"Always."

Last year, Brother Jason and I challenged each other to a 3-week kamikaze reading/viewing of all the Harry Potter books and movies before the final theatrical installment came out on July 15.  

While neither of us actually completed the challenge (in the middle of my reading frenzy, I was finally offered a teaching job, and life got really crazy), I do believe I got the farthest.  I got stuck in the middle of Book 5 - probably one of the hardest books of the series to read because Harry is just so angry, and that Umbridge character is just so vile.

Well, a half-read Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix sat on my nightstand for almost a year.  About a month ago, I finally finished reading it.  And then I finished reading Book 6 in two weeks.  And I cried.  And then I finished reading Book 7 in two days.  And I cried some more.  And then I watched the final four movies in one day.  And I cried a lot.

I don't know what it is about these books, but they are special.  There is something in the story, in the characters, in the words, in the world that JK Rowling created that touches my heart and puts a smile on my face and a tear in my eye.  Dare I say it's some kind of magic?

Book 7 opens with this quote from William Penn:

"Death is but crossing the world, as friends do the seas; they live in one another still.  For they must needs be present, that love and live in that which is omnipresent.  In this divine glass, they see face to face; and their converse is free, as well as pure.  This is the comfort of friends, that though they may be said to die, yet their friendship and society are, in the best sense, ever present, because immortal."

And then, of course, the greatest lines in the entire series:

Like I said, special.

"I could've been at a barbecue!"

Fourth of July is my favorite holiday.  And as such, I have a couple of traditions, one of which I've been enjoying this evening while working on some stuff for school.

Independence Day.  Such a classic film.  Does it make me really old to say I remember seeing this in the theaters?  Because I do.  And it makes me feel really old.  But whatever.  I love this movie.  So many good lines.

My favorite line, as Will Smith drags an alien across the desert:

"You know, this was supposed to be my weekend off.  But noooo.  You got me out here dragging your heavy a** through the burning desert, with your dreadlocks sticking out the back of my parachute.  You've gotta come down here with an attitude, acting all big and bad.  And what the h*** is that smell?!  Aaah!  I could've been at a barbecue!"

And the speech at the end?  I tear up every time.  No shame, people, no shame.

So excited for food, fireworks and my favorite Fourth of July tradition tomorrow!

Can you guess what it is?  Probably not... :)

"I am looking for someone to share in an adventure..."

To say that I am excited for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey to come out in December is the understatement of the decade.  I started rereading the novel about nine months ago, carrying it around in my purse and pulling it out whenever I had a spare moment.

I finally finished it last night.  And I am not ashamed to admit that I cried at the end.

I love Bilbo.  And Thorin.  And Bard.  And Gandalf.  I basically just love Tolkien.

My two favorite quotes from the novel:

"'Go back?' he thought.  'No good at all!  Go sideways?  Impossible!  Go forward?  Only thing to do! On we go!'  So up he got, and trotted along with his little sword held in front of him and one hand feeling the wall, and his heart all of a patter and a pitter." (pg. 69)

"It was at this point that Bilbo stopped.  Going on from there was the bravest thing he ever did.  The tremendous things that happened afterward were as nothing compared to it.  He fought the real battle in the tunnel alone, before he ever saw the vast danger that lay in wait." (pg. 212-213)

EPIC.  This is going to be EPIC.

please, hold your applause.

it's a well-known fact that i am a clapper when it comes to movies.  i clap for previews.  i clap before, during and after movies (some might be annoyed by this, but i like to think that i make the whole theater-going experience more enjoyable).

i went out tonight with friends to see the hunger games.  i devoured all 3 books in a matter of a couple of days over one christmas break, and while i have learned my lesson to not expect too much when it comes to movies adapted from popular novels, i was really looking forward to seeing how they did with this adaptation.

just during the previews, i clapped no less than three times (i nearly fell out my seat for the trailer for the avengers).  when the movie itself started, i'll admit i clapped a few times.  but then... no. more. clapping.

the books/movies can be summarized in one simple statement: children killing children.  i'm sorry, but i see no reason to clap for that.  over the course of the movie, whenever a tribute quickly and viciously dispatched a fellow tribute, the audience erupted into a raucous applause.  it made me sick.

the books themselves are graphic, but for some reason the violence isn't as offensive in print as it is on screen.  what made me even more uncomfortable was the fact that tween girls comprised half of the theater audience.  they had no idea what they were cheering for.

this past week i read a very interesting article about the movie.  the author's opinion is that "...there is one important aspect of the original novel that is almost entirely absent from the movie: the darkly funny way in which collins directly accuses the audience. as in, us. weirdly, by turning the book into such a fan-baiting crowdpleaser, the movie version of hunger games seems to oddly miss the point of its own source material."  i beg to differ.  by creating such a spectacle of the violence, resulting in approving applause from the audience, we have, in effect, been turned into the citizens of the capitol.  we are being manipulated into condoning the violence on screen, the same way the characters in the book derive so much entertainment from the games.

because the adolescent violence was so disturbing to me, i found it hard to actually enjoy the movie as a whole.  on some level it was a good movie, but... it was a little too much.  when the movie ended i felt weird and unsettled.  not exactly how i want to feel after spending $10 and 2.5 hours in a dark theater.

now, give me an epic battle of elves vs. orcs or a colosseum showdown or a cage fight between estranged brothers and i will clap till my hands bleed.  but i cannot clap for children killing children.

and on that note, i think i'll fall asleep to the dulcet sounds of middle earth... 

Family Is Worth Fighting For

I saw this movie yesterday and have not been able to stop thinking about it.  It is absolutely incredible.  So powerful and emotional.  The performances by the three lead actors (Tom Hardy, Joel Edgerton and Nick Nolte) are amazing.  The fight sequences are quite impressive.  But this movie is not just about MMA fighting.  It's about family and forgiveness.  It's about loving and being loved by those whom we have hurt the most.  It is simply a beautifully made film.  I'll most likely be going to see it again soon, so let me know if you are in the mood to watch something awesome.  I'll be the one clapping through her tears at the end of the movie.

if you're happy and you know it...

i was informed by a friend this weekend that clapping at the end of movies is weird.

i tried to explain that clapping for a movie is the same as clapping for a game that you are watching on tv.  my friend begged to differ.  i tried to explain that movies make me happy, so i clap.  my friend still thought it was weird.

but really?  it's weird?  am i the only person who claps at the end of movies?  not every movie, mind you, just the really, really good ones.

granted, i clap at the beginning, and sometimes during movies, too.  i even clap for previews.  but that doesn't make me weird, does it?

please, someone back me up on this.  do you clap at the end of movies?  i'm not the only one, right?  right?!

The Harry Potter Challenge

Almost all of my siblings share my love of reading.  I followed in my older sisters footsteps and devoured The Baby-sitters Club books way back when.  Sister Julie and I bonded over Twilight.  Brother Jason and I, though, we bonded over Harry Potter.  I can still remember the two of us piling in my car and driving to Wal-mart in our pajamas, eagerly awaiting the stroke of midnight.  With our newly-purchased books in hand, we raced back home to begin reading, getting upset if one of us read faster than the other.  Some of my favorite memories of our younger selves include reading Harry Potter together.

Jason and I were talking on the phone a couple of days ago, sharing in our excitement of the upcoming release of the final Harry Potter movie (July 15!!!) and we both agreed that a kamikaze reading of all 7 novels and a viewing of all 7 movies is necessary preparation for the final installment of this epic series.  So like any good sister/brother agreement, we turned it into a challenge.

The Harry Potter Challenge

Begins at 12:00 AM on Monday, June 27

Ends at 12:00 AM on Friday, July 15

Read all 7 Harry Potter novels: 4,100 pages

Watch all 7 Harry Potter films: 1,049 minutes (approx. 18 hours)

First person to read/watch all 7 novels/films wins eternal glory and endless bragging rights

As we were talking about our kamikaze challenge, Jason reminded me: "You know I do nothing all day, right?"  At which point, I reminded him: "You know I do nothing all day, too, right?"  So giving ourselves 3 weeks to complete this challenge is probably way too much time, but we are both committed.  Jason, you are going down!

I extend the challenge to all Wizards and Muggles!  Eternal glory and endless bragging rights - how can you say no to that?!

Long Live the Bacon.

I'm gonna call this one right now: the Footloose remake is going to be a disaster.

Watching the trailer, as my sister put it, leaves a bad taste in your mouth.  Are they in the 80's? 90's? 2K?  What is up with the music?  And that dancing?  Did they seriously remake it shot for shot?

I'm sorry, you just don't mess with a Kevin Bacon Original.  You don't mess with such an iconic 80's movie.  If you want a younger generation to appreciate the original... TELL THEM TO WATCH THE ORIGINAL.



Ugh.  Now compare the above atrocity with the classic below.



Long Live the Bacon.

mutant and proud

went out with a new friend tonight to see x-men: first class.

now, back in the day, the first 2 x-men movies were among my favorites.

the third movie was a huge disappointment, and i never got around to seeing the one about wolverine.

this new movie did not disappointment.  and if i were you, i would make time to get around to seeing it.  totally worth the price of admission.

my new friend and i loved it.  great cast, great story, great effects.

and our favorite part?  the delicious, the handsome, the oh-so-attractive michael fassbender.  so smooth and dreamy.

seriously.  where has this man been all my movie-lovin' life?

one thing leads to another...

this...

led to this...

which then led to this...

followed by this...

which has now led to this...

it's been a great weekend.  very productive :)  

"In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit."

Get excited people.  This is going to be epic.

the spinning top

sister julie and i finally watched inception tonight (we've been saying for the past week that we were going to watch it...but then never got around to it).

the story.  the actors.  the effects.  the music.  oh, how i love the music.

the van that falls for 45 minutes.  the amazing zero-gravity hallway fight.  the dream within a dream within a dream within a...

did i mention the actors?  leo.  joseph g-l.  ellen p.  creepy marion cotillard.  and where in the world did tom hardy come from?

seriously, i forget to breathe for the last 30 minutes.

and then as that last image of the spinning top abruptly cuts to black, my reaction every time is an (extremely loud) exasperated and ecstatic outcry of disbelief and utter confusion.

and then i spend the next 30 minutes trying to calm down.

and then i think of this a cappella trailer.

and then i laugh.

Cowboys & Aliens

Why has no one thought of this before now?


Can't wait.

And by "this" I really mean Daniel Craig in a cowboy hat. Yummy.

a little more jane...

(from the BBC mini-series)

Mary: “I wonder at Kitty and Lydia. They’re so fond of dancing. I take little pleasure in a ball.”
Lizzy: “I would take more pleasure in this one if there were enough partners as agreeable as Jane’s.”
Mary: “I believe the rewards of observation and reflection are much greater.”
Lizzy: “And so they are when there are none others to be had. We will have to be philosophers, Mary!”

Why do I feel that this exchange perfectly describes my life right now? *sigh* I love it.

oh, to live in an austen novel!

Oh, Mr. Darcy. Why are you so wonderful?
And why can I watch this scene over and over and over and...?
It's the lingering looks. The soft, sweet smile. 
Why do you torment me so, Jane? Why? Why?!

happy

watching russell crowe makes me happy.

watching historical epics make me happy.

watching russell crowe in an historical epic?

over the moon, baby.  over the moon.

"I wish I was special..."

Finally found it.  Creep, performed by Scala and Kolancy Brothers, featured in The Social Network trailer.





Arranging this classic Radiohead song for a girl's choir was genius.  Pure genius.
(you can download the single in iTunes)

Enter the World of the Dream

 AMAZING. PHENOMENAL. INCREDIBLE.

INSANELY GOOD.
MIND-BLOWINGLY AWESOME.

THIS MOVIE WILL MAKE YOUR HEART RACE AND YOUR HEAD REEL.

GO SEE IT NOW.

Clash of Olympic Proportions...

I think this one will call for a large popcorn.

Excellent use of The Bird and the Worm by The Used.

And can Sam Worthington be any more ruggedly handsome?

"Remember My Name!"

There are not enough adjectives in my vocabulary to describe how awesome this movie is. It had me smiling and tapping my toe for the whole two hours. The music makes you want to stand up and belt it out as loud as you can. The dancing is just incredible. Also, very inspiring (I kind of teared up at the end). Just absolutely amazing.

I'll probably go see it again next week.

"I'M GONNA LIVE FOREVER!"