Monday, January 30, 2012

I am still Enamored with Kristen

As I knew it would be, 2012 is starting out to be a huge year for Kristen.  So many good things are happening for her.  I don't know how the life of such a famous person is supposed to evolve, but it seems to be going well.   Three big movies, with awards a strong possibility on one of them.   I have learned that the fragrance endorsement is a big deal.  If you have read this blog, you know that I have never really followed a celebrity before.   She is the only one that's ever compelled me to say, "I am a huge fan." Her reluctance to fame, the awkwardness, the not really seeming like she belongs in that world, despite her effortless beauty and magical rare talent -- these were things that drew me to Kristen.   She has gotten more comfortable with the fame, yet she still maintains an integrity that few in Hollywood posses.

The absence of updates here may lead some to think I don't care anymore.  I don't blame anyone for drawing that conclusion.   I do care.  But the reason I started this blog was to make sense of the spell she had suddenly put me under a couple of years ago.  It's no longer a sense of "why do I care about this girl and all that surrounds her.  Why I am into this topic whose followers are 99% female." I have accepted that my interest in her is a bit unusual.   I also used to really get angry with those that criticized Kristen.  That doesn't happen anymore and other people are doing a fine job of defending her honor when needed.  I've developed other topics that interest me greatly.  These are interest more in line with what you would expect a guy like me to be into.    Honestly, isn't the fact that I am a guy what made most of you read this blog?   

I had also gotten caught up in what was happening with her and Robert.  She was never going to be my girlfriend so its nice to see her with such a seemingly good guy.   Interest in that topic always led to guilty feelings because we know how she feels about that topic being discussed.   It's that desire for the real life story to not be the story that made it so real and appealing.   That topic will affect anyone with a pulse if they sit down and look at the pictures that tell the story behind the story.   I know she hates this discussion so I'll limit it one paragraph.   The good news is that story will continue even as interest in it wanes down.  I hope so much for their sake that the interest does die out.  But, there is a definite feeling of permanence there.   This last promotion tour and the interviews in which she discussed the parallels in her life -- it's almost like Twilight was her high school and that wedding was hers.   I am certainly not the only one that got that impression after hearing her discuss it.  But the key was the promotion allowed them to dangle around the edges of reality without ever coming out and saying it.   I don't think about this topic anymore but I also don't think it's going to change and thats pretty cool.   Ok paragraph over.  I'll feel guilty for a day for writing it.

My newest interest has given me something in common with Rob.  And it wasn't planned at all.  I became an Arsenal FC fan over the past year.   Then I learned a couple months ago, thanks to readers of this blog, that Rob is a life long Arsenal supporter.   Fox Soccer has made the English Premiere League one the most
 growing sports watched in the USA.   Its even being broadcast live on the big Fox network these days.   I am sure Rob is glad that he doesn't have to miss a single Arsenal match.  I would love to see the two of them at at a game.   I hope a reporter asks Kristen if she is an Arsenal fan.   I am sure she sees it on her TV often enough.

So I am still a huge Kristen fan, it just wasn't sustainable for me to keep blogging about it.  This isn't my last entry, but the updates will be sporadic.   I look forward to that day, which will come, when Kristen thanks the Academy.  It will be even better if she drops the little statue.

Monday, November 21, 2011

What stood out for me in Breaking Dawn, part I

I have been wondering if this blog even exist anymore.  I have let it slide for so long now.  I don't follow daily events anymore.  A couple of times each week, I try to absorb everything.  Recently there has been allot going on and I have probably missed a few things.  I think I saw most of the magazine pictures of Kristen.  Those are always a treat.  She is good at doing this, especially since she pretends to be playing out a scene when doing them.  Anytime Kristen wants to pretend to be a naughty girl, I am all in.

Snow White will be a huge hit next summer.  I have never watched a trailer so many times.  Kristen can be in any movie she wants to be in. She is that good.
I was annoyed at the extreme reactions on Twitter about Kristen possibly being in Akira.  I knew nothing of the story until I saw these strong reactions.
I now know why so many of you don't want her to be in it.   Some of the reasons are valid points.  Others are not.  If she decides to do it, then I trust her judgement that it's exactly what she should do.   She doesn't take these decisions lightly or without sufficient information.

I saw Breaking Dawn Part I last night.  She was good, her best performance by far in the series  I expected this because i knew Bill Condon would give her the freedom to excel.   What I didn't expect is what I saw from Rob.  I have never been critical of his acting, but I haven't exactly praised him, either.   He was exceptional in this movie.   

The way that Edward begged for Bella's life at the end was the most powerful acting I have seen from Robert Pattinson. It affected me in the theater. 
He was very good, but I doubt he will get the credit he deserves because this is a Twilight movie.   Last night I read the Bill Condon interview (thanks @yashi0487) in which he said "It was like he was hooking into what it would feel like to lose Kristen."

My brother liked this movie.  He is just a normal guy taking his wife and kids to the movie. The honeymoon was a tad bit uncomfortable for him with my 12 year old niece present.  He looks forward to the finish but doesn't see the sense in making us wait that long.  I agree with him.

This increased openness (between R/K) was probably unavoidable with this movie.
After Kristen's accidental confession, I feel I was correct with my speculation last December that she wishes the debate "are they, aren't they" would just end because their actions had been enough and she was annoyed that some people didn't get it and wanted a verbal confirmation despite what they had allowed to slip.  "Come on, people, it's so obvious" she told British GQ.

With the promotion for this movie, they have made its even more obvious, but they still want people to focus on the work.   When your work has many scenes that hit so close to home, how can you not let out a little bit?

Kristen said she understands the interest in her personal life.  Still, something real, her life and his life, shouldn't be used for profit.  It will be, but don't expect those two to contribute any sound bites to that topic.   I think they do not mind being referred to as a couple.  Many people have outed them.  People close to the situation, like directors.  Kristen or Rob have not rebuffed any of these people for doing this.  If it had bothered them, a message to STFU would have been sent, but this hasn't happened.

This movie and its promotion does allot of blurring of fiction and reality.  Maybe ten years from now, they might tell us what it was like to fall in love during this process.  But not now.

Thursday, October 6, 2011

My take on the GQ interview

A new chapter is starting in Kristen's life.  This interview & photo spread is a marker in several ways.  I say this not because she let her guard down (more about that in a minute.) This interview was geared towards an audience who hasn't been too concerned with her career up to this point.   Her appearance in GQ can be viewed as when Kristen entered into the collective psyche of men fascinated by beautiful women.   This a bit of an exaggeration, but the event is significant.   She has steadily been gaining more admirers and this appearance is an acknowledgement that she is here now and aren't we glad to get a look at her.

I have always been an anomaly in that she got my attention 18 months ago.  She captured my attention in Twilight, but as with many other guys (including Rob), she sealed herself into my consciousness with her performance in "Into the Wild."   

Before I go into my analysis of the interview and the inevitable reactions, I want to comment on the pictures.  Never worked out before, huh? Until now.  She looks ripped.  Look at her arms.  Clearly Kristen has been getting lots of protein, sleep, and exercise.  She says it gives her more energy too.  Even if she doesn't keep this up, Kristen will continue to look amazing.  But she has added a new dimension to her visual appeal.

A small part of me is concerned that she regrets this little slip.  But I also think she knew this would happen eventually and she acknowledged that the effort in hiding was bothering her a bit.

I thought the interviewer did a good job.  He appears to have connected with her and seems to get what is and isn't important to Kristen.  He also seems to understand that she is a rare bird that some inflexible observers can't understand because she does not fit into the box labeled "21 year old female movie star."   Understandably he wasn't aware (in advance) the level of interest there would be in what he prompted her to reveal.  She made him aware and if she was pissed at first, she got over it quickly.  Most  people aren't up to speed on the intricacies and the intensity of the Twilight fandom and the level of obsession over her personal life.   Kristen's estimation of Nonsten at 50% is way too high.  I think the lunatic fringe is more like 15 to 20% but they make so much more noise.

What Kristen has been saying all along is still true.  Her personal life being made into news/entertainment is a pet peeve to her  Future interviewers are going to make the mistake of assuming that since the bottle was opened, that they can now ask her to compare/contrast Rob and Kristen to Edward and Bella.  I anticipate some awkward moments in the near future.

There will also be some people not so invested in Twilight who will not react positively to this interview.  Short sighted people think everyone is the same and that we all value a life at the center of attention.

I was shown this tweet last night.

"Just read the Kristen Stewart interview with GQ...I have never heard of a movie star complain so much about being successful".

 I am sure there are much harsher comments than this.  I don't want to see those comments if possible.

There is offering complaints and there is responding to questions.  I think Kristen has handled the fact that she never wanted this kind of fame very well.  She deals with a level of fame far beyond most celebrities.    The critics that say Kristen is ungrateful view the world with narrow glasses and they don't get that not everyone values the same things.  There allot of actors making a very good living who can go out everyday and live a pretty normal existence.

There were no complaints from her in that interview.  She is honest about the reality of the life she lives.   No one knew Twilight would make her one the most famous persons in the world.   She was honest about the adjustments she had to make.  She refuses to "play the game."  To those that can't see the value in her honesty and desire not to conform to the boxes... Well, I feel sorry for these people.   She raves about how much she loves the work she is doing.   She admits to being uncomfortable in interviews.  So what? These are things I love about her.

Kristen might be one the most famous introverts ever.  That personality trait is another reason I am drawn to her.  Most people draw energy from people and love being talked about.  That is why extroverts always want to be around lots of people.    For the introvert, energy is recharged when getting time off the radar with just yourself or very small groups.

Kristen is someone who hasn't gotten her ideal deck of cards. But I didn't hear one complaint in that interview. She has learned to accept things as they are.  It's her explanations, when read by someone who thinks all people want & value the same lifestyle, that the narrow minded will interpret as "complaints.".

I have probably speculated too much on this blog on what is going on in Kristen's head.  Usually after one of those speculations, I'll end up worrying that I could be WAY wrong.   But I alway state that it is just a speculation/opinion.   Then I decided to avoid talking about her personal life, though my opinions are on record.   I know that if I ever spoke to her and asked her if there was anything that bothered her about the blog, she would probably ask me to lay off the personal stuff.

As for what finally was verbally confirmed: it makes mr feel less guilty about a post I did last December in which I speculated heavily on what I think she thinks.  She sorta confirmed those speculations in GQ.  That post was titled "The existence of Nonsten at this point is absurd."  It had the most readers out of all of my posts.  

Saturday, October 1, 2011

It's October & Kristen returns soon

There have been several good photos of Kristen since she has been in the UK. Not that this is a departure from when she is in California. She is one the most photographed persons in the world. She also likely holds a record as the person who avoids the most attempts at being photographed.

I've said this so many times as it continues to be true. Kristen seems to get prettier as she gets older. The foundation of a beautiful woman was there several years ago. But she has never placed much importance in just looking good. She was a working teenager who was brought up around brothers and the casual nature of California based parents, who I think had been part of the tail end of the counter culture movement. So she was less feminine when younger. That seems to be changing now. Girls with a tomboyish background usually turn into very easy going women. She seems to have every quality that fellows like myself would want in a companion. She has great domestic qualities & she can stun you with beauty without even trying. I'm sure she has a good bitchy side to her as well. That's necessary to keep a balance. If/when she gets assertive or demanding, I suspect she has enough credits to get her point across.

The pictures from the Snow White set, though while probably not authorized, are doing no harm to that production. The going to war pics will satisfy those that see Kristen as a Girl Empowerment symbol. The dress pics, revealing that perfect skin & some cleavage, will go into her growing collection of Sex symbol images. I keep that collection.

I apologize for not blogging more frequently. Though I am done making excuses. It was necessary for me to get away from the day to day. When it's not Kristen herself making the news, but rather others acting out because Kristen hasn't made news (or the kind of news they want, which usually involves her boyfriend) then I'll pass. I can catch up on everything I need to know in less than half an hour per week.

I appreciate those of you who accept that this blog is going to be random. That is how it started. I tried a weekly update for awhile and that lead to me becoming exposed to the negative side of this. If there was no one else taking on that loud contingent of deranged liars, then I would have to get dirty myself. Fortunately all the BS is challenged by competent bloggers who are well suited to it. So I just enjoy what I like to see.

It seems odd the last movie she was in that we have seen was Eclipse, which wrapped filming over two years ago. Now in the next six months, we get three movies. All of them BFDs. Plus lots of press. It will have been worth the wait.

Kristen has been in the UK at the perfect time of year. Its still warm and the Premier League just started. Charlize Theron is a known Chelsea fan. I also remember seeing an interview with RP when he said who his favorite English football club is. Does anyone remember what club that is? Let me know if you do. So I have been curious if Kristen has attended any matches. I plan to make my first trip over there in the spring. I'll do the typical tourist stuff but the real reason I am going is for the sport.

Take care

Dan



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Kristen in W


I had responded to one of the comments on my last post when "DG" asked me what i thought about the W photo-shoot. I had been a little hesitant to express my opinion on those pictures because I wasn't all excited. I said, in that comment a couple of weeks ago, that she was pretty but there are everyday natural pictures I liked more. And It didn't seem like the real Kristen. The way she looks when doing premieres and award shows is when we see how she can look if she wants. Everyday pictures in jeans (or spandex...lol) has always been enough to get my attention. So I just didn't think such a spread was necessary.

I had expressed this opinion to @nycrk1 and though she didn't say so, I could tell she wasn't thrilled at my reaction. And I can't blame her. There was so much hate going on when those pictures were posted. Hate that reached a new low with people hiding bundles of the magazine. That action reveals a deep jealousy based, truly crazed hatred. All that negative was happening and a guy you should be able to count on to be supportive wasn't being so. Once I started to reverse my opinion, then @nycrk1 explained to me just how big of deal those pictures are. I didn't understand the concept behind them until she told me but I kept seeing the pictures in random places. I am allowed to change my opinion, right? My first reaction doesn't always stick.

My initial reaction was: glad she is enjoying the success and prestige that goes with that kind of thing but the pictures..... What shaped this initial reaction more than anything else was my lack respect for that industry, especially the advertising. The way Madison Ave creates an image they call success, beauty, and happiness -- this has always annoyed me. They define happiness and they must invest heavily into anti-depressants because few can achieve their definitions. OK, that's an exaggeration but you see my point. The 124 pages of ads before the table of contents reinforced my ill opinion of that industry.

I actually saw the magazine while waiting to get a haircut. And that cover blew me away. Even though I had seen the pictures online, seeing the cover stunned me into a daze. The chic ready to cut my hair had a hard time getting my attention. If Kristen was portraying a 1960s French model or whatever, she gave that image a real boost. No one does facial expressions like Kristen. It was her facial expression that initially put me under her spell. These pouty, sex on the brain, expressions are very convincing. Now whenever I see the pics, I think, damn those are the sexiest pictures she has ever done and probably amongst the sexiest pictures I have seen and they barely revealed any skin.

So I apologize for my initial reaction & glad I didn't say much about it until now.

I don't have any other Kristen topics to discuss right now. She is working and I doubt she is as relaxed as she was when doing Breaking Dawn. I am still paying much less attention than I used to. For one, I have to avoid current stories/gossip because that content ALWAYS leads to something negative. I'll read the heavily moderated sites only. But even that type of content takes time that I no longer have.

The English Premiere League is taking all the time I have for entertainment these days. If you are from the UK and/or follow a club Soccer then you might check out my new blog First Impressions. I seriously doubt more than a few people that read this blog will care for it.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Post Comic Con Thoughts

I have been paying much less attention lately.  In part because of work.  In part because of some new time consuming hobbies (FiFa11 on the Xbox 360, a new book series.) Even if the NFL season didn't happen, I now really enjoy what the rest the world calls "football" just as much & my TV stays glued to The Fox Soccer Channel.  Hey, at least it's not FoxNews.   I'll mention the main reason for my recent avoidance in a moment.

I am trying to limit this blog to discussions about Kristen only  If you have read my past entries, you already know why.   You know we have new standard when it comes to male haircuts.  So I took a hair razor (with the setting on #2) and commenced to emulating a certain someone's boyfriend's haircut.  I thought for certain I would have women crawling all over me but it just hasn't worked out that way.   Darn my luck.  Lol.

I liked everything I saw of Kristen for both of  her days at Comic Con.
She has gotten really good at this media thing.  And she is still doing it her way.  What you see is what she is. There is very little, if anything that is rehearsed.  It all comes from the heart.   She seems abundantly happy and hasn't had to budge on her principles in dealing with the public & media.

Breaking Dawn is looking like it will be pretty good.  It's hard to remain interested in that story for so long.  All that remains is to see what this group did between last Fall through the Spring.  Hearing Kristen talk about it reinvigorates that interest.   Another director now gushes over her talent, intuition, dedication, and technical skill in the film making process.

For Snow White and the Huntsman: if there is one aspect I don't think belongs it would be the title because of preconceptions many of us, including Kristen, have when hearing that name.   This movie looks way more like "Game of Thrones," the book series consuming much of my free time lately, than anything close to Snow White.  These preconceptions are actually misconceptions.   I looked up Snow White on Wikipedia.  This type of movie can fit into that old fairy tale.   I know Kristen will do well.  And if Universal does a good job, we will have new perceptions about Snow White.

I enjoyed how Charlize promoted the movie with her "bring it bitch" line at Comic Con.  I like Charlize and I think she and Kristen will enjoy working together as long as they aren't "method acting." I have formed no opinions yet on the others involved.   I think this has a chance of stealing allot of seats away from some other huge movies next Summer. 

One part of ComicCon that  I really enjoyed: there were a few girls there that recorded the whole SWATH panel discussion, yet some of those cameras never left Kristen even while she was silent for several minutes.    Kristen seemed to sense this.  These girls with video recorders had probably stood in line for at least a day to be sitting in that hall and they LOVE Kristen.  On two occasions, I saw her look directly at a girl with a camera and give this sweet little smile and wave.  That moment probably made the year for those girls.  And I think Kristen knows this.   This was the right venue to connect with fans. Kristen understands how these young girls (and some older) idolize her & she made a point to make them feel good.  I was very impressed with her.  Again.

So I have been keeping my head buried in the sand lately because of the never ending drama.  Getting angry can sometimes serve a purpose if it drives us into action.  At the same time, I don't to need to experience negative vibrations all the time.  I can't relate to why people hate on this girl.  So when I see it first hand, my tendency is to fight it.  When I do fight it, nothing changes except now we have haters and an angry Dan.

When the negative affects me, its nobody's fault but mine.  I was the one dumb enough to read GossipCop's account of the SWATH panel at Comic Con.  Correction, not the article, but the comment section.  I thought it would be safe as it wasn't about her personal life.  After wasting two hours arguing with people who will always jump at every chance to hate on Kristen, I kinda stopped paying attention.

Hello Xbox.   I am very grateful for the new BWAN blog.  Let the pros fight that battle, though I would help them or others if asked. 


I am not totally out of the loop.  If something happens that I would want to know about, then I am told, thanks to @nycrk1

As for the name change of this blog: it was past time to do it.  I never would have used the 'O' word had I known what this fandom was like.  I knew very little when I started this blog in May, 2010.   I never was obsessed.  I watch from afar and it's a very small part of my life.  I thought it was funny (to use that word) before I realized that the clinical definition is applicable to some.  I am still Enamored and fascinated with Kristen and I probably will be for for awhile.  She is one of a kind.

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Busy Summer. And a contradiction among some fans

I apologize for not updating (AGAIN)! Whenever I don't really have anything to say and I force a post, it's usually not that fun of a read. The posts that people enjoy are always spur of the moment reactions (to attacks on Kristen) that take very little time to write. This isn't one of those.

I have been busy but this week i am on vacation so my list of excuses is limited.

Kristen is one busy little bee. She is doing all sorts of physical stuff to get ready for this action movie, Snow White and the Huntsmen. It's a new experience for her and you know she is a perfectionist. Plus, though she isn't officially part of K11, I am guessing she is very involved. Who knows if she is actually going to be in that film but I suspect she is helping her mother quiet a bit.

I definitely had some preconceptions about Snow White and it didn't seem like a "Kristeny" type of selection. Yes, I am stealing that term from Michael Welch. I felt pretty certain she wouldn't play a damsel in distress. Unless that damsel fights back. I have read a few articles that say this movie is going to be very Kristenified. She is a gem and decision makers in Hollywood know that she is capable of delivering a great performance. I think she must be very excited about this. She has said more than once, that when it comes to selecting roles, the criteria is that it must make her feel as if she can't imagine the movie being made without her. Not as if others can't do the job, but she has to want it that bad, else it isn't worthwhile. So I have faith that this movie will be good. She is already working on it.

Yes I really enjoyed the spandex. I usually have a bit more restraint, especially to paparazzi shots, but when I saw those pics, my impulsive side got the best of me. I hardly ever tweet, yet I have tweeted about Kristen's butt a few times. I have always had a weakness for a pretty face. Combined with nice posterior and I am goner. I used to do Yoga at a beginners level.
It was always a challenge to get through those sessions if the girl in front of me had a nice backside. I would have to move to the front so I couldn't see anyone, else risk embarrassment.

I don't know if Kristen was actually doing Yoga, but whatever it is --- you take an already hot body and start doing Yoga or weight training --- things get even rounder and firmer. There is a lucky guy out there somewhere who also has the same level of appreciation for this best part of the female form

Change of Topic: And this is probably the real reason I haven't posted in awhile. I knew I would have to speak my mind. Some people might take offense. I have been biting my tongue for awhile. Please keep in mind that no one is being singled out. For the most part, this doesn't happen by those I follow on Twitter. But a Twitter search "Rob Kristen" shows all sorts of whining.

Waiting/Expecting/demanding a picture is wrong. I don't wish to judge people. And I know seeing their smiling faces is a potent mood elevator. Being dependent on this vicarious experience just isn't healthy. Plus, how can you want something you know they don't want

If a picture of Kristen with Robert happens, thats one thing. There is still the debate of creating a market for paparazzi. But in this case, I am referring to the unhealthy need for such pictures.

I said I will not discuss her personal life any more (though my opinions have not changed.) I am breaking that because some fan behavior is contradictory to wishing happiness for them. Kristen has said for a long time now that she didn't want to share this part of her life. Robert has said the same. So when they get to spend time together without being seen -- that is exactly what they want. As fans we should be happy they are getting what they want. What makes the two so appealing that even a few guys think what they have is really cool? A huge part of it is the anti-famewhore mentality. This distinguishes them and demonstrates that what they have is genuine. They want to see each other without being seen. What we saw on their last two public outings should have been more than enough reassurance and we aren't entitled to any. Hoping for a paparazzi shot "just so we can see how happy they are" is just wrong. The need for reassurance is annoying and unhealthy.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad