break is for entertainment
I've been home on break for over two weeks now, and haven't posted a thing! It's clearly a calamity, people. I feel I've lost my fandom mojo. Also, I miss superheroes. There hasn't been a really good superhero moment in my life for awhile. Anybody want to give me a superhero-related prompt in an effort to reignite my fanfic abilities? (I have 2 old BSG fics I should polish, but much as I love BSG, I still remain undecided about events of season 3 and thus have no real inspiration to write.)
Speaking of which, I hesitate to even bring up the latest movie news, because I can definitely rant about the idea of the franchise dumping Brandon Routh--the only thing the movie got right--or about the idea of a teenage Justice League (if you want the Teen Titans, just call it the Teen Titans already).
There were 4 movies I really, really wanted to see while I was on break, and so far I've seen 3 of them. Things I've watched:
Pan's Labyrinth Everybody's been talking about this film, and I can see why. I read an article comparing it (favorably) to Chronicles of Narnia--something about how Labyrinth provides a better demonstration of how fantasy influences and/or enhances real life--which is interesting. I think it's a terrifically made movie, very thought-provoking and entertaining at the same time. The acting was terrific, and the juxtaposition of reality and fantasy was really as well done as everyone says it is. I admit I had that "I wish it wasn't in Spanish" thought as I was watching it, but it really is a good movie without caveat.
Hot Fuzz Yes, I liked it. I do think some of the violence was excessive, much as I understand that was sort of part of the spoof. I still feel like all the gore and innards was essential to Shaun of the Dead, but rather gratuitous here. I enjoyed the rest of the comedy a LOT, but the random bursts of truly grisly violence tended to snap me out of the enjoyment. Somehow I don't think that was the intent. I also think they dragged out the end. Again, sure, partial genre spoof. But a better movie is a better movie. Anyway, that said, loved the buddy cop and city-cop-in-a-quiet-village parody. Loved the ongoing swan gag. And the physical comedy, aside from the grisly stuff as previously discussed, was absolutely perfect. I do love me some good sight gags.
National Treasure 2 My family loves the first movie. It's light, enjoyable, fun, fast-moving, and inoffensive. I realize these are exactly the qualities people mock it for having, but they are qualities we appreciate. So we all loaded up and took ourselves to the theater for this one. It did not disappoint. It was definitely as good as the first, and I say that without a trace of irony. Sure, there were a couple plot points I could quibble with--why the heck was the bad guy trying to kill him if he *wanted* him to find the treasure, for instance--but I won't. It deserves to be raking in the cash right now. And I love Justin Bartha. He makes up for the sappy on-and-off romance of Nicolas Cage and Diane Krueger.
Rescue Dawn Well, Christian Bale makes the movie. It's beautifully shot, and very *quiet* for a "triumph over suffering" type film, but I found it a little...dull. I liked that it was so pro-American military, as I think we could stand to have a few more such pictures in this day and age.
edited-forgot one:
Amazing Grace This movie was well done with one exception: the flashback technique was appalling. I'm pretty movie savvy, and I didn't catch onto what they were doing until part way into the movie. It was highly disorienting. However. I really liked the way they handled Wilberforce's Christian faith in this. And the emphasis on his friendship with William Pitt was a delight. Ioan Gruffuld? Still hot.
I've also been rewatching season 1 of Friday Night Lights, and catching up on season 2. I really don't feel like the show has gone downhill with its second season. There may be some sophomore melodrama, true, and I would appreciate more football and less Julie, but overall I still think they're keeping up well with their fabulous first season. I love this show. It, in combination with my new school spirit, has even gotten me interested in football (shock and awe!). I've been using my break to figure out the rules so I can properly follow the game when I get back to school. I am such a dork.
I've also set about learning to read music. We never did music lessons in my family, and I'm beginning to feel the loss. So I've dug out my mother's old piano books and I'm slowly learning the mysteries of making music. Very exciting, like learning a new language. And for those of you who know about my angst over learning (or getting back INTO learning) French, I did very well this semester. I am thrilled it's over, and looking back rather fondly. I just wish I had plans to actually use it for communication sometime in the near future.
And I've been reading, but I'll post a book list later this week. And I seriously need some new music. I listened to nothing but Bon Jovi for the 600 mile trip home. At some point I was singing "Livin' on a Prayer" at the top of my lungs in an effort to stay alert. I may post my "top 5 tracks of the moment" later this week, but I'm pretty sure they're all songs I've posted previously.
Speaking of which, I hesitate to even bring up the latest movie news, because I can definitely rant about the idea of the franchise dumping Brandon Routh--the only thing the movie got right--or about the idea of a teenage Justice League (if you want the Teen Titans, just call it the Teen Titans already).
There were 4 movies I really, really wanted to see while I was on break, and so far I've seen 3 of them. Things I've watched:
Pan's Labyrinth Everybody's been talking about this film, and I can see why. I read an article comparing it (favorably) to Chronicles of Narnia--something about how Labyrinth provides a better demonstration of how fantasy influences and/or enhances real life--which is interesting. I think it's a terrifically made movie, very thought-provoking and entertaining at the same time. The acting was terrific, and the juxtaposition of reality and fantasy was really as well done as everyone says it is. I admit I had that "I wish it wasn't in Spanish" thought as I was watching it, but it really is a good movie without caveat.
Hot Fuzz Yes, I liked it. I do think some of the violence was excessive, much as I understand that was sort of part of the spoof. I still feel like all the gore and innards was essential to Shaun of the Dead, but rather gratuitous here. I enjoyed the rest of the comedy a LOT, but the random bursts of truly grisly violence tended to snap me out of the enjoyment. Somehow I don't think that was the intent. I also think they dragged out the end. Again, sure, partial genre spoof. But a better movie is a better movie. Anyway, that said, loved the buddy cop and city-cop-in-a-quiet-village parody. Loved the ongoing swan gag. And the physical comedy, aside from the grisly stuff as previously discussed, was absolutely perfect. I do love me some good sight gags.
National Treasure 2 My family loves the first movie. It's light, enjoyable, fun, fast-moving, and inoffensive. I realize these are exactly the qualities people mock it for having, but they are qualities we appreciate. So we all loaded up and took ourselves to the theater for this one. It did not disappoint. It was definitely as good as the first, and I say that without a trace of irony. Sure, there were a couple plot points I could quibble with--why the heck was the bad guy trying to kill him if he *wanted* him to find the treasure, for instance--but I won't. It deserves to be raking in the cash right now. And I love Justin Bartha. He makes up for the sappy on-and-off romance of Nicolas Cage and Diane Krueger.
Rescue Dawn Well, Christian Bale makes the movie. It's beautifully shot, and very *quiet* for a "triumph over suffering" type film, but I found it a little...dull. I liked that it was so pro-American military, as I think we could stand to have a few more such pictures in this day and age.
edited-forgot one:
Amazing Grace This movie was well done with one exception: the flashback technique was appalling. I'm pretty movie savvy, and I didn't catch onto what they were doing until part way into the movie. It was highly disorienting. However. I really liked the way they handled Wilberforce's Christian faith in this. And the emphasis on his friendship with William Pitt was a delight. Ioan Gruffuld? Still hot.
I've also been rewatching season 1 of Friday Night Lights, and catching up on season 2. I really don't feel like the show has gone downhill with its second season. There may be some sophomore melodrama, true, and I would appreciate more football and less Julie, but overall I still think they're keeping up well with their fabulous first season. I love this show. It, in combination with my new school spirit, has even gotten me interested in football (shock and awe!). I've been using my break to figure out the rules so I can properly follow the game when I get back to school. I am such a dork.
I've also set about learning to read music. We never did music lessons in my family, and I'm beginning to feel the loss. So I've dug out my mother's old piano books and I'm slowly learning the mysteries of making music. Very exciting, like learning a new language. And for those of you who know about my angst over learning (or getting back INTO learning) French, I did very well this semester. I am thrilled it's over, and looking back rather fondly. I just wish I had plans to actually use it for communication sometime in the near future.
And I've been reading, but I'll post a book list later this week. And I seriously need some new music. I listened to nothing but Bon Jovi for the 600 mile trip home. At some point I was singing "Livin' on a Prayer" at the top of my lungs in an effort to stay alert. I may post my "top 5 tracks of the moment" later this week, but I'm pretty sure they're all songs I've posted previously.