Emma Watson: Nerd?

Emma Watson calls herself a nerd. To me that statement alone is worthy of a post. Being a self-proclaimed nerd myself I get much delight at hearing someone so popular make education sound so cool. It's nice to know that someone millions of youth will be looking up to in the coming months has a solid head on her shoulders. While I won't go as far as to say that Watson is the British Miley Cyrus (no sold out concert tours, or hit TV show to go along with her big screen success), she certainly has the same ability to serve as a role model thanks to her role as Hermione in one of the big screen's most successful franchises.
Watson is currently shooting "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows" and will likely be a media darling this summer as Warner Brothers prepares to release "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince".
In a recent interview Watson addressed the subject of her continuing education. Having scored incredibly high marks on her examinations the star is currently choosing between schools like Cambridge, Oxford, and Harvard. Right now she claims she is leaning towards the Ivy League (I still can't believe Michigan isn't on her radar ;)

"Here, I feel the specification is very narrow, whereas in America, you're encouraged to be broad and choose many different subjects," she explains. "For someone who has missed as much school as I have, I want to go back and discover what else there is. I always loved school -- I was a proper, proper nerd. I just want that back again."

On another interesting note...Watson has been seen swapping saliva with 27 year old Jay Barrymore. Considering Emma is only 18 years old I'm a little shocked this hasn't received more play in the media. Is there a double standard here? Miley Cyrus dates a guy four years her senior and everyone and their brother is calling foul. Emma Watson goes after a man 9 years older and no one pays any attention. I know that Watson is legally an adult so the rules change a bit...but still I'd take the four year gap over the nine year one anytime.

Emma Watson: On Being Sexy

Emma Watson, best known for her role as the overachieving (that's what I use instead of nerd considering my friends tell me I fall into that same category) Hermione in the Harry Potter franchise told a British magazine that being sexy, well, isn't all that sexy.
The young star claims that during photo shoots she's constantly being prodded to change her hair cut or color, wear more revealing clothing, and look sexier. Watson's response:

"Personally, I don't actually think it’s even that sexy. What's sexy about saying, 'I’m here with my boobs out and a short skirt … have a look at everything I've got'?

"My idea of sexy is that less is more. The less you reveal the more people can wonder."

All I can say here is kudos to her. She could have folded under the pressure of being a young star (read: Lindsay Lohan, Britney and Jamie Lynn Spears) and instead has held her own. In my opinion that shows that this is one actress with longevity who should easily outlast her Harry Potter days.

I didn't quite see the "Twilight" at the end of the tunnel

***POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT***

 I know that millions of teenage girls are going to kill me for saying this. But I have to tell the truth. "Twilight" just didn't do it for me.  Maybe it was the two hour wait for a seat, or maybe it was the fact that I haven't read the book, but when all was said and done I could not have been more disappointed. 

  They will teach you in any basic screenwriting class (of which I have taken) that the key to any good film rests in characterization.  You have to create some sort of character sympathy in order to engage audiences.  I felt as though unless you read the book, and already had sympathy for the characters, you were left hanging.  Bella's character was cold and unappealing, which I would have excused had a cared for Edward Cullen in the slightest. His characterization was rushed, as was the love affair between the two. And, I'm sorry, but in a movie about vampires, a love story won't carry the entire film. There needed to be more drama. One fight scene is not enough. Tension usually is a thread used to hold a film together, here it was a dangling line to which the movie was barely holding on. 

  I wanted to know more about the family.  Kellen Lutz and Peter Facinelli anchored a well cast Cullen clan, but they were underused. The film tried also to establish relationships between Bella and the Fork's High School clan, but besides some scenes invented to instigate some awkward teenage sympathy, they became more of a nuisance than an aid to the plot. 

  I am glad that the film has found a niche in the teen audience. Not since the late 90's, early 2000's has there been a truly successful love story aimed at that market (think back to the good ole days: "10 Things I Hate About You", "She's All That", "Cruel Intentions".)  

  A guest on "Table Talk" attempted to compare "Twilight" with the "Harry Potter" series. She thought that "Twilight" would find as much, or more, success.  The problem is that with the "Harry Potter" franchise, people who weren't fans of the book, or who didn't read it, can still enjoy the films.  With "Twilight" I fear that non-book fans won't find the film nearly as amusing. The good news is that if the creators decide to make the second and third novels into motion pictures, then they'll have two other chances to get it right. 

Damn Daniel!

Little Harry Potter must have a little magic in his wand.  Daniel Radcliffe revealed to Details that he lost his virginity at age 16...and to a much OLDER woman!  Radcliffe has already bared all to millions thanks to his role in Eqqus.  I don't think the producer's of Harry Potter had to work with their star too much on his role in the love scenes...he's a seasoned vet!