For my ASL class this summer, each student had to put together a presentation with certain elements about ourselves. One of the required elements was a slide naming one reason why we are special or unique. As I was putting together my PowerPoint, I realized I was having a hard time narrowing my specialness to just one reason. Then I wondered how many reasons I could come up with for why I'm special. Here, off the top of my head, is what I thought of (excuse the ME ME ME-ness of this post - or don't, because isn't that what blogs are really all about?):
1. I was homeschooled my entire life until I went to college.
2. I went to college in the fall just after turning seventeen in the summer. I could easily have gone when I was sixteen, since I basically did nothing my sixteenth year after taking the ACT and applying to college.
3. I had NEVER mowed a lawn until I was married and was helping my husband do his parents' yard work one weekend. I think this happened because I had three older siblings who mowed the lawn (when we had a big lawn) and a very task-oriented mother who took over the mowing of the lawn entirely when we had a small lawn.
4. I apparently could do the full splits when I was 3 years old. My mama said I surprised her visiting teacher, who thought I was broken or something.
5. I used to hate my first name. Now I love it - Ruth is a very unique first name! Ditto Nancy, Naomi, and Esther.
6. My name gets mistaken about 50% of the time I introduce myself to someone for the first time for Marie. Not just "I'm sorry," or "I didn't catch that," or "Anything starting with an R," but "Marie." I have no idea why. Do I pronounce "Ruth" weird? Do I use two syllables or something?
7. I have always hated what people refer to as "delicious, homemade, filling, wheat" bread. I will stuff myself on potatoes, but not bread.
8. I took karate for three years and ballet for three years. People thought I was too young to be taking karate (because I stayed for my siblings' later classes and took them too) and too old for ballet (because I was 14 and had to start with the beginners). I didn't care. Both karate and ballet were fun, challenging, and exhausting in their various ways. I would neither change nor repeat my experience with either.
9. I used to suck my index and middle fingers on my left hand when I was little and couldn't quit until I was . . . guesses in? Well, I actually don't remember, but it was somewhere around 10 or 11 (old enough that I would diiiiiiieeeeee if any of my friends knew). I used to suck them while I smelled my delicious old and worn-with-love Cabbage Patch doll, Nancy. It's how I imagine getting high would feel like. Because of my addiction to fingersucking combined with an overdose of doll-smelling, my index finger has now bent slightly backwards and my middle finger leans to the side, leaving a gap between my middle and ring fingers that makes me look like I'm Spock.
10. I used to be TERRIFIED of swimming lessons. This one's ironic because of how much I LOVE swimming now. I would hide under my bed, sob, fake illness, and throw up regularly before leaving to go to the pool. Everything about the experience - touching and being touched by strangers, being forced to interact with other kids who I was embarrassed and often outdone by, being scared of drowning, getting water in my nose and ears, etc. - was a nightmare. My life improved 1000% when my dad took over and taught me one-on-one how to swim in the early mornings.
11. I think I have always been a very sensitive and emotional child who cries easily, but oddly I never considered myself one. I thought of myself as tough and tomboyish, and somehow got the idea that tough people didn't cry or that people wouldn't like me if I cried. I often got angry when I cried because I felt I had lost control. Now I've sort of accepted that I am the equivalence of an emotional hurricane, and cry all the time for all sorts of reasons, including seeing someone do something cute, watching a cheesy inspirational sports movie, watching a simple movie from my childhood that I never really connected to emotionally as a child (Animated Heroes Classics Christopher Columbus, I am looking at you), and of course, watching Miss Potter. Always, always, watching Miss Potter.
12. This one may sound a little weird, but I get some kind of physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual energy from water, essentially meaning I feel close to God when I am surrounded by, touching, or observing water. It soothes, calms, exhilarates, refreshes, inspires, focuses, cleanses, and energizes me to an extent that nothing else (except for maybe my love for Matthew) has ever done for me. I can sit in a pool or alone in the ocean or by a waterfall for hours and be content. I sometimes cry when I'm running or walking by the Provo River because it's so BEAUTIFUL.
13. I miss the humidity of the South. I really do. Having lived in both Utah and Georgia, I can confirm that both are hot, sweaty, and to some extent miserable places in the summer, but the Southern air still has this sort of wetness and deepness about it that I find refreshing and comforting.
14. I've been in love with the name "Matthew" ever since my freshman year. Needless to say, I was ecstatic when I ended up marrying my Matthew.
15. I had a surprisingly vivid prompting on my first date with Matthew that we would end up getting married if I asked him to hold my hand. I had been nervously debating about whether or not to ask him to hold hands before the date, and I'm still convinced that it was that one moment that set us on the course to where we are now. Thank goodness he said yes!
16. When I was a kid I climbed a tree to rescue a stray gray cat that later became our first family cat, Kim. Kim turned me into a cat-lover, which I have proudly been ever since. She was killed by a passing vehicle and seeing and burying her mangled body was one of the most traumatizing and deeply moving experiences of my life. Hers was the first death that absolutely devastated me as a child.
17. I've never broken a bone in my body. The closest I came was probably when my grandpa slammed the door to our van on my thumb by accident. It hurt like crazy for a long time, but nothing was broken.
18. My experience with braces and orthodontists was basically filled with epic torture and suffering (due to #9, no doubt). I've had wires come loose and stab me in the cheeks more times than I can count, including during our move to Utah. I also have had to wear Headgear and a Herbtz appliance for several years to try to correct my bite. I had braces for probably five years, and it felt like an eternity. For this reason alone, I would NEVER EVER EVER choose to relive my childhood.
19. I used to put ketchup on EVERYTHING as a kid. I put it on corn, macaroni and cheese, fish, any kind of casserole, lima beans, potatoes, even once in soup. But when I was telling this to a friend (at about age 7 or 8), he casually dismissed my boasts by claiming that his little brother liked ketchup so much he put it in milk. I was so shocked and disgusted by this that I had no answer, and it has always stuck with me. I mean, how could you put ketchup in milk? I draw the line at milk.
20. I've never been one to want to learn something because I was afraid the cool kids would make fun of me for not knowing it. I was always just fine with not knowing or participating in any of the movies, sports, music, TV shows, or popular trends that my peers grew up with. I can only think of one exception, and it's a weird one - roller skating. I taught myself to roller skate at age 15 because I was so determined that people not think I was lame or dumb for not being able to go on a rink without embarrassing myself.
21. I am the widest-chested woman in my family, and I was incredibly embarrassed about it growing up. I always felt like I didn't fit in with my sisters and mother, and wished I was flat-chested and scrawny. To compensate I basically slumped over and hid my chest all the time - until I took ballet, that is, and discovered the beauty of posture. Now I've learned to appreciate my figure (sometimes using the Busty Girl Problems website to vent my annoyances) and even to consider it one of my most attractive assets - having a husband who compliments you all the time is a great help!
22. I've knocked myself out three times. The first two times involved me running into something (a fabric bolt, a door) and waking up immediately on the floor with a slight headache but no knowledge of any time passing, when it is obvious from the concerned people around me that time has indeed passed. The third time was at the dentist's, when they were taking pictures of my mouth and I suddenly was hit with a wave of dizziness. They think I locked my legs. All I remember is being alone with the photographer one second, then having to lie down, then opening my eyes the next second and seeing a lot of people, including my mother, looking at me nervously and trying to find food for me. I'd describe getting knocked out as a bizarre and even weirdly pleasurable experience - it gets you a lot of concern and attention, for one, and it's a relief to feel that you didn't experience any pain or even lose any time falling asleep while you were "out." I felt the same way when I woke up (with no recognition that any time had passed) after my wisdom teeth were taken out. Too bad you can't be knocked out for every painful physical experience in your life.
23. I read the Bible from cover to cover somewhere around the age of 9. It took me roughly a year. I don't think I've ever done that since, but I'd like to.
That's all that I can think of for now. Guess which one I chose for my presentation (yes, it's up there).
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Friday, July 12, 2013
June 2013 Media Inventory
I've been putting off writing about June. Now that I look at the list of movies I watched, I know why. Wowza - where did I find the time? Anyway, with no further ado-
Pan's Labyrinth: I got this for Matthew and me to watch on his birthday since he's been trying to learn Spanish. We both loved it. I cried. I may have to be banned from watching this once I become pregnant.
Beautiful Creatures: I wasn't sure I would like this film - the story and themes seemed a little shallow and cliche - but the main characters were surprisingly relatable, emotional, and complex. I also loved that the whole thing took place in the South.
Akeelah and the Spelling Bee: Cute, super sweet film about a black girl entering a spelling bee. There's also an overworked Asian kid and an easy going Mexican kid in the bee. What were you expecting?
We Need to Talk About Kevin: I wouldn't recommend this to just anybody, but I think it has a powerful and disturbing subject that is worth wondering about. Honestly I think the book goes much deeper into the issues and themes being examined. The film is disturbing, graphic, and moving in its way, but the book was much more so in my opinion.
The Double: Okay film I guess. The fact I forgot what it was and had to look it up to remember should say something.
The Shunning: Not really my type of movie, but had some really sweet moments.
Trollhunter: Now HERE's a film I can get behind! I took Matthew to see this at the International Cinema at BYU, and it was fantastic. Funny, creative, and wacky stuff. Not to mention it got me in the mood to see...
The Hobbit: Yep. More trolls. I enjoyed this even more the second time around. Probably because of subtitles. And maybe watching Martin Freeman in Sherlock had a little bit to do with it.
Books:
Persuasion: Excellent novel by Jane Austen. It's a quick and lovely read, and the character of Anne is so relatable and admirable.
Movies:
Seven Psychopaths: I was disappointed. The film delivered very readily on the blunt/easy/crass elements and not nearly enough on the intellectual/insightful/comic elements. It had a few good ideas and moments, but overall I didn't find it worth my while.
Clueless: Tee hee. Possibly the best Emma adaptation out there? Okay, I admit to being a fan of the Kate Beckinsale one.
Horatio Hornblower I-VII: I've seen these films at the library for AGES, and it took almost a semester of people talking about Amazing Grace + a well-timed episode of Ioan Gruffudd in Castle to convince me to start seeing them. What. a. BLAST. I wish this was an ongoing TV series. I am absolutely a fan. Go Horatio! And my favorite seaman Matthews! And the very fetching Lieutenant Bush!
Persuasion (1995): I heart this version of Persuasion. A lot. It doesn't get better than Prince Caspian, Bois Guilbert, and Amanda Root. Plus everything about Captain Harville and the final scene is just perfect and amazing.
The Winslow Boy: I saw the trailer for this and got curious. It got a little drawn out and aimless in the middle and near the end (I confess for a little while I stopped caring about any of the characters' happiness), but overall was quite good.
Persuasion (2007): Ugh. I can't stand this version, from the pathetically stuttering Anne to the Bath Marathon at the end. But I was able to write a 15-page paper about how messed up it was, so I guess I have to thank it for that.
The Odd Life of Timothy Green: I thought this seemed like a really sweet, gentle, adorable version of The Curious Life of Benjamin Button. Y'know, for teaching kids about life and death and stuff.
Sherlock, Seasons 1 and 2: I know this is not a movie, but I'm putting it here anyway because Matthew and I watched it together and were RIVETED. RIVETED, I SAY! If you haven't seen this modern version of Sherlock, I don't know if we can even talk anymore because I'm afraid of spoiling something.
Cold Comfort Farm: I'd seen this film before, but for some reason it seemed a lot funnier to me this time around. Probably because I saw it while taking a Jane Austen class. The woodshed bit had me in stitches.
The Woman in Black: Matthew was curious about this one for a long while, so I indulged him when I saw it at the library. It was pretty short and forgettable, though I remember there definitely being a woman in black.
Oz the Great and Powerful: I was surprised at how much I liked this film. It had its weaknesses, sure - wasn't the most creative and profound thing ever by any means - but it was nostalgic and funny and clever and much more enjoyable than either the super colorful Alice in Wonderland or Willy Wonka films made most recently.
Beautiful Creatures: I wasn't sure I would like this film - the story and themes seemed a little shallow and cliche - but the main characters were surprisingly relatable, emotional, and complex. I also loved that the whole thing took place in the South.
Akeelah and the Spelling Bee: Cute, super sweet film about a black girl entering a spelling bee. There's also an overworked Asian kid and an easy going Mexican kid in the bee. What were you expecting?
We Need to Talk About Kevin: I wouldn't recommend this to just anybody, but I think it has a powerful and disturbing subject that is worth wondering about. Honestly I think the book goes much deeper into the issues and themes being examined. The film is disturbing, graphic, and moving in its way, but the book was much more so in my opinion.
The Double: Okay film I guess. The fact I forgot what it was and had to look it up to remember should say something.
The Shunning: Not really my type of movie, but had some really sweet moments.
Trollhunter: Now HERE's a film I can get behind! I took Matthew to see this at the International Cinema at BYU, and it was fantastic. Funny, creative, and wacky stuff. Not to mention it got me in the mood to see...
The Hobbit: Yep. More trolls. I enjoyed this even more the second time around. Probably because of subtitles. And maybe watching Martin Freeman in Sherlock had a little bit to do with it.
Books:
Persuasion: Excellent novel by Jane Austen. It's a quick and lovely read, and the character of Anne is so relatable and admirable.
Crackpot: The Obsessions of John Waters: I really don't remember reading this or why I read it. It took about a day or two and nothing stayed with me. I think it was mentioned in a class at some point or another. Also, I vaguely didn't like it.
Mud, Sweat, and Tears: I rather enjoyed reading this biography of Bear Grylls. I especially was enthralled by his thrilling adventure in climbing Mt. Everest - something I'm now 100% convinced I will NEVER do. There were also quite a few touching, profound insights that stuck with me about religion, people, and nature. He seems like my kind of guy.
A Child Called It: Disturbing and upsetting read - there were times when I got pretty mad. Even more disturbing when you read about the author online and are not sure what to make of his story. Definitely made me appreciate how great my parents were.
The Lost Boy: The sequel to A Child Called It. Not as engrossing. I got depressed/disillusioned afterwards and decided not to read the final book.
We Need to Talk About Kevin: It feels like it took me all month to read this book. It is long and tough and relentlessly depressing (as well as disturbing), but very well written and thought-provoking. It made me a little scared to have kids, but also helped reaffirm my beliefs and values about life and the dangers of going through life while being too detached and too cynical. I both deeply related to and rejected the main character, which I can't recall doing with another book to this extent.
Theater:
Pirates of Penzance: I was super excited to see this at BYU with Sarah since the best production I'd ever seen of PofP was at BYU some ten years ago. Alas, this production was not particularly impressive. It didn't help that the projected subtitles kept disappearing. The music and voices were all right, but the comedy, acting, and staging was just bland.
A Wrinkle in Time: I was mildly intrigued but not expecting a lot out of this production (I enjoyed At the Back of the North Wind more than A Wrinkle in Time, personally), but was really blown away by the creativity and quality on display. It was the first time I'd really seen the DeJong Theater manipulated and used so extensively and creatively (they had the audience sit on the stage so they could put characters on the far-off balcony). The story wasn't dull and the magic and special effects were charming (the audience especially enjoyed being fanned by huge, fragrant leaves whenever Meg and company went to a certain place). As for the acting, I was personally annoyed by Meg's character, but LOVED Charles Wallace (whom I found excessively annoying in the book) and liked everyone else.
Mud, Sweat, and Tears: I rather enjoyed reading this biography of Bear Grylls. I especially was enthralled by his thrilling adventure in climbing Mt. Everest - something I'm now 100% convinced I will NEVER do. There were also quite a few touching, profound insights that stuck with me about religion, people, and nature. He seems like my kind of guy.
A Child Called It: Disturbing and upsetting read - there were times when I got pretty mad. Even more disturbing when you read about the author online and are not sure what to make of his story. Definitely made me appreciate how great my parents were.
The Lost Boy: The sequel to A Child Called It. Not as engrossing. I got depressed/disillusioned afterwards and decided not to read the final book.
We Need to Talk About Kevin: It feels like it took me all month to read this book. It is long and tough and relentlessly depressing (as well as disturbing), but very well written and thought-provoking. It made me a little scared to have kids, but also helped reaffirm my beliefs and values about life and the dangers of going through life while being too detached and too cynical. I both deeply related to and rejected the main character, which I can't recall doing with another book to this extent.
Theater:
Pirates of Penzance: I was super excited to see this at BYU with Sarah since the best production I'd ever seen of PofP was at BYU some ten years ago. Alas, this production was not particularly impressive. It didn't help that the projected subtitles kept disappearing. The music and voices were all right, but the comedy, acting, and staging was just bland.
A Wrinkle in Time: I was mildly intrigued but not expecting a lot out of this production (I enjoyed At the Back of the North Wind more than A Wrinkle in Time, personally), but was really blown away by the creativity and quality on display. It was the first time I'd really seen the DeJong Theater manipulated and used so extensively and creatively (they had the audience sit on the stage so they could put characters on the far-off balcony). The story wasn't dull and the magic and special effects were charming (the audience especially enjoyed being fanned by huge, fragrant leaves whenever Meg and company went to a certain place). As for the acting, I was personally annoyed by Meg's character, but LOVED Charles Wallace (whom I found excessively annoying in the book) and liked everyone else.
Friday, June 7, 2013
May 2013 Media Inventory
You will note the heavy Jane Austen emphasis during this month. I considered writing the entire entry in a Jane Austen voice in honor of her domination of my viewing and reading habits, but in the end decided such a feat must be left to a greater mind with more time and talent than the most ignorant person ever to dare to call herself a bloggeress.
Movies:
Les Miserables: I did not "grow up" with this musical, and so missed out on the experience of having great hopes and dreams realized or dashed by the viewing of this film. Matthew could probably give you a more emotional review of the quality of the songs and so forth (I tried my hand at judging them and came up with completely opposite conclusions from him, but I defer to someone who actually sings and cares about singing in these matters). Overall I thought the film was enjoyable and entertaining, but not particularly monumental. My fascination with Russell Crowe continues, as does my love for Anne Hathaway's short hair and subtitles.
Mansfield Park (2007): This was the fastest adaptation of a Jane Austen film I've ever seen. I almost felt like I was playing a game of Bingo, crossing off each event rapidly to get through the story. I liked all the casting - yes, even slick-haired Edmund - except for Fanny, whose overwhelmingly huge grin, disheveled blonde hair-in-my-eyes look, and uncertain depiction somewhere between shrieking wildness and complacent shyness rather unnerved me.
Bride and Prejudice: This Bollywood take on Pride and Prejudice was more fun than I remembered (probably because this time I watched it with some friends from my JA class). Some things were still the same, mind - Darcy is dreadfully boring; the "no life without wife" song is my favorite part, etc.
Silver Linings Playbook: Matthew and I really enjoyed this one. It's sweet, weird, depressing, affirming, and had some touching, thoughtful insights about dealing with heartache, obsession, stress, and loneliness. Jennifer Lawrence is fast becoming a favorite actress of mine.
From Time to Time: Cute British film about mysterious old houses, nefarious butlers, and wise grandmothers with secrets. I wasn't surprised to learn this came from the creator of Downton Abbey - it's got the same "modern take on nostalgic past" feeling to it. And Maggie Smith.
The Darkest Hour: Matthew and I saw the trailer for this a long time ago, and thought it looked interesting. We should have just watched the trailer again. It was more interesting than the movie.
Sense and Sensibility (1995): Delightful version. I love this cast and the humor inserted throughout. I only wish they had used more characters and scenes from the novel (I was especially surprised to realize they had entirely omitted the return of Willoughby in the final hour scene). And of course, I always want more ending - couldn't they at least have Margaret catch the bouquet or something?
Sense and Sensibility (2008): I saw this version once before and was not greatly impressed by it, but my second viewing has altered my opinion considerably in its favor. This may have a little or a great deal to do with the fact that I have since become aware of the charms of Dan Stevens from watching Downton Abbey, but further watching - that is, research - is required to be certain. I also finally forgave Willoughby for the crime of being short.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower: I wasn't really impressed by the book, but the film was very sweet without being cutesy or cliche.
Total Recall: Again we were tricked into watching this by the trailer. There were some ideas that had potential, and Colin Farrell has a pretty awesome worried facial expression, but I lost interest and emotional investment in the characters pretty early on.
Sense and Sensibility (1995): I liked this so much I watched it twice.
Mansfield Park (1999): I'd seen this once before and hated it. This time I liked the overall film more, but hated the parts that I hated more, if that makes sense.
The Prestige: This was the film that converted me to Christopher Nolan, and it's still my perennial Nolan favorite. I think I could watch it every year and still gush about watching it for the first time.
Clipping Adam: I didn't expect a lot out of this film about a boy who doesn't cut his hair after his mom and sister die in an accident, but I was very pleasantly surprised at its warmth, humor, emotion, and simplicity. The characters were great and the story was sweet. The ending felt a little abrupt, and I may not watch it again, but I would recommend it.
Shackleton: I'd seen this around the library a few times and thought it looked interesting. Kenneth Branagh was predictably brilliant. It was also really nice to watch people shivering in the Arctic during an extremely hot week in May.
On a Clear Day: I watched this movie after recently getting hooked on swimming regularly again, so bear in mind that I am a water addict and can watch stuff like Olympics swimming and diving for hours. Anyway, this film. I. LOVED. IT. EVERY. SINGLE. LITTLE. BIT. Spot-on story and casting. I cried.
Tower Heist: Good bit of crazy fun with Ben Stiller. Bonus - Casey Affleck's worried face rivals Colin Farrell's!
Argo: I forgot to include this one on my list at first, but I really, really enjoyed it. Gripping story, well acted and paced. I haven't been quite so tense watching a film that I recall since Sophie Scholl.
Books:
The Candy Shop War 2: Arcade Catastrophe: Awesome, fun, and creative sequel. I get worried sometimes Brandon Mull will write himself into something so crazy he won't be able to get out of it without cheating, but somehow he manages to make it work.
Pride and Prejudice: It is a truth universally acknowleged that this book is awesome.
Modern Ghosts: A collection of short horror stories by Joe Hill, who is a pretty intense horror writer but also a good writer in general. I enjoy his style of horror better than Stephen King's.
Life Laughs: I think I read this book in an hour while walking home from the library. It's about as substantial as a chatty girly blog post.
Heidegger and a Hippo Walk Through Those Pearly Gates: Not quite as witty and clever as their first book, in my opinion, but still a fun/insightful read.
The Pregnancy Project: I was touched by this true story of a girl faking a high school pregnancy for a class project. I especially appreciated her opening up about her family's difficult background and the many trials of living without financial or familial stability. It definitely strengthened my gratitude for my parents' raising me and my resolve to raise my children in a good way.
Mansfield Park: Not my favorite of Jane Austen's novels, but I was glad to finally finish it after starting when I was about 13 and getting distracted somewhere around Portsmouth.
Misery: Why did I read this? I don't like Stephen King. Anyway, I didn't like it.
Movies:
Les Miserables: I did not "grow up" with this musical, and so missed out on the experience of having great hopes and dreams realized or dashed by the viewing of this film. Matthew could probably give you a more emotional review of the quality of the songs and so forth (I tried my hand at judging them and came up with completely opposite conclusions from him, but I defer to someone who actually sings and cares about singing in these matters). Overall I thought the film was enjoyable and entertaining, but not particularly monumental. My fascination with Russell Crowe continues, as does my love for Anne Hathaway's short hair and subtitles.
Mansfield Park (2007): This was the fastest adaptation of a Jane Austen film I've ever seen. I almost felt like I was playing a game of Bingo, crossing off each event rapidly to get through the story. I liked all the casting - yes, even slick-haired Edmund - except for Fanny, whose overwhelmingly huge grin, disheveled blonde hair-in-my-eyes look, and uncertain depiction somewhere between shrieking wildness and complacent shyness rather unnerved me.
Bride and Prejudice: This Bollywood take on Pride and Prejudice was more fun than I remembered (probably because this time I watched it with some friends from my JA class). Some things were still the same, mind - Darcy is dreadfully boring; the "no life without wife" song is my favorite part, etc.
Silver Linings Playbook: Matthew and I really enjoyed this one. It's sweet, weird, depressing, affirming, and had some touching, thoughtful insights about dealing with heartache, obsession, stress, and loneliness. Jennifer Lawrence is fast becoming a favorite actress of mine.
From Time to Time: Cute British film about mysterious old houses, nefarious butlers, and wise grandmothers with secrets. I wasn't surprised to learn this came from the creator of Downton Abbey - it's got the same "modern take on nostalgic past" feeling to it. And Maggie Smith.
The Darkest Hour: Matthew and I saw the trailer for this a long time ago, and thought it looked interesting. We should have just watched the trailer again. It was more interesting than the movie.
Sense and Sensibility (1995): Delightful version. I love this cast and the humor inserted throughout. I only wish they had used more characters and scenes from the novel (I was especially surprised to realize they had entirely omitted the return of Willoughby in the final hour scene). And of course, I always want more ending - couldn't they at least have Margaret catch the bouquet or something?
Sense and Sensibility (2008): I saw this version once before and was not greatly impressed by it, but my second viewing has altered my opinion considerably in its favor. This may have a little or a great deal to do with the fact that I have since become aware of the charms of Dan Stevens from watching Downton Abbey, but further watching - that is, research - is required to be certain. I also finally forgave Willoughby for the crime of being short.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower: I wasn't really impressed by the book, but the film was very sweet without being cutesy or cliche.
Total Recall: Again we were tricked into watching this by the trailer. There were some ideas that had potential, and Colin Farrell has a pretty awesome worried facial expression, but I lost interest and emotional investment in the characters pretty early on.
Sense and Sensibility (1995): I liked this so much I watched it twice.
Mansfield Park (1999): I'd seen this once before and hated it. This time I liked the overall film more, but hated the parts that I hated more, if that makes sense.
The Prestige: This was the film that converted me to Christopher Nolan, and it's still my perennial Nolan favorite. I think I could watch it every year and still gush about watching it for the first time.
Clipping Adam: I didn't expect a lot out of this film about a boy who doesn't cut his hair after his mom and sister die in an accident, but I was very pleasantly surprised at its warmth, humor, emotion, and simplicity. The characters were great and the story was sweet. The ending felt a little abrupt, and I may not watch it again, but I would recommend it.
Shackleton: I'd seen this around the library a few times and thought it looked interesting. Kenneth Branagh was predictably brilliant. It was also really nice to watch people shivering in the Arctic during an extremely hot week in May.
On a Clear Day: I watched this movie after recently getting hooked on swimming regularly again, so bear in mind that I am a water addict and can watch stuff like Olympics swimming and diving for hours. Anyway, this film. I. LOVED. IT. EVERY. SINGLE. LITTLE. BIT. Spot-on story and casting. I cried.
Tower Heist: Good bit of crazy fun with Ben Stiller. Bonus - Casey Affleck's worried face rivals Colin Farrell's!
Argo: I forgot to include this one on my list at first, but I really, really enjoyed it. Gripping story, well acted and paced. I haven't been quite so tense watching a film that I recall since Sophie Scholl.
Books:
The Candy Shop War 2: Arcade Catastrophe: Awesome, fun, and creative sequel. I get worried sometimes Brandon Mull will write himself into something so crazy he won't be able to get out of it without cheating, but somehow he manages to make it work.
Pride and Prejudice: It is a truth universally acknowleged that this book is awesome.
Modern Ghosts: A collection of short horror stories by Joe Hill, who is a pretty intense horror writer but also a good writer in general. I enjoy his style of horror better than Stephen King's.
Life Laughs: I think I read this book in an hour while walking home from the library. It's about as substantial as a chatty girly blog post.
Heidegger and a Hippo Walk Through Those Pearly Gates: Not quite as witty and clever as their first book, in my opinion, but still a fun/insightful read.
The Pregnancy Project: I was touched by this true story of a girl faking a high school pregnancy for a class project. I especially appreciated her opening up about her family's difficult background and the many trials of living without financial or familial stability. It definitely strengthened my gratitude for my parents' raising me and my resolve to raise my children in a good way.
Mansfield Park: Not my favorite of Jane Austen's novels, but I was glad to finally finish it after starting when I was about 13 and getting distracted somewhere around Portsmouth.
Misery: Why did I read this? I don't like Stephen King. Anyway, I didn't like it.
Monday, June 3, 2013
The Many Photoshoots of May
Until May I took remarkably few photos in the year 2013. The first photoshoot of the year didn't happen until Valentine's Day, where I got a couple of photos of Matthew eating spaghetti. I'm not sure why I didn't take any of myself - perhaps I was just feeling icky that day? The next time the camera came out was in April to take a random assortment of shots of un-posed people wandering around eating things on Easter and some very poorly decorated eggs (the sight of which I'll spare you). And that apparently was the whole of everything worth documenting with the camera for the Winter 2013 semester. Maybe it snowed. Maybe it was pretty. Will anyone know? Will they care?
Then all of a sudden in May, the camera came alive. It seemed every weekend was photo-worthy. Things went so far that we even had to (gasp!) CHANGE THE BATTERIES.
So what was the big deal about in May? Well, let's take a look back and see...
1. I decided to get my hair cut. So the weekend before, I got my sister Hannah to take a lot of photos of me and Matthew (she took some of the photos we used for our engagements, and we liked them so much we asked her to give us coupons for more photoshoots for Christmas). This led to some great and goofy moments - I'll let you figure out which is which:
2. I actually GOT my hair cut. Photos briefly became an obsession.
3. Matthew, possibly influenced by that one time in my western film class when I took him to see "Unforgiven," went and bought a gun (in unrelated news, the dog who barks all the time upstairs mysteriously went missing that night...). Of COURSE we took photos.
He also went shooting for the first time on Memorial Day with a few friends from work, but in a great tragedy, the camera was left behind, so we must imagine it looked something like this:
4. Mother's day! Self-explanatory.
5. Mama's birthday! You will note that once again we succeeded in making our mother cry.
6. We celebrated our two-year anniversary at the end of May. For some reason (oh yeah I'm taking a class this semester) I didn't have as much time as I had last year to prepare decorations and ideas, so we ended up having a very toned down celebration. I took a long walk in the rain (a romantic touch which I greatly appreciated seeing as how it rained on the evening of the day we got married) by myself waiting for Matthew to get off work, and we celebrated with cheesecake (which we had on our honeymoon) and strawberry lemonade (which we had at our reception). And pictures, of course.
The following things also happened in late April/early May that were camera-worthy:
7. We visited a friend of mine from the first neighborhood we lived in when we moved to Utah. I used to babysit her three oldest kids and it was fun seeing how grown-up everyone was except for herself and her husband, who haven't looked older than 25 since I met them. I actually thought she was a Laurel (a 16-18-year-old girl in the Church's Young Women program) when I met her and was surprised to find out she was a leader. Now I'm pretty convinced she could pass for one of my college students. I hope we'll visit them again so I can figure out where she stashes the Fountain of Youth flask.
8. I got a bad ingrown toenail. I actually got it in March, but it got worse and worse until I finally decided to get it taken care of after finals. I went to the BYU Student Health Center and had a very pleasant experience. Someone asked me if I was there to see the podiatrist before I had time to even sit down, the podiatrist and assistant had everything ready when I walked into the "operating" room, the assistant handed me the piece of paper to sign away my rights while the doctor was actually already prepping my toe, and everything was smooth and quick and relatively painless (most of the pain came later when the toe "un-numbed"). Overall I was in and out in about five minutes, and I haven't had a problem since. The lack of pain has done wonders for my exercise - turns out running, walking, and moving are way more fun when your toenail isn't jabbing you with every step!
Apologies for the grossness of the next photo. If you have small children.... actually, small children will probably find this pic pretty cool:
9. I got back into shape. Winter is always the worst semester for me health-wise (especially with food poisoning!), but so far I've always been able to bounce back in the spring. Photo-wise, I ended up experimenting with yoga pics I've seen online or just stretching in general:
Then all of a sudden in May, the camera came alive. It seemed every weekend was photo-worthy. Things went so far that we even had to (gasp!) CHANGE THE BATTERIES.
So what was the big deal about in May? Well, let's take a look back and see...
1. I decided to get my hair cut. So the weekend before, I got my sister Hannah to take a lot of photos of me and Matthew (she took some of the photos we used for our engagements, and we liked them so much we asked her to give us coupons for more photoshoots for Christmas). This led to some great and goofy moments - I'll let you figure out which is which:
 |
| I totally can see this as a movie poster for a chick flick. Titles, anyone? |
 | |
| A rare non-goofy one of us three! |
 |
| I believe the instructions were "look flirty..." |
 | ||
2. I actually GOT my hair cut. Photos briefly became an obsession.
3. Matthew, possibly influenced by that one time in my western film class when I took him to see "Unforgiven," went and bought a gun (in unrelated news, the dog who barks all the time upstairs mysteriously went missing that night...). Of COURSE we took photos.
 |
| Matt and *Shotgun Shane* |
 |
| Matthew is obviously the cute Asian. |
4. Mother's day! Self-explanatory.
5. Mama's birthday! You will note that once again we succeeded in making our mother cry.
 |
| Blueberry birthday pie! |
 |
| Okay, so Daniel was actually the one who made her cry... |
 |
| Dad reading my very witty Jane Austen card |
The following things also happened in late April/early May that were camera-worthy:
7. We visited a friend of mine from the first neighborhood we lived in when we moved to Utah. I used to babysit her three oldest kids and it was fun seeing how grown-up everyone was except for herself and her husband, who haven't looked older than 25 since I met them. I actually thought she was a Laurel (a 16-18-year-old girl in the Church's Young Women program) when I met her and was surprised to find out she was a leader. Now I'm pretty convinced she could pass for one of my college students. I hope we'll visit them again so I can figure out where she stashes the Fountain of Youth flask.
8. I got a bad ingrown toenail. I actually got it in March, but it got worse and worse until I finally decided to get it taken care of after finals. I went to the BYU Student Health Center and had a very pleasant experience. Someone asked me if I was there to see the podiatrist before I had time to even sit down, the podiatrist and assistant had everything ready when I walked into the "operating" room, the assistant handed me the piece of paper to sign away my rights while the doctor was actually already prepping my toe, and everything was smooth and quick and relatively painless (most of the pain came later when the toe "un-numbed"). Overall I was in and out in about five minutes, and I haven't had a problem since. The lack of pain has done wonders for my exercise - turns out running, walking, and moving are way more fun when your toenail isn't jabbing you with every step!
Apologies for the grossness of the next photo. If you have small children.... actually, small children will probably find this pic pretty cool:
 |
| First look after taking off the bandages |
9. I got back into shape. Winter is always the worst semester for me health-wise (especially with food poisoning!), but so far I've always been able to bounce back in the spring. Photo-wise, I ended up experimenting with yoga pics I've seen online or just stretching in general:
 |
| What you don't see is my toe, pre-operation, throbbing in agony |
Sunday, May 5, 2013
April 2013 Media Inventory
Here's what I watched and read in between writing and grading papers during the blurry haze that was the month of April.
Movies:
My Brilliant Career: Charming but serious Anne of Green Gables-ish Australian film that was also somehow a western... at least, I saw it in western class. I largely enjoyed it except for the ending, which I found rather smug and neat in contrast to the blunt, messy realities that the film earlier embraced.
Bleak House: Absolutely LOVED this TV mini-series! I highly recommend it to anyone in the mood for humorous characters, mysterious scandals, complicated relationships, and satisfying romantic dramas of England in the 1800s.
Heart: So, this was a BYU short film that turned "The Tell-Tale Heart" into a bit of a western! And it starred Aaron Eckhart back when he was a student, apparently. He made a pretty good crazy nutcase if I do say so myself.
The Tell-Tale Heart: A more feature-film adaptation of the Poe story that greatly amused me and my classmates due to its rather theatrical style. The scandalous love triangle and betrayal of a best friend were intriguing additions, but the cake really went to an unexpected impalement, a throbbing carpet, and probably the world's worst reading of female signals by the main character. Still extremely entertaining.
Unforgiven: One of my favorites from the western class - it vies for first place right alongside "Ride the High Country." Matthew watched it with me and we both had a lot to discuss and think about afterwards. It really does stick with you.
Open Range: I had high hopes but ended up being less impressed with this one, though I continue to love Robert Duvall and (mostly) Kevin Costner as the plain-speaking, witty, too stubborn to quit cowpuncher and the shell-shocked, hardened but totally still romantically available sidekick. At least I still have Lonesome Dove and Dances with Wolves.
Water for Elephants: Enjoyable film, but I didn't find the plot all that compelling judging by the fact that it took me several days to actually finish it. While I normally love Reese Witherspoon, none of the three main characters was actually that interesting to me (the elephant was pretty good, though), and I've never been a huge fan of the whole "weather-beaten old man recounts his past to skeptical youth of today" intro.
Hitchcock: Fun, entertaining, and creative film about the making of Psycho which I particularly enjoyed since I just read and wrote about Psycho in the fall. I was a bit disappointed in how short and shallow it seemed - it only offered a slice of Hitchcock (and of Psycho, truthfully) when I was hoping for a lot more.
One for the Money: Watching this film was very similar to reading the book - I was intrigued by the overall idea and bored to tears by the particulars. I finished it, but barely.
The Incredible Burt Wonderstone: Matthew and I watched this at the Dollar Theater and it was hilarious. So many lines that I wanted to write down and quote. So much Steve Carell + Jim Carrey awesomeness. The plot was pretty cliche, but I didn't care too much because of how much I was enjoying the performances, the dialogue, and the magic tricks ('scuse me, illusions).
The Impossible: When I heard this film was about the 2004 tsunami, I wasn't enthusiastic about seeing it. I expected a lot of affirmative cliches about humanity rallying in the midst of tragedy and blatant attempts to pull on heartstrings. But this harrowing experience of a film surprised me. The tsunami itself was grim, rough, quick, and violent - probably one of the scariest things I've seen on film - and the camera let it happen without prior warning, music, foreshadowing, etc. It comes completely out of nowhere without any overt attempt to explain it or how we should feel about it as it is happening. Never so clearly have I been able to put myself in the vulnerable state of a film's protagonist as when we see pieces of trees, houses, furniture, tools, and toys hurtling at lightning speed in our direction underneath the huge wave of water that has washed over everything. After the wave has passed, the fear, frustration, confusion, and panic about where our characters are and if they're going to be okay or not is terribly convincing. More than once I found myself having to grimace, look away, and shudder at the traumatic results of injury, which to me is the mark of a film successfully engaging my emotions and attention. The story doesn't really attempt to analyze what's happening on a deeper level (i.e. Why did this happen to us? Why did God allow this to happen?), but it feels real and scary nonetheless and struck me with an awareness of how vulnerable and weak we really are in this physical state of mortality. It's probably good for someone who loves swimming and the beach as much as I do to have a healthy sense of fear and respect for water instilled into me.
Wreck-it Ralph: Matthew and I had both been hearing a lot about how good this film is, and I guess I have to say that the rumors are true. We loved it! Creative, entertaining, and clever story and characters, whether you ever played video games or not. This is one I wouldn't mind owning.
Books:
Of Wolves and Men: Interesting and accessible read about the ways of wolves and how we've feared, hated, loved, and killed them over the years. Great resource should I ever want to write a paper about wolves or just make someone feel guilty.
Watership Down: I loved this book when Mama read it to us at lunchtime many years ago, and I still love it. It took me maybe three days to read, but I was enthralled for the entire three days. It is such a beautiful story and so well written. Next to Brian Jacques, Richard Adams is probably my favorite author of books about small animals.
Tales of Watership Down: Because you never want the story to end...
Life of Pi: I have wanted to read this book for a long time, and seeing the movie finally stirred up enough interest in me to go for it. It's a great book - funny, touching, entertaining, insightful, practical. Why did it take me this long to get to it? I wanted it to be a true story and was sad when it wasn't (and was even sadder when I realized the real story was probably Eat Pray Love). Still, read it anyway.
Movies:
My Brilliant Career: Charming but serious Anne of Green Gables-ish Australian film that was also somehow a western... at least, I saw it in western class. I largely enjoyed it except for the ending, which I found rather smug and neat in contrast to the blunt, messy realities that the film earlier embraced.
Bleak House: Absolutely LOVED this TV mini-series! I highly recommend it to anyone in the mood for humorous characters, mysterious scandals, complicated relationships, and satisfying romantic dramas of England in the 1800s.
Heart: So, this was a BYU short film that turned "The Tell-Tale Heart" into a bit of a western! And it starred Aaron Eckhart back when he was a student, apparently. He made a pretty good crazy nutcase if I do say so myself.
The Tell-Tale Heart: A more feature-film adaptation of the Poe story that greatly amused me and my classmates due to its rather theatrical style. The scandalous love triangle and betrayal of a best friend were intriguing additions, but the cake really went to an unexpected impalement, a throbbing carpet, and probably the world's worst reading of female signals by the main character. Still extremely entertaining.
Unforgiven: One of my favorites from the western class - it vies for first place right alongside "Ride the High Country." Matthew watched it with me and we both had a lot to discuss and think about afterwards. It really does stick with you.
Open Range: I had high hopes but ended up being less impressed with this one, though I continue to love Robert Duvall and (mostly) Kevin Costner as the plain-speaking, witty, too stubborn to quit cowpuncher and the shell-shocked, hardened but totally still romantically available sidekick. At least I still have Lonesome Dove and Dances with Wolves.
Water for Elephants: Enjoyable film, but I didn't find the plot all that compelling judging by the fact that it took me several days to actually finish it. While I normally love Reese Witherspoon, none of the three main characters was actually that interesting to me (the elephant was pretty good, though), and I've never been a huge fan of the whole "weather-beaten old man recounts his past to skeptical youth of today" intro.
Hitchcock: Fun, entertaining, and creative film about the making of Psycho which I particularly enjoyed since I just read and wrote about Psycho in the fall. I was a bit disappointed in how short and shallow it seemed - it only offered a slice of Hitchcock (and of Psycho, truthfully) when I was hoping for a lot more.
One for the Money: Watching this film was very similar to reading the book - I was intrigued by the overall idea and bored to tears by the particulars. I finished it, but barely.
The Incredible Burt Wonderstone: Matthew and I watched this at the Dollar Theater and it was hilarious. So many lines that I wanted to write down and quote. So much Steve Carell + Jim Carrey awesomeness. The plot was pretty cliche, but I didn't care too much because of how much I was enjoying the performances, the dialogue, and the magic tricks ('scuse me, illusions).
The Impossible: When I heard this film was about the 2004 tsunami, I wasn't enthusiastic about seeing it. I expected a lot of affirmative cliches about humanity rallying in the midst of tragedy and blatant attempts to pull on heartstrings. But this harrowing experience of a film surprised me. The tsunami itself was grim, rough, quick, and violent - probably one of the scariest things I've seen on film - and the camera let it happen without prior warning, music, foreshadowing, etc. It comes completely out of nowhere without any overt attempt to explain it or how we should feel about it as it is happening. Never so clearly have I been able to put myself in the vulnerable state of a film's protagonist as when we see pieces of trees, houses, furniture, tools, and toys hurtling at lightning speed in our direction underneath the huge wave of water that has washed over everything. After the wave has passed, the fear, frustration, confusion, and panic about where our characters are and if they're going to be okay or not is terribly convincing. More than once I found myself having to grimace, look away, and shudder at the traumatic results of injury, which to me is the mark of a film successfully engaging my emotions and attention. The story doesn't really attempt to analyze what's happening on a deeper level (i.e. Why did this happen to us? Why did God allow this to happen?), but it feels real and scary nonetheless and struck me with an awareness of how vulnerable and weak we really are in this physical state of mortality. It's probably good for someone who loves swimming and the beach as much as I do to have a healthy sense of fear and respect for water instilled into me.
Wreck-it Ralph: Matthew and I had both been hearing a lot about how good this film is, and I guess I have to say that the rumors are true. We loved it! Creative, entertaining, and clever story and characters, whether you ever played video games or not. This is one I wouldn't mind owning.
Books:
Of Wolves and Men: Interesting and accessible read about the ways of wolves and how we've feared, hated, loved, and killed them over the years. Great resource should I ever want to write a paper about wolves or just make someone feel guilty.
Watership Down: I loved this book when Mama read it to us at lunchtime many years ago, and I still love it. It took me maybe three days to read, but I was enthralled for the entire three days. It is such a beautiful story and so well written. Next to Brian Jacques, Richard Adams is probably my favorite author of books about small animals.
Tales of Watership Down: Because you never want the story to end...
Life of Pi: I have wanted to read this book for a long time, and seeing the movie finally stirred up enough interest in me to go for it. It's a great book - funny, touching, entertaining, insightful, practical. Why did it take me this long to get to it? I wanted it to be a true story and was sad when it wasn't (and was even sadder when I realized the real story was probably Eat Pray Love). Still, read it anyway.
Saturday, April 6, 2013
March 2013 Media Inventory
Sorry T. S. Eliot, but March is totally the cruelest month. Cold, windy, snowy, and so much school. Thank goodness for books and movies.
Movies
Amadeus: Can you believe I hadn't seen this in its entirety until now? Me neither. I've actually seen so many fragments of it over the year that I kept thinking I had seen it, but I decided I'd better make sure. It has some pretty funny and great moments (the voice of God part comes to mind), but I wasn't particularly blown away by it as a whole.
The Tall T: I still have no idea why this movie is called the Tall T. The protagonist is like 6'2". Big whup. BUT this film cemented my love for Richard Boone - he's the voice of Smaug in the animated Hobbit and Russian from Crooked Sky, and he makes for a pretty awesome villain here. LOVE.
Breaking Dawn (part 2): I had a lot of fun watching this with Matthew. We laughed, we poked fun, we cried (tears of LAUGHTER!), and we totally bought into the fight scene, which, let's face it, was the best part. I may not be a Twihard, but I thoroughly enjoyed the series and thought this was a satisfying conclusion (in contrast to the Hunger Games book 3, which went quickly from ugh to UGHHGHGHGHGHGHGH). I'm kind of excited to see The Host when it comes out on Redbox.
Ride the High Country: I can't get over how much I love this film. And Joel McCrea. So far (and there's only one week left) it's been my favorite film from western class. Did I mention Joel McCrea is old and amazing and the same guy from my next favorite film from that class, Stars in My Crown?
Hud: I also really liked this one, which we decided was a western kinda sorta even though they drive cars since they wear hats and shoot cows and get drunk. But the real reason why it's great? Paul Newman, ladies and gentlemen.
Hotel Transylvania: Ooooooooookay. That was pretty much my reaction to this film, which does have a sweet lesson and a lot of cute, quirky humor in it but also a lot of, um, juvenile tedious silliness and an ending which is totally OH COME ON crazy.
Pride and Prejudice: The BYU version. We were talking about Jane Austen adaptations in one of my classes and it just HAPPENED.
The Professionals: I liked this movie. I liked how people we expected to be one way turned out to be another, and how things we expected to happen totally didn't.
Will Penny: This one also threw me for a loop a few times, with things not happening the way they were supposed to (or how I expected them to), but the difference is I was NOT happy with it. I have to admit that Charlton Heston makes a pretty decent cowboy, though.
Skyfall: Another great Daniel Craig as James Bond film! I didn't love it as much as Casino Royale, but still liked it quite a lot.
Little Women: After realizing I had actually never seen the 1994 version, I decided to watch it so I could hate on it and criticize it in my adaptation class. To my great astonishment, I actually kinda loved it. This makes the THIRD film adaptation of Little Women, which I am absolutely devoted to as a novel (I'm planning on writing a post someday on how my sisters and I actually ARE Little Women), that I have thoroughly enjoyed. Favorite things about this one that stand out include Laurie having a mustache when he grows up, Professor Bhaer as the oh so cute Gabriel Byrne (aka the evil Earl from the Vikings... which just makes everything even better), and THE KISS. Ah, they had me at the kiss.
Life of Pi: I found this story beautiful, touching, and inspiring. Not to mention extremely compelling and exciting for being a film with only two characters for the majority of time.
Theater:
The Servant of Two Masters: Matt and I saw this at BYU. I liked it. The plot's a little stupid but the acting was hilarious - tons of physical comedy, modern references, and outlandish accents. And we had great seats, too. The only part which rubbed me the wrong way was when one of the cast members got right in my face and scowled at me for failing to realize that he wanted me to start clapping during a rhythmic dance section. Intimidation and bullying really isn't the best way to go when you are trying to encourage someone to root for you and like you. Even Matt said he was slightly ticked off and wanted to shove the guy back onstage. Other than that, the cast was great.
Books:
Beloved: A very emotional, deep, difficult book about dealing with one's past, set (where else?) in the South. It was draining to read but also inspiring.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A wild, wacky mess. My reaction varied from amusement to dismay to apathy to exhaustion. I found the author unlikable, the events depressing, and the message absurd at best, and despairing at worst. There's no denying it's an interesting and eye-opening read, though, and if nothing else it confirmed my decision to stay away from drugs.
Matched: I read this in a few days on a whim, after seeing it advertised in a filmed commercial (with actors and everything!) on Hulu. I didn't expect it to be very good, but it was better than I expected. Sort of reminded me of The Giver + The Hunger Games (minus the actual, um, Hunger Games part) + cheesy teenage romance stuff.
Little House on the Prairie: A refreshingly cheerful, sweet, optimistic book (despite being filled with accounts of danger from sickness, wolves, Indians, fire, floods, poisoned wells, etc). I love this series so much. Prepare to hear it read for years of your bedtime stories, future children!
Movies
Amadeus: Can you believe I hadn't seen this in its entirety until now? Me neither. I've actually seen so many fragments of it over the year that I kept thinking I had seen it, but I decided I'd better make sure. It has some pretty funny and great moments (the voice of God part comes to mind), but I wasn't particularly blown away by it as a whole.
The Tall T: I still have no idea why this movie is called the Tall T. The protagonist is like 6'2". Big whup. BUT this film cemented my love for Richard Boone - he's the voice of Smaug in the animated Hobbit and Russian from Crooked Sky, and he makes for a pretty awesome villain here. LOVE.
Breaking Dawn (part 2): I had a lot of fun watching this with Matthew. We laughed, we poked fun, we cried (tears of LAUGHTER!), and we totally bought into the fight scene, which, let's face it, was the best part. I may not be a Twihard, but I thoroughly enjoyed the series and thought this was a satisfying conclusion (in contrast to the Hunger Games book 3, which went quickly from ugh to UGHHGHGHGHGHGHGH). I'm kind of excited to see The Host when it comes out on Redbox.
Ride the High Country: I can't get over how much I love this film. And Joel McCrea. So far (and there's only one week left) it's been my favorite film from western class. Did I mention Joel McCrea is old and amazing and the same guy from my next favorite film from that class, Stars in My Crown?
Hud: I also really liked this one, which we decided was a western kinda sorta even though they drive cars since they wear hats and shoot cows and get drunk. But the real reason why it's great? Paul Newman, ladies and gentlemen.
Hotel Transylvania: Ooooooooookay. That was pretty much my reaction to this film, which does have a sweet lesson and a lot of cute, quirky humor in it but also a lot of, um, juvenile tedious silliness and an ending which is totally OH COME ON crazy.
Pride and Prejudice: The BYU version. We were talking about Jane Austen adaptations in one of my classes and it just HAPPENED.
The Professionals: I liked this movie. I liked how people we expected to be one way turned out to be another, and how things we expected to happen totally didn't.
Will Penny: This one also threw me for a loop a few times, with things not happening the way they were supposed to (or how I expected them to), but the difference is I was NOT happy with it. I have to admit that Charlton Heston makes a pretty decent cowboy, though.
Skyfall: Another great Daniel Craig as James Bond film! I didn't love it as much as Casino Royale, but still liked it quite a lot.
Little Women: After realizing I had actually never seen the 1994 version, I decided to watch it so I could hate on it and criticize it in my adaptation class. To my great astonishment, I actually kinda loved it. This makes the THIRD film adaptation of Little Women, which I am absolutely devoted to as a novel (I'm planning on writing a post someday on how my sisters and I actually ARE Little Women), that I have thoroughly enjoyed. Favorite things about this one that stand out include Laurie having a mustache when he grows up, Professor Bhaer as the oh so cute Gabriel Byrne (aka the evil Earl from the Vikings... which just makes everything even better), and THE KISS. Ah, they had me at the kiss.
Life of Pi: I found this story beautiful, touching, and inspiring. Not to mention extremely compelling and exciting for being a film with only two characters for the majority of time.
Theater:
The Servant of Two Masters: Matt and I saw this at BYU. I liked it. The plot's a little stupid but the acting was hilarious - tons of physical comedy, modern references, and outlandish accents. And we had great seats, too. The only part which rubbed me the wrong way was when one of the cast members got right in my face and scowled at me for failing to realize that he wanted me to start clapping during a rhythmic dance section. Intimidation and bullying really isn't the best way to go when you are trying to encourage someone to root for you and like you. Even Matt said he was slightly ticked off and wanted to shove the guy back onstage. Other than that, the cast was great.
Books:
Beloved: A very emotional, deep, difficult book about dealing with one's past, set (where else?) in the South. It was draining to read but also inspiring.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A wild, wacky mess. My reaction varied from amusement to dismay to apathy to exhaustion. I found the author unlikable, the events depressing, and the message absurd at best, and despairing at worst. There's no denying it's an interesting and eye-opening read, though, and if nothing else it confirmed my decision to stay away from drugs.
Matched: I read this in a few days on a whim, after seeing it advertised in a filmed commercial (with actors and everything!) on Hulu. I didn't expect it to be very good, but it was better than I expected. Sort of reminded me of The Giver + The Hunger Games (minus the actual, um, Hunger Games part) + cheesy teenage romance stuff.
Little House on the Prairie: A refreshingly cheerful, sweet, optimistic book (despite being filled with accounts of danger from sickness, wolves, Indians, fire, floods, poisoned wells, etc). I love this series so much. Prepare to hear it read for years of your bedtime stories, future children!
Sunday, March 3, 2013
February 2013 Media Inventory
Not a ton of stuff to report for February. I missed one week of western films due to food poisoning, and Matthew and I watched season 1 and 2 of The Walking Dead, which was awesome, but I already figured I would write about TV at the end of the year rather than month by month. However, do know for now that Fridays are my official "girlfriend catch-up time" with Sarah, The Bachelor, and Project Runway. It's practically a ritual now and I look forward to it more than I care to admit.
Movies:
He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not: When I found out Matthew hadn't seen this and we were in need of something appropriate for Valentine's Day, it was a no-brainer. Smart, creative, fun foreign movie with an oh so delightful tricky twist that still freaks me out every time.
Jesse and Celeste Forever: Stupidest film I've seen in a while. I have never regretted getting a free film from Redbox more than this one. Ugh ugh stupid ugh can't even talk about it anymore.
The Far Country: Bit of a weird western. It somehow managed to cram in all the usual elements while still feeling unfamiliar and eccentric. I was a bit surprised at Jimmy Stewart's nonchalance and emotional detachment from things (up until the climax, that is, because duh), but still felt he and everyone else in the cast did a pretty good job (with the possible exception of that one extremely annoying and always right about everything woman) making a very typical, generic story feel somewhat newer and realer. Also I feel like I know more about Alaska now, which is cool.
Man of the West: I hated the first 1/3 of this film - boring, bland, and bizarrely un-western. Things got better in the second third, when conflict and character development were introduced, but everything sort of tapered off and crumbled before the actual climax arrived, making it feel like a tired, sad, weak version of a western (possibly on purpose?). I especially didn't like the casting of Gary Cooper in the main role - he just seemed way too old and straight-laced to have the mysterious, disturbed background that the character is meant to have.
Movies:
He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not: When I found out Matthew hadn't seen this and we were in need of something appropriate for Valentine's Day, it was a no-brainer. Smart, creative, fun foreign movie with an oh so delightful tricky twist that still freaks me out every time.
She
Wore a Yellow Ribbon: The loooooongest film I've seen ever, including LOTR, Gone with the Wind, and whatever else you say in the comments. This film would NOT end. There were so many back-to-square-one moments in this film and plots that kept circling around each other that I quickly felt entirely sympathetic with the characters who wanted to get out and head back East (I think at one point I even envied the dead characters). The end was touching, and there were several powerful, resonant moments, but I'm not sure the view was worth the all-day hike to get there.
Silver
Lode: I watched this right after She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, so I was all set to hate it (since, you know, the last thing you want to do after watching an insanely long film is to watch ANOTHER film), which makes the following statement all the more profound: This film was FANTASTIC. Not a single moment felt unnecessary or tangential - everything was direct and to the point, and the plot unfolded in an exciting and unexpected yet realistic way. The performances were excellent, the story was interesting, the characters were intriguing, and it all felt fresh and new, despite taking on for its premise the same High Noon story that has been done to death. This might be my favorite film from western class so far.
The
Diving Bell and the Butterfly: I've heard of this film for a while, and was glad and proud that I forced myself to go out and see it on a Saturday when I would normally be sleeping, eating, or lounging. It was really remarkable how much the film managed to show and convey of the character's struggle to have a meaningful life when it seemed like everything had been taken away. There is some gorgeous, creative, and extremely intimate cinematography, acting, and writing going on here (the father's phone call was especially heartbreaking for me). It also really made me want to watch El Mar Adentro, another film about assisted living for the paralyzed with a rather different take (at least, so I hear).
Jesse and Celeste Forever: Stupidest film I've seen in a while. I have never regretted getting a free film from Redbox more than this one. Ugh ugh stupid ugh can't even talk about it anymore.
The Far Country: Bit of a weird western. It somehow managed to cram in all the usual elements while still feeling unfamiliar and eccentric. I was a bit surprised at Jimmy Stewart's nonchalance and emotional detachment from things (up until the climax, that is, because duh), but still felt he and everyone else in the cast did a pretty good job (with the possible exception of that one extremely annoying and always right about everything woman) making a very typical, generic story feel somewhat newer and realer. Also I feel like I know more about Alaska now, which is cool.
Man of the West: I hated the first 1/3 of this film - boring, bland, and bizarrely un-western. Things got better in the second third, when conflict and character development were introduced, but everything sort of tapered off and crumbled before the actual climax arrived, making it feel like a tired, sad, weak version of a western (possibly on purpose?). I especially didn't like the casting of Gary Cooper in the main role - he just seemed way too old and straight-laced to have the mysterious, disturbed background that the character is meant to have.
Forty
Guns: Aside from its gorgeous opening sequence, I really didn't find this film all that memorable. It was pretty difficult to tell the trio of protagonist brothers apart from each other, let alone get emotionally invested in them, and I ended up rooting for the troublemakers just to keep things interesting and moving along. It also had a weirdly street gangster feel to it, as if all the gunfighters and cowboys were really city mobsters and detectives in a noir film. There was even a femme fatale. And it was even Barbara Stanwyck (of Double Indemnity!).
Johnny
Guitar: Bit of a wild card as far as your traditional westerns go, but I liked it. A lot of conflict, emotion, violence, and some really crazy characters. Never fear - Johnny does play the guitar, and he also shoot guns. It was sort of obvious what was going to happen in this film, but how it happened was sure interesting.
Theater:
Henry
V: A super shortened version of the play, with many liberties taken. I wouldn't have enjoyed it if I had gone expecting to see "Henry V," but I went in knowing it was for children, and it was about as good as I expected it to be. There were several unexpectedly poignant moments (Henry V praying in the battlefield stood out in particular; the song at the end) and I was surprised at how little the fact that Henry V was a woman bothered me once things really got going. And there was some cool choreography with sticks.
Books:
Don
Quixote (part 1): My mom read this to us once when I was about fourteen or fifteen. Back then I thought it had some funny moments but was overall too longwinded and tangential. My opinion remains about the same, although I appreciated the irony, craft, and subtext behind the writing much more this time around. I was still totally wiped out by the time Part 1 ended, though. Doubt I'll ever read Part 2.
Straight
Man: Darkly cynical and fairly hilarious commentary on modern academic life. I wouldn't really recommend it to people in general due to the coarseness and bitterness, but the overwrought, despairing academic graduate students and English majors might get a kick of reading about the lunacy and drudgery that awaits them. I felt the author went over the top in making a few of his points, but I wouldn't be surprised if that was actually also his point.
A
Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court: A humorous yet highly moralistic and soul-searching work by Mark Twain. I quite enjoyed it, though the second half definitely fell into a more serious and darker examination of human nature than I was expecting. It was good, but a little depressing. I also have to say I enjoyed the version I got from the Orem library because it included illustrations by Trina Schart Hyman. Love her!
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