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Since we figured that not a ton of people would be checking into the site on Thanksgiving, we didn't want to post a Reader Who Rocks interview like we normally do on Thursdays. Instead, we'll be chatting it up with one of our bloggers, Erika, and will return to feature another reader next week.

(Rest assured that we will strong-arm Locke and James into interviews at sometime soon, too.)

Name: Erika Olson

Posts as (username): Erika, but sometimes I sign off at the end of comments with just "e"

Age: Please.

Location: Chicago, IL

So let's start off by filling redblog readers in on how you use redbox.

Sure… as one of the redblog writers, I have upcoming DVD releases mailed directly to me before they hit kiosks so that I have time to watch them and (hopefully) have my reviews ready by the time the titles are available for everyone to rent.  I can then return the discs to any kiosk I'd like.  I had been going to a one outside a grocery store near my place for the past year — it's about a fifteen-minute walk (I'm a true city girl without a car).  I'd often bring my black lab with me, and it got to the point where he would jump all around with happiness whenever it dawned on him that we were headed to the redbox kiosk.  I thought it was because people would always pet him while we were standing there returning discs, but then I figured out that the real reason for his excitement was that a flower shop nearby always set out dog treats on the sidewalk and he was just looking forward to a snack. 

Now there's another kiosk that popped up in the opposite direction from my condo, and I think it's slightly closer, so I'm going to start going there to mix it up every once in a while.  My dog will not be happy with this decision, I'm afraid.  Actually, he already looks mad about it (see right).

As someone who writes about movies, you clearly must see a lot of them.  Are there certain types of films that you prefer to watch in the theater… and along those same lines, are there certain types of movies that you prefer to view at home?

I cry at the drop of a hat, so if I get the sense that a film might be even remotely sad or depressing, I'd rather look like a blubbering idiot in the privacy of my own home.  Sometimes that's impossible — like at the screening for The Road I was surrounded by my fellow critics, all of whom were male, and I was sniffling away and feeling a fool.  I also am easily scared, as I've mentioned on the blog in the past.  Locke has witnessed me spend half a movie with my hands over my face (like during Law Abiding Citizen), so he can attest to the fact that it would probably be better for everyone if I didn't have to see thrillers in a public setting.  I just can't control my reactions, which, besides covering my face are also known to include: jumping three feet in the air, screaming or shouting out loud, sinking waaay down in my seat, and ducking like someone's about to hit me.

Having said all that, I love love love to see big-budget action-adventure films in a sold-out theater… or anything that has a lot of hype surrounding it.  Any of the major franchise films are the most fun to see when the house is packed.  Half the fun of going to something like, say, Twilight or New Moon, is hearing the shrieks from the hyperventilating Twihards around you, who are all decked out in their Team Edward tees and whatnot.   And I'll never forget opening night of the first Lord of the Rings film… when Gandalf bellowed "YOU… SHALL NOT… PASS!!!" at the Balrog, I swear over 50% of the theater was instantaneously on its feet, cheering and fist-pumping and high-fiving each other.  It was total mayhem.  I love that type of experience.  I live for it.

In a similar vein, sometimes certain comedies work much better when you've got hundreds of people laughing at the same time. For example, I initially saw Zombieland at a full-to-the-brim screening.  Then I went again with my husband a few weeks later, and the theater was half-empty, and it was a very different experience.  It made me doubt whether or not the film was really hilarious in and of itself, or if I had been influenced by the crowd the first time around.  (I'm still pretty sure that it's still hilarious, though.)

Have you ever run into any movie stars?

I have… my biggest coup was meeting Terry O'Quinn last October when I was on a Lost location tour on Oahu. I of course love him as Locke on Lost, but also enjoyed his small part in Old School as Luke Wilson's no-nonsense boss.  He's also had roles in other movies I've liked such as The Cutting Edge (which my friends and I used to watch all the time in college) and Primal Fear. Locke and James tell me he was excellent in the original Stepfather and its sequel, but of course I'm too much of a fraidy-cat to watch those.

A few years ago in Chicago I got to meet Rick Gonzalez, who played "Spanish" in Old School. You can see him behind Will Ferrell to the left in the movie still I pasted in below.  He was a really nice guy!

I've also seen Dustin Hoffman walking down Michigan Avenue in Chicago, and was leaving a small bar/restaurant in New York City a year or so ago and saw Seann William Scott as I was leaving. And as I wrote about here on redblog a while back, I attended a Q&A with Scott's Role Models co-star, Paul Rudd, which I was extremely excited about since I LOVE HIM.

On a related note, I've also made it a point to visit various movie locations whenever I'm somewhere that I know a major film has been shot.  Check out some of the pictures I've taken over the years in this post.

What five movies would you want on a deserted island (deserted… except for a TV and a DVD player and one electrical outlet)?

I've thought about this question a lot, since I've asked it to a dozen Reader Who Rock so far.  Here's what I've come up with:

1) Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring.  This is my favorite film in the LOTR trilogy because I like all of the character and story set-up at the beginning, and I prefer Gandalf the Grey to Gandalf the White (though, let me be perfectly clear, ALL versions of Gandalf are awesome). The slo-mo scene showing everyone's reactions immediately after Gandalf's battle with the Balrog has brought me to tears every single time I've seen it.  And that's a lot of times.  I also love when Galadriel tells Frodo, "Even the smallest person can change the fate of the world" and when Gandalf later says to him, "All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us. There are other forces at work in this world, Frodo, besides the will of
evil."  Both of those scenes really stir something in me.  Aw, crap, now I'm tearing up just typing this!  I TOLD YOU I cry at the drop of a hat!

2) Old School.  It's my favorite Will Ferrell movie, and a tie with Swingers for my favorite Vince Vaughn movie.  My husband and I actually threw an Old School party when we moved into our place about six years ago — it was so much fun.  I can't give you any details, though.  I don't want to be blackmailed.

3) The Sound of Music. I love its soundtrack and would want something to sing along with when I'm all lonely on the island. 

4) Ferris Bueller's Day Off, because of all of the great Chicago scenes, and because the "Twist and Shout" part never fails to bring a smile to my face.  And there are a ton of great one-liners in it. Ferris Bueller, you're my hero!

5) The Princess Bride.  My favorite movie of all time, so this one was a given.  I will keep my memory skills sharp on the island by continuing to recite the entire movie word for word.

Who’s your favorite film actor?

Like I can name just one.  Have you not been reading this blog?  I have about 2,531 celebrity crushes!  But here are the guys at the top of the list: Clive Owen, Jim Sturgess, James McAvoy, Ed Norton, Elijah Wood and Paul Rudd. I know I'm forgetting a ton.

As far as actors whose work I usually look forward to but who I don't necessarily have a crush on, we've got: Jack Black, Jesse Eisenberg, Johnny Depp, Ian McKellen, Leonardo Dicaprio, Will Ferrell, Vince Vaughn, Owen Wilson, Alan Rickman, Morgan Freeman, Kevin Spacey, and yes, Nic Cage.  His hair has a power over me that I cannot deny or fight any longer.

And your favorite film actress?

I'm definitely a lot harder on the ladies, I'll admit it. I dislike more actresses (I've grumbled about them enough on this site that I won't go off on a rant again here) than I like. But those who have yet to seriously annoy me include Angelina Jolie, Amy Adams, Kate Winslet and Emma Stone.

Have you ever waited in line for hours for a movie?

I'm a fanatic about being early for movies. Nowadays I'm usually able to get to an advanced press screening for anything I'm interested in, but prior to working for redbox I would always try to see any big film on opening night and would arrive at the theater two hours in advance to ensure I got a good seat.
The only time I went to extremes — as in many, many hours in advance — were the Star Wars and Lord of the Rings films, and maybe a few of the Harry Potters.

What are some of your favorite movie quotes?

I am a huge fan of quotes in general — inspirational quotes, philosophical quotes, cool song lyrics (those are quotes, right?), and of course movie quotes.  I have a long, long list of favorites, but I'll attempt to narrow it down to the ones that I actually find myself saying every once in a while if the situation fits (or even if it doesn't).

"You're my boy, Blue!  You're my boy." – Frank (Will Ferrell), Old School  (I had a shirt made with this on it for my aforementioned Old School party)

"'Cause you're growns up and you're growns up and you're growns up!" – Trent (Vince Vaughn), Swingers  (When he gives his friend's pancakes to the other table, I DIE.) 

"… So I got that going for me, which is nice." – Bill Murray, Caddyshack

"Excuse me, I believe you have my stapler." – Milton, Office Space

"You know I don't speak Spanish!" – Ron Burgundy (Will Ferrell) to his dog, Baxter, in Anchorman

"Strange things are afoot at the Circle K." - Ted (Keanu Reeves), Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure

"San Dimas High School Football rules!" – Random jock, Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure

"All we are is just dust in the wind, dude." – Ted, Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (a film which influenced the way I talked during my high school years waaay too much.  I'm pretty sure that if my parents could make one film cease to exist, this would be that one.  Bogus!

How did we know that all of your quotes would come from comedies?  Thanks for talking with us, e.  Have a happy Thanksgiving!

We'll be back to our regular format next week with another Reader Who Rocks… so stay tuned!