Thursday, March 18, 2010

I Popped My Runaways Ch-Ch-Ch-Cherry! [Spoiler-Free]

OMG are her pants unzipped?! The rumors were true!

For the sake of full disclosure I want to start off by saying I am not as knowledgeable when it comes to music as a lot of people I know... If we are lucky, our long-time bloggy bestie TJ might be kind enough to give us her take on The Runaways in the next couple of days (you can read her pre-movie post here), because she's amazingly up on the musical history and the characters in a way that puts me to shame. Here at Twitarded, Jenny Jerkface is our resident "all things music" chick, but since she's off at some hillbilly music function [ok the coolest music festival in the world, SXSW] with every mover-n-shaker and dirty coke taker in the indie music world and beyond, you are stuck with me [oh and I can't take credit for the "mover/shaker/dirty coke-taker" thing - I read is earlier while doing impromptu scheduling for JJ since she left the spreadsheet that she labored on for the last week in her hotel room, but I thought it was funny enough to share].

Anyhoo, last night Mr. Snarky and I met up with TJ to go see an advance screening of The Runaways (thanks to tickets compliments of Volturi Ventures)! It was a glorious spring day (even though it's technically still winter until this weekend...) and I couldn't have been more psyched about going into NYC to see this flick. I was a little bummed that it coincided with St. Patrick's Day (aka " drinker's amateur night") but since it also made it socially acceptable to be buzzed/drinky both early and in public, I can't complain (except about that chick who was puking all over the sidewalk at the end of the night... and maybe all those obnoxious drunk people on the train...).

The after-party. KStew's message to RPatts: Do you miss these me?

How I imagined the night would go: Mr. Snarky and I would take a leisurely trip into the city, pick up our advance-screening tickets at the box office, then go have a nice (albeit early) dinner somewhere cool. How it actually went down: we skittered out of the house late (as usual), got to the city at the time we were told we would be able to collect tickets (ok , maybe a little later - you know how we roll...), and instead were told that we had to go wait in line (where thankfully TJ was saving us a spot). All of the people who got their tickets through Volturi Ventures (who were awesome!) thought they were on "The List" that the not-so-nice studio people were squawking about every three minutes. And we weren't, apparently. Thanks to TJ and her mad line-spot-saving skills, we got in no problem, but there the line stretched on forever and I doubt the people at the tail end fared as well. Plus when we did finally get into the theater - not a huge space - 75% of the aisles were taped off and reserved for different publications, groups, colleges, etc. (really, Vassar? you need three rows???). We ended up sitting in the second row and getting cricks in our necks, but it was totally worth it!

Fine, so we weren't at the "premiere-premiere" - that was at a different theater elsewhere in the city, and while I was secretly hoping that some of the cast would show up at our screening, it wasn't to be. Nevertheless...


Dakota Fanning can act. For real. She's all of what - sixteen now? Fifteen? But I even liked her back in that Tom Cruise movie where most of her lines were "SCRRRRRRRRRREEEEEE!!!" (which is really saying something - she can SCREAM too and I'm not usually a big fan of screeching tykes; I know, I'm weird). Kristen Stewart (who's all of nineteen? twenty??) was great as Joan Jett, too. I think she really nailed it - I only had one "this-is-Kristen-Stewart-as-Joan-Jett-does-her-best-Bella" moment once. And that's really saying something, too. Her portrayal of Joan Jett was spot-on imho and I noted "KStew ROCKED IT!" - several times - in the illegible, chicken-scratch notes that I took during the movie (did I mention there was drinking involved?).

Bottom line: The Runaways is a great, entertaining flick (and you won't cry). It almost - almost! - makes that gawd-awful mullet-hiding wig we're going to have to live with in Eclipse worth it. I can't really speak to how accurately it depicts the actual events of the time, but it's an engrossing rock-n-roll romp! If you can peel yourself away from your New Moon dvd for a few hours this weekend (and I know some of you might not be able to...), definitely go and check it out! Oh and you WILL be singing "Cherry Bomb" if you do - trust me - I still can't get that some out of my head... I read somewhere that not being able to get a song or a lyric out of your head might be a sign of a mental disorder, and I think I am in trouble... Ch-Ch-Ch-CHERRY BOMB!

48 comments:

  1. True story:

    In 1996, my vintage, bought when it first came out "I love rock 'n roll" 45rpm single was on its way to be signed by Joan Jett herself by Mr. Myg when he wrote for an entertainment mag. The reason I couldn't go with him was because I was playing guitar in Mr. STY's band (way back in the way back) and we had a show that night. Le sigh.

    Anyhow, Mr. Myg BROKE the fucking thing on the way there. It had survived how many years? 15? And then he gave the bigger piece of it to Joan Jett to sign, and she said to him,

    "You want me to sign a BROKEN single?"

    Mr. Myg: "I just broke it. My girlfriend is going to kill me. She would be here tonight but she's playing a show."


    [the other] JJ: "She's going to be pissed."

    But she did sign it, "Dear Myg, Keep Rockin'! Love, Joan Jett."

    Because Joan Jett fucking rules, okay?

    I am so glad to hear this movie is a win. I don't know if I can get to see it this weekend, but it's definitely on our "worth a baby sitter" list. Hell, the dollar store is worth that, but anyway, hoping we get out to see it soon. Mr. Myg is all excited and I definitely owe him one or 12.

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  2. Damn, now it's stuck in my head. *sigh* I'm soooo super pissed that it won't open here until April. I freakin hate "limited release" because it will never include HERE. WTH, it's like I'm in some third world country or something, when actually I'm landlocked IN America! Great, now I'm all worked up about this - again!
    Glad it's worth seeing - when I finally do get to see it! Thanks for the review!
    At least you got to go do something cool while JJ parties it up in TX!

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  3. Not getting a song or lyric out of your head could be a sign of a mental disorder??!!??! There are constantly songs in my head that don't leave! Well, I guess that can explain my addiction with posing and acting like paparazzi with Twilight action figures.

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  4. Glad to know I won't cry! I need to see some rock'n'roll fun!!

    I don't know if we'll make it this weekend, but it's def on the list.

    Sounds like you had a good time!! And if having a song stuck in your head is the sign of a mental illness, then color me crazy!

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  5. I had decided I wanted to see this movie after I saw the clip of Kristen singing and now that you have blessed it, I will do everything in my power to get there! Thanks for the great review and I am glad you had a good time.

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  6. I can't get the song out of my head and all I've seen are the trailers...so I can relate! Aaaaand, the last time I saw dakota was also the Tom Cruise "let's hide in the basement" movie that I can't think of the title of at the moment...fuck me. Anyway, awesome review!

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  7. That has happened to me a few times- you get tickets to an screening or event like that and when you show up you find out that you have to wait in line...they always give out way more of those things than they can actually accommodate to make sure they pack the place.

    I have read a few reviews that also mentioned how good Dakota is- still can't believe she's only 15!

    Glad you liked this better than Remember Me (not to being up a sore subject or anything...)

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  8. Waiting in line for The Runaways sounds way better to me than drinking some fucking white russian food-colored green for the sake of SP's Day and wearing some plastic green leprachaun-style chapeau. But, guess I'm just bitter for all the times I forgot to wear green and got pinched on St. Patty's day growing up.

    I'm really looking forward to seeing this movie. I heart KStew. I like her twitchy, I like her awkward and stuttery, and I don't even wish it were me instead of her. I'm just so damned pleased that someone so pale and weird and big toothed can become A Thing, and (purportedly) bed RPattz. Who, let's be honest, is no Mr. Suave himself.

    Awkward weirdos unite!

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  9. OH! I forgot to say that I bow to Myg. That's a really hard first comment to follow. I love entertaining 'brushes with greatness' tales.

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  10. @Mrs.P - It was "War of the Worlds"

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  11. STY I think Joan Jett produced the film, and was there every day on set, so most likely what you saw, is what really happened. (Unless Joan edited out the extensive heavy drug use, sex.. )

    I’m so glad to hear the movie rocked. It disturbs me at times to see Dakota in lingerie but she got Cherry Bomb.... Down!! They all played their own instruments, they all really sang. I mean you can’t get any better. I give mad props to KStew and Dakota.

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  12. @italhurts it's nice to see someone else out there who is a genuine kstew supporter. i actually think she's got some serious talent and *GASP* i actually LIKE her as Bella...i know she's twitchy as hell but I dunno, I dig it and I like the Rob seems to dig it too ;)

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  13. Yay! I'm so glad this movie is good. I have been loving Dakota ever since she was Jane, then I saw her in the Tom Cruise movie - which, incidentally, is called: War of the Worlds. She's great and definitely talented.

    I'm also really happy to hear that I won't have to endure KStew doing-her-best-Bella too much.

    @STY - Are you going to wait for JJ to watch the New Moon DVD or did you adopt a temp to take her place?

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  15. YUP that was me that deleted above..way too many typos. Anyhoo....Awesome review STY! I am now more excited than ever to see it. Especially with those free tix issued from the Remember Me mishap. BUT, fuck me...The Runaways isn't playing in San Diego anywhere this weekend? WTF? I know it's supposed to be released only in select theatres, and then nation-wide the following week...but hello...SAN DIEGO isn't some ho-dung town in the middle of whoseville!
    I digress......
    xoxo J

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  16. Woohoo!!!! I am seeing it Friday night (tomorrow still for us on the west coast)!!! I am looking forward to some badass chicks rockin' it. Woot!

    @Myg--That is the best feel good story of the day. Too cool. <3

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  17. !!!!WARNING, THERE MAY BE SPOILERS AHEAD!!!!
    Hey STY, I was there! Shoot I could have met you and asked for your autograph! I took a 11 hour round trip from DC yesterday to go see to that screening, and the event in itself was a crapfest. Unfriendly staff, crappy theater... When the line starts going around the opposite corner, WTF were they waiting for, start giving out the fucking tickets!!!! Thank god the movie more than made up for it (and I met an awesome dude in the line).
    At some point, I was remembering the footage from the original Runaways, and at times I actually thought that DakotaStew sounded better (a little louder, punchier rock).
    During the whole movie I thought, man, this chick is tough! (and Bella is so not tough, Kristen's transformation is incredible, damn, the girl can act).
    I also came to the realization that I'd totally do her too (I already said numerous times that I wouldn't think twice if my path crossed Rob's).

    @italhurts Thank you! I have a massive girl crush on Kristen, and I like her twitchy and stuttery (love her in the hospital scene in twilight)but contrary to her I think I would like to be her (and do robward) which would be a HUGE improvement from my off-the-charts awkwardness. I fucking hate myself for not even trying to haul my ass up to the real premiere in NYC last night, as long as I was there.

    The movie's not perfect storywise, it doesn't give anything about Joan Jett's personal background, why she's on the road, and the other members of the band have something like 5 lines in the whole movie. But it's a perfect rock n'roll movie. Even if I saw it without the sound (what a dumb thing to do, but hey, I'm free and bored), I'd say it rocks, that's how good this Floria gal is at capturing rock on screen.

    Unrelated: I've seen NW nearly as many times as Twilight, and I find it a loss less addictive. Actually, NM made me like Twilight better. But I'll go to the dvd release party anyway. Are you expecting NM to be as good as Twilight? Do you really think you'll watch it as many times?

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  18. Ok, I just saw my own comment and realized I suck. Sorry.

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  19. @Shotgun Charlie- I think you neither spoil or suck. Sorry if your sense of self-worth rested on either of those being true.

    I think KStew and RPattz both bring an awkwardness and a realness to Bella and Edward that the books didn't have. They were fairy tale characters in the books, and as such, out of my league. But in the movie? Hell, I could almost be that girl. OK, well not so cute. Or slim-yet-curvy. Or have such meaningful eye-conversations. Or remember the phases of mitosis. OK, off by a longshot, but still it seemed more real thanks to KStutter.

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  20. @italhurts Thanks, that's nice, I just don't know why I have to write so much...

    It's strange because for me it works the other way round: when I'm reading the book, I have no trouble imagining it's me in Bella's shoes, whereas when I see the movie, it reminds me of what my chances really would have been in Forks High (i'd be the uber-dork, I think) and with Edward : zilch.
    It's weird that Rob looks so much better in movies than in 'real life', like in interviews, papz pictures, and Kristen looks better in real life than she does in movies (I don't know how but she glows)
    And don't worry, I think you'll get by just fine even if you can't remember the phases of mitosis (who can anyways?)As for the eye-conversations, wasn't that a little creepy?

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  21. and the song from the movie I can't get out of my head is "I love playing with fire"... (I ALWAYS have a song stuck in my brain.)

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  22. OK so today I am grumpy because I found out that in Australia we have to wait til....wait for it....15 July to see The Runaways and the NM dvd isn't released until some time in April - that's just not right - thank God for all those pics of pisty-Pattz today which definately lifted my mood

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  23. @VitaminR @italhurts it's not every gal who can say Joan Jett gave her significant other shit on her behalf. I am appropriately honored, believe me. And so was Mr. Myg (who is every bit the fan that I am--we have a framed photo of her hanging in our den).

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  24. I can't wait to see this. It looks like they done such a good job with it.

    @Myg - Awesome!

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  25. @Myg - So cool!! And funny that you were playing a gig with Mr. Snarky & couldn't make it to meet her yourself! I was a total fan back in the day - well, of Joan Jett and the Blackhearts (The Runaways were a little before my time/not on my tweener radar, although I do remember Suzi Quatro as "Leather Toscadero" on Happy Days) - and I roller-skated away many an hour to "I Love Rock-n-Roll" in the eighties - pretty sure I could still sing along to every word. Now I need to go to youtube and find it - lol!

    @ShotgunCharlie - sorry I missed you! we certainly would have had plenty of time to chat on that line! Agreed it was all worth it in the end but 'twas a pain in the ass at the time. I wasn't gonna let some douche with a clipboard ruin my night but it was a little touch-and-go for a few minutes there...

    : )

    @Honolulu Girl - they did show a lot of stuff, but I guess they couldn't show everything; the back-story for everything/everyone was pretty limited (and TJ mentioned some specific areas where the story was spotty, fact-wise). nevertheless, still a really enjoyable film and kstew and dakota were bad-ass!

    BTW TJ said the new Joan Jett book is really awesome (ditto for Cherie Currie's book), if anyone is interested - I think I'll check them out!

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  26. Ok Ok, I guess I'll go see it. I was a huge Joan Jett fan. I guess I was just nervous about KStew's portrayal... so as long as you say she Rocked IT, I'm going!

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  27. Just a note from the cheap seats here.

    I am very bummed I was unable to get into the city with The Snarkys on Wednesday to see the premiere. I was, um, at the accountant's. On St. Patty's Day. And my accountant is Irish. Why was he working late on SPD? I dunno. But he was drunk, so that makes up for it. He got me a refund so we can now afford tix to The Runaways.

    @italhurts: You describe KStew as "pale and weird and big toothed" and I'm here to let you know that if you're pale and big-toothed and twitchy like KStew you are the right kind of pale and big-toothed and twitchy. Her portrayal of Joan Jett makes it marginally acceptable for me to stare at her in all the wrong ways even though I could be her father, because, like, it's okay for me to fantasize about Joan Jett because she's older than me, or something. Flawless is neither beautiful nor perfect. It's a zen thing: the slight flaws make the beauty unique and perfect.

    And yes, Joan Jett gave me a ton of shit for breaking her single. One of my better fuck-ups and a moment in my personal rock history that I'll be all fanboy about forever.

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  28. Love that Mr. Myg weighed in - and ps, your comment was hilarious! I try to keep the Twitardedness under wraps in my house (probably an epic fail, honestly), but I salute you, Myg, for being so out in the open that your husband reads this. Mr. XKR would laugh me and FSE out onto the street.

    Did anyone tell JJ that both KStew and Dakota are at SXSW? If KStew is there, maybe RPattz won't be far behind :)

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  29. I knew this wasn't supposed to be a "big" movie but I still thought I would get to see it somewhere nearby this weekend and was SO disappointed to see it listed as limited release. So I 'll have to wait a little while longer. :(

    I am a HUGE music fan and I love Joan so this is a movie I would have been dying to see with or without Kstew. Like you Snarky I was more aware of Joan Jett solo than the Runaways. (I didn't even realize it was Cherie Currie that sang Cherry Bomb until I listened to the Runaways soundtrack).

    Myg that is such an AWESOME story! Love Joan giving your hubby some shit for you!

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  30. STY I can't get over the fact Dakota just TURNED 16 either! I'm so glad it was her and Kristen in this movie because I put them in the same catagory of actresses their age that actually care about the acting and not the frou-frou hollywood stuff.

    I'm not sure if this is a movie that I would see again, but the acting was undeniable. I was with BFF who is more or less clueless about things like this because she's got a RL, but she turned at one point 15 minutes in and asked me if Kristen would be hunching like that the entire movie. I had to explain that it was deliberate so Kristen was actually doing an awesome job as Joan. BTW did you also laugh hysterically when someone in the audience wailed during the guitar lesson?

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  31. Unfortunately I won't be able to see this movie, not because I don't want to. Nooooooo..... It’s because the asstards that distribute this movie have decided not to have it open at any of the theatres on Vancouver Island... none... nada... zip.... Zero...

    Yes I'm pissed! Vancouver Island has a population of over 700,000 WTF!?!

    So being the pissy I'm gonna get what I want kind a bitch that I am. I started emailing all the theatres... That’s how I found out it was up to the distributors which turns out to be this company called apparition and of course you know that I've emailed them too... We will see what happens...

    If I can get my cell phone back from Toronto’s airport security checkpoint in three days... I just might get to see this movie before it's released to DVD...

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  32. So glad you had a great time - I fricking loved the movie and can't wait to see it again already! Hope you can come into the city tonight xxx
    - Lorabell

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  33. @Alex aka Mr. Myg- Uh, I get it. KStew is fair game because Joan Jett is older than you, just like RPattz is fair game because Edward is really 109. It's a very simple logic equation that is very well understood around these parts.

    And, way to get all Edwardy about beauty and perfection and the like. Are you trying to kiss our asses here?

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  34. I plan on seeing this, but ONLY because I LOVE Joan Jett as well.

    I used to roller skate in my basement to the "I Love Rock & Roll" album when I was younger. Man I thought I was so badass whipping myself around those basement poles!

    Not a K-Stew fan, but I agree, she is more Joan Jett than Bella. I just hope she is not too lips pursed and twitchy.

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  35. @CupcakeDonna - OME I used to roller skate in my basement too!!! Wow I haven't thought about that in ages. Too funny, thanks for the flashback.

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  36. I saw Joan Jett at Asbury Park,NJ in 198-something or other. My ears are still bleeding.

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  37. Im really not excited to see this film. But since you girls said it was entertaining I'll give it a shot. I loved Rememeber Me on a deeper level. Maybe I'll like this for a different reason. Im a music buff. My father was a studio musician for Arista Records and was contracted out to play with whatever artist needed a gitaur or bass player. I was raised to appreciate every genre of music and as a result Im an opinionated bitch. Yeah... I'll give it a shot.

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  39. Totally unrelated to your post, but I have to clue you guys in to a new fic that I haven't seen pimped out here yet... "Lovers in Disguise" (http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5734662/1/Lovers_in_Disguise). It's post middle of New Moon, Edward doesn't come back and Bella does something about it. Namely, going to Volterra and asking Aro to change her. It's not done yet but it is amazing.

    Keep doing what you do, you guys are fuckawesome. :)

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  40. @italhurts I just have to let you know, in re: Mr. Myg, he's not being all Edwardy to kiss our asses. He's really like that. I know. It's why he's allowed to ogle Kstew in peace.

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  41. @Myg- Awww. I figured as much. There's no real benefit to kissing asses here, but very real benefits to being genuinely Edwardy in RL. I got me one of those "flawless-schmawless" like-minded guys too. So, sounds like we're both lucky. Mine is allowed to ogle Kate Winslet in peace.

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  42. Just saw "The Runaways" and really liked it. KStew rocked it but Dakota truly stole the show...she is amazing. @Kitty_Elvis just tweeted that she is going to burn me a copy of the soundtrack..Yay! I squeeeed when they played Iggy Pop. Woohoo! And all the Bowie was perfection.

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  43. So glad you had a great time - I fricking loved the movie and can't wait to see it again already! Hope you can come into the city tonight xxx
    - Lorabell

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  44. I knew this wasn't supposed to be a "big" movie but I still thought I would get to see it somewhere nearby this weekend and was SO disappointed to see it listed as limited release. So I 'll have to wait a little while longer. :(

    I am a HUGE music fan and I love Joan so this is a movie I would have been dying to see with or without Kstew. Like you Snarky I was more aware of Joan Jett solo than the Runaways. (I didn't even realize it was Cherie Currie that sang Cherry Bomb until I listened to the Runaways soundtrack).

    Myg that is such an AWESOME story! Love Joan giving your hubby some shit for you!

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  45. @Myg - So cool!! And funny that you were playing a gig with Mr. Snarky & couldn't make it to meet her yourself! I was a total fan back in the day - well, of Joan Jett and the Blackhearts (The Runaways were a little before my time/not on my tweener radar, although I do remember Suzi Quatro as "Leather Toscadero" on Happy Days) - and I roller-skated away many an hour to "I Love Rock-n-Roll" in the eighties - pretty sure I could still sing along to every word. Now I need to go to youtube and find it - lol!

    @ShotgunCharlie - sorry I missed you! we certainly would have had plenty of time to chat on that line! Agreed it was all worth it in the end but 'twas a pain in the ass at the time. I wasn't gonna let some douche with a clipboard ruin my night but it was a little touch-and-go for a few minutes there...

    : )

    @Honolulu Girl - they did show a lot of stuff, but I guess they couldn't show everything; the back-story for everything/everyone was pretty limited (and TJ mentioned some specific areas where the story was spotty, fact-wise). nevertheless, still a really enjoyable film and kstew and dakota were bad-ass!

    BTW TJ said the new Joan Jett book is really awesome (ditto for Cherie Currie's book), if anyone is interested - I think I'll check them out!

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  46. and the song from the movie I can't get out of my head is "I love playing with fire"... (I ALWAYS have a song stuck in my brain.)

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  47. @VitaminR @italhurts it's not every gal who can say Joan Jett gave her significant other shit on her behalf. I am appropriately honored, believe me. And so was Mr. Myg (who is every bit the fan that I am--we have a framed photo of her hanging in our den).

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  48. @Shotgun Charlie- I think you neither spoil or suck. Sorry if your sense of self-worth rested on either of those being true.

    I think KStew and RPattz both bring an awkwardness and a realness to Bella and Edward that the books didn't have. They were fairy tale characters in the books, and as such, out of my league. But in the movie? Hell, I could almost be that girl. OK, well not so cute. Or slim-yet-curvy. Or have such meaningful eye-conversations. Or remember the phases of mitosis. OK, off by a longshot, but still it seemed more real thanks to KStutter.

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