style is decidedly not Highclere worthy, but so many of these pieces are charming!  I'm looking around my house wondering where in the world I could possibly put a chandelier.  Just a few episodes makes it pretty clear that everyone needs a chandelier, right? And a white tie.


















What does it say about me that I think the downstairs collection fits best in my house?  And how cool is that bell?

So, who wants to join my Downton club? We can hang a chandelier.













*This is a sponsored post, but all opinions expressed are my own.