movies

5 Reasons You Need to See ‘The Great Gatsby’

May 10, 2013 at 9:51 am
By Samantha Shelton

It’s likely the most talked about movie since The Hunger Games–at least it is in the FITNESS office. And one of the perks of working here is getting the chance to see movies before they hit theaters. So on Tuesday night I made my way to the Ziegfeld theater in NYC, popped on my 3-D shades and was transported into one of the most beloved stories in American literature. If that’s not reason enough for you to go see The Great Gatsby, here are five more:

1. Leonardo Dicaprio. The man has been making our hearts flutter since Romeo + Juliet, and we swear he just gets better (acting-wise and come on, looks-wise) with age. If you didn’t know, Baz Luhrmann, the director of Gatsby, worked with Leo way back then on R+J. Once we watched him on screen, we saw exactly why Luhrmann wanted to collaborate with the actor again: love or hate him, Leo was the perfect guy to play the complicated role of Jay Gatsby. The love, confidence and desperation of his character all seep through, and he had us chastising Daisy Buchanan for her crazy amounts of indecision.

2. Tobey Maguire (Nick Carraway) and Leonardo Dicaprio (Jay Gatsby)’s bromance. It’s real, both on and off-screen. We can’t get enough of it.

3. The fashion. This period wasn’t called the Roaring 20s for nothing. It was the tip of the iceberg for women exploring new dress lengths (short, short, short!), hairstyles and lots of sparkle—and you know we love sparkle. Fun fact: costume designer Catherine Martin worked with Brooks Brothers for many of the male costumes—think 2,000 garments + 200 tuxedos—who actually sold clothing to Fitzgerald back in the day.

4. Isla Fisher and Carey Mulligan. Our May cover girl plays Myrtle, Tom Buchanan’s mistress who lives in the Valley of Ashes and wants the glamorous life. Although her role is small, Fisher knows how to make a big impact. Mulligan takes on the iconic role of Daisy Buchanan, and delivers flawlessly. The woman knows how to be alluring, and we love that she isn’t afraid to speak her mind. What we don’t love: Daisy’s inability to make a decision and stick with it. Just watch the movie and you’ll see what we mean.

5. The music. Just as he did in R+J, Luhrmann took Gatsby, a very classic story, and blended it with contemporary music. Now we’ll admit, this is the part we were most skeptical about. Sure, we love blasting Jay-Z, Florence + The Machine and Lana Del Rey during our workouts, but would it work in a movie set in the 20s? Surprisingly, it does. In fact, we say it’s what makes the movie that much better. Bringing contemporary beats to the party scenes helped us make a connection with all of the characters and the fun they were having. Think about it: if you were ready to get your dance on tonight, would you blast music from the 20s and feel jazzed; ready to rock? We didn’t think so. This blend of eras made the story more relatable so we could really be immersed in the story. Smart move, Luhrmann. Smart move.

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Music Monday: Songs For Your Inner Superhero

July 16, 2012 at 9:20 am
By Karla Walsh

It feels like this is the summer for heroes. We kicked off the season with The Avengers, and The Amazing Spider-Man was a huge box office hit more recently. And later this week, Batman is back in The Dark Knight Rises.

Want to channel your inner superhero during your next workout? Download these songs and get ready to feel triumphant—no cape required!

• “My Hero,” Foo Fighters
• “SuperGirl,” Saving Jane
• “Something to Believe In,” Aqualung
• “Titanium,” David Guetta, featuring Sia
• “I’ll Be in the Sky,” B.o.B.
• “Someone to Save You,” One Republic
• “Indestructible,” Robyn
• “Hero/Heroine,” Boys Like Girls
• “Glad You Came,” The Wanted
• “The Good Fight,” Dashboard Confessional
• “Be My Escape,” Relient K
• “How to Save a Life,” The Fray

 Now tell us: Which song makes you feel like you possess superpowers?

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Fit Links: How to Shape Up at Your Desk and 10 Outrageous Road Races to Try

May 18, 2012 at 3:23 pm
By Karla Walsh

This week’s fit links from around the web:

• Don’t just sit there. Deskercise! Here are 33 moves to help you shape up in the office. — Greatist
• If you’re bored with a typical 5K, one of these 10 wacky races (think zombies, obstacles or nudity!) may be perfectly suited for your adventurous nature. — Healthy Tipping Point
• Some of the best bargains in the supermarket can be found in the healthiest aisles. Really! —USA Today
• How well do you know fitness-related films? Test your knowledge with our editor in chief, Betty, as she visits Hoda and Kathie Lee. — Today Show
• No gym—or equipment—is required for this fun circuit workout. That means there’s no reason to skip it! — Blogilates
• You hereby have our permission to eat a banana split for breakfast. Kids of all ages will love these! — Peas and Thank You

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Hot Topic Tuesday: How Medically-Accurate is Pop Culture?

May 15, 2012 at 3:16 pm
By Karla Walsh

“Ten blade—stat!” You’ve likely followed along (or tried to) as the paramedics rush patients in from ambulance to emergency room to operating room, all the while shouting precise medical terms to each other, on intense shows like Grey’s Anatomy and ER. It’s fun to get a peek into the powerful world of life-saving, and medical TV shows, movies and other pop culture references allow us to do just that (minus the real-life pain and blood).

But those of us who aren’t doctors have a tough time distinguishing what could be real and what is just drama. A recent New York Times article called out the new HBO series Girls for disseminating inaccurate information about the sexually transmitted infection HPV. The writer claims that an episode of Girls misinformed viewers about the prevalence of HPV (it is so common that at least 50 percent of  sexually active individuals get it at some point in their lives, according to the CDC), the severity of it and what is involved in testing and treatment for the STI.

Now tell us: Is this taking fictional dramas too seriously? Or do writers on health programs owe it to their viewers to have medical advisors on staff to guarantee the accuracy of their content?

More from FITNESS:

• Why Little Lies to Your Doctor Could Hurt Your Health
• Doctors Know Best: 15 Health Tips From Top Doctors
• What Your Doctor is Really Thinking

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