Change of Pace: On Reading and TV
- Given that it's quals season...I actually read my first fiction book in ages. lol. I've wanted to read "Never Let Me Go" since I saw the trailer for it and found out it was a book with an intriguing premise. I want to write a better, more carefully thought out review than this but I think it was a very well written book and it really captures growing up and what it means to learn more things. It makes me think about mortality too and priorities and ethics and the age old question of whether it's better to know or ignorance is bliss. (I don't know really where I stand for that last one b/c while I think generally I'd go for it's always better to know..if it's something really bad, I'm not sure I'd want to know.) I especially liked the first part of the group, where they're children at school and then they start growing up and although there are things about their lives that are odd to us like the Gallery, Sales, donations it's fascinating to start learning about these characters' lives and I really wish I hadn't read the book summary on wikipedia/spoilers b/c I can imagine that it would have been so much more fascinating to go into the book completely blind and being hit with the realization the book's main premise. It's a pity that judging from movie reviews, they made Ruth, the protagonist Kathy's best friend, a villain b/c though she' s not been the best person, she's certainly not a villain and is generally a pretty decent friend. Particular moments I really liked about the book: following the possible and the concept of possibles and how it's intriguing and a bit creepy at the same time, Norfolk (one of the few happier spots in the novel), and Kathy and her love for the song "Never Let Me Go."
-The Town- saw that in theaters and generally liked it. I thought it was a solid movie and it's always nice to see Boston featured in movies and it's nice that not all of the characters have super strong Boston accents like they did in The Departed (but you know, how fun/unique the tone of that movie is really makes up for that). It's a solid movie and I enjoyed each of the bank robberies- all of them were very well done. I especially loved the boldness of the last one and how the first one cuts off. I didn't care for some other parts of the movie as much, the love story while bearable to watch kinda fell flat but at the end of the day, it's a pretty entertaining (if not exactly memorable) movie.
-On TV:
Mad Men: We got into watching Mad Men this year and it's so awesome!! Seriously, we'd get a disk of 3-4 episodes and watch it all at once. Mad Men takes place late 1950s-60s and is about an advertising agency. I don't think I can explain it well enough- it's beautifully filmed, and a lot of moments feel really cinematic, has lots of complicated characters, awesomely dressed people, and lots of emoness. I loved season 1 and 2 (didn't care much for Bobbie Barret or Betty's horseback riding). Liked most of season 3 but some of it was kind of hard to get through though( especially towards second half like the teacher and Hilton) although 3 did have some great moments and storylines like the trips. I'm not sure how I feel about season 4 yet...while I liked the additional humor (Blankenship!, the Honda episode, etc) it feels quite different- lighter in tone even? I also can't say that I care for many of the new characters very much like Fahye and Peggy's creative team when I'd be more interested in seeing more of the current/original characters.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHUUyx0d7qw for a clip.
Better Off Ted: I watched this mostly over the summer and there're only ~26 episodes or so, 2 seasons before it was canceled, it was really funny, entertaining, and had an insanely cheerful score. BOT is about an evil corporation and 2 managers, one product tester, and two scientists (Lem and Phil who are super adorable) who work there. It's quirky, fun, but not quite as smart as some of the other comedies out there like 30 Rock.
30 Rock and Community: I think will be what I'll regularly watch this year. I like 30 Rock so far- think it's funny but not amazing like season 1 and 2 (which I've rewatched many times b/c they felt a bit more real. I miss how they focused more on work, and the writers room, had better continuity (like didn't they hire a new actor last season- what happened to him?) and come on stuff like Merry, Boff, or Kill? Very entertaining. ) and several moments of 3 and 4 (James Franco and his pillow!). Community I like how unique each of the characters are and how they've all really become quite likable, even Pierce. And I'm still very impressed with how they really do try to get all the characters to interact with each other.
I think I'm giving up watching Chuck, which got to be insanely good the second half of season 2 and then he gets spy powers in season 3 and although of course they have to go in a certain direction, it's just not quite the same anymore.
-The Town- saw that in theaters and generally liked it. I thought it was a solid movie and it's always nice to see Boston featured in movies and it's nice that not all of the characters have super strong Boston accents like they did in The Departed (but you know, how fun/unique the tone of that movie is really makes up for that). It's a solid movie and I enjoyed each of the bank robberies- all of them were very well done. I especially loved the boldness of the last one and how the first one cuts off. I didn't care for some other parts of the movie as much, the love story while bearable to watch kinda fell flat but at the end of the day, it's a pretty entertaining (if not exactly memorable) movie.
-On TV:
Mad Men: We got into watching Mad Men this year and it's so awesome!! Seriously, we'd get a disk of 3-4 episodes and watch it all at once. Mad Men takes place late 1950s-60s and is about an advertising agency. I don't think I can explain it well enough- it's beautifully filmed, and a lot of moments feel really cinematic, has lots of complicated characters, awesomely dressed people, and lots of emoness. I loved season 1 and 2 (didn't care much for Bobbie Barret or Betty's horseback riding). Liked most of season 3 but some of it was kind of hard to get through though( especially towards second half like the teacher and Hilton) although 3 did have some great moments and storylines like the trips. I'm not sure how I feel about season 4 yet...while I liked the additional humor (Blankenship!, the Honda episode, etc) it feels quite different- lighter in tone even? I also can't say that I care for many of the new characters very much like Fahye and Peggy's creative team when I'd be more interested in seeing more of the current/original characters.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHUUyx0d7qw for a clip.
Better Off Ted: I watched this mostly over the summer and there're only ~26 episodes or so, 2 seasons before it was canceled, it was really funny, entertaining, and had an insanely cheerful score. BOT is about an evil corporation and 2 managers, one product tester, and two scientists (Lem and Phil who are super adorable) who work there. It's quirky, fun, but not quite as smart as some of the other comedies out there like 30 Rock.
30 Rock and Community: I think will be what I'll regularly watch this year. I like 30 Rock so far- think it's funny but not amazing like season 1 and 2 (which I've rewatched many times b/c they felt a bit more real. I miss how they focused more on work, and the writers room, had better continuity (like didn't they hire a new actor last season- what happened to him?) and come on stuff like Merry, Boff, or Kill? Very entertaining. ) and several moments of 3 and 4 (James Franco and his pillow!). Community I like how unique each of the characters are and how they've all really become quite likable, even Pierce. And I'm still very impressed with how they really do try to get all the characters to interact with each other.
I think I'm giving up watching Chuck, which got to be insanely good the second half of season 2 and then he gets spy powers in season 3 and although of course they have to go in a certain direction, it's just not quite the same anymore.