This is probably one of my favorite characters bitingly depicted by Cameron Diaz. The "bad teacher" Elizabeth character is the complete opposite to those common typecast super sweet and nice, seen earlier in Diaz's career. Instead, she portrays an outrageous, self-serving, callus teacher with a sailor tongue-- and she does it well.

Cameron Diaz. Bad Teacher (2012). Movie Poster.

Although Diaz's character is labelled "bad," she's actually one of the most authentic characters in this movie (not including the foil characters). Sure, there's a whole list of inappropriate and raunchy and politically incorrect mannerisms from which the Elizabeth character does not refrain, but what's even more offsetting about other characters, specifically the antagonists: rival teacher Squirrel (Amy Punch) and Elizabeth's short-time interest played by Justin Timberlake, are even more problematic and politically incorrect.. Only these characters try to hide their "badness" with false personas that portray a false niceness and attempt to conceal their truly conniving selves. The characters who hide behind too nice, goody faces are the ones whose true colors are actually the worst, and whose scenes I didn't like nor find amusing (referring back to the political incorrectness). At least the Elizabeth character isn't always hiding behind a false persona.

Jason Segal. Cameron Diaz. Phylis Smith. Bad Teacher (2012).

Other characters include the hilarious Jason Segal and The Office's Phyllis Smith who both play the role of more "normal" characters that humorously counter Elizabeth's radical antics and biting comments. Their characters are also the most likable and well-received characters in the movie. In my opinion, Segal and Smith's characters should have had more screen-time, seeing from the fact that they are both more realistic, less crazy-weird, not offensive, and they are funnier. 

Cameron Diaz. Bad Teacher (2012). GIF.

Moonrise Kingdom, a film gazing upon the young, insightful perspectives on life and adventure. Set in 1960's New England, this is a film you won't often see.

Moonrise Kingdom. Dir. Wes Anderson. Focus Features. 2012. Film Still/Poster.

"This is our land!" yell the two adventurous escapees as they proceed to dive into the waters from off a low cliff. One escapes ostracizing foster homes and scouts as the other rebels against seemingly absurd parental authority. It's any romantic's dream to run away from the places of distress with the one you love. Something of which these two adolescents put into action. Properly planned and scheduled, of course.

Moonrise Kingdom. Dir. Wes Anderson. Focus Features. 2012. Film Still.

This Wes Anderson creation is one that evokes a sixties feel and purge of interest through the music selection/score, dialogue, and overall cinematography. It's slightly comedic, a little dramatic, romantic and all- but mostly, it's a strange film (in the good way of course) in that these very articulate 12-year old characters act a lot like young adults. This is a cute, light, funny, little love story. It is a film I could, and have, watched over and over again.

 

  In an earlier post, I discussed one of my current favorite vegan candy bars, the Mahalo Bar - filled with coconut, topped with almonds, completely coated in chocolate - Delicious.  But moving to a different candy bar, if Mahalos don't 'coat your fancy' then perhaps the "SNAP!" or "Jokerz" will.
  

Oh, Snap! = the nice, healthier, crunchy and light alternative to the mainstream candy I used to eat prior to becoming vegan. Here, the SNAP! vegan candy bar resembles the crunch chocolate candy bars, but in vegan version nicely excluding the animal products.

 "Jokerz"

This chocolate bar might not have you bursting out, laughing in ha-ha-ha's but it will definitely have you wanting more with its sweet chocolatey coating that surrounds a creamy, thick caramel layer without forgetting to add the peanuts, as well as it's bottom layer of nougaty nougat.  
This isn't your average vegan candy bar- it's better than the average with it's vegan-tastic ingredients and a name that even has a 'z' in it so you know it's "serious." 

I think this is the vegan version of the snickers candy bar. 

 

And the Twilight bar..

Chocolate, nougat, gooey goodness!

 

 


To end this post, I will say "Mahalo" which means thank you in Hawaiian. These awesome vegan chocolate candy bars are made by a company called Go Max, Go Foods.