20 TyroneHerald

Monday, April 11, 2011

girls life When our reality bites

its a

WITH
GEMMA MCCALLAN

A girls eye view of living (and partying) in Tyrone

bout... odys talking a Everyb

Red Riding Hood and Snow White

came across a group on Facebook the other day entitled I Blame Disney for Our High Expectations in Men. This had me in convulsions laughing not just at the comical value of the group, but also at the candour of the statement and the potential truth within it (sorry to all you men). In keeping with the Disney films (Im a pure sucker for them and I am still traumatised that mum gave all our Disney videos away to our younger cousin); although the stories didnt completely revolve around romance, each film has a little love story in there somewhere. It usually always ended with the so-called Prince Charming slaying dragons/monsters or defeating the wicked witch/stepmother and whisking the girl next door off her feet and onto the back of a horse to a new kingdom, to live happily ever after of course. Hmm sounds like a likely story. Now, Im not complaining that the girl next door gets the prince, (fair play to her, I say) but its the generalisation that the storyline promotes that cuts us mere mortals deep and makes us come out with cynical comments such as Oh aye cause thats the way it happens in real life! or There are no Prince Charmins in a million mile radius from here. Hence Disney gets the blame every time. The whole reality bites thing isnt just about our deluded perceptions of the male species (although it does make up a good two thirds of it). Take the way we look for example. I have written before about celebrity image and the influence it has on us and how we view ourselves. Especially when theres airbrushing to make celebrities have flawless skin, skinny thighs and perfect hair. This again is not how it happens or looks in real life. Well in most cases anyway. It also amuses me that on TV or in a film, the leading actresses make-up and hair are close to perfection when they wake up after a night on the tiles and downing tequila shots like theyre going out of fashion (and not even making the Im going to be sick

face after downing them how unrealistic is that?!). In my case, the make-up is smeared down the pillow and half way across my face. A far cry from that of Cameron Diaz. (That being the only difference between me and Cameron, obviously). When you sit down and start to think of all the unrealistic things like these, you really get on a roll and realise there are loads. What about these wingnuts in films that when involved in a police chase, jump off bridges overlooking motorways, onto the roof of a moving lorry and jump from vehicle to vehicle?! With not so much as a bruise or scratch. Prime example is Angelina Jolie in the film Salt. Who knew scaling walls and taking on and killing ten Russian spies on your own was so easy. No bother to Angelina! But even though all of this makes us (well me anyway) roll our eyes about the lack of realism, maybe thats the point of it all to take us away from reality for a few hours. Kind of like an escape. You do kind of feel like youre transported to a fantasy land or maybe thats just me. Theres some deep thinking for a Monday!

ve recently heard about two of my favourite childhood fairytales are being made into films and not just for children, theyre for adults too! Red Riding Hood (obviously after Little Red Riding Hood who is clearly not so little anymore) and Snow White. This isnt the first time this has happened or that Ive got more than a little excited, as I proudly sat up in the cinema watching Alice in Wonderland with Johnny Depp (well not actually along with him but you know what I mean). It was amazing. And the film wasnt bad either. These two new films are apparently taking a darker twist on the classic tales and have attracted huge stars such as Kirstin (Twilight) Stewart for Snow White, Charlize Theron for the Evil Queen and Amanda Seyfried for Red Riding Hood. Theyre both appealing to the big child in us, whilst making us feel a little more grown up as theyre actual films and not animated or anything. Now all I have to find is a cinema buddy who is as big a child as me.

Oh aye cause thats the way it happens in real life! or There are no Prince Charmins in a million mile radius from here. Hence Disney gets the blame every time.

BOOTY BEAT OF THE WEEK Black Eyed Peas new tune I Just Cant Get Enough is amazing. Can they do no wrong?

Will He Is... from Black Eyes Peas.

I like you, I like you not I like you, I like you not I like you, I like you not
Gemma likes....
CORAL This colour is one of my favourites and its going to be huge this season. Lets hope we get the weather back to match it! LIMITLESS This has been in the cinema quite a while and is well worth going to see. If only for Bradley Cooper alone. THE ONLY WAY IS ESSEX Ive involuntarily been sucked into this programme and I am a self confessed fan. Classic quote Whos the Prime Minister of Essex?
Bob and Bradley do Limitless.

Gemma dislikes...
TINIE TEMPAH AND ELLIE GOULDING These two having a song out is the rarest combination ever. Wonderman is by no means wonderful. CHAIN MESSAGES I hate them text messages you get that end with something like you must send this to 10 people in one minute or you will have bad luck for life. Hardly. ELTON DISSES THE KINGS Elton John has said the Kings of Leon need to lighten up after they wouldnt let Glee use their songs. I am most definitely a Kings of Leon fan.