The Event

I figured it out today. What is it that makes a television show great? What is it that keeps us watching it week after week, month after month, and for years? Take Grey's anatomy, it has juicy plots and medical craziness. It makes us wish we had that profession (occasionally, at least). Reality shows build upon themselves and you can't really miss any to keep following along. But what makes a show like LOST different from a show like The Event. It dawned on me today. Lost is a great show. And the characters are dynamic, they have a past (which you actually get to learn about), you come to know and love and care about the characters. But Lost has a vital component to a dramatic tv series. The music.

Now, I can't claim that I'm some sort of musical genius. But I know when I'm hooked to a television show or not. When my family started watching Lost, 3 series were completed and the fourth season was just about to start. We started watching season one in the middle of Christmas break, and by the time I was back in my dorm room the week before classes started again, I had finished three seasons. Boom. Boom. Boom. whatup!! It's nice to get to watch shows consecutively and not have to wait a week. But when season four started, I didn't mind waiting. Because it was nothing short of awesome. But let's talk about the music. Nearly every episode had their five second intro LOST tagline. And every episode ended with the same musical burst of "oh my goodness, what will happen next??!?!?!" Michael Giacchino composed the music for Lost and a lot of other wonderful-ness. Why can't they sign him onto The Event.

So my problem with The Event (besides the alien factor) is that the music isn't all that great. They have their little tagline "The Event" thing that comes in after the first couple minutes. But it doesn't really get your heart racing. And the ending doesn't ever really hook me. I watch week after week because I have a slight curiosity to see if this show can fill the void that Lost left me with, but so far? has it? meh. I don't know. I don't love the characters. I know a little bit about them, but they're only so-so. I'm not convinced that any of them are vital to the show. And furthermore, I don't really care who dies (in the show, of course). I just don't love them. Perhaps what really gets me about The Event is the alien component. Now, I watched a season of StarTrek Voyager with my dad in middle school and I was hooked. It was fun and exciting. I love Star Wars. I think I could like battlestar gallactica if I ever watched it, but something about the fact that these people who look exactly like humans are aliens? I don't know if my imagination can buy it. I cannot fully get into this show. My parents and I are teetering on whether it's not worth watching. What to do?

Anyways, this is my first post in a very long time. But I thought about the musical component of Lost and how it affected my love of the show. It made me scared, happy, and all the other emotions; the music helped me feel what the show was meant to convey. The Event needs some help in this department. It might help for them to go to a beautiful island! Or maybe they should learn from other great shows and just get Lost!

A Quick Review

Howdy all!

Long time no writing. I have actually seen some movies since september... go figure. I feel pretty bad about it. But, alas, what's passed has passed.

Movies I've seen (and did not review but will briefly review now):
-Avatar
I went to see this with my dad. I really liked the graphics and thought it was interesting and fresh. However, I was unimpressed with parts of the story line. I didn't like that the main guy character basically committed treason and was killing fellow Americans.. that's not cool. And I felt like I was watching parts of Ferngully (sp?). My favorite part was when they walked on the ground on the native's turf and it lit up :). I also liked (though completely predictable) the part when the main guy character rides on the super cool and rare and mostly untamable bird/raptor thing. This was a fun movie and I enjoyed it. Likelihood of seeing it again... eh, pretty slim.
-Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
I went to see this with my older (fun) brother and my good friend Alaina. We had so much fun watching this and were those people in the theater that you cannot understand how they are laughing so uncontrollably. But this movie was fun and imaginable. I personally think it DOMINATES the book (I read it again shortly after seeing the movie and I stand my ground on this opinion). Steve was the best. Gummy Bears!
-Dear John
My mom (uh hem, Santa) gave me this book for Christmas the year it came out (like a year or two ago) and I didn't read it. When I heard they were making this into a movie, I quickly read the book. Upon reading it, I cried. And cried. And cried. Clearly it is Nicholas Sparks main goal to make people cry. Now, I'm almost mad that he does the things he does. After reading the book: I didn't even know how to feel. I really didn't care for the ending. Bah. Anyways, then I saw the movie. My problems with it>> I didn't like how they made Tom out to be old. AND Alan was not his son, but his brother. AND Savannah didn't fall in love with him because he got sick. That was frustrating. She fell in love with him and THEN he got sick. Whatev. I kind of liked the ending better in the movie because I so hated it in the book. I think, what I decided while watching this movie, though, was that it's not really about the romance between John and Savannah, but about the relationship between John and his dad. Just saying. That's really what it's about.
-The Lovely Bones
This movie was pretty legit. I actually have nothing to complain about except for I didn't like how the heaven seen made this movie seem trippy. It's not about drugs. okay. but I really liked the suspense. Gawsh, Stanley Tucci makes a GREAT villain. Enough said. This movie was a great portrayal of the book!
-Valentine's Day
I had so much fun with this movie!! I went with my fun friend KtB! It was funny and lovable. It showed so many various aspects of relationships and it was great to see so many talented actors in the same movie. Even though Valentine's Day is over, this movie is fun to see at least once.
-The Time Traveler's Wife
I actually saw this on a plane ride from Boston to Dallas/Fort Worth. It was good but it made me cry. Rachel McAdams is so talented and she can do wonders with any script. I loved the scenery and the sets. I probably won't ever see this again but I'm awfully glad I saw it. I just wanted to know how it works... you know the whole time travel thing. I was too curious not to see this movie.
-All About Steve
Not my favorite. Although I love Sandra Bullock, I am not a big fan of bradley cooper. He always seems so skanky.
-The Proposal
So good. But it's been too long since I've seen it to write anything concrete. But I really liked this movie and I love to watch Ryan Reynolds!!
-Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
This came out a looooonnnng time ago... but I waited to watch it with my dad (since the only reason he read the books was because I made a deal with him that I would read the Lord of the Rings trilogy if he read HP... he held up his of the bargain... and me... not so much). I recall liking this movie enough. As it pertains to the book, not the best book-movie translation... as a movie... not too shabby.

Also, I've been watching the olympics and i love it. And Texas A&M basketball... which might be the real reason that I haven't been blogging. I heart NCAA basketball and it'll only get worse with march madness. Bring it on!!


So, I'm going to try a bit harder to add my thoughts into cyberspace with a hope that someone will read them. If they're not.. Eh... this isn't really about that is it... just an outlet so that I may procrastinate and not read about contract law, torts, and health related issues.

lovelove

Love Happens

Howdy! My apologies for taking so long for this post to happen. But here goes.

I went to see Love Happens with one of my good friends! I was really excited... perhaps it was more for the company but whatev, I haven't been to the movies in at least a month so this was long overdue.

I must say that first and foremost, I really think that the title of this movie is misleading. I was expecting a chick flick (of which I think there is a certain balance which must take place to be believable and enjoyable), but it wasn't. So that kind of made the experience kind of... different.

As the movie starts, we see a man arriving in a city. And I'm thinking to myself... hmm... what city is this? And eventually you see Pike's Place Market and the Space Needle and wahlah... Seattle. I absolutely love Seattle, it's atmosphere, and it's weather and so the movie starts optimistically. We meet the two main characters Burke Ryan (played by Aaron Eckhart) and Eloise (played by Jennifer Aniston). Eventually, we meet Marty, Eloise's right hand flower shop girl, played by Judy Greer (who is, to no surprise, just a supporting actress...blah blah... seriously, will she ever have a lead role ex.: 27 Dresses, 13 Going on 30, Elizabeth town? Boring!). Oops. Got off on a tangent there. No strong feelings. Um... shall we continue.

While, I was not particularly pleased by this movie, as I was expecting a Romantic Comedy, and was greeted with a Drama Lite (I just made up that genre), I did tear up and shed a couple of tears, which says something. Basically, this movie does it's job. It may move you... though, if no one really close has died to you, I don't know how much it could help. Regardless, it makes you care about the characters and really what more can you ask for. That means we have some good character building.

I must say Jennifer Aniston is really quite enchanting. She has really perfected her career and everything she does is just a piece of work. Must mention how ridiculously cute her wardrobe was. It really makes you take a second thought as to where you're living. Maybe I should move north just so that I can sport some fun scarves earlier. Um, duh. Furthermore, as Eloise, Aniston gets to showcase a woman with interest, devotion, and love for nature in her flower shop. Her whole set up is tres chic! Makes me want to quit my studies and just open my own shop!

About the plot: It was a little slow. Basically, the movie takes place over about a week for a workshop to help some 100 people learn mechanisms to further deal with grief they're undergoing after losing a loved one. There was a really great subplot happening with a man named Walter who had lost his son. It was very touching and I think helped carry this movie. We are really following Burke Ryan, though, and his of the seminar about how to deal with grief. So, basically we get to learn more about him, his past, and you know... what he's going to do about the time he has left (aka: the future). There is some romance between he and Eloise (by the way... I love this name!). It's pretty fun, but is never something very promising throughout the movie, so, I'll leave you to guess what happens.

I just like to finish with a thought about movies coming out. This past summer, I made a list of movies I wanted to see that I had heard about via imdb.com. Amongst them was, 9, Precious, and some Japanese film and I have yet to see them. It came to my knowledge though, that Precious is coming out to the mass public either October or November for which, in the meantime I shall attempt to read the book it's based on, Push, before going to see it. Yay! There are just so many great movies being released right now and alas, I have not the time nor money to see them all. Disappointment.

Anyways, if you're reading this... thank you. I'm going to try harder :)

lovelove

Apology

An apology to anyone who reads this blog... I haven't been able to see any movies since I've left my college town. I'll be up and running this movie watching business within the next week. Thanks for reading!

500 Days of Summer

Boy meets girl. Boy falls in love. Girl doesn't.

It's not your traditional love story. And well, that's because it's not a love story. As it well defines at the beginning of the movie. This is a story about love.

Normally, movies that come from the Sundance Film Festival are pretty fantastic movies. It won't stop here. Amongst films coming from the Sundance Film Festival (fyi: its a festival that takes place in Utah once a year for private film-ers) are Once, the Visitor, and Precious (this year's winner).

This film is different. The filming isn't your normal start to finish story telling where you figure out the plot in the first five minutes and the rest of the movie you sit and predict how many people around you will cry or how many kissing scenes there will be. And regardless... this is not that movie. This movie keeps you watching and waiting, because you know more goodness is coming and so it does. I don't know why this movie isn't more widespread or receiving more theater screens, it's a whole lot more informative about male-female relationships than say... The Ugly Truth. But enough on that.

What I like most about this movie has to do with A.filmography, B. The Time Line, C. The characters, and D. The plot. Let's start with A. This film is inventive. Well, there is a tad bit reminder of Juno or the likes, but all in all, it's absolutely refreshing. It's as if you can step into the painting. Very effective. B. This is no ordinary 500 days. It's certainly not 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,... and you can bet your bottom dollar that it still makes sense! We connect with our main character Tom so much quicker by feeling his pain and then seeing how he gets there and where he goes with it. It's beautifully set up and I would be disappointed with anything less than this. C. Wow, Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt totally own this film. They are funny. They are likeable. Zooey lights up the screen as the quirky and unpredictable Summer. She is what she is. She doesn't really pretend to be what she's not and in her defense, she told Tom straight up what was going on in that relationship. Jordon was equally as great. He is a greeting card writer/failed architect. His character is so dynamic. There is growth. I wish I knew just how to say how relatable he is. But that's just what he is: relatable. Relatable to anyone who thought they found the one and then had their heart broken; relatable to anyone who loved; relatable to anyone who would try love again. Accompanying these two stars are largely Tom's friends. They are so funny and just fantastic! They provide comic relief especially when Tom hits... rock bottom. His friend McKenzie (played by Geoffrey Arend) also plays the wildly funny Karl Benson in Garden State. D. The plot is a breath of fresh air. Whilst, this isn't exactly a romantic comedy... in a way it is, but perhaps a little more true to real life. This story might not even be 100% original, but there is the feeling that it is. You don't come out of the theater thinking, "you know, I've seen something like that before." I appreciate both of the writers of this movie... and for both, this was their first movie to write (or to write and make it to screen).

I forgot one other part that was simply fantastic and slightly reminiscent of Ferris Bueller's Day Off. There was a dance scene. Um, hello, totally rad! And quite epic.

In conclusion, this movie is a don't miss. It's a "buy" movie. Either spend the cash now or get it when it comes out, because it is worth it. And for anyone that is wary of love... perhaps you may see a little bit differently after this viewing pleasure.

love love

The Lovely Bones

Just wanted to say something about this! I just saw, for the first time, a preview of this movie. I'm really excited because I read this gem of a book by Alice Sebold. It was a sad book, but I have hope for this movie because of the fantastic actors that signed on to this project. Oh, by the way, I have been IMDB-ing this movie for 2+ years. This is one of those movies that I have been waiting for, it seems like forever! But, let me give you a quick run-down on who is in this movie. Saoirse Ronan plays the main character. We've seen her in atonement. Along with her there is: Rachel Weisz, Mark Walhberg, Stanley Tucci, and Susan Sarandan! Yay! How can this movie go wrong. Well, I pray it doesn't!
Here's the website if you want to know more: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0380510/

love love

Julie&Julia

This movie was fairly nostalgic for me. Why, might you ask? Nearly 7 years ago, I was a freshman in high school struggling through english. For our last assignment, Mr. Brooks assigned a speech. Oh, great! Like this class can't get any worse? (These were, after all, in my days of stage fright). But this speech led me to one of my favorite passions. Cooking. Slash baking. I took on the task of relaying the life of a Mrs. Julia Child to my naive peers. Well, technically, it ended up being 3 other students and my teacher because I delayed and we didn't have time in class so I did it after school. But, regardless... I feel in love with Julia Child, or at least the woman who ventured into unknown territory! Even though we were allowed to have notecards to use for our speech, I labored over memorizing this speech. It wasn't terrible at all. Each time I did that speech, I got to relive Julia changing the world and giving me a glimmer of hope that, yes, you too can change the world, you woman, you!

Every time I saw preview for Julie & Julia, I was able to go back to those glory days. Okay, well, perhaps not. But the point is, is that, Julia child spurred my desire to go to culinary school. I haven't actually ever done that nor will I. Julia Child opened my eyes!

I went to see this movie on my own (not a first for me). I knew that this movie had potential. I had high hopes! I ended up sitting or rather, some older ladies ended up sitting by me. As people were leaving the theater, I heard one of them say, "Oh, there are young people here, too." It amazes me that so few of my friends wanted to see this movie. It's like no one of my generation knows what Julia did! How is this? She is the pioneer of chefs on tv. Her book Mastering the Art of French Cooking sold millions of copies and transformed the way women cooked in America in the 1960s. It's her that we owe much of the respect that women chefs receive today.

So, perhaps now, my nostalgia is justified. Julia Child is a figure that moves my inner being. Though she was a democrat, her advances for women in cooking make me ridiculously happy!

This movie starts with showing us that Julie Powell and Julia Child are in different time periods. And no, they never meet. We walk through the life of Julia entering cooking school, her beautiful relationship with a dedicated husband, and with her love and devotion to food co-writes a cook book that changes cooking as we know it. Julie Powell is an on-the-side writer who has ended up in a low government job in New York in 2002 that leaves her unsatisfied. After meeting with friends and watching an episode of Julia on tv, she gets the idea to write a blog. 524 recipes in 365 days. Well, it was a great idea. Look where it got her... a book AND a movie! So, in order not to reveal all of the secrets and to avoid getting cramps in my hands, I won't say a whole lot more on the plot. But I would like to point out that few movies actually move me. There are the occassional though: Slumdog Millionaire, The Village, Pride & Prejudice (with Colin Firth), and some others. This movie moves me. It's well worth the money to see it (though, I only paid $3.50, I would have paid up to 9 dollars!)

In other matters, it's important to note the acting. Meryl Streep is unstoppable. Her work in this movie is, dare I say, epic! Playing a 6'2" woman who may or may not have been addicted to sherry when cooking, is not an easy task. Many of us have seen the SNL skits of Julia Child. It's no surprise that someone can talk like her and emulate her unique actions. It's another thing, though, to show the many emotions of a woman that possesses all of Julia's characteristics. Go Meryl! Amy Adams is largely comical. So many of us go through these actions where we wonder, "Is what I'm doing meaningful?" We can empathize with her. I want to finish something. I want to have something important to say. I want to be listened to. A success to her. I applaud her. Supporting actors Stanley Tucci and Chris Messina who play Mr. Child and Mr. Powell, respectively do a great job as well. Mr. Tucci does such an fantastic job. We've seen him and Meryl together before in The Devil Wears Prada. They have got it down, because there is chemistry. It's a wonder that you look at the two together, a 6'2" woman and a considerably shorter man and wonder how that happened? But, if Julia and Paul's relationship really was as they portrayed it in film, then right on! How beautiful.

Also, they showed Julia's kitchen at the Smithsonian. I remember a few years ago, one of my visits to the Smithsonian and marveling at that kitchen. It was beautiful. It was moving. Right there were so many of the utensils that I envied, making some of the most delicious food there ever was.

There is so much more I could say about this movie. I loved it. It's full of so many emotions. It's full of what we all desire: a purpose.

As Julia says:
Bon Appétit!