Current Status of the USS Hadhafang
Doing good. Got struck with a case of the period pains -- I'm on day three of my period right now. Really wasn't as bad as the previous days when I had cramping and heavy bleeding and all; at least now is a bit better. On a brighter note, not having nightmares like I did previously (and I guess the fact that I had nightmares and really bad mood swings in the weeks leading up to my period probably explains a lot); in fact, I barely remember any nightmares, and I'm actually sleeping okay all things considered, which, considering me, is no doubt a success. Only really unfortunate thing, to be perfectly honest, is the fact that I couldn't find the DVD for THE DARK KNIGHT to watch with my mom -- let's say in either an act of God or the wrath of the Joker (kidding, of course. XD) or, more likely, me being extremely careless (because let's say that I have a really unfortunate tendency of misplacing things, which bites. I think it's been going on ever since I was in elementary school -- some might have the occasional bout of couldn't-find-certain-object but it's a heck of a lot worse for me. That and not being able to concentrate -- a certain medicine that I was on either last year or the year before just made me tenser and caused mood swings and crying jags that actually got worse for a while once they decided to take me off it. I think practicing at concentrating more, especially considering that the school year is coming up -- *groan* -- might definitely come in handy) I couldn't find the DVD anywhere. The disc, more precisely. Fortunately, even that worked out in the end, because we got to see one of my Mom's personal favorites, YOU GOT MAIL. She kind of figured that it would be more healthy for my emotions anyway, as it's lighter (and I love THE DARK KNIGHT -- Nolan's Batman movies are perhaps some of the best movies ever made, no questions asked -- but what happened to Rachel, Harvey, etc...yeah, I doubt I could ever relive that on screen), and sweeter as well. How was it? Really, honestly very good.
First off, there's the matter of the soundtrack. The soundtrack is just awesome, it really is. I know stuff like the song that plays in the opening scene was a good example, as well as the inclusion of The Cranberries, especially since...well, my mom, to say the least, really loves The Cranberries, she really does. So that was a good touch. Honestly, I just want to get around to buying the soundtrack. Second, I really liked the twist of the two characters being rival business people, which, really, added a whole new dimension to things -- in between the matter of, obviously, the whole hate-turning-to-love-with-this-whole-undercurrent-of-not-knowing-the-other's-identity thing, there was something, I thought, that even with the whole '90s backdrop (e.g. the You've Got Mail thing, as well as the matter of dial-up Internet *), the whole matter of big businesses overcoming smaller businesses was a bit too potent for my liking, especially since with the rise of the Internet, stores are closing down and all. (I mean, don't get me wrong; I'm glad we have the Internet, but at the same time...well, things like the bookstores are pretty much like a home to me) Honestly, in general I've been fearing change a lot (and 2013 had a lot of earthquakes, in ways large and small, good and bad, etc.), and Kathleen's (that's Meg Ryan's character) talk about the matter of change to her online pen pal (who's actually Tom Hanks' character, Joe) in regards to her bookstore closing down...that was really striking to me, it really was. Not to mention, while it was also funny, when the people were stuck in the elevator (Joe and his pretty unpleasant -- to put it mildly -- girlfriend), it also got really touching when the people discussed what they were going to do should they get out of the elevator (and it's really a sign of damn good writing when being stuck in an elevator is touching), such as this one woman deciding to talk with her mother, and another guy saying that he's going to ask another woman to marry him. And while it gets funny again with the girlfriend and what she's going to do when she gets out of the elevator...yeah, overall, it's just a lovely scene. Like I said, a sign of damn good writing when you can make a trapped-in-an-elevator scene funny and moving at the same time. Not to mention, bizarrely enough, when Kathleen and her columnist boyfriend (who, on another note, looks sort of like Bill Murray in GHOSTBUSTERS) break up just because simply, they're just not right for one another. I don't know; it was sad, yes, but the fact that the both of them accepted it with such good humor..,it was kind of sweet, in an odd way. And, after Joe decides to move out of his girlfriend's apartment, when he spends some time on the boat with his dad, having a few laughs and reminiscing (which is funny on its own, and pretty endearing as well. It really gives their relationship a lot of form and a lot of warmth -- and I think really, that's another thing that works here -- the actors do an excellent job, of course, but the writing is also awesome) before something from his dad kind of has him come to a realization, basically, since when has he ever fallen for someone who basically...well, filled his heart and soul, really. That was just...well, right for him. And it's really the thing that actually has him go to Kathleen's house and really start making amends.
I also really loved Kathleen and the matter of her dead mother -- the matter of, for example, one of the characters in the film, Birdie, "listening" to a locket with the picture of Kathleen's mother inside -- funny in a sense, but also, thinking about it, oddly poignant. As well as Kathleen looking back at the store as she leaves, only to sort of see/remember her mother dancing with her as a little girl. It's sort of details like this that really make the characters very human, and honestly? I love humanity in fiction. Just those little relatable touches that give us glimpses into what life is all about. I've already brought up the matter of plot vs. character and all, and while plot is very important, I think that character is really, even more important, to be perfectly honest. Because without good characters, why should we care? Not to mention, plot is really driven by cause and effect, what the characters do, what happens to them, things like that. So characters are definitely very integral. And even in stories I might not like, if there's a captured beat of the heart, so to speak (in this case, Kathleen facing the reality of her store closing, the people in the elevator talking about what they want to do when they get out **), it definitely gets points in my book, it really does. *** Hell, even in the funny scenes, such as with Joe and Kathleen really getting to understand each other, there's a definite sweetness in there (just, really, how much fun they're having together, when they're not being rival businesspeople, when they're just being...well, people, really), and even a poignancy in regards to Joe asking her that if not for the matter of businesses, would it have worked out for the best? Of course, it works out for the best in the end (and it's really, honestly, the perfect ending -- just a really sweet, poignant, lovely ending), but that scene was genuinely affecting. Hell, it had a lot of those moments, which, really, is one of many strengths of the movie.
I also really liked how they portrayed the matter of Fox Books -- the fact that they're really not the bad guys (it's just that, unfortunately, they're kind of threatening the Shop Around the Corner **** in a way), and best of all, not as mustache-twirlers. It's easy to just go for the whole "corporations = evil" thing, but I really like how they showed Joe (then again, of course he's not evil; he does have to be one of the romantic leads, let's be honest here) as not necessarily evil, just misguided and kind of oblivious to what he's doing at times and a bit too pragmatic -- and he's really not that bad a guy, not at all. Not to mention the fact that the people working alongside Joe aren't evil either; Kevin, his friend, for example, Joe's dad, and his granddad (other than being kind of your stereotypical grump). So I definitely loved how the film decided to give them actual humanity and not put them in the role of the Designated Villains. And I also loved...well, okay, Kathleen's speech at the restaurant was awesome in its own right, about how Joe, basically, doesn't get it (although it was heartwrenching as well), but I also loved the both of them sort of having Heel Realizations and deciding to apologize over email. It's really sort of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE-esque; heck, the book even features in the film as a book that Kathleen is reading, and Joe sort of mentions it when he visits her while she's ill. Heck, there's a bit of a nod to the daisies in regards to Joe giving her some, because in one of their meetings (back when Kathleen didn't know who Joe was and all), she pointed to how much she loved daisies, and how the handkerchief she owns has daisies embroidered in it along with her initials. (It's also when her deceased mother is first mentioned, I think) Really, it's a really lovely story, and very well-told.
I also loved the touches of humor in there, such as, for example, the matter of Joe's outrage over the misrepresentation (more specifically, Quote Mining) of his words about Fox Books. Basically, just making it look like Fox Books' philosophy is all about "cheap books". Never mind the sense of community (which Kathleen sees later at one point near the end of the film), the enjoyment, the titles...no, it seems as if the only thing they have in their favor is cheap books. Seriously, I would be angry too if I were him. But his reaction is priceless, as well as Kevin's reaction to his use of the word "piazza", and "I was trying to be eloquent -- shit!" Which pretty much the entire gym hears. XD Not to mention the awkward four-way confrontation (seriously, Holy Dinner And A Show, Batman!) between Kathleen, Joe, Patricia (Joe's girlfriend) and Frank (Kathleen's boyfriend), especially the bit with the caviar. Not to mention when Joe takes the kids up to New Jersey for a bit, and his, um, awkward attempts to have fun with them. And, after his first meeting-with-Kathleen-where-neither-knew-the-other's-identity, when he says goodbye to her, one of the balloons gets caught in the door, he goes back to get it, and says that it was a good thing that it wasn't the goldfish. And any scene with Joe's honestly adorable dog, Brinckley, such as with his judgmental look at Joe while Joe is attempting to type out an email to Kathleen (and really, it's another wonderfully human touch, especially with that whole trying-to-apologize-but-not-knowing-what-to-say thing) to apologize for seemingly "missing" his date with her, including making up a lie about being trapped at work on the 38th floor with the power going out and the phone lines also going out. And much earlier, Kathleen's excitement about being in love, including sniffing Scotch tape (it's really the others' reactions that seal the deal. XD) as well as the talk about cybersex (and Birdie's comment about getting a "busy" signal) and (crossing over with pretty Woobieish) that one guy's comment about the Internet just being another way for girls to reject him. (I mean, ouch) Honestly, in general, it was just a damn good movie. Only problem? When it ended. Because let's say it was such a good movie, I almost didn't want it to be over.
* I'm very much a child of the '90s, so I remember stuff like VHS tapes and dial-up Internet pretty vividly. I am slightly sad to see the VHS tapes go, but dial-up Internet, not so much. I'm actually glad that it's quicker now, even if wireless does have its own problems, really (e.g. failing at the worst possible moments). But yeah... *Sighs* Ah, the nineties...
** And really, save for the jumping-up-and-down plan, the phone call, and the matter of Joe's girlfriend...really, it wasn't played for laughs. That part...the bits before it were funny, and even one bit after, but otherwise, the characters were treated very sensitively. I don't know; I just love this scene.
*** That and while I can occasionally be an overanalytical creature with an uprightness a la Odo's in DEEP SPACE NINE, I do like seeing the good in things.
**** And I admit, I do wish that Kathleen didn't have to close. I mean, Birdie does try and tell her -- although I think it was just Birdie attempting to make her feel better -- that she's heading to a new life and all, but it still made me sad.
So overall, I definitely recommend this movie. I mean, it's witty, it's smart, it's sweet, it's very human...it's just awesome. Definitely recommended. :)
First off, there's the matter of the soundtrack. The soundtrack is just awesome, it really is. I know stuff like the song that plays in the opening scene was a good example, as well as the inclusion of The Cranberries, especially since...well, my mom, to say the least, really loves The Cranberries, she really does. So that was a good touch. Honestly, I just want to get around to buying the soundtrack. Second, I really liked the twist of the two characters being rival business people, which, really, added a whole new dimension to things -- in between the matter of, obviously, the whole hate-turning-to-love-with-this-whole-undercurrent-of-not-knowing-the-other's-identity thing, there was something, I thought, that even with the whole '90s backdrop (e.g. the You've Got Mail thing, as well as the matter of dial-up Internet *), the whole matter of big businesses overcoming smaller businesses was a bit too potent for my liking, especially since with the rise of the Internet, stores are closing down and all. (I mean, don't get me wrong; I'm glad we have the Internet, but at the same time...well, things like the bookstores are pretty much like a home to me) Honestly, in general I've been fearing change a lot (and 2013 had a lot of earthquakes, in ways large and small, good and bad, etc.), and Kathleen's (that's Meg Ryan's character) talk about the matter of change to her online pen pal (who's actually Tom Hanks' character, Joe) in regards to her bookstore closing down...that was really striking to me, it really was. Not to mention, while it was also funny, when the people were stuck in the elevator (Joe and his pretty unpleasant -- to put it mildly -- girlfriend), it also got really touching when the people discussed what they were going to do should they get out of the elevator (and it's really a sign of damn good writing when being stuck in an elevator is touching), such as this one woman deciding to talk with her mother, and another guy saying that he's going to ask another woman to marry him. And while it gets funny again with the girlfriend and what she's going to do when she gets out of the elevator...yeah, overall, it's just a lovely scene. Like I said, a sign of damn good writing when you can make a trapped-in-an-elevator scene funny and moving at the same time. Not to mention, bizarrely enough, when Kathleen and her columnist boyfriend (who, on another note, looks sort of like Bill Murray in GHOSTBUSTERS) break up just because simply, they're just not right for one another. I don't know; it was sad, yes, but the fact that the both of them accepted it with such good humor..,it was kind of sweet, in an odd way. And, after Joe decides to move out of his girlfriend's apartment, when he spends some time on the boat with his dad, having a few laughs and reminiscing (which is funny on its own, and pretty endearing as well. It really gives their relationship a lot of form and a lot of warmth -- and I think really, that's another thing that works here -- the actors do an excellent job, of course, but the writing is also awesome) before something from his dad kind of has him come to a realization, basically, since when has he ever fallen for someone who basically...well, filled his heart and soul, really. That was just...well, right for him. And it's really the thing that actually has him go to Kathleen's house and really start making amends.
I also really loved Kathleen and the matter of her dead mother -- the matter of, for example, one of the characters in the film, Birdie, "listening" to a locket with the picture of Kathleen's mother inside -- funny in a sense, but also, thinking about it, oddly poignant. As well as Kathleen looking back at the store as she leaves, only to sort of see/remember her mother dancing with her as a little girl. It's sort of details like this that really make the characters very human, and honestly? I love humanity in fiction. Just those little relatable touches that give us glimpses into what life is all about. I've already brought up the matter of plot vs. character and all, and while plot is very important, I think that character is really, even more important, to be perfectly honest. Because without good characters, why should we care? Not to mention, plot is really driven by cause and effect, what the characters do, what happens to them, things like that. So characters are definitely very integral. And even in stories I might not like, if there's a captured beat of the heart, so to speak (in this case, Kathleen facing the reality of her store closing, the people in the elevator talking about what they want to do when they get out **), it definitely gets points in my book, it really does. *** Hell, even in the funny scenes, such as with Joe and Kathleen really getting to understand each other, there's a definite sweetness in there (just, really, how much fun they're having together, when they're not being rival businesspeople, when they're just being...well, people, really), and even a poignancy in regards to Joe asking her that if not for the matter of businesses, would it have worked out for the best? Of course, it works out for the best in the end (and it's really, honestly, the perfect ending -- just a really sweet, poignant, lovely ending), but that scene was genuinely affecting. Hell, it had a lot of those moments, which, really, is one of many strengths of the movie.
I also really liked how they portrayed the matter of Fox Books -- the fact that they're really not the bad guys (it's just that, unfortunately, they're kind of threatening the Shop Around the Corner **** in a way), and best of all, not as mustache-twirlers. It's easy to just go for the whole "corporations = evil" thing, but I really like how they showed Joe (then again, of course he's not evil; he does have to be one of the romantic leads, let's be honest here) as not necessarily evil, just misguided and kind of oblivious to what he's doing at times and a bit too pragmatic -- and he's really not that bad a guy, not at all. Not to mention the fact that the people working alongside Joe aren't evil either; Kevin, his friend, for example, Joe's dad, and his granddad (other than being kind of your stereotypical grump). So I definitely loved how the film decided to give them actual humanity and not put them in the role of the Designated Villains. And I also loved...well, okay, Kathleen's speech at the restaurant was awesome in its own right, about how Joe, basically, doesn't get it (although it was heartwrenching as well), but I also loved the both of them sort of having Heel Realizations and deciding to apologize over email. It's really sort of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE-esque; heck, the book even features in the film as a book that Kathleen is reading, and Joe sort of mentions it when he visits her while she's ill. Heck, there's a bit of a nod to the daisies in regards to Joe giving her some, because in one of their meetings (back when Kathleen didn't know who Joe was and all), she pointed to how much she loved daisies, and how the handkerchief she owns has daisies embroidered in it along with her initials. (It's also when her deceased mother is first mentioned, I think) Really, it's a really lovely story, and very well-told.
I also loved the touches of humor in there, such as, for example, the matter of Joe's outrage over the misrepresentation (more specifically, Quote Mining) of his words about Fox Books. Basically, just making it look like Fox Books' philosophy is all about "cheap books". Never mind the sense of community (which Kathleen sees later at one point near the end of the film), the enjoyment, the titles...no, it seems as if the only thing they have in their favor is cheap books. Seriously, I would be angry too if I were him. But his reaction is priceless, as well as Kevin's reaction to his use of the word "piazza", and "I was trying to be eloquent -- shit!" Which pretty much the entire gym hears. XD Not to mention the awkward four-way confrontation (seriously, Holy Dinner And A Show, Batman!) between Kathleen, Joe, Patricia (Joe's girlfriend) and Frank (Kathleen's boyfriend), especially the bit with the caviar. Not to mention when Joe takes the kids up to New Jersey for a bit, and his, um, awkward attempts to have fun with them. And, after his first meeting-with-Kathleen-where-neither-knew-the-other's-identity, when he says goodbye to her, one of the balloons gets caught in the door, he goes back to get it, and says that it was a good thing that it wasn't the goldfish. And any scene with Joe's honestly adorable dog, Brinckley, such as with his judgmental look at Joe while Joe is attempting to type out an email to Kathleen (and really, it's another wonderfully human touch, especially with that whole trying-to-apologize-but-not-knowing-what-to-say thing) to apologize for seemingly "missing" his date with her, including making up a lie about being trapped at work on the 38th floor with the power going out and the phone lines also going out. And much earlier, Kathleen's excitement about being in love, including sniffing Scotch tape (it's really the others' reactions that seal the deal. XD) as well as the talk about cybersex (and Birdie's comment about getting a "busy" signal) and (crossing over with pretty Woobieish) that one guy's comment about the Internet just being another way for girls to reject him. (I mean, ouch) Honestly, in general, it was just a damn good movie. Only problem? When it ended. Because let's say it was such a good movie, I almost didn't want it to be over.
* I'm very much a child of the '90s, so I remember stuff like VHS tapes and dial-up Internet pretty vividly. I am slightly sad to see the VHS tapes go, but dial-up Internet, not so much. I'm actually glad that it's quicker now, even if wireless does have its own problems, really (e.g. failing at the worst possible moments). But yeah... *Sighs* Ah, the nineties...
** And really, save for the jumping-up-and-down plan, the phone call, and the matter of Joe's girlfriend...really, it wasn't played for laughs. That part...the bits before it were funny, and even one bit after, but otherwise, the characters were treated very sensitively. I don't know; I just love this scene.
*** That and while I can occasionally be an overanalytical creature with an uprightness a la Odo's in DEEP SPACE NINE, I do like seeing the good in things.
**** And I admit, I do wish that Kathleen didn't have to close. I mean, Birdie does try and tell her -- although I think it was just Birdie attempting to make her feel better -- that she's heading to a new life and all, but it still made me sad.
So overall, I definitely recommend this movie. I mean, it's witty, it's smart, it's sweet, it's very human...it's just awesome. Definitely recommended. :)