Beyoncé Heat: Catch the Fever

If you're in NYC's Union Square on Tuesday night, and start to think you're in a scene out of True Blood, don't be alarmed. The fiery red lights and creeping fog are to promote Beyoncé's perfume, Heat. The illumination is billed as "a steamy, sexy aura that embodies Beyoncé’s unique appeal."

Catch the lady herself at Macy's Herald Square at 5 pm on Wednesday, February 3. Be one of the first to purchase her 3-piece fragrance scent and you'll get to take a photo with Beyoncé!

Beyoncé Heat is a combo of red vanilla orchid, magnolia, neroli and blush peach, honeysuckle nectar, almond macaroon and creme de musk with base notes of giant sequoia milkwood, tonka bean and amber. Can't wait to catch a sniff!

Ski Vacation Day 7: Whistler

It would be a blast to attend the Olympic Games 2010 in Whistler.  We've been to the summer games and our advice is to be patient with the large crowds.  We loved the international cross section of people, meeting the athletes as they wondered around the grounds, and most of all the excitement of the competition. 

We heard there are still rooms available in Whistler during the games and while not a bargain, it would be worth the experience of seeing Lindsey Vonn in the giant slalom and Shaun White in the halfpipe.  Don't forget your skis and boards because 90% of the mountain will be available for public use!

A good bet for great accomodations would be the Fairmont Chateau Whistler (pictured above).  It's located at the base of Blackcomb Mountain and has coveted ski-in/ski-out access.  Our dream room would have mountain views and a cozy fireplace like this one:

Anyone have plans on going to the Games?  We'd love to hear about your experience!

23:45 - The Mist

(review)

Help a brutha out!

Friend o' Final Girl Spazmo left the following inquiry on a post recently:

Ok, the episode (I think it was a horror anthology series, possibly from ten or fifteen years ago) features a woman in a boarding house, her "daughter", and a male tenant. The young girl, whose face is covered by a China doll's porcelain mask, is perhaps a homicidal killer. Or an evil doll.

Anyway, at the end, the man confronts the girl/doll and a crack appears in her mask revealing a section of disgustingly mottled human tissue underneath. The mother saves(?) the man from the thing's murderous wrath and explains that her daughter preferred to be looked upon as a perfect doll, instead of a hideous freak, hence the mask, etc, etc, and then that's the end.

If you've seen this, please let me know what the hell it is and where it's from. Someone once suggested it might be an old Goosebumps episode, but this was creepy as hell and really not kiddie fare. I've wanted to prove this exists outside my imagination so bad for so long; and keyword searching the IMDB has gotten me absolutely nowhere :(

This sounds oh so familiar I'm pretty sure I've seen it, and yet I can't place it. Tales from the Darkside, maybe? Putcher thinking cap on and leave your guesses in the comments! Let's all help put Spazmo's mind at ease, because we all at Final Girl care...and this is the kind of thing that can totally drive a person nutso- trust me. There was one time way back before The Internet when I could not for the life of me remember the name of the sister on Good Times. Why I was trying to remember in the first place, I have no idea; the point is, the question became the bane of my existence. Finally, a couple of days after the subject first came up, I woke up in the middle of the night, going "Thelma! It was Thelma!". My brain could finally rest.

I'd hate to see that kind of torture happen to someone again, wouldn't you?

Fela! Review

I went in to Fela! with high expectations.  When I mentioned on my Facebook status update and on twitter that I was headed to the show, numerous people responded enthusiastically that they loved it, had told friends about it, that it was AMAZING. I've also heard Fela! is popular with celebs--Jay-Z and Jada Pinkett and Will Smith are all producers. One Facebook friend said she saw Gayle King, Alan Rickman and Spike Lee in the audience. We spotted Denzel Washington one row behind us.

Fela! is more of a interactive, multimedia experience than a traditional Broadway musical. The entire theater is set to look like a club with lights strewn all about and patrons are encouraged to take cocktails to their seats. The actors dance through the aisles and part of the stage extends into the seats (We were lucky enough to be seated right next to this catwalk.). There's a portrait that moves (think Harry Potter) and film clips and subtitles are shown throughout the show; at times it was hard to know where to focus my attention with so much going on.

The dancing and athleticism is BEYOND. It's truly a delight to watch Fela's "queens" who represent his 27(!) wives shake their booties and shimmy their hips. Each woman has her own body type (athletic and short, tall and skinny) and it's a pleasure to watch them move. The guys are just as sexy, with six packs to spare and one gent shows off impressive lung power by singing while hanging upside down from a ladder. My hubby and I both felt inspired to get our butts to the gym--guess that's why Crunch gym created the Fela! class.

The music, the majority of which is Fela's own, is impossible to sit still to. In fact, Fela gives a dance lesson to the audience and you're also invited to sing a long at parts. While I enjoyed this, I couldn't help but wonder how this went over on the older members of the audience.

My big gripe with Fela is that the story barely scrapes the surface. Fela Kuti was a Nigerian musical revolutionary. (I don't want to even get into telling his story because I'm sure I won't do it justice. Read the New York Time's recap of his life.) For example, when Fela asks a group of several women to marry him, they initially scoff, then form a huddle, then say yes after taking less time than Drew Brees to call a play. The time line was hard to follow with flashbacks and dream sequences. I know I wasn't the only one to feel this way; a woman behind me asked after the end of Act I why there was no curtain call. The play has two acts.

In the end, I guess the spirit of Fela is more important than the details and this show has personality, energy and passion in spades.

Viscera winners announced

Check it, y'all:

The Viscera Film Festival, a horror Film Festival that presents women created horror films from all over the world has announced the 2009-2010 officially selected Viscera films. Viscera judges Heidi Martinuzzi, Devi Snively, Elisabeth Fies, Stacie Ponder, and Shannon Lark are proud to present the following:

Barbee Butcher by Sophie Lagues

Beautiful As You Are by Doug Mallette and Mary Katherine Sisco

Hollywood Skin by Maude Michaud

I Spit on Eli Roth by Devi Snively

Mary Jane Go Round by Ginnetta Correli (Viscera Award Winner)

Mockingbird by Marichelle Daywalt

Salome's Picnic by Victoria Waghorn

Switch by Melanie Light

The selected films are placed on a compilation DVD which is viewed by Viscera's Sponsors, who are journalists, websites, artists, and affiliated Film Festivals for potential reviews/screenings around the world. The Viscera Film Festival will have its first screening in the Spring of 2010 (date TBA) in Los Angeles, celebrating Viscera's 2009, 2008, and 2007's selections, accompanied with an award ceremony.

Each selected filmmaker will receive a Viscera Statue and filmmaker Ginnetta Correli will receive the 2009-2010 Viscera Award for her film "Mary Jane Go Round." The Viscera Award is a monetary award suited specifically for women coming together exclusively or creating films on their own instead of participating in cat fights and talking about hairspray.

Hooray, I was a judge! This fulfilled one of my lifelong dreams, dating back to Wapner of yesteryear. It was everything I'd hoped it would be...in other words, Liz, Heidi, Devi, Shannon, and I sat around looking like this:

...watching short horror films. Then we had a pillow fight and talked about Brown vs. Board of Education.

Anyway, the Viscera 2008-2009 DVD should be available soon, which means you'll be able to watch my short film Taste of Flesh, Taste of Fear on your very own television! With your very own eyes! Please, try to contain yourself.

I can't believe there's a "Slutty Sexy Judge" Halloween costume.

Ski Vacation Day 6: Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Jackson Hole is one of the most rustic, hard core resorts out West.  Why would that make a good place for a girls' trip?  Well, for the same reason we go to steakhouses, that's where the boys are!  To sweeten the deal, there are a handful of luxury resorts where you can stay.  We also included some free airfare deals!

The Amangani resort (above) may be the finest.  The secluded resort offers gorgeous furnishings, views, a restaurant, a heated pool and hot tubs, and a spa.  The Amangani will transport you to Teton Village and their Amangani ski lounge, which is your launch pad for a great day of skiing at Jackson Hole.

This guest room has floor to ceiling windows and amazing views of the Tetons:

Our other pick is the Four Seasons Jackson Hole (below).  Not only do you get the quality you expect at a Four Seasons, you get possibly the best location in Jackson Hole with ski-in/ski-out access. 

Here's a spacious guest room, including a sitting room and a gas-burning fireplace:

There are some great deals on airfare to Jackson Hole. Right now, buy three tickets and get the fourth flight free. Wait until March and the deal is even better: buy two plane tickets and get two free!

23:45 - Dolly Dearest

(review)

Web Snob Links - January 29, 2010

Stiletto Jungle explores the perfect shoe wardrobe with the new Jimmy Choo 24:7 Collection.

Allie is Wired has pics from The Runaways premiere at Sundance.

Bag Bliss: Sandra Bullock teams up with Coach for Charity!

Coquette loves the new Coach Poppy jewelry line by Gossip Girl's Michelle Trachtenberg.

Tot Snob has the Fort Making Kit that is sure to be a hit in your house!

Fashion Pulse Daily checks out the fabulous fashion that was seen in NYC when Lady Gaga mania took over the city last week

Trend Alert! Laced Up Boots. I'm Not Obsessed gives you a few options to shop for.

Did Anne get a boob job last week? Find out on The Jet Set Girls.

Second City Style knows the first question asked of a celebrity at an awards show is "Who are you wearing?" in The Red Carpet: Being Your Own Sartorialist.

SheFinds rounded up the chicest all-weather winter boots--and we tracked down the pair Fergie wore to Sundance.

Shopping and Info wants the Stuart Weitzman black boots Kim Kardashian wore recently in New York City.

StyleBakery found some sweet Valentine's Day Gifts under $25

Stylehive is saying "Meow!" in response to Alexander Wang's cat eye sunglasses!

Couture Snob's belt obsession adds another one to your wardrobe.

The Beauty Stop falls for the Korres Golden Goddess Collection.

Confused about Couture? The Fashion Bomb offers a review of the season's top shows plus tips on what fashion and beauty trends you can take away.

The Shoe Goddess is in love with Valentino's whimsical interpretation of the lace trend!

eye4style knows Victoria's Secret, but she's not keeping it. Check out her hands-on review of the Miraculous Bra.

FabSugar's Grammy Iconic Style slideshow!

Beauty Snob has the answer to disappearing/melting eye shadow!
 
Wood jewelry - an organic and and beautiful element to add to your collection at Jewel Snob

Tarina Tarantino's Jet Set Playlist

We were so intrigued when Tarina Tarantino told us she had a "Jet Set Playlist" (Love the name!), we had to find out what's on the mix. Looks like we have a lot of new tunes to download!

Come On Lets Go--Broadcast
Green Light--Cicada
Jet Society--Cordera Orchestra
Miracle (Bogdan Irkuk Remix)--Sally Shapiro
Pollution of the mind--Miss Kitten
Universal Traveler--Air
Run--Air
Silently--Blonde Redhead

The Operation--Charlotte Gainsbourg
Zap Zap--Cut Copy
Veridis Quo--Daft Punk
Walking Away--The Egg
AF607105--Charlotte Gainsbourg

The Sicilian Clan--Ennio Morricone
Pilots--Goldfrapp
Peppermint Dream--J.D King
Le Mepris "Camille"-- Georges Delerue
Sleep--The Dandy Warhols
After all this Time- -John Foxx & Harold Budd

A wee bit about...

...Daybreakers!


As I've mentioned before, I'm not one to get all goo goo over vampires- particularly the ones that are more "sexy" than "monstrous". I mean, I have zippo interest in True Blood. I'm not one to get all goo goo over Ethan Hawke, either, so why did I actually pay to see Daybreakers in a theatre?

Well, I didn't- my mom did, as she treated me during an afternoon out whilst I was home on vacation. Maybe it's because I wasn't expecting much from the film, maybe it's because I like ruminating on the "what about...?"s of horror (what about when zombies run out of people to eat? what about when vampires run out of blood? what about NOT bringing Jason back to life, so he'll stay the fuck dead?), but I was surprised to find I enjoyed it.

Yes, this is a future world in which vampirism has taken over- it spread throughout the populace like the Black Plague or Pac-Man Fever- and the world's blood supply is almost dried up. Hawke stars as Edward Dalton, a scientist charged with finding a solution to this food shortage problem; if the vampires go too long without feeding, they'll devolve from pale-but-pretty to leathery-and-scary. Quelle horreur!

Actually, the animalistic vampires featured are pretty damn scary and I wish there'd been lots more of them. I suppose, however, this isn't a people vs. scary vampires movie; rather, it's more non-jerk vampires vs. jerk vampires with a dash of scary vampires thrown in.

Overall, Daybreakers stylish and violent- and it probably takes itself a bit too seriously, but it's rather nice to see a horror movie in the multiplex that takes itself seriously at all, so I can't complain. Why, I would've been happy even if I had to pay for my own ticket!


wud up, category #8 in Operation: 101010?

awesome movie poster friday - the FILM CLUB edition!

This week is so Final Girl Film Club Week, what with our write-ups on Black Sabbath and me picking the next movie for us to love, hate, dissect, and ignore. It feels only appropriate, then, to traipse down memory lane by revisiting some Film Club choices of yore. Click ze links to read ze reviews...if you've got the guts.

The Wicker Man

I love love LOVE that there's a poster for The Wicker Man featuring Britt Ekland's naked slap dance.

Prince of Darkness

Near Dark

The Italian poster for Near Dark is so...Italian horror movie poster, if you know what I mean- and I think you do.

The Innocents

The Hand

The Burning

23:45 - Funny Games

(review)

but what about tony?

I was just poking around my hard drive (not as sexy as it sounds) and I found this Shining-related comic strip from...well, from the days when I was doin' a comic strip (also not as sexy as it sounds). It's a few years old (!!!), so it may be new to you. Yes, this is the thrift store of posts- click to embiggen!

let's do it...

...let's get WEIRD! For the next meeting of the ol' Final Girl Film Club, let's all try to wrap our minds around the 2000 film Uzumaki.

from the manga by Junji Ito

I've never seen it or read the comic it's based on, but both have long been on my list. I say it's time to make the leap from dreams to reality! From the Netflix description (yes, y'all, it's available there):

Discover Akiro Higuchi's groundbreaking film, Uzumaki (which means vortex), an aptly named masterpiece about a town gripped with fear because of the menacing march of an otherworldly force that threatens to destroy the area and turn its residents into ghastly snails. Can a young girl, Kirie (Eriko Hatsume), and her paramour, Shuichi (Fhifan), save their homes and neighbors? Or are they the next victims of the unstoppable force?

Mmm, a big helping of Japanese cinema with a side of wackadoo. I'm so excited I could puke!

The film: Uzumaki (2000)
The due date: Monday, March 1

You know the drill...link to me in your write-up, then shoot yer URL to me at stacieponder(at)gmail(dot)com.

Review: Clinique High Lengths Mascara

We didn't know a thing about the new Clinique High Lengths Mascara before we opened it, so when we pulled out the streamlined, curved, florescent green comb we were wowed. It's so high tech, it looks like it was created by those clever folks at Apple.

A mascara is more than its wand, of course. We're happy to report the High Lengths Mascara lived up to its name. The tines of the comb really allow you to coat each individual lash. It was slightly more challenging to use the wand on our left eye (we're right handed), but we think we'll get the hang of it pretty quickly. That's Annie wearing it below.

Available at Clinique.

This review was based on a free sample.

Top Beauty Trends At The SAG Awards

Yesterday, we gave you our thoughts on the SAG awards.  Here's Daily Makeover's Rachel Hayes' take on the SAG awards' top beauty trends.  Pictured above are four of the lovely actors from Nine: Marion Cotillard, Kate Hudson, Nicole Kidman and Penelope Cruz.

Daily Makeover and Jet Set Girls are affiliated through a shared network.Photo: © Michael Caulfield /WireImage

Ski Vacation Day 4: Lake Tahoe

When we lived in San Francisco, we drove up to Tahoe often.  We were fortunate to have family that graciously let us use their townhouse at Northstar when it wasn't rented.  While we skied at all the resorts around Lake Tahoe over the years, we spent the bulk of our time at Northstar and it's the place we return to when we have the chance.

We love Tahoe mostly because of the warm weather.  They get tons of snow; but the sun shines almost everyday regardless.  It's not unheard of to see guys skiing shirtless or girls in shorts.  Of course the downside of skiing in warm weather is the mash potatoes which will slow you down at the base or make traversing a catwalk painful.

When we go back, we'll stay at the Ritz-Carlton Highlands (pictured above) which opened this season at Northstar.  It has ski in/ski out access, a 17,000 sq. ft. spa, a gourmet restaurant, and (our favorite) the club level with five food services daily.

We'll fly into Oakland where you can usually get the best flights, and spend a day or so in San Francisco and Sonoma before heading up to ski.  Want to join us?

pieces of Jennifer's Body

Save for remakes and the work of Uwe Boll, few films have been as maligned as Jennifer's Body (2009). From the moment it was announced that Juno scribe Diablo Cody had written a horror film to star babe of three minutes ago Megan Fox, genre fans started frothing at the mouth. Cody was knocked, Fox was bashed, and the premise (a young woman sacrificed by a rock band seeking favor with the devil returns to life all eeeevil and stuff) was pronounced "stupid" from the get go. I'm not going to say I was looking forward to the film- I'm not particularly a fan of Cody's writing style- but the uproar smacked of a bit of elitism on the part of the horror community, as if people like Diablo Cody, Megan Fox, and director Karyn Kusama didn't have the right to play in our playground. Couple that with The Internet's proclivity for naysaying for the sake of it and Jennifer's Body was doomed before it hit screens. When the box office numbers proved to be only wee, horror fans felt validated- not that ticket sales always correlate to quality, of course, but everyone was happy that the movie failed.

Yes, I'm generalizing here, but I'm allowed.

It was released on DVD around the holidays to no fanfare...but does it deserve some? I mean, wouldn't it be kind of nice if the movie was actually worth watching and not the big, steaming pile that genre fans hoped it would be? Well? Wouldn't it? Answer me, dammit! I...

...err, yes. "Needy" (Amanda Seyfried) and Jennifer (Megan Fox) are total besties, and they have been since early grade school. Now high schoolers, they're navigating life in the town of Devil's Kettle, a cold, rural town in the Midwest. When the band Low Shoulder comes to play at the Kettle's only excuse for a bar, Jennifer drags Needy to the show. The band is just capable and just cute enough to entrance Jennifer, whose eyes are glued to the stage. Needy, however, notices that all of a sudden the bar is on fucking fire- the girls and the band make it out alive, but eight other people don't.

As the tavern burns, the band's singer (Adam Brody) cajoles a shocked Jennifer to get in his van. Despite Needy's insistence that it's a really bad idea, she climbs in. As she settles in, surrounded by a bunch of skeevy guys, there's a sort of great moment between Jennifer and Needy; the latter looks on helplessly, and there's a hint that Jennifer may have changed her mind, may have realized at the last moment that yeah- this is a really bad idea. Still, she's resigned to her fate; the door of the van closes and it drives away. Sometimes movies have those perfect moments that ring of absolute truth, and this is one. Everyone knows a girl...or maybe is a girl...who would quiet the voice of reason and climb into that van. It's the girl who would sleep with a z-grade rocker for that tiny bit of fame that would...well, rub off on her and give her a moment's escape from her shitty life in her shitty small town. I have no idea if Kusama and Cody meant that moment to be as deep as I'm saying it is- who knows, maybe it's not that deep at all- but with the specter of gang rape hanging over Jennifer's head (and the inability of Needy to prevent it), it's really the most horrifying sequence in the film.



Low Shoulder didn't abscond with Jennifer for sex, however- they're simply looking for a virgin to sacrifice in the hopes that Satan will grant them success. The wrench in the works: Jennifer's not a virgin. Surpisingly, this isn't a detriment to the band's efforts; they get the success they desired and it's Jennifer who still pays the price. She shows up at Needy's house bloodied, muddied, and ravenous. She pukes up some black liquid that seems alive, then splits to leave her best friend to wonder what's going on.

What's going on is that Jennifer now has a demon inside her. She's been transformed into a succubus, and in order to survive she must feast on the blood of men- or, at least, the male population of Devil's Kettle High.


Boys start turning up dead, Jennifer is alternately greasy & sallow and clean & squeaky, while Needy tries to figure what's going on and stop it before her boyfriend becomes a victim. As you may have guessed, this all puts a bit of a strain on the relationship between the girls.

So what's wrong here? Doesn't all the world love a good succubus story?

The downfall of Jennifer's Body is that it's not enough of any one thing; it falls squarely between genres, residing in some cinematic Negative Zone. It's not horror enough for the horror crowd, it's too horror for the comedy crowd; though it's about young people, it's a bit too mature to resonate with that demographic. Jennifer doesn't have a proper home.

Karyn Kusama bathes the world in pretty, candilicious color, perhaps in an attempt to give Jennifer's Body a fairy tale feel. While it does make the film enjoyable to watch, again- it's not enough of any one thing. Were the theatricality heightened, the story might come off like a Tim Burton film, a fable true to the folklore of the succubus. Were the horror movie aspects heightened- more gore, more violence- it would have succeeded as a monster movie.

And then, of course, there's Maude Diablo Cody. The dialogue in Jennifer's Body is much like the dialogue in Juno- people don't converse, they quip. They call each other funny names and they drop pop culture references at a lightning-fast pace. It's a conceit that ultimately does a disservice to both Cody's ability and the film itself; when everyone in the movie speaks so cleverly all the time, no real emotion ever peeks through the artifice. There are several instances during the course of the movie that are completely undermined by the jokes- instances that could have packed some sort of wallop, or maybe a scare. It's a testament to the ability of Amanda Seyfried (and yes, Megan Fox- she's actually kind of terrific in this) that we feel anything at all.

Though it's more than a bit futile to spend much time wishing a movie was this or that instead of what it actually is, sometimes you can't help it...or I can't help it, especially when it comes to Jennifer's Body. There are a few baby-sized ideas at work that, had any been developed further, would have made for a much more interesting film. In particular, I'm thinking of the relationship between Needy and Jennifer. Though seemingly a mismatched pair (Needy's a geek! Jennifer's a hottie!), the friendship between the two has survived because they just get each other.

The kiss between the girls, talked about during the film's production to drum up buzz, is a bit of sensationalism, sure...but in the context of their relationship, it makes sense. There are broad hints that Jennifer and Needy are simply in love with one another. They kiss, they hold hands, they gaze at each other from afar...Needy thinks about Jennifer while having sex with her boyfriend- granted, it's not necessarily sexual thoughts, but the point stands. Had this theme been fleshed out rather than hinted at, it would have made a stronger film. Instead, the idea withers on the vine.

Towards the end of the film, Needy lets fly the "truth" about Jennifer: that she's a terrible friend, a has-been at school, a girl pretty thanks to an eating disorder. Mind you, nothing in all the minutes that preceded that scene gave us any notion that their friendship wasn't anything but healthy- Jennifer's lousy behavior didn't start until after she was sacrificed. Again, it's a coulda been plot thread; the once-popular girl driven to great lengths to recapture her glory days would have been interesting (not to mention it would have echoed the succubus lore nicely). But alas, we're left to just take Needy's word for it.

I know all this reads as if I'm not endorsing Jennifer's Body, but I am. I watched it twice before I reviewed it (both the theatrical and extended versions), and it was a much more satisfying film the second go-round. It's not going to be everyone's cup of tea, certainly; as I said, it's decidedly a "Diablo Cody" film (if a person can be rendered a genre), and in the horror department it's rather lite. Still, I don't think it necessarily deserved the huge ass-whuppin' it got. It looks nice, it's got a bit to chew on, and really- who doesn't love a good succubus story?

That said, I'm still irritated by the song that begins the end credit sequence. If you're going to name your film after a track from Hole's Live Through This and you decide to use a track from Hole's Live Through This in said film, why the fuck would you use "Violet" instead of "Jennifer's Body"? This, it makes no sense. Just had to get that off my chest.