Only one more month to go! It's surprising how fast this year has gone by. And at the same time, the months and days seem to go pretty slowly. Here's what I watched and read in November:
Movies:
Sorry, Wrong Number: This movie was surprisingly dark for an old classic. I thought I knew where it was going, and then--whoa.
Anne of Avonlea: Loved it just as much as Anne of Green Gables. Anne. Miss Stacey, and Marilla are my role models.
The Orphanage: I saw this in October, but saw it again with Matthew in November because I liked it so much. We can't wait to play creepy Spanish games with our kids!
The Sound of Music: I was in the mood (you'll see why soon). It was so (remifasolatido) delightful. The songs are still going through my head.
The Waltons Thanksgiving (both of them): This month I got stuck on a Waltons binge-fest. I have been watching my favorite episodes from each season every night while I work on miscellaneous stuff. As of now I'm still interested and I'm in the seventh season. Our kids are definitely gonna be little Walton-ites if this keeps up.
Labyrinth: What the weird. This film reminded me of something I would come up with in a dream after eating too much one night - it would seem like a really cool and awesome idea while I was asleep and then I'd wonder what the heck I was thinking when I woke up. But it was so weird and wacky and awkward and tacky enough to just be sort of . . . cool? At any rate, I now have a good excuse for David Bowie to show up in future crazy dreams.
I am Sam: I really enjoyed this tender and poignant film about a mentally challenged father trying to raise and keep his daughter, not least because she has the beautiful name of Lucy.
Catch Me if You Can: I've seen this one before but it sure is a rollicking good time. Matthew also liked it.
The Intouchables: Matthew and I saw this at the International Cinema and it was SO good. Highly, highly, highly recommend.
Star Trek 2: Love, love, love this movie. And it makes three amazing movies in a row that I watched this month! I was on a roll.
The Magic of Belle Isle: Ehhh... didn't care super much for this one. In fact, I'm not entirely sure I saw the ending.
Something Wicked This Way Comes: Good film to match a good book. Made me miss October.
The Inn of the Sixth Happiness: I don't know why I was in the mood for this, but I was. I haven't seen it since I was an early teenager or thereabouts, so there was a lot of nostalgia in seeing and crying and laughing at the old familiar parts. It is wonderful how movies you watched as a child come to take on new meanings when you watch them as an adult.
Bernie: I watched this in January, so I guess it's my beginning and end of the year movie. Matthew saw it this time and we were both really interested in dead bodies at the time (I'm not going to elaborate unless you ask), so it seemed to fit. Surprisingly, my favorite part this time around was 100% the music.
Frankenweenie: A little weird, a little creepy, a little cute. Sounds about right. I don't think I'll see it again, though - the heart and soul of the whole thing was missing for me. The little dog was adorable, though.
Austenland: Ok, so here's the thing. I know it's pretty much a ridiculous premise and plot and the lack of characterization and background and depth is appalling, yada yada. But is it bad that I thoroughly enjoyed and was entertained by the entire thing from beginning to end? Could it have to do with the fact that I watched it in a theater filled with gasping, squealing, whispering girls? Yeah...
Frequency: Fantastic film. Still has the intensity and the emotional and spiritual punch from the first time when I watched it.
Miracle on 34th Street (the older version): Watched this on Thanksgiving with my family. This time I especially loved the conversation between Fred Gailey and Doris about what things are worth believing in. And yes I actually believe Edmund Gwenn is Santa.
Books:
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall: This is the first book I've read by Anne Bronte. I really loved Wuthering Heights and could not get through Jane Eyre (although I need to give it a second go-round now), and this one fell in the middle of those two for me. It was well written and engaging, but rather belabored and long-winded. And the protagonist got on my nerves.
I Am Not a Serial Killer: The best word I can come up for this one right now is enthralling. Really, seriously, enthralling. I was impressed.
Catch Me If You Can: This semi-autobiography was even more interesting, tricky, and unbelievable than the movie. There were some good insights as well and I thought the author did a good job of presenting his life without over-analyzing or moralizing it.
Theater:
The Sound of Music: I went on a whim to usher for this production of The Sound of Music, which turned out to be done with large puppets (and one human, strangely, to play the part of Mother Superior). I was too far away unfortunately to really appreciate the detail of the puppets, but what I saw was cute and creative. They did a lot of fun marionette tricks that got a lot of laughs. The music really is all you need to have an enjoyable time though.
The Nightingale: I thought I had missed this show when I forgot to sign up to usher for it at BYU, but then they did a free performance at the Provo library and I got a great seat. I sometimes don't care too much for the "children's" shows they put on, but this one was actually probably one of my most favorite. I loved how they incorporated dance, music, and Chinese into the story and the costumes were really beautiful as well.
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Thursday, November 7, 2013
October 2013 Media Inventory
Movies:
Lincoln: Pretty good film. I was disappointed it only focused on a small part of Lincoln's story, but it did tell a compelling story, and I love anything to do with Civil War history.
Ramona and Beezus: Such a cute film, and the beginning of my "Comfort Movie October Fest." I especially love the added romance between Aunt Bea and Uncle Hobart - it's like Ramona for adults!
The Words: I thought this was going to be a lot better than it was. Then I was going to settle for it being just a little better than it was. Then I was disappointed that it turned out to be so... pointless.
Puss in Boots: Meh. I lost interest at Humpty-Dumpty. Wish they would do the fairy tale.
Monsieur Lazhar: Of all the films I've seen about inspirational teachers, this was pretty solidly in the middle.
Ballet Shoes: I liked this a lot more than I thought I would. Sweet, interesting story, great acting and characters, and of course, ballet.
The Princess and the Frog: I love this movie! If I'm being honest, the plot is really just sort of so-so, but the look and characters and music are just incredible. I still have all the songs running through my head.
Mud: Continuing with my Louisiana theme... Some fine acting in this film - the conflict and story got a little muddled (ha!), but the acting was excellent.
Wreck-it Ralph: Another super great recent film. There are so many fun and creative details.
Seven Samurai: It had been a long time since I saw this film, but I was in the mood, and very much enjoyed it. I'm glad I watched it at home this time and took my time (I think I watched it over three days).
The Syrian Bride: Great film. Touching, informative, and interesting all at the same time. I loved the family members' individual struggles and dynamics. I just wished there were more of it.
Sons of the Great Bear: My first and probably last experience with German westerns. Weird. I still can't believe I actually watched all of it.
Cinderella 2: Around this time in the month I became obsessed with Disney. I'd never actually seen this movie, so, you know, now I can say I've done it.
Robin Hood: Yes, yes, yes - I approve very much of this film. See my entire post on it below.
Cinderella 3: A little more interesting than Cinderella 2, but still... oh let's be honest. The sequels are always worse.
Arthur Christmas: Fantastic film, and just what I needed to start feeling all Christmasy at this time of year.
Proof: This movie struck me as the sort of movie that would make an okay play and a pretty dull movie - and so it did.
Moneyball: Excellent film that makes me care about baseball, money, and of course, Brad Pitt.
The Jungle Book: I specifically was craving this film. What I noticed about it this time was how haunting and layered and meaningful some of the music is - "Trust in Me" in particular seemed this time to have more sinister, deeper implications than I'd ever noticed before.
World War Z: Not quite what I was expecting from a zombie film. It seemed somewhere in between telling an epic disaster story and a character's personal journey, and didn't quite succeed at either (though Brad Pitt, as always, delivered his usual excellence).
Meet the Robinsons: Cute. Fun. Creative. Colorful. Entertaining.
The Little Mermaid: I was... not impressed. I didn't grow up watching this movie, and watching it now only reaffirms my beliefs that the only parts worth remembering are the songs.
The Adventures of Robin Hood: Matthew had never seen this before - a situation which I simply HAD to rectify. Although I didn't discover and popularize this film in my family until my teenage years, the lines, characters, and adventures all seem an integral part of my past. It doesn't even seem outdated or cheesy to me - just awesome.
Anne of Green Gables: Because I love Anne and it's always been too long since you've seen this.
The Orphanage: Wonderfully and beautifully scary Spanish film with a sweet and poignant message about motherhood as well. I liked it so much I took Matthew to see it later in the same week.
The Thin Man: A classic murder mystery/screwball comedy. There were definitely some good moments of acting/dialogue, but the overall murder plot seemed almost an aside to the comedy and an excuse for cleverness. The end didn't quite explain and resolve itself in a satisfying way.
Books:
The Ladies no. 1 Detective Agency: Beautifully written and insightful book that is both simple and deep. I want to read the later books in this series eventually.
The Castle of Crossed Destinies: A bit like King Arthur meets Canterbury Tales meets postmodern poetry. It's sort of frustrating and sort of fun.
Wit: A Play: I felt I related a lot with this play about a poetry professor who is dying of cancer and struggling to deal with it and her life's study of John Donne's poetry. I'm writing my paper on it, so I should have a lot more to say about it in two weeks.
Portuguese Irregular Verbs: Oh academia - so delightfully ridiculous and humorous and serious you are! I want to read more funny books about touchy and snooty professors.
Something Wicked This Way Comes: I thought this would be a fitting read for Halloween, and I was not disappointed. Strange mix of the real and the fantastic that I wasn't sure would work, but it did. There are so many themes in the conflicts - good versus evil, weak versus strong, and normal, simple, averageness versus unknown, supernatural, specialness, to name a few. I'm keeping my eye out for the film now.
Lincoln: Pretty good film. I was disappointed it only focused on a small part of Lincoln's story, but it did tell a compelling story, and I love anything to do with Civil War history.
Ramona and Beezus: Such a cute film, and the beginning of my "Comfort Movie October Fest." I especially love the added romance between Aunt Bea and Uncle Hobart - it's like Ramona for adults!
The Words: I thought this was going to be a lot better than it was. Then I was going to settle for it being just a little better than it was. Then I was disappointed that it turned out to be so... pointless.
Puss in Boots: Meh. I lost interest at Humpty-Dumpty. Wish they would do the fairy tale.
Monsieur Lazhar: Of all the films I've seen about inspirational teachers, this was pretty solidly in the middle.
Ballet Shoes: I liked this a lot more than I thought I would. Sweet, interesting story, great acting and characters, and of course, ballet.
The Princess and the Frog: I love this movie! If I'm being honest, the plot is really just sort of so-so, but the look and characters and music are just incredible. I still have all the songs running through my head.
Mud: Continuing with my Louisiana theme... Some fine acting in this film - the conflict and story got a little muddled (ha!), but the acting was excellent.
Wreck-it Ralph: Another super great recent film. There are so many fun and creative details.
Seven Samurai: It had been a long time since I saw this film, but I was in the mood, and very much enjoyed it. I'm glad I watched it at home this time and took my time (I think I watched it over three days).
The Syrian Bride: Great film. Touching, informative, and interesting all at the same time. I loved the family members' individual struggles and dynamics. I just wished there were more of it.
Sons of the Great Bear: My first and probably last experience with German westerns. Weird. I still can't believe I actually watched all of it.
Cinderella 2: Around this time in the month I became obsessed with Disney. I'd never actually seen this movie, so, you know, now I can say I've done it.
Robin Hood: Yes, yes, yes - I approve very much of this film. See my entire post on it below.
Cinderella 3: A little more interesting than Cinderella 2, but still... oh let's be honest. The sequels are always worse.
Arthur Christmas: Fantastic film, and just what I needed to start feeling all Christmasy at this time of year.
Proof: This movie struck me as the sort of movie that would make an okay play and a pretty dull movie - and so it did.
Moneyball: Excellent film that makes me care about baseball, money, and of course, Brad Pitt.
The Jungle Book: I specifically was craving this film. What I noticed about it this time was how haunting and layered and meaningful some of the music is - "Trust in Me" in particular seemed this time to have more sinister, deeper implications than I'd ever noticed before.
World War Z: Not quite what I was expecting from a zombie film. It seemed somewhere in between telling an epic disaster story and a character's personal journey, and didn't quite succeed at either (though Brad Pitt, as always, delivered his usual excellence).
Meet the Robinsons: Cute. Fun. Creative. Colorful. Entertaining.
The Little Mermaid: I was... not impressed. I didn't grow up watching this movie, and watching it now only reaffirms my beliefs that the only parts worth remembering are the songs.
The Adventures of Robin Hood: Matthew had never seen this before - a situation which I simply HAD to rectify. Although I didn't discover and popularize this film in my family until my teenage years, the lines, characters, and adventures all seem an integral part of my past. It doesn't even seem outdated or cheesy to me - just awesome.
Anne of Green Gables: Because I love Anne and it's always been too long since you've seen this.
The Orphanage: Wonderfully and beautifully scary Spanish film with a sweet and poignant message about motherhood as well. I liked it so much I took Matthew to see it later in the same week.
The Thin Man: A classic murder mystery/screwball comedy. There were definitely some good moments of acting/dialogue, but the overall murder plot seemed almost an aside to the comedy and an excuse for cleverness. The end didn't quite explain and resolve itself in a satisfying way.
Books:
The Ladies no. 1 Detective Agency: Beautifully written and insightful book that is both simple and deep. I want to read the later books in this series eventually.
The Castle of Crossed Destinies: A bit like King Arthur meets Canterbury Tales meets postmodern poetry. It's sort of frustrating and sort of fun.
Wit: A Play: I felt I related a lot with this play about a poetry professor who is dying of cancer and struggling to deal with it and her life's study of John Donne's poetry. I'm writing my paper on it, so I should have a lot more to say about it in two weeks.
Portuguese Irregular Verbs: Oh academia - so delightfully ridiculous and humorous and serious you are! I want to read more funny books about touchy and snooty professors.
Something Wicked This Way Comes: I thought this would be a fitting read for Halloween, and I was not disappointed. Strange mix of the real and the fantastic that I wasn't sure would work, but it did. There are so many themes in the conflicts - good versus evil, weak versus strong, and normal, simple, averageness versus unknown, supernatural, specialness, to name a few. I'm keeping my eye out for the film now.
Thursday, October 17, 2013
September 2013 Media Inventory
Now that we're over halfway through October, I suppose I'd better hurry and post this. I may have less to say than usual.
Movies:
Megamind: Fun movie. I liked it.
Mulan: One of my favorite Disneys! Great scenery, story, music, characters, etc.
Lady and the Tramp: I loved this so much I wrote a post about it.
The Fox and the Hound: Another one of my very favorites as a kid. It does make me cry.
Beauty and the Beast: Possibly, in my opinion, the best Disney movie.
According to Greta: Knowing nothing about this other than that Hillary Duff was playing an annoying teenager, I was nervous. But it was actually much better than I anticipated. Well acted and creative plot. I especially enjoyed the grandmother's character and the relationship between grandmother and granddaughter.
A Simple Life: Very down-to-earth, documentary-feeling Asian film about a housekeeper who joins a retirement home. I actually did believe for a little bit that I was just watching a woman's real life. It was long and painstakingly detailed, but still sweet.
A Cat in Paris: Fantastic, delightful animated French film. Funny and heartwarming. Watch it if you ever get the chance!
Tangled: Love it!
The Sword in the Stone: Merlin is SO hilarious.
Howl's Moving Castle: Matthew was really in the mood to watch it, so I came along for the ride. It isn't my favorite Miyazaki, and I wasn't blown away by the book either, but despite the so-so plot it's still just a very visually appealing film.
Enchanted: Such a feel-good film. For favorite parts, I'm torn between UM EVERY SONG EVER and the moment where the Queen is hiding Giselle in the elevator and feigns surprise at seeing her ("Oh.... her.").
Spirit: I remember thinking this was awesome as a kid. Then I gradually came to think of it as less than mediocre. This time I mostly enjoyed it. There's a little bit of corniness, but I'm mostly just happy to watch horses running around and showing off.
Freaky Friday: Something about this film intrigues and delights me. I like it, but it's hard to say why.
Cinderella: You don't spend a month watching classic Disney without watching this eventually.
Charlotte's Web: This film is so much greater and better than I remembered as a child. I actually really want to read the book again now.
Minority Report: Had to watch a Tom Cruise film to commemorate our "first date" anniversary (watching Knight and Day). This one impressed, despite all the eye-cringing eye-related stuff.
The Parent Trap: This was the first time I'd ever watched the new version with Lindsay Lohan. It was better than I expected (mostly thanks to Lohan's being a believable child actress), and I loved all the references to the old version (especially the fact that old Vicki played new Vicki's mother - and her name was still Vicki!).
Clandestine Childhood: A combination of passionate, anxious, activist propaganda and a simple boy comes of age tale. Although some of it was very emotional (the story of the uncle was particularly poignant), the whole thing overall didn't quite work for me. I had trouble connecting to the main character and thought the film was somewhat heavy handed and manipulative.
Now You See Me: A lot shorter than I expected it would be, and even crazier than I thought it would be (but not in the way that I thought it would be). I think it tried so hard to make sense and be cryptic at the same time that it ended up not making much sense.
Books:
Fablehaven 4: This is my second favorite of the series. Such great characters and story!
Fablehaven 5: Not my favorite, but a good ending to a great series.
Dewey: Sweet and cute book about a library cat. I liked it.
The Finger Points of Sausage Dogs: Hilarious perspective of a touchy academic professor that really summarizes how I feel about academic professors sometimes. Refreshing and funny. And the author (Alexander McCall Smith) is a fantastic writer.
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly: Interesting and unique book - you can hardly help reading it with the author's devastating experience in mind, and it makes his insights all the more touching.
A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man: Although Joyce's writing is certainly hard to follow at times, there were some themes and ideas in this book that really stuck with me. It also reminded me of a lot of people I knew and experiences I've had.
Movies:
Megamind: Fun movie. I liked it.
Mulan: One of my favorite Disneys! Great scenery, story, music, characters, etc.
Lady and the Tramp: I loved this so much I wrote a post about it.
The Fox and the Hound: Another one of my very favorites as a kid. It does make me cry.
Beauty and the Beast: Possibly, in my opinion, the best Disney movie.
According to Greta: Knowing nothing about this other than that Hillary Duff was playing an annoying teenager, I was nervous. But it was actually much better than I anticipated. Well acted and creative plot. I especially enjoyed the grandmother's character and the relationship between grandmother and granddaughter.
A Simple Life: Very down-to-earth, documentary-feeling Asian film about a housekeeper who joins a retirement home. I actually did believe for a little bit that I was just watching a woman's real life. It was long and painstakingly detailed, but still sweet.
A Cat in Paris: Fantastic, delightful animated French film. Funny and heartwarming. Watch it if you ever get the chance!
Tangled: Love it!
The Sword in the Stone: Merlin is SO hilarious.
Howl's Moving Castle: Matthew was really in the mood to watch it, so I came along for the ride. It isn't my favorite Miyazaki, and I wasn't blown away by the book either, but despite the so-so plot it's still just a very visually appealing film.
Enchanted: Such a feel-good film. For favorite parts, I'm torn between UM EVERY SONG EVER and the moment where the Queen is hiding Giselle in the elevator and feigns surprise at seeing her ("Oh.... her.").
Spirit: I remember thinking this was awesome as a kid. Then I gradually came to think of it as less than mediocre. This time I mostly enjoyed it. There's a little bit of corniness, but I'm mostly just happy to watch horses running around and showing off.
Freaky Friday: Something about this film intrigues and delights me. I like it, but it's hard to say why.
Cinderella: You don't spend a month watching classic Disney without watching this eventually.
Charlotte's Web: This film is so much greater and better than I remembered as a child. I actually really want to read the book again now.
Minority Report: Had to watch a Tom Cruise film to commemorate our "first date" anniversary (watching Knight and Day). This one impressed, despite all the eye-cringing eye-related stuff.
The Parent Trap: This was the first time I'd ever watched the new version with Lindsay Lohan. It was better than I expected (mostly thanks to Lohan's being a believable child actress), and I loved all the references to the old version (especially the fact that old Vicki played new Vicki's mother - and her name was still Vicki!).
Clandestine Childhood: A combination of passionate, anxious, activist propaganda and a simple boy comes of age tale. Although some of it was very emotional (the story of the uncle was particularly poignant), the whole thing overall didn't quite work for me. I had trouble connecting to the main character and thought the film was somewhat heavy handed and manipulative.
Now You See Me: A lot shorter than I expected it would be, and even crazier than I thought it would be (but not in the way that I thought it would be). I think it tried so hard to make sense and be cryptic at the same time that it ended up not making much sense.
Books:
Fablehaven 4: This is my second favorite of the series. Such great characters and story!
Fablehaven 5: Not my favorite, but a good ending to a great series.
Dewey: Sweet and cute book about a library cat. I liked it.
The Finger Points of Sausage Dogs: Hilarious perspective of a touchy academic professor that really summarizes how I feel about academic professors sometimes. Refreshing and funny. And the author (Alexander McCall Smith) is a fantastic writer.
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly: Interesting and unique book - you can hardly help reading it with the author's devastating experience in mind, and it makes his insights all the more touching.
A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man: Although Joyce's writing is certainly hard to follow at times, there were some themes and ideas in this book that really stuck with me. It also reminded me of a lot of people I knew and experiences I've had.
Re-viewed: Robin Hood
So I had fun doing this with Lady and the Tramp, and I'm still in the mood for Disney movies from my childhood, so here's my stream-of-consciousness Robin Hood report:
Is this the first Disney film to have male characters cross-dress as female characters? Seems edgier than I remembered. Also Robin Hood's disguised voices are REALLY good. As in I can't even believe it's the same actor doing all of his voices.
I related far more this time to Little John's having to hold up his heavy bosoms with his paws than I ever did as a kid. Ouch.
Skippy shoots an arrow really well for it being his first time.
That castle gate. Security cutbacks?
The charade where Skippy defeats and ultimately kills Lady Cluck as Prince John is a hugely seditious act that I would imagine should get all of them beheaded or thrown into jail at the very least.
Is Prince John actually dangerous or harmless? I really can't tell. They mock and fear him the way I imagine kids do their parents.
WHY OH WHY DO WE NEVER GET TO MEET PRINCE JOHN'S MOTHER?
All the animals in this movie have three fingers and a thumb. Does that seem weird to anyone else?
I'm still impressed with the Sheriff of Nottingham's shooting skills - hitting a moving target isn't that easy. But why didn't Nutsy just leap again for Robin Hood's shot?
Lady Cluck has the best lines. She is also the toughest female heroine of the film.
I just love Robin's proposal. Really, I'm pretty sure I had a crush on him when I was little. Also, I love the "Love" song. It is just beautiful.
So all that fighting and not a single casualty? They all just dance and party afterwards?
This was the first time I watched the film with subtitles and therefore the first time I actually deciphered what Little John said when he said, "Who's driving this flyin' umbrella?" Ha ha ha!
This is also maybe the first Disney movie to do legit gallows humor!
Why does Nutsy call one o'clock and all's well when the clock shows that it's three?
Cram-a-nit-ly is a great word to exclaim.
Two characters in the film say "doing my duty" and both times it made me snicker. I'm immature.
Trigger's helmet magically repairs itself! Also, this is the first time I really actually caught that he was named Trigger for his trigger finger.
Robin has no fewer than FOUR disguises and fake voices in this film. I'm impressed.
It takes approximately ten seconds for the Sheriff to set the entire tower on fire. And then Sir Hiss blames Prince John, which isn't really fair.
I'm pretty sure that every hat that Robin Hood wears gets an arrow through it at one point or another.
Monday, September 9, 2013
Re-viewed: Lady and the Tramp
I have no idea why, but I've been on an old Disney movie kick lately. And I've been having a lot of surprising new discoveries in all my adult wisdom that never really impressed me as a child. Take for example, Lady and the Tramp:
1. That song at the beginning makes me cry. Am I crazy emotional or is it crazy beautiful?
2. Lady is an EXTREMELY well-trained puppy if all they need to do is put down newspaper in a doggy room to get her through her entire puppyhood.
3. Why is Lady sleeping downstairs when Jim Dear goes out to get watermelon in the middle of the night? Doesn't she occupy their bedroom now?
4. This movie may be decidedly prejudiced against cats, but even so you have to admit those Siamese cats are SMART. They outwit Lady and Aunt Sarah, know right away "what a baby is" and more importantly, what it means for them, and figure out how to get what they want. They probably could have taken out the rat if they wanted to. I am impressed.
5. The accents that Tramp does when visiting his various families are hysterical and delightful.
6. I'm 99% convinced that Tony is certifiably insane (not only talks to dogs, but sets up a candlelight dinner with expensive cuisine and music! THIS IS NOT NORMAL) and Joe plays along because he is terrified for his life.
7. That silently crying dog in the pound makes me feel the sorrow of a thousand tears.
8. Peg is an awesome and intriguing character. She always annoyed me as a kid for some reason, but I am 100% Team Peg as an adult. She keeps it real, guys.
9. How is it that Tramp can take on three dogs who are twice his size and emerge unscathed, but has a very difficult time thrashing a rat?
10. That. Rat. It is the freakin' hugest rat on the planet. What has it been feeding on, alley dogs? Did it escape from a genetic mutation lab?
11. Do they actually ever name that baby? Is it Junior? Star-sweeper? You'd think that would be more important.
12. I like that this is one of the few Disney movies to celebrate marriage and kids at an early age - it's rare that we get to see our Disney protagonists contemplating children and all that children entail (another favorite I recently saw was 101 Dalmations - Pongo and Perdy are the best parents!). The moment when Tramp offers Lady the world full of adventures and she turns him down because "who would take care of the baby?" is a really poignant and touching one from an adult perspective.
1. That song at the beginning makes me cry. Am I crazy emotional or is it crazy beautiful?
2. Lady is an EXTREMELY well-trained puppy if all they need to do is put down newspaper in a doggy room to get her through her entire puppyhood.
3. Why is Lady sleeping downstairs when Jim Dear goes out to get watermelon in the middle of the night? Doesn't she occupy their bedroom now?
4. This movie may be decidedly prejudiced against cats, but even so you have to admit those Siamese cats are SMART. They outwit Lady and Aunt Sarah, know right away "what a baby is" and more importantly, what it means for them, and figure out how to get what they want. They probably could have taken out the rat if they wanted to. I am impressed.
5. The accents that Tramp does when visiting his various families are hysterical and delightful.
6. I'm 99% convinced that Tony is certifiably insane (not only talks to dogs, but sets up a candlelight dinner with expensive cuisine and music! THIS IS NOT NORMAL) and Joe plays along because he is terrified for his life.
7. That silently crying dog in the pound makes me feel the sorrow of a thousand tears.
8. Peg is an awesome and intriguing character. She always annoyed me as a kid for some reason, but I am 100% Team Peg as an adult. She keeps it real, guys.
9. How is it that Tramp can take on three dogs who are twice his size and emerge unscathed, but has a very difficult time thrashing a rat?
10. That. Rat. It is the freakin' hugest rat on the planet. What has it been feeding on, alley dogs? Did it escape from a genetic mutation lab?
11. Do they actually ever name that baby? Is it Junior? Star-sweeper? You'd think that would be more important.
12. I like that this is one of the few Disney movies to celebrate marriage and kids at an early age - it's rare that we get to see our Disney protagonists contemplating children and all that children entail (another favorite I recently saw was 101 Dalmations - Pongo and Perdy are the best parents!). The moment when Tramp offers Lady the world full of adventures and she turns him down because "who would take care of the baby?" is a really poignant and touching one from an adult perspective.
Sunday, September 1, 2013
It's About to Fall
This Tuesday will be the beginning of my last fall semester of graduate school. I am excited and a little sad (the "last" anything just seems so sad! What if I miss it?), but mostly excited. Fall has always been my favorite
semester. Allergy season is over, holiday season is beginning, the cool,
windy weather replaces the hot, stifling summer, and ASLAN IS ON THE
MOVE (okay, except not really, since he's supposed to come in the
spring). But it isn't really until fall that I start getting excited
about Christmas and the passing of time and all the good things to look
forward to in the coming years. This year, I am excited about
graduating, finishing with school, and moving out of our apartment next
year to Orem so Matthew can finish his degree. Big changes for the Covingtons next year, is what I'm saying, and this girl is READY!
While I'm trying to savor and relish the days as they come, reminding myself that this part of my life is a big deal and won't come again, mostly I am just impatient to get it over with and can't wait until next year to have my fall free from the stresses and pressure of schoolwork. I haven't had a college-free fall since 2004, which was a looooooooooooong time ago. What's that, you say? You want evidence?
When I reflect about my overall college experience, I am of two minds. Firstly (and loudly and insistently), college is exhausting and stressful and tough and I just want to be DONE with it. I'm sick of dealing with all the deadlines and writer's block and insane amounts of reading and grading and writing and argument. Every semester I get bored, frustrated, anxious, upset, tired, overwhelmed, panicked, and depressed. I look forward to the end of the semester the way a prisoner looks forward to the end of his (or her) sentence.
But then, mostly when I look back at old semesters that I've over-romanticized, I remember how much fun certain classes were and am impressed with how much I learned and was able to accomplish. I particularly enjoy looking back at the semesters where I discovered that something other people found boring was exciting to me (English Grammar and Civil War, hello!), or that something that was hard and tedious for other people was thrilling and enjoyable for me (Cormac McCarthy? T. S. Eliot? Writing papers about foreign films? Yay!). I liked discovering that I was good at certain things and passionate about others. And I do think I'll miss that part of college. It's really too bad I can't just continue to audit classes for free, because that would be awesome. There's so much more I'd like to learn (and not just the scholarly-type stuff. I wish I could take all the fun classes, like kayaking and acting and underwater cooking) (Okay, just kidding about the last one). Maybe I'll figure out a way to keep coming back for more. Maybe I'll go to a community college class or two. Maybe I'll have a fit of madness and decide to go for a PhD. Maybe I'll find a magical object that makes me invisible and then I can sneak into whatever classes I want (sorry, too much Fablehaven). But for now I am grateful that I decided to get my master's degree and I am confident in saying that I have enjoyed and made the most of my experience thus far. I would do it again. Or maybe I wouldn't do it again (ask me after I finish my thesis).
Happy Fall Semester, everyone!
While I'm trying to savor and relish the days as they come, reminding myself that this part of my life is a big deal and won't come again, mostly I am just impatient to get it over with and can't wait until next year to have my fall free from the stresses and pressure of schoolwork. I haven't had a college-free fall since 2004, which was a looooooooooooong time ago. What's that, you say? You want evidence?
 |
| My bunny and me, 2004 |
 |
| Not-my bunnies and me, 2013 |
But then, mostly when I look back at old semesters that I've over-romanticized, I remember how much fun certain classes were and am impressed with how much I learned and was able to accomplish. I particularly enjoy looking back at the semesters where I discovered that something other people found boring was exciting to me (English Grammar and Civil War, hello!), or that something that was hard and tedious for other people was thrilling and enjoyable for me (Cormac McCarthy? T. S. Eliot? Writing papers about foreign films? Yay!). I liked discovering that I was good at certain things and passionate about others. And I do think I'll miss that part of college. It's really too bad I can't just continue to audit classes for free, because that would be awesome. There's so much more I'd like to learn (and not just the scholarly-type stuff. I wish I could take all the fun classes, like kayaking and acting and underwater cooking) (Okay, just kidding about the last one). Maybe I'll figure out a way to keep coming back for more. Maybe I'll go to a community college class or two. Maybe I'll have a fit of madness and decide to go for a PhD. Maybe I'll find a magical object that makes me invisible and then I can sneak into whatever classes I want (sorry, too much Fablehaven). But for now I am grateful that I decided to get my master's degree and I am confident in saying that I have enjoyed and made the most of my experience thus far. I would do it again. Or maybe I wouldn't do it again (ask me after I finish my thesis).
Happy Fall Semester, everyone!
August 2013 Media Inventory
This one's going to be short and sweet, folks, although I think this has been my highest month for reading and watching (22 movies and 10 books! And most of them were completed in the last two weeks after I finished summer school).
Movies:
Premium Rush: Loved this one! Matthew watched it with me and we were both hooked, thrilled, amused, and terrified.
This Means War: I really want this movie to be good, because I love the three main cast members so much, but it's really not.
Star Trek: Into Darkness: Favorite movie of the month. Maybe year. It was pretty awesome.
Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows: It had its ups and downs. I think I liked it better the first time watching it, and I definitely still think the first Sherlock was better.
Beasts of the Southern Wild: Interesting, unpretentious, poignant film. I wasn't quite as caught up in it or blown away by its profundity as "The Tree of Life," say, but the story was simple and sincere.
Saved by Grace: Cute but shallow. But who doesn't love dancing and horses?
Shanghai Noon: Funny, entertaining, somewhat clever but mostly just a lot of Jackie Chan + Owen Wilson silliness. It got tiresome as it got longer.
Jurassic Park: I don't remember watching this, but Matthew says I did. I liked it, but the book was actually more terrifying.
Admission: Okay movie. I'm glad I saw it once. I probably won't watch it again.
10 Years: Surprisingly creative, interesting, and real-feeling movie. I was definitely pleased with how the natural dialogue and acting drew me in and won me over at least to the point of caring about what was going to happen next and remembering all the different characters.
Rise of the Guardians: Okay, so it was a run-of-the-mill kid's film. Nothing special. Pity because some of the details were quite amusing.
Unstoppable: A lot more intense and interesting than I expected it to be. Would watch again.
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen: Cute, creative, and clever. Loved it!
Shanghai Knights: A little less funny and entertaining than the first one, but I still got through it. Now I really want to purge now by watching "Hero," though.
A Good Woman: I think this would make a good play (not surprising since it's based on an Oscar Wilde play). For some reason it felt something was missing from the movie. It was still pretty good, though. Just sort of . . . "staged"-feeling.
Iron Man 3: Matthew and I saw this on a date at the dollar theater. It was fun (but not as great as Star Trek 2). Other than the crazy and inexplicable ending. We stuck around for the after-the-credits bit, which was also fun and made me feel like a nerd in the know.
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel: A quirky little film, that started out really promising and sort of ran out of steam somewhere in the middle. I tried hard to like and care about all the characters, but just gave up on a few and lost track of a few more, and by the end I was just glad that Judi Dench was happy.
Just Like Heaven: One of my favorite go-to rom-coms. Have I mentioned before how much I like Reese Witherspoon? Yep. Yep yep.
Oz the Great and Powerful: Still a fun, creative, and entertaining film.
The Hunger Games: I'm indebted to this film for being the first to make me aware of Jennifer Lawrence's talents. I'm excited for the sequel.
Rescue Dawn: I was not that stoked about the premise, but literally seconds into the film I was entranced. The musical score is so powerful and beautiful yet subtle (the same could also be said of the story and acting).
October Sky: I've seen this a couple of times but EVERY TIME I get choked up by the sweetness, innocence, purity, and love on display. The story of the Rocket Boys is wonderful by itself but the story of the Hickam family is the real heart-breaking clincher.
Books:
Jurassic Park: Fascinating. I love the way Michael Crichton starts with an incredible premise and slowly, rationally, deliberately makes me buy into it. Also terrifying and more gruesome than the film.
Animal Farm: Depressing but clever and quick read.
These Happy Golden Years: I love the Laura Ingalls Wilder books, and this one is quickly becoming my favorite. All the scenes with Laura and Almanzo driving down on the weekends remind me of my trips with Matthew to and from Sandy while we were engaged.
Fablehaven: Decided to kick off the end of the summer re-reading one of my favorite series!
Fablehaven 2: My favorite book of one of my favorite series!
Good Omens: Really liked the beginning of this book. It sort of lost momentum and just got confusing and less funny towards the later half, but it was still enjoyable.
Marley and Me: Loved it. Everything I could have hoped for in a "dog meets young family" tale.
Fablehaven 3: My least favorite of the Fablehavens, but still great!
Lamb: Hilarious novel. Somewhat scandalous and not for the strictly pious, but still. Absolutely hilarious. And there were more than a few profound insights to be had as well.
The Emperor's Soul: I read this all in a rush last night because Matthew was reading Fablehaven 4 and I had to read SOMETHING. I usually love Brandon Sanderson, but I think his longer works are better. It was okay. I didn't quite "get" the magic system at first and found the beginning a little slow, but things picked up and the end was fairly satisfying. I probably won't read it again.
Movies:
Premium Rush: Loved this one! Matthew watched it with me and we were both hooked, thrilled, amused, and terrified.
This Means War: I really want this movie to be good, because I love the three main cast members so much, but it's really not.
Star Trek: Into Darkness: Favorite movie of the month. Maybe year. It was pretty awesome.
Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows: It had its ups and downs. I think I liked it better the first time watching it, and I definitely still think the first Sherlock was better.
Beasts of the Southern Wild: Interesting, unpretentious, poignant film. I wasn't quite as caught up in it or blown away by its profundity as "The Tree of Life," say, but the story was simple and sincere.
Saved by Grace: Cute but shallow. But who doesn't love dancing and horses?
Shanghai Noon: Funny, entertaining, somewhat clever but mostly just a lot of Jackie Chan + Owen Wilson silliness. It got tiresome as it got longer.
Jurassic Park: I don't remember watching this, but Matthew says I did. I liked it, but the book was actually more terrifying.
Admission: Okay movie. I'm glad I saw it once. I probably won't watch it again.
10 Years: Surprisingly creative, interesting, and real-feeling movie. I was definitely pleased with how the natural dialogue and acting drew me in and won me over at least to the point of caring about what was going to happen next and remembering all the different characters.
Rise of the Guardians: Okay, so it was a run-of-the-mill kid's film. Nothing special. Pity because some of the details were quite amusing.
Unstoppable: A lot more intense and interesting than I expected it to be. Would watch again.
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen: Cute, creative, and clever. Loved it!
Shanghai Knights: A little less funny and entertaining than the first one, but I still got through it. Now I really want to purge now by watching "Hero," though.
A Good Woman: I think this would make a good play (not surprising since it's based on an Oscar Wilde play). For some reason it felt something was missing from the movie. It was still pretty good, though. Just sort of . . . "staged"-feeling.
Iron Man 3: Matthew and I saw this on a date at the dollar theater. It was fun (but not as great as Star Trek 2). Other than the crazy and inexplicable ending. We stuck around for the after-the-credits bit, which was also fun and made me feel like a nerd in the know.
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel: A quirky little film, that started out really promising and sort of ran out of steam somewhere in the middle. I tried hard to like and care about all the characters, but just gave up on a few and lost track of a few more, and by the end I was just glad that Judi Dench was happy.
Just Like Heaven: One of my favorite go-to rom-coms. Have I mentioned before how much I like Reese Witherspoon? Yep. Yep yep.
Oz the Great and Powerful: Still a fun, creative, and entertaining film.
The Hunger Games: I'm indebted to this film for being the first to make me aware of Jennifer Lawrence's talents. I'm excited for the sequel.
Rescue Dawn: I was not that stoked about the premise, but literally seconds into the film I was entranced. The musical score is so powerful and beautiful yet subtle (the same could also be said of the story and acting).
October Sky: I've seen this a couple of times but EVERY TIME I get choked up by the sweetness, innocence, purity, and love on display. The story of the Rocket Boys is wonderful by itself but the story of the Hickam family is the real heart-breaking clincher.
Books:
Jurassic Park: Fascinating. I love the way Michael Crichton starts with an incredible premise and slowly, rationally, deliberately makes me buy into it. Also terrifying and more gruesome than the film.
Animal Farm: Depressing but clever and quick read.
These Happy Golden Years: I love the Laura Ingalls Wilder books, and this one is quickly becoming my favorite. All the scenes with Laura and Almanzo driving down on the weekends remind me of my trips with Matthew to and from Sandy while we were engaged.
Fablehaven: Decided to kick off the end of the summer re-reading one of my favorite series!
Fablehaven 2: My favorite book of one of my favorite series!
Good Omens: Really liked the beginning of this book. It sort of lost momentum and just got confusing and less funny towards the later half, but it was still enjoyable.
Marley and Me: Loved it. Everything I could have hoped for in a "dog meets young family" tale.
Fablehaven 3: My least favorite of the Fablehavens, but still great!
Lamb: Hilarious novel. Somewhat scandalous and not for the strictly pious, but still. Absolutely hilarious. And there were more than a few profound insights to be had as well.
The Emperor's Soul: I read this all in a rush last night because Matthew was reading Fablehaven 4 and I had to read SOMETHING. I usually love Brandon Sanderson, but I think his longer works are better. It was okay. I didn't quite "get" the magic system at first and found the beginning a little slow, but things picked up and the end was fairly satisfying. I probably won't read it again.
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