2x15: Fresh Bones & Harry Potter
BACK FROM ICON HIATUS
For those of you who are not on my friends list, I have been back from China for a little more than a month. My fifth year at UCLA started in the beginning of October, and now we are in the sixth week of classes, and I am thoroughly engrossed/disgusted/enthralled/tired. I am currently working on a colonial literature paper, a moshpit of didactic and meditative religious theories from Wigglesworth, Anne Bradstreet, and Edward Taylor. Colonial literature and its conjoined sailor-tongued, Sean-Connery-lookalike professor continues to test my nerves and patience. Chaucer continues to enthrall and wear me, while biochemistry is...biochemistry. Philiater shared her considerable wisdom with me one day over email, a little quote from fitness expert Colbert Bailey: "There are two kinds of people in the world, those who hate biochemistry and those who have never taken biochemistry." Actually I don't hate it, I'm just not particularly good at it, which seems to be the story of my life.
A FOREWARD ABOUT THE ICONS THIS WEEK:
I created the X-Files 2x15: Fresh Bones batch weeks and weeks ago, and after pulling these out and dusting it off, I realized how incredibly dark and...insane...they are. I suppose it is a result of graphics withdrawal and culture shock, but it may also be residue reactions from watching the episode for the first time many, many moons ago. I am ashamed to say...this batch looks like an acid trip through a 1960s carnival. I am shaking my head at this travesty.
My return to weekly icon batches also marks the debut of my Harry Potter series. I am brand new to the Harry Potter fandom, and on the plane ride back to LAX, I finished reading the sixth book, The Half-Blood Prince, and it was traumatic. I am currently rereading it very slowly. What ruined the book for me was the fact that I accidentally spoiled myself for the ending while I was reading HP fansites for more information about the inappropriately seductive Professor Snape. So the entire time I was reading The Half-Blood Prince, I was sitting there anticipating with dread. Now that I've weeped my fill and have thoroughly mourned, I can go back and try to enjoy it a bit more.
So why Harry Potter?
I didn't start reading the books until recently, but I was there for the very first movie, and have watched all of the movies. They were entertaining, and I was mildly intrigued by the story and Harry's struggles. However, when I watched Goblet of Fire in movie theatres, I was enthralled. The movie is breathtakingly beautiful, thrilling, endearing, poignant, heart-breaking. I was thoroughly unspoiled for the movie, and went into the theatres not even knowing what the actors looked like at that point. Pathetically and from the very beginning of the movie, I knew I wanted to icon it, and I sat there subconsciously thinking about different crops I can make. I have always been a fan of the dark but rich coloring of the last two Harry Potter movies. I guess I am attracted to the challenge of iconing dark movies/television shows. Case in point, The X-Files. But more on Goblet of Fire next week.
Therefore, for this week's batch, it's more of an experimentation with the Harry Potter movies than anything. I dabbled in making my own screencaps and found that I hated the tediousness of it. There's a little bit of everything here, as you can see, with a notable absence Goblet of Fire. Starting next week, I will unveil my multi-part, all-out assault on Goblet of Fire. For the first time, I feel I am iconing only my favorite scenes, and I don't feel the need to dutifully icon everything. However, since I've watched Goblet of Fire dozens upon dozens of times, expect meticulous attention paid to certain moments, particularly Harry!torture and Snape!deliciousness.
MOVIE REVIEWS:
A GUIDE TO RECOGNIZING YOUR SAINTS
Since you guys probably have not heard of this independent movie, a summary courtesy from Yahoo!Movies:
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Dito is a successful writer living in Los Angeles, who is summoned home to Astoria after a 15-year absence when his father becomes seriously ill. Memories of his youth come flooding back as he revisits the old neighborhood, attempts to rebuild a relationship with his father and encounters his 'saints'--Dito's few childhood friends who aren't in prison or dead. As Dito finds himself whisked back into the youthful events that shaped him, an unforgettable cast of characters unfolds to the sweltering heat of summer 1986. These include Laurie, Dito's childhood sweetheart; Mike O'Shea, a transplanted Scot with an Irish name who dreams of becoming a punk rock musician; Giuseppe, a reckless, destructive and possibly insane member of Dito's street posse; and the unforgettable Antonio, Dito's cocky and volatile best friend grappling with an abusive father.
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This movie is based on Dito Montiel's memoir, and also directed by Dito Montiel. I found Dito to be an unexpectedly sensitive and mature young man, refreshingly distinct from the usual protagonists of coming-of-age dramas. The movie spends a great deal of time exploring the internal struggles of these torn, toughened, street-wise characters, and the result is unapologetic, gritty, realistic, heart-breaking, but most of all, deeply introspective. The movie centers around the different needs and changes in these these characters as they are exposed to different experiences, events, and conflicts in the ghetto war-zone of Astoria. The performances by the entire cast is awe-inspiring. Shia LeBeouf as young Dito is a stunning performance, as well as all of the other castmembers that contribute to the deeply personal, meditative quality of the movie. Robert Downing Jr. as grown-up Dito is broodingly powerful. Visually, the movie is an accurate, pictoral representation of the crime-ridden ghettos in New York, and the urban textures and colors are appealing in their grotesque, but also familiar, ways.
THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND
This is one of the best and most explosive movies I have seen this year. It is based on the true events of the tyrannous reign of Idi Amin in 1970s Uganda. I did not see this to catch a glimpse of the minor character, Sara Zach, played by Gillian Anderson. In fact, I went into this movie not knowing much at all. Luckily, I am not faint-hearted, as this movie is surely to turn the stomachs of most everyone who is sensitive to grotesque violence and cruel acts against humanity. It reminds me of last year's The Constant Gardener, although it lacks the vibrant colors and Fernando Meirelles' agile camera maneuvers.
However, it is nonetheless stunning in its darkness, sexual energy, and visions of dreamlike grotesque cruelty which combines to seize and sicken the viewer in both nausea and esctacy. It is unlike any historical movie I have ever seen, and very much like a thriller, one is immediately drawn to the travails of the young doctor with good intentions and unparalleled sense of humanity and justice. I was drawn to his character, his gradual increase in doubt and uncertainty, and how his experiences are in direct conflict with his oath of healing.
Unlike The Constant Gardener, there is a definite Western presence and influence in this perspective of Africa, its culture, its politics, and upper society, especially the culturally clashing fashions of African traditional wear and the "hip" style of the time, American '70s disco. The performance by Forest Whitaker (who plays the tyrannous dictator, Idi Amin) screams Oscar, as much as it screams his character's unwheely moral conscience, inner turmoil, and external presence.
MARIE ANTOINETTE
A distinctly flavored movie to be included in this trio, it is visually stunning in its Rococco opulence. I swear, there must have been a complete costume change for the entire cast, which includes Marie Antoinette and the dozens of members of her court posse, every five minutes. However, even such variety and quick style changes does not detract from the deliberate redundancy of this movie. Rather than indulge much in the political circumstances of France during Marie Antoinette's stay in Versailles, it is much more a study of her various expensive and gaudy indulgences.
The pace of the movie is slow, with periods of raucous court entertainment, intercepted by periods of the stately quiet atmosphere of Versailles, outdoors. There is not much plot or meaningful substance, and this is entirely deliberate, for it is a reflection of Marie Antoinette's daily life. And it is often comedic in its ridiculousness. The soundtrack mediates the jumps and skips of events, parties, and periods of calm, which is an intriguing mix of high classical and modern rock ballads. It is a contemporary movie in its mood, yet appropriately historical. Afterall, it is a rare moment in cinema to be granted permission by the French government to film inside Versailles.
A SURVIVOR STORY, AND A CALL FOR PRAYERS
A SURVIVOR STORY
Meet Joyce Lin, UCLA photography graduate, ambitious, and positively radiant with charisma and energy. I first met her at the Co-op, and her adventure photography is always stunningly composed...and I can't find words for it. You must see for yourself, Joyce Lin @ Blogspot. One of the most brilliant photographers I know.
On August 7th, 2006, when attempting the Northeast Ridge of Giraud Peak in the Sequoia and Kings Canyon Wilderness with a group of friends as part of the Sierra Challenge, a rock slipped and Joyce lost her footing, falling 300 feet down steep rocks and snow.
In her own words:
"Less than 300 feet away from the summit of Giraud Peak, I reached up for a hold on the rock, only to have it tumble down, leaving my hands uselessly grappling at thin air and ragged rock, my booted feet slipping out over empty air. My mind flashes, ' This can’t be happening' as I look down, viewing only rock and ice several feet below me, my ears filled with the sound of whooshing air and my climbing partner Ron bellowing, 'No!' " (...continue reading here)
Again, I am speechless. I am as awed by her recovery, as I am awed by her passion and grace.
A photo diary of her healing process
(all photographs by Joyce Lin)
CALL FOR PRAYERS
Two prayers for my aunt and my friend, both fighting cancer, if you please. Research shows that even long-distance prayer from strangers increase the chances for recovery and remission.
One, my aunt on my dad's side, who was very recently diagnosed with an aggressive form of ovarian cancer. She is currently undergoing aggressive chemotherapy. What I really admire is her ability to maintain a positive outlook. She is a Christian, and I think that gives her peace and comfort. She also has immense support from her church and her family (except my dad).
Two, my friend, who has been diagnosed with a rare cancer, is one of only a hundred such patients to have undergone an experimental chemo program. Her cancer is highly aggressive, but the surgery to remove infected organs and tissue looks successful so far. She has a son who needs her, and she is an extraordinary woman.
Preview:
2x15: Fresh Bones
ASSORTED HARRY POTTER
2x15: FRESH BONES
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ASSORTED HARRY POTTER
(Sorcerer's Stone, Chamber of Secrets, Prisoner of Azkaban, and preview stills from Order of the Phoenix
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For those of you who are not on my friends list, I have been back from China for a little more than a month. My fifth year at UCLA started in the beginning of October, and now we are in the sixth week of classes, and I am thoroughly engrossed/disgusted/enthralled/tired. I am currently working on a colonial literature paper, a moshpit of didactic and meditative religious theories from Wigglesworth, Anne Bradstreet, and Edward Taylor. Colonial literature and its conjoined sailor-tongued, Sean-Connery-lookalike professor continues to test my nerves and patience. Chaucer continues to enthrall and wear me, while biochemistry is...biochemistry. Philiater shared her considerable wisdom with me one day over email, a little quote from fitness expert Colbert Bailey: "There are two kinds of people in the world, those who hate biochemistry and those who have never taken biochemistry." Actually I don't hate it, I'm just not particularly good at it, which seems to be the story of my life.
A FOREWARD ABOUT THE ICONS THIS WEEK:
I created the X-Files 2x15: Fresh Bones batch weeks and weeks ago, and after pulling these out and dusting it off, I realized how incredibly dark and...insane...they are. I suppose it is a result of graphics withdrawal and culture shock, but it may also be residue reactions from watching the episode for the first time many, many moons ago. I am ashamed to say...this batch looks like an acid trip through a 1960s carnival. I am shaking my head at this travesty.
My return to weekly icon batches also marks the debut of my Harry Potter series. I am brand new to the Harry Potter fandom, and on the plane ride back to LAX, I finished reading the sixth book, The Half-Blood Prince, and it was traumatic. I am currently rereading it very slowly. What ruined the book for me was the fact that I accidentally spoiled myself for the ending while I was reading HP fansites for more information about the inappropriately seductive Professor Snape. So the entire time I was reading The Half-Blood Prince, I was sitting there anticipating with dread. Now that I've weeped my fill and have thoroughly mourned, I can go back and try to enjoy it a bit more.
So why Harry Potter?
I didn't start reading the books until recently, but I was there for the very first movie, and have watched all of the movies. They were entertaining, and I was mildly intrigued by the story and Harry's struggles. However, when I watched Goblet of Fire in movie theatres, I was enthralled. The movie is breathtakingly beautiful, thrilling, endearing, poignant, heart-breaking. I was thoroughly unspoiled for the movie, and went into the theatres not even knowing what the actors looked like at that point. Pathetically and from the very beginning of the movie, I knew I wanted to icon it, and I sat there subconsciously thinking about different crops I can make. I have always been a fan of the dark but rich coloring of the last two Harry Potter movies. I guess I am attracted to the challenge of iconing dark movies/television shows. Case in point, The X-Files. But more on Goblet of Fire next week.
Therefore, for this week's batch, it's more of an experimentation with the Harry Potter movies than anything. I dabbled in making my own screencaps and found that I hated the tediousness of it. There's a little bit of everything here, as you can see, with a notable absence Goblet of Fire. Starting next week, I will unveil my multi-part, all-out assault on Goblet of Fire. For the first time, I feel I am iconing only my favorite scenes, and I don't feel the need to dutifully icon everything. However, since I've watched Goblet of Fire dozens upon dozens of times, expect meticulous attention paid to certain moments, particularly Harry!torture and Snape!deliciousness.
MOVIE REVIEWS:
A GUIDE TO RECOGNIZING YOUR SAINTS
Since you guys probably have not heard of this independent movie, a summary courtesy from Yahoo!Movies:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dito is a successful writer living in Los Angeles, who is summoned home to Astoria after a 15-year absence when his father becomes seriously ill. Memories of his youth come flooding back as he revisits the old neighborhood, attempts to rebuild a relationship with his father and encounters his 'saints'--Dito's few childhood friends who aren't in prison or dead. As Dito finds himself whisked back into the youthful events that shaped him, an unforgettable cast of characters unfolds to the sweltering heat of summer 1986. These include Laurie, Dito's childhood sweetheart; Mike O'Shea, a transplanted Scot with an Irish name who dreams of becoming a punk rock musician; Giuseppe, a reckless, destructive and possibly insane member of Dito's street posse; and the unforgettable Antonio, Dito's cocky and volatile best friend grappling with an abusive father.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
This movie is based on Dito Montiel's memoir, and also directed by Dito Montiel. I found Dito to be an unexpectedly sensitive and mature young man, refreshingly distinct from the usual protagonists of coming-of-age dramas. The movie spends a great deal of time exploring the internal struggles of these torn, toughened, street-wise characters, and the result is unapologetic, gritty, realistic, heart-breaking, but most of all, deeply introspective. The movie centers around the different needs and changes in these these characters as they are exposed to different experiences, events, and conflicts in the ghetto war-zone of Astoria. The performances by the entire cast is awe-inspiring. Shia LeBeouf as young Dito is a stunning performance, as well as all of the other castmembers that contribute to the deeply personal, meditative quality of the movie. Robert Downing Jr. as grown-up Dito is broodingly powerful. Visually, the movie is an accurate, pictoral representation of the crime-ridden ghettos in New York, and the urban textures and colors are appealing in their grotesque, but also familiar, ways.
THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND
This is one of the best and most explosive movies I have seen this year. It is based on the true events of the tyrannous reign of Idi Amin in 1970s Uganda. I did not see this to catch a glimpse of the minor character, Sara Zach, played by Gillian Anderson. In fact, I went into this movie not knowing much at all. Luckily, I am not faint-hearted, as this movie is surely to turn the stomachs of most everyone who is sensitive to grotesque violence and cruel acts against humanity. It reminds me of last year's The Constant Gardener, although it lacks the vibrant colors and Fernando Meirelles' agile camera maneuvers.
However, it is nonetheless stunning in its darkness, sexual energy, and visions of dreamlike grotesque cruelty which combines to seize and sicken the viewer in both nausea and esctacy. It is unlike any historical movie I have ever seen, and very much like a thriller, one is immediately drawn to the travails of the young doctor with good intentions and unparalleled sense of humanity and justice. I was drawn to his character, his gradual increase in doubt and uncertainty, and how his experiences are in direct conflict with his oath of healing.
Unlike The Constant Gardener, there is a definite Western presence and influence in this perspective of Africa, its culture, its politics, and upper society, especially the culturally clashing fashions of African traditional wear and the "hip" style of the time, American '70s disco. The performance by Forest Whitaker (who plays the tyrannous dictator, Idi Amin) screams Oscar, as much as it screams his character's unwheely moral conscience, inner turmoil, and external presence.
MARIE ANTOINETTE
A distinctly flavored movie to be included in this trio, it is visually stunning in its Rococco opulence. I swear, there must have been a complete costume change for the entire cast, which includes Marie Antoinette and the dozens of members of her court posse, every five minutes. However, even such variety and quick style changes does not detract from the deliberate redundancy of this movie. Rather than indulge much in the political circumstances of France during Marie Antoinette's stay in Versailles, it is much more a study of her various expensive and gaudy indulgences.
The pace of the movie is slow, with periods of raucous court entertainment, intercepted by periods of the stately quiet atmosphere of Versailles, outdoors. There is not much plot or meaningful substance, and this is entirely deliberate, for it is a reflection of Marie Antoinette's daily life. And it is often comedic in its ridiculousness. The soundtrack mediates the jumps and skips of events, parties, and periods of calm, which is an intriguing mix of high classical and modern rock ballads. It is a contemporary movie in its mood, yet appropriately historical. Afterall, it is a rare moment in cinema to be granted permission by the French government to film inside Versailles.
A SURVIVOR STORY, AND A CALL FOR PRAYERS
A SURVIVOR STORY
Meet Joyce Lin, UCLA photography graduate, ambitious, and positively radiant with charisma and energy. I first met her at the Co-op, and her adventure photography is always stunningly composed...and I can't find words for it. You must see for yourself, Joyce Lin @ Blogspot. One of the most brilliant photographers I know.
On August 7th, 2006, when attempting the Northeast Ridge of Giraud Peak in the Sequoia and Kings Canyon Wilderness with a group of friends as part of the Sierra Challenge, a rock slipped and Joyce lost her footing, falling 300 feet down steep rocks and snow.
In her own words:
"Less than 300 feet away from the summit of Giraud Peak, I reached up for a hold on the rock, only to have it tumble down, leaving my hands uselessly grappling at thin air and ragged rock, my booted feet slipping out over empty air. My mind flashes, ' This can’t be happening' as I look down, viewing only rock and ice several feet below me, my ears filled with the sound of whooshing air and my climbing partner Ron bellowing, 'No!' " (...continue reading here)
Again, I am speechless. I am as awed by her recovery, as I am awed by her passion and grace.
A photo diary of her healing process
(all photographs by Joyce Lin)
CALL FOR PRAYERS
Two prayers for my aunt and my friend, both fighting cancer, if you please. Research shows that even long-distance prayer from strangers increase the chances for recovery and remission.
One, my aunt on my dad's side, who was very recently diagnosed with an aggressive form of ovarian cancer. She is currently undergoing aggressive chemotherapy. What I really admire is her ability to maintain a positive outlook. She is a Christian, and I think that gives her peace and comfort. She also has immense support from her church and her family (except my dad).
Two, my friend, who has been diagnosed with a rare cancer, is one of only a hundred such patients to have undergone an experimental chemo program. Her cancer is highly aggressive, but the surgery to remove infected organs and tissue looks successful so far. She has a son who needs her, and she is an extraordinary woman.
Preview:
2x15: Fresh Bones
ASSORTED HARRY POTTER
2x15: FRESH BONES
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43
44
45
46
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48
49
50
ASSORTED HARRY POTTER
(Sorcerer's Stone, Chamber of Secrets, Prisoner of Azkaban, and preview stills from Order of the Phoenix
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52
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54
55
56
57
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61
62
63
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