Titanic and Dexter

So last night I decided to watch Titanic after someone recently told me that they watched it. It had been a while since I had it I had to admit that it was about I watch it again. This was the last film James Cameron had done before Avatar. And it's crazy he had back to back billion dollar grossing films. In my personal opinion, Titanic was the better of two. Avatar's special effects and animation were surreal, but the plot was too recycled. So I am not looking forward to the two upcoming sequels of Avatar in the works. Anyways, back to the point of business, Titanic. This was the film that changed the use of CGI animation and enhanced the special effect spectrum. Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet did a fantastic job, as well as Kathy Bates as "The Unsinkable Molly Brown." This tragic event in history was portrayed in a very real manner with the infusion of love affair that bloomed between Jack and Rose. This film is just phenomenal and upon last nights viewing I had to place it in my top 10, with Inception being the only other film I know for a fact is in my Top 10. The camera work and the overall re-creation of the Titanic is just amazing. The re-enactment of the ship going down was incredible. I cannot forget the musical score, which helped lead the emotional feelings risen in the film. I just love this film, and if it has been awhile for you since the last time you watched it, set aside 3 hours and watch it soon. Now on to last nights episode of Dexter. It was phenomenal. The acting by Michael C. Hall was amazing as Dexter continued to deal with realities of his loss, as well as a confidant who helps Lumen through her issues. Deb on the other hand had to deal with other issues with her job and love affair. I think this was probably Jennifer Carpenter's best acting episode of the series. I just urge anyone who has not seen the show to watch it. It is so addicting, and you find it odd that you're rooting for a serial killer. I don't want to spoil the show, so I will just conclude by saying the writing, along with the acting of Michael C. Hall above others, is what creates the show. Well I think that's enough rambling on ,so so long to all, may your dreams come true.

Home Alone and Grown Ups

Again I finally return to write on this again. It feels right to be doing this. Due to the mini blizzard that happened tonight, I got to enjoy a mini marathon of films. First up on the list was Home Alone, a John Hughes classic. Yesterday the roommates and I put up Christmas decorations so it only felt right to watch Home Alone now. I love the whole trilogy, but obviously the ones with Macauly Culkin (1 and 2) are a lot better than the third one. There'es not a lot to say since it is a classic and most people have seen it. I just love that film. The second film I watched was Grown Ups and let me say that film was hilarious. I really enjoyed it, a lot more than I thought I would. Sometimes when there is such a large amount of big stars in one film it typically is a huge flop. The film seemed to capitalize on all of the stars talents as comedians on film. Adam Sandler and Kevin James were hilarious.The scenes seen in the trailer are only the beginning of this film and I urge everyone to see this film if they enjoy Happy Madison productions. Go out and see this film is what I am trying to say. I have not begun the other films of my marathon so I can't finish reviews of those films. I recommend to everyone to keep watching films and get ready for Tron Legacy!!! (trailer just came on as I'm writing this so I had to plug it) Ok well so long to all, may your dreams come true.

The Return of CONAN!

Tonight marked the return of Conan O'Brien to television, and let me tell you, it was awesome. There was a great variety of jabs at NBC and references to length of employment at the helm of the Tonight Show. He makes a jokes about why he tittles the show "Conan", stating ".... its going to be a lot harder to replace me now." The show had excellent guests with Seth Rogen, Lea Michele, with musical guest Jack White. Seth Rogen made funny remarks regarding his recent engagement and how Proposition 19 failed to pass in California which would have legalized marijuana. Lea Michele spent time discussing her recent Glee GQ cover shoot that was considered racy to some due to the fact of the age of the characters they portray on the show. Jack White and Conan performed a song they co-wrote together during Conan's hiatus tour this past summer. Ricky Gervais even a small appearance within the show. It was very enjoyable. I would say the return of Conan was a huge success. And recommend continued viewing to everyone. Well so long to all, may your dreams come true.

Ghosts

"I remember back, back in the day. When the sunshine smiled as the children played, I say. I remember when it was so pure, Hearing melodies through the bedroom door. Making beats in the basement. Tasting all the magic harmonies and flows that we were chasing. Turning fantasies into realities. Oh we were lost in dreams, We had all the keys." - Trevor Hall. This song just touches a particular nerve that I can not describe. Trevor himself, says the song deals with the tough parts of life and how it is not simple, but a high power will prevail and help. This is true. This song is a reminder to me of life is rough, but good things come out of nowhere and that someone is always looking out for us. I would have to say this is probably my favorite song currently. Its a great catchy tune, with a mild reggae undertone. It may not be for everyone, but everyone should at least listen to it once. So that is my song to listen too. So in the last few days, I have not watched many films unfortunately, but I did see one unique film, Birth. The film is directed by Jonathon Glazer and stars Nicole Kidman. The film tells the story of a woman who loses her husband and flash forward 10 years when a boy claims to be her reincarnated husband. At his point in Kidman's life, she is engaged to another man and has moved on with her life, or so it seemed. As the memories of her husband rush back, she ultimately must choose between her fiancée or the boy version of her husband. The film includes many little twists and requires close attention at moments to piece it all together. The camera work offers very meaningful and artistic shots, with many long shots included within the film to show the trueness of each character. The ending of the film seemed a little abrupt in my opinion, but the nonetheless I would recommend this film. So go out and see it. Good acting, interesting plot, and great camera work. Well so long to all, may your dreams come true.  

Alice in Wonderland

So today I finally saw Tim Burton's version of Alice in Wonderland. I had heard mixed reviews about the film previous to my screening and I must admit, I really liked this one. Johnny Depp was mad good in his portrayal of the Mad Hatter. And overall the acting was superb. The witty and imaginative background and scenic views on screen were classic Tim Burton imagery. I think the essence of the Chesire Cat was captured in this portrayal of the classic film. Alice is in a battle of real life and dream as she travels the wonderful world that she has fallen into. The journey she takes follows the motif of the hero's journey as she transforms into a character with strength. She could not have made it that far without the input of all the magical characters who are depictions of people in Alice's real life. Overall, I would recommend that everybody see it and make their own opinion. This film particularly caused a ruckus upon its release because it shortened its run in theaters and the transition into DVD release. Nonetheless, there has not been evidence that this earlier DVD release has made a difference. Go out and watch this film and the magical performance of Johnny Depp. Well so long to all, may your dreams come true.

Hannibal Lecter

So in honor of Halloween last night I watched 2 films. Silence of the Lambs followed by the sequel Hannibal. The first, Silence of the Lambs made the horror genre a legitimate genre. It won an Oscar in 1992 for best film, best actor in a leading role for Anthony Hopkins, best actress in a leading role for Jodie Foster, best director for Jonathon Demme, and best screenplay. The film follows the relationship between Clarice Starling as she works on Dr. Hannibal Lecter, as he helps her solve a crime. The story is chilling which therefore declares the success of the acting by the main characters. The use of cannibalism is also quite chilling. Anthony Hopkins shines in this role as Hannibal, and epitomizes the serial killer, but also the intelligent serial killer. Jodie Foster also does superb as Clarice Starling, but her southern accent can be distracting at times. The most famous line from the film is "Hello Clarice," which Hannibal says. The camera work in the film is phenomenal, and I really appreciate it. The sequel to the film, Hannibal, was another great film. Anthony Hopkins returns as Dr. Hannibal Lecter and Julianne Moore replaces Jodie Foster as Clarice Starling. The plot of the film is setup as Hannibal is tired of being out of hiding and would like to be public again. This film can compare with the Silence of the Films, but there are many aesthetic changes with Ridley Scott (Gladiator and Robin Hood) at the helm. The camera work in this film provides a darker take on the character of Dr. Hannibal Lecter. It is interesting also that within the film, there is direct tribute to Silence of the Lambs with the shot of Clarice running throughout the woods. These films I would recommend to anybody, but just know that they deal with cannibalism and there are some disturbing images within both films. Anthony Hopkins is reason enough to watch these films with his phenomenal acting. So go out and watch these films and you will be in for a treat. Well so long to all, may your dreams come true.

Legion, Brothers, and The Machinist... Plus a Film I couldn't even Finish

    So the last 24 hours have consisted of 4 films and counting. I guess it could be 5 if you included Jackass 3-D from earlier last night. So the first film I watched was Legion and I have to be honest, I did not hate it. I went in to it expecting to absolutely hate it. The trailer of the demon grandma climbing on the ceiling, a man with wings, and the casting of Dennis Quaid. The plot of the film is St.Michael disobeying orders of an apocalypse by God by protecting the last baby to be born along with some twists of the action. The trailers for the film definitely not show that plot. Dennis Quaid, an actor whom I like, but I think his better suited roles are as a father like in The Parent Trap and The Rookie, did a good job in this film. There were some moments in the film that were cheesy, but I assumed there would be. The camera was nice and accented the narrative, but at times too hypo-Hollywood. Overall I enjoyed the movie and was thoroughly surprised. I would recommend it with lower expectations.
     The next film I watched was Brothers starring Tobey Maguire, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Natalie Portman. This film I broke down in depth according to acts, dangling and hook causes, and distinction of time. Do not worry though, again DO NOT WORRY, I will not, again I WILL NOT, bore you with that analysis. I really enjoyed this film. The narrative can run slow throughout, so beware. The trailers play tricks on the viewer because the trailer depicts it to run a different direction. The plot is reminiscent of the love story line in Pearl Harbor, with the supposed death of one love and the emergence of another, while the original love "returns from the dead." The acting was solid with the three headliners. Overall, I recommend it, go see it.
     The Machinist was one of Christian Bale's best work as an actor. The role offered a very mental and physical toll on himself, which is very obvious at first glance. The film is a psychological thriller because of the mind trips that make up the narrative. There are many times when the viewer feels very uncomfortable. The plot of the film is Trevor (Bale) has not been able to sleep in a year and is physically distort because of it. He believes he sees this man following him, and throughout he is trying to find this man because he thinks he is being followed. The film consists of many narrative trips and is interesting and disturbing at the same time.  I would recommend this film, but beware, it is disturbing at times and can take toll on the mind.
     So finally... the film I could not finish was Aeon Flux. The only reason I watched this film was because the cover of the film always intrigued me so I decided to take a chance. The film starred Charlize Theron, whom I like as an actress. The plot was just too over the top, crazy, and mind boring. I do not recommend this film. I do I am held liable though since I did not watch the whole film, but thats my half film review. Well I think that is enough to write, so I will move on with my viewing. So long to all, may your dreams come true.

Jackass 3-D

So today was my highly anticipated screening of Jackass 3-D, and let me say one thing, hilarious! The boys of Jackass have come a long way since the show began 10 years ago. The stunts are more dare-devilish and less immature with a little less childish balls kicking and more hardcore balls kicking. The ones seen in the trailer are just the beginning of what is seen and the 3-D screening of the film was a lot of fun. Johnny Knoxville was of course the lead in many stunts and his fascination with bulls and cattle continued in this film.Steve-o made some very laughable moments and there was plenty of vomit throughout the film. I really enjoyed this film and would recommend it for a comic laugh. It was a good send off to the boys who made being a jackass enjoyable. Go out and see, I would recommend the 3-D viewing, but it is personal preference or if you want to save an extra few bucks. Well so long to all, may your dreams come true.

Paranormal Activity 2

So here it finally came, the screening of Paranormal Activity 2. I must admit that I went into it with some decent expectations because the first PA movie was one of the last horror films to actually spook me. With the release of this film, it must be noted that the director changed, which brought many visual changes. The film's plot is a prequel to the first PA. The two original actors from the first one returned as their characters. The film was a fast view, but the build took longer than expected. The setup of the film seemed to last an hour, with a slow acclimating event. The good, thrilling events of the film did not take place until the final half hour of the film. The thrills of this seem to mask the excitement of the original, but the suspense does not last the whole film like in the original.The camera work also seemed to lose the original home movie feeling of the original in wake of a Hollywood-esqe home movie filming. This change came with the new director ultimately. So overall I would recommend this film for a short thrill, the entertaining moments are entertaining which is good to note. It is also good to know the difference between the original and this one. Well that is my take, so so long to all, may your dreams come true.

Tsotsi and a postponement

     The film of the day was Tsotsi. It was a film from South Africa that was directed by Gavin Wood. After first screening I would have to say I really enjoyed it, but very uncomfortable during some of it. The film seems to have a foreign Hollywood feeling because the journey taken my the main character goes in a very positive direction, but unlike the prototypical Hollywood film, it ended with plenty of loose strings. The film involves the journey of a man who takes the life of a thug in the slums of Johannesburg, South Africa. We learn in the journey the struggles he dealt with in childhood, and the film clearly is representative of the motif of childhood. The evolution of a character is prevalent throughout the film, and  many times is nonverbal. The camera work in the film was phenomenal. The use of crane and dolly shots to evoke the emotion from the camera. There is also a phenomenal street shot in last scene of the film that could make someones jaw drop in completely awe. I highly recommend this film to any viewer.
     As for the film I planned to have on my agenda, Paranormal Activity 2, a review will have to be held off another day. Perhaps I will watch the first one before I see the second to have a mini marathon. I would also like to see Jackass 3-D because I have heard great reviews about it, and I think the 50 million dollar opening weekend can speak for itself especially since it set the record for a Jackass premiere among other things. Well that is all I have for the evening, so so long to all, may your dreams come true.

M and The Hangover.... Plus good foreign films

Well today was another successful day in the world of film in my life. I was able to see one of the best German films, M, from 1931 and directed by Fritz Lang. The film was very cleverly done with the onset of sound just a few years early in Germany. The film set the current model to the psychological thriller. If one wanted to see a classic foreign film, I would highly recommend this one. And on the topic of foreign film, the Danish film After the Wedding is one of the best films I have ever seen. The way the camera captures the truth of pain in ones family and the birth of another. Another film would be Amelie. This film is hyper commercial and could simulate a video game on some levels. The film has a clever story with clever visual effects. But anyways, on to one of the funniest movies to date, The Hangover. It is just a classic film to repeat one liners one after another. The cast is a very strong, and some may have been looked over in their other films until the release of this one. An example would be Zach Galifinakis. Before this film I had no idea he was previously in many films. This film led him to be in 3 or so films released within the last 3 months. Today required a little more attentiveness with M, but it was well worth it. I can only imagine what tomorrow's film viewing will entail. I'm planning on seeing Paranormal Activity 2 at midnight. So so long to all, may your dreams come true.

Still need an ending phrase though...

A Return - Film, Vikings, Postseason Baseball, and UFC

So it seems like it has been ages since I wrote a post. I have just been so busy with school and running around watching films and what not.  I have seen many films this last week including Ninja Assassin, The Alphabet Killer, Where the Wild Things Are, Jackass 2, among many other films. Ninja Assassin was done very similar to Quentin Tarantino films because it was ridiculously over the top and bloody, the only difference is that it does not have the large amount of dialog that Tarantino films have. The Alphabet Killer was based on a true story that was kind of similar to A Beautiful Mind, but not nearly on the same level. The story was great, but the acting and lighting of the film marked it down in my opinion. Eliza Dushku starred in that film and it just seems as though she was trying to show her acting abilities, but failed miserably. Where the Wild Things Are was a huge disappointment. Spike Jonze camera work was good, but moved around too much at times. The story however was too dull, it lacked any plot that would indulge the viewer. I thought it was an awesome idea to make that book into a film, but I guess its too much to as to turn a 30-something page children's book into a full length film. Jackass 2 I had seen before and enjoyed for pure dumb pleasure. I watched it in honor of the release of Jackass 3-D which was released this past weekend. Other than that in my life, I figured I would either be Daniel Tosh of Tosh.o or Mr.Rogers, either way I will be representing a cardigan. In the world of sports, the Vikings won, convincing at times, but what seemed like that failure of the Cowboys during the rest. The Rangers went up 2-1 on the Yankees which is awesome. The Giants stunned Halladay and the Phillies in game 1 of the NLCS, but the Phils rebounded in game 2, so the series is currently tied at one apiece. This weekend Brock Lesnar defends his heavyweight belt in the UFC against Cain Velasquez. The fight I can imagine will be fun to watch, but I will say that Lesnar wins by TKO in the first round of the contest. Lesnar showed in his last title defense fight that he can sub-miss an opponent so he has come full circle as a MMA artist. However, I still do predict the fight to end by TKO in the first round. Well it will be interesting to watch, but we will have to wait to see it. Paranormal Activity 2 will be released Thursday night this week. I am looking forward to a cheap scare even though I believe this time around, the production had A LOT more money to deal with unlike the $10,000 budget and one week film period of the original. Well that seems to be a lot to share for the evening so so long to all, may your dreams come true.

Also- looking for a new phase to end with, make suggestions please

Twins, Moss, and a little Dexter...

So let's see hear. A lot has happened in the world of sports since I last wrote. The Twins lost to the Yankees which was terrible. I can't stand the Yankees. All they do is buy their talent while the Twins are considered of homegrown talent. This was such an amazing opportunity for the Twins who made large commitments to this season's run with the signing of Jim Thome and Orlando Hudson and then acquiring Matt Capps and Brian Fuentes mid season. It's a shame to see the season end, however there are a few bright spots. I believe Danny Valencia has solidified third base going into spring training, the starting rotation looks solid with Francisco Liriano, Scott Baker, Kevin Slowey, Nick Blackburn, and Brian Duensing all for sure returners, and hopefully Carl Pavano is re-signed. Two potential downfalls are the probably departure of Jim Thome due to retirement and a likely scenario that Orlando Hudson leaves via free agency and Carl Pavano also likely to get nice offers going elsewhere. Plus the re-addition of Justin Morneau back to lineup pending he makes a full recovery from the post-concussion syndrome he is suffering from. Joe Nathan will also be returning to the closing role. The Twins could also expect to see a payroll around 100 million again. So that is what the Twins are looking like. Tonight was the return of Randy Moss to Minnesota. He was pretty quite during the first half, but that was in part because Brett Favre was off in the first half. The second half was a different story when Favre hooked up with Moss for their first touchdown connection as well as Favre's 500th career touchdown pass. Moss also made some more catches throughout the rest of the game, but ultimately the Vikings lost to missed opportunities in the last drive. That is the Vikings portion. Next is the entertainment. Last night was Dexter. It was another phenomenal episode that showed some more that Dexter truly has human characteristics and that it is through fatherhood that it is being revealed. I don't want to give much away. Well so long to all, may your dreams come true.

YouTube

YouTube had to be the greatest invention of the internet ever. I know there are probably plenty of men out there who would disagree and I guess I should women also would disagree too. You know what I'm referring to, so no need to actually say it. There are just times in life, when it feels great to watch video after video after video on YouTube. I find myself doing it quite frequently. The funny videos are fun to watch, but I love to see music videos online because after seeing Spike Jonze's work, I could see myself starting in music videos. I also love seeing people's personal videos to songs. The wedding dance song/video has been probably become the unofficial official video of Chris Brown's Forever. It is fun to watch these live, and independent videos. Artists who are not necessarily pop culture icons are also fun to watch. I've been going between Zero 7, Joshua Radin, and The Shins music videos. They're fun to watch and see what the music is trying to convey. These artists all have something to say. Most of their stuff is powerful and a more peaceful level. Its soothing to listen to songs that are mellow, but are full of character. Another band who I enjoy watching music videos for is OK GO because they have basically become YouTube favorites since the treadmill dance video to their song Here we Go Again. They have this fascinating video that goes through this large array of obstacles, and it is fun to see where they edited the video and the creative minds they have. Ok so as my mind wanders and I continue to view videos as I write this I strongly suggest looking into Joshua Radin. He has a very interesting path to stardom thanks in part to Zach Braff and the Cary Brothers. Scrubs launched his career after they inserted his song Winter, which was the first song he ever wrote about an ex-girlfriend, into an episode of the show. I, among many others, may say that this song creates the saddest moment on the show. It is a funny show. Respect it for the fact that it is a single camera comedy. So each shot seen is essentially a different take, sort of. Bill Lawrence did a great job creating the show. It would be so interesting to work with him. Well this plenty long so so long to all, may your dreams come true.

Why, why, why?

Why Twins why? Down 2-0, not good. I have faith in a comeback, much like Boston's 2004 Comeback against them. Good to note about that is the Red Sox went on to win the world series. So that is where the Twins are headed. Have faith! Well besides that disappointment, I watched The Hunt for Red October which was a phenomenal movie. Sean Connery was superb and Alec Baldwin actually acted well in a film. The action and suspense throughout the movie lead to a large built, but great ending. I also watched this years When in Rome starring Kristen Bell and Josh Duhamel. I half heartedly enjoyed that film. It was a romantic comedy that was very much predictable and cliche story but enjoyable if a soft mood. Dax Sheppard also co starred in the film, but it seemed as though his character was only part of the story because in real life he is engaged to Kristen Bell. So here are two good movies, one should be taken seriously while the other, not so much. Well so long to all, may your dreams come true.

In the Waiting Line

"Everyone's saying different things to me, Different things to me, Everyone's saying different things to me, Different things to me. Do you believe, In what you see, There doesn't seem to be anybody else who agrees with me"- Zero 7. This is a phenomenal song and I can't help but listen to it on repeat. I learned of the song from the Garden State soundtrack. The song has a unique sound in my opinion of the lead singers voice, paralleled with the sound of the piano and guitar. Listen to it. The music video is a very artistic video, so if your someone who appreciates the art side of film, watch it. Does it ever cross any viewers mind that you decide your life as if it were a film? I find it so interesting that there are many times when I see my life played out as a film. There are times when things that are happening seem to relate to a film I've seen so I try to handle it in a similar fashion if it is a decent outcome or completely different for the negative outcomes. This may be unique to me and other film aficionados, but I could imagine this is common to everyone. People dream, and in many cases, dreams come from things seen, heard, or read. I guess this has been on my mind all day and thought it was worth sharing and wondering if other people felt this way too. Well this is what I have for now. So long to all, may your dreams come true. 

Weapon of Choice

Weapon of Choice by Fatboy Slim. I honestly don't listen to the music, I just watch the music video. It is awesome. Christopher Walken stars and does a phenomenally casual, but hilarious job. The video was directed by Spike Jonze, who now suddenly has become one of my favorite music video directors. He just really embraces the concept of what essentially is a musical. He directs Weezer's video for Buddy Holly which also amazing in totally different regard. The use of past and present is a unique touch. Today I have not felt any words of wisdom to pass forth. My day was spent methodically in front of a computer typing paper after paper.Well that is all I can think of for now, I probably won't sleep so I'll come on and critique some films and music. Well so long to all, may your dreams come true.

Regardless of perfect someone may seem, everyone has their flaws. Can you embrace that?

Cycle

Two wise men once said, "Not everything means something, but something could be everything, and everything may mean nothing, but if everything meant nothing, it wouldn't be something.... and the cycle continues." This was a conversation I had today with a friend. It probably has been said before, but this is the first time I dealt with it. The beginning of the quote was a realization of mine when I was just watching movies, and thinking about life. I've had this idea that everything meant something, but it is not a good way to live life. It causes someone to think WAY TOO MUCH! Which is not good at all, and ends mind numbing results. It is just interesting. Today I watched two films that were deep and in depth in their own ways. I watched A History of Violence. In that, the two personalities form the one person. One is always present, but the other one is present in blood. That is when he comes to life, which is much like Dexter, because as he always says, he was born in blood. The film overall was great. I really enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone. The next film I watched was Garden State. I love that film because of richness in the story. It is a very strong story on a deep emotional level. Zach Braff wrote, directed, starred in, and chose the music for this film. He won best new director at a film festival as well as won an award for music. The story is of a character coming to life after 18 years of being numb. That sounds odd, but it makes sense when the film is viewed. The camera work is very provocative. It reveals a lot about the story, while adding to the underlying layers. I really enjoy this movie, and would highly recommend it to others. There is one quote from the film that had a gratifying effect. "If you can't laugh at yourself, life's gonna take a whole lot longer than you'd like it." This is true. Quickly something about Dexter... WATCH IT. It is amazing. The new season is unreal and Michael C. Hall definitely win an award for his acting this season. The character is feeling and dealing with many things he is not used to, and it is just amazing to see it on TV. It's just an amazing show. Well I guess tonight's post was strictly critiques of films. Hope you enjoyed it. Well so long to all, may your dreams come true. 

The Player

So today in class I watched the film The Player directed by Robert Altman. The film follows the life of a film executive whose life runs into trouble when he has an encounter with a film critic. The starts with an amazing single shot that lasts about 4 minutes if I were to guess off the top of my mind. It is phenomenal to see where the camera starts and where it ends. Tim Robbins plays the main character and does a very chilling job. The film has an odd effect on me because I'm not sure I like it. I appreciate it because it deals with in the inside of the film industry, but I just am not a fan of Robert Altman's work. I understand he was a pioneer with Woody Allen and revolutionized his form of cinema, but that isn't my style. He loves doing very crowded scenes when many time the camera does not follow the person talking, but just a random object on screen. The camera moves side to side, with some long shots. Altman is telling a great story, but the film making style doesn't correlate with success of the story in my opinion. Many film critics, professors, and students would disagree, but that's their opinion. Mine is different. So if you want to see a great and interesting story about the inner workings of film, I highly recommend it. The camera style seems outdated, but that is Altman's trademark. I would probably need another viewing to analyze further. Take a chance on this film, it is interesting, it also includes many stars from the early 90s. Hope you enjoy if you watch it. Well so long to all, may your dreams come true.

What is Love?

What is love? That is a good question that everyone tries to answer. Even I myself wonder what it is. I can imagine through stories I've heard and things I've seen. The film Paper Heart tries to answer this question. The film follows Charlyne Yi, an eccentric comedic figure who plays herself in this documentary turned love story. Charlyne tries to answer the very question, what is love? By traveling cross country and interviewing many people. In the film she meets Michael Cera who is playing himself as well. The film chronicles the rise of Charlyne and Michael as a couple. It is hard to tell if this love is scripted, but I did some research, and they did date for three years, which could be the story behind this film. Quite possibly this could be real footage put together, but I do not know for certain. The film is full of interesting interviews from bikers to high school seniors who were just married. There are also staged animated reenactments of stories by the interviewees which are fun to watch. The film makes a just effort to find out what love is and I think they succeeded. I really enjoyed the film and would recommend it to everyone. Just to be clear though, it is set up in a documentary format, however, netflix classifies the film as an indie comedy which could mean for certain that it is a scripted film. I believe that it probably is a scripted film based off of the credits, but how it is filmed, you would not know for certain. Love is captured in this film. So watch the film and see if you agree or agree to disagree. Well so long to all, may your dreams come true.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1331064/

Stranger than Fiction

Stranger than Fiction starring Will Ferrell, Maggie, Gyllenhaal, Dustin Hoffman, Queen Latifah, and Emma Thompson. It was a brilliantly constructed film and very poetically told. There is something about this film that touched me in many ways. The camera work was phenomenally simple in shot telling. It provoked surreal feelings. I am just lost for words to describe this film. I really love it, and I think it was the greatest role of Will Ferrell's acting career mostly because he was able to show off his talents as an actor. I had heard good things about this film, but I was skeptical on seeing it, but now that I've seen it, I would recommend it to everyone. This film may seem odd and boring to some, but as an aspiring filmmaker and writer, the film enhanced my feelings for the art. Film is just an unreal medium that continues to make strides forward, along with steps backwards at times. I wish I could say more about this film, but I truly am lost for words. Maybe I'll sleep on it and come back with a better review of the film. So I will say so long to all, may your dreams come true.

Happy Ending

So I gave the whole idea of the "Hollywood happy ending" more thought after I wrote last night, and I must say that our society should be thankful for films that do this. The country has had major events occur in last decade that seeing good and happy ending on screen would provide that escape feeling. I will say that many times people get caught up in the whole reality of the happy ending in real life. Unfortunately, real life does not always provide that happy ending, but that is why we can turn to film. Besides the happy ending, many viewers sometimes get caught up in how moments occur in real life, such as a first kiss. In many movies, the first kiss is built up, with music, correct lighting, and the moment when it did not seem possible that it would occur. That is a film's portrayal, but in real life, the kiss would happen more spontaneously, in a random setting. There are many on screen examples of the notion of people getting caught up in this make believe phenomena. There are two particular examples that pop into my mind. The first is in an episode of That 70s Show. In that episode, Fez becomes intimate with a girl for the first time, and any fan of the show knows how long it took for Fez to make it that far. After the event takes place, Fez returns to tell the gang how it went. In his depiction of the event, he said things along the line that there was no music so I hummed. He ends up describing how he thought this event should have happened like a Hollywood film. Another example of this is in Woody Allen's film, The Purple Rose of Cairo. The movie ultimately is about how a character from a film within in the film comes out into real life. And many events happen, and all he can say is, this isn't how the movies portray it. And that is true, film is fictitious, real life does follow the same guidelines. If you haven't seen The Purple Rose of Cairo I highly recommend it. It stars Jeff Daniels (Dumb and Dumber) and is also one of Woody Allen's best films in my opinion. It may seem as though I am against the happy ending and film's way of dramatizing life's events at this point in my post, but that is not the case. I love the happy ending, I love how film's portray events. Look at it this way, films have to stylize events because there not as special on screen as they are in real life. Film/cinema is over a 110 years old now and there is no chance anytime soon that films will stop stylizing events the way they have been doing for decades. So enjoy films for what they are and keep some of these thoughts in your mind while viewing one. So again I will sign off as I typically do, so long to all, may your dreams come true.

You Should Know

So I was just thinking, it should be noted that I love films, obviously. And in many of the reviews I write, I talk about what I like about the film and what I did not like, and in many cases I ended up liking the film overall. That is true, in most cases I do like the film, it just ends up being a matter of how much I like the film. I try to find the good in every film and let you, the viewers, know what is good about each film. Every film deserves to be seen by someone, no matter how bad it may be, or offensive, and so on and so forth. Every film can find an audience and that's what I'm trying to do for each film I talk about. I'm trying to keep my analysis of the films simple, and trying to gauge interest of the viewers. I hope this made sense, and I guess it can be what I stand for. Well so long to all again, may your dreams come true.

CAN'T SLEEP

So I can honestly say that I can't sleep and it sucks. This has become a repetitive thing and is really annoying. Thoughts just roll through my mind like a never ending story. I just want to sleep. So i'll just say thoughts that pop in my mind. Twins lost again for the fourth straight time. I realize that they clinched the playoffs already, but seriously, be on a roll heading into the playoffs. Packers also lost tonight, but that is good, since the Vikings are not off to the best start. Tonight before bed I watched Changing Lanes starring Ben Affleck and Samuel L Jackson. The film was a large moral crisis and a decision between good and bad. What does someone do when they have leverage? Can they be the bigger man, and pick the wise choice, or be dumb and make a mistake? These questions were constantly running through my mind. The camera in the film was moving constantly, which was a positive in my opinion thinking back on it. I did like the film I can say that, but I think the moral battle really absorbed my mind. Decisions like this are constantly becoming the source of many films. They provoke ideas that most people never thought they would have to think about. I can use Dexter again as an example. How is that we humanize a serial killer and sympathize with the struggle he deals with every day. In other movies,  theres times when there is just a down right awful person, who the filmmaker makes the audience believe that something horrible should happen to them. This is just an odd realization for which films can do. Films hold so much power. Yes, they do harm sometimes to people, but they also bring a lot of good to people. The audiences in the United States should be happy that the "Hollywood happy ending" takes place in many or most films. It brings joy to know a happy outcome. In other countries, they show "real life," and that not every scenario has a happy ending. That is real life, but one aspect of a film that sometimes isn't accounted for or that many forget is that people use films as an escape whether good or bad. Feel good movies provide happiness to everyone. In many cases the happy ending is cheesy and very predictable, but think about your favorite movie, how does it end? Does it have the classic Hollywood ending? Is it a pleasant ending? Why do you like this film? I could honestly talk hours and hours about film, what I like, what I don't like, but there isn't enough time in the day. Television shows also provide an escape to an audience because week after week they tune in to see what happens in the lives of the characters. In my opinion, the best way to watch TV shows is on DVD  because for one, there is no commercials, and you can see what happens in the next episode instantly. I highly recommend Friends, Scrubs, That 70s Show, King of Queens, Home Improvement, Dexter, Entourage, The Office, Psych, How I Met Your Mother, Big Bang Theory, White Collar, and NCIS. All of these are great shows and offer various types of entertainment. I suggest starting one of these series ASAP if you haven't already. Well I think I may have tired myself out, so I'll try to fall asleep. So I'll sign off as I usually do, so long to all, may your dreams come true.

top right corner

Top right corner. What does that mean? I'll tell you, it means I scored my first goal ever in soccer, and I do mean EVER. It only took me 16 years to finally accomplish that. I may have scored before, but this is the only one I recall. I spent so many years as goalie and as a midfielder who only wanted to pass. Today I finally scored though. Its a pretty great feeling I must say, and the goal keeps replaying in my mind. Pretty awesome feeling. Today I felt the song Me & Bobby McGee playing through the mind the whole day. I love that song, it is a solid one from the late Janis Joplin. She was a very unique and talented artist. The song was written by Kris Kristofferson. The line from the chorus, "Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose, Nothing don't mean nothing honey if it ain't free." This line is a very powerful one and I really appreciate it every time I listen to it. Now on to movies. So last night I watched, Prince of Persia: Sands of Time. I had to say that I was actually excited to see it and see what would happen in this video game adaptation. I was thoroughly impressed. Jake Gyllenhaal  did a great job in the lead role. The camera in the film was very impressive because it captured the feeling of the video game. The shots were definitely more action oriented, which was good. The action scenes were very good, and got rolling right away in the film. Sir Ben Kingsley does a great job as the uncle as usual. I would definitely recommend the film if your in the mood for an action flick. It has a good fantasy twist. So go out and see it. I will say that the music in the film was a little off, the tone of every song made it seem like the film was about to end. It was always epic, which does not fit every scene in a film. And another statement about music, listen to Janis Joplin today. It is just great music. Well so long to all, may your dreams come true. 

Dexter

So the new season of Dexter began tonight, and all I can say is WOW. The show is phenomenal and every time I watch it, it sends shivers down my spine. How they capture human responses from a non human character is amazing. It has been amazing to see the character of Dexter evolve since the shows inception. This by far was the most crucial episode of the series thus far with what was at stake for Dexter. He showed he could handle it, even if he was a little late. I find it weird though in parallel with my life, that I feel right back where I need to be every time the new season of Dexter starts. I mean yes, I love How I Met Your Mother, Big Bang Theory, and NCIS, but every time Dexter starts, life is back on track. This is weird in my opinion, but I feel great and that the organization of my life is start to get back in routine. To all you non-Dexter viewers who might be reading this, I would HIGHLY and I repeat HIGHLY recommend watching Dexter. The thought of supporting a serial killer may be alarming, but come on, he's America's favorite serial killer. The show deals with the disparity of a man who must learn how to belong and conform to society while keeping a side job that keeps his sanity. All of the elements of the show, amaze me and fellow viewers world wide. And back in response to tonight's episode, it was amazing to see the return of star Michael C. Hall after his battle with Hodgkin's lymphoma while the show was on hiatus. He got right into the action, and showed another side of Dexter we had not yet seen. This season is only just beginning, but another legendary adventure that is Dexter will unfold. Well so long to all, may your dreams come true.

craziness is like heaven

Craziness is like heaven. This is a quote from a Jimi Hendrix poster in my room. I never quite understood what it was trying to say until this past summer. Coming from a large family, things are always crazy. I can honestly say that there is never a dull moment. So from that perspective is that I love the craziness that surrounds my life. I love being busy and always moving around and being surrounded by plenty of people. The craziness is awesome. However, I do not like large crowds because I feel uncomfortable and trapped. The the craziness in life has a line that I try not to cross. Last night I had a little jam session with my guitar, I'm terrible to be quite honest, but it was fun nonetheless. I even managed to make a little riff that sounded pretty cool. Maybe I could incorporate some of my poems as lyrics. That is what I ultimately want to do. I would love to be a musician since  I'm so inspired by pioneers. I think I've said that before, but it is very true and something that is personal to me. Last night I watched two movies, Date Night and Wolfman. I thought Date Night was pretty good, but nothing special. Steve Carrel and Tina Fey did a great job, but the overall plot did not live up to my expectations as a sold funny movie. There were a lot of famous actors spread throughout the film such as Ray Liotta, James Franco, and Mila Kunis. A lot of the camera shots throughout the film also looked as though they were using a green screen because the depth on screen was off. The shots while they are in times square are the shots in particular that were weird. Overall, I would recommend this movie as a mediocre comedy, but with a solid cast, it is fun to watch without high expectations. Now to the other movie, Wolfman. For some reason I had a draw to this film even though I had heard negative reviews. The trailers for the film made it seem like it would use the approach of Jaws and play up the fierceness of the the wolf but not showing it frequently on camera. However, this was not the case, They showed the wolfman a lot throughout the film. I do respect the decision not to make most of the wolfman cgi animated. There were other instances in the film that used cgi animations for animals and it was very cheesy. The wolfman was pretty good though. It still looked fake, but it is hard to make a solid wolfman. The acting in the film was great. Benicio Del Toro did a great job as the lead, and Anthony Hopkins was a great casting decision. Emily Blunt played the female lead and she did a great job as well. The use of camera shots was exceptional in the film so I appreciated that.  Overall, I would recommend this film. Its not really scary or anything, but they hold true to the original wolfman story of the original film. So go out and see this movie, its not too bad. I think I have rambled on for long enough now. Well so long to all, may your dreams come true.

Hike

So today I went on a hike. It was a very fun and relaxing time. I walked the paths, took some pictures, and just really enjoying the beginning of fall. Fall has to be one of my favorite seasons. Its so peaceful. It took me away from all the things that had absorbed my mind. I felt at ease for a change and it was a nice change of pace. I wish I were down in Winona though so I could hike the bluffs at St. Mary's because that is truly amazing. Jack White of the White Stripes truly is a once in a lifetime musician for all that he does. A great example of his talent is Icky Thump, its alternative, hard rock does not sound well to some, but if you give it a chance, you will love it. Also today, I was made aware of a love for something. That is awesome because people actually see that. I'm not always clear in that regard so for someone to understand what I feel is great for me. That is all I can think of for now, plus I'm watching the rockumentary, It Might Get Loud, starring Jack White, Jimmy Page, and the guitar player from U2. Well so long to all, may your dreams come true.

Psychoanalysis and Film Theory

So I just came up with the idea to write about this when I was in class because it was what we were talking about. People don't realize how in depth the film discussion is, it teaches us to analyze things on a deeper level. Humans repress desire, pain in order to function. The unconscious is our repository of repressed desire and painful memories. These quotes alone explain a lot of things about myself and other people. There are so many times when I feel off or feel an emotional pain and I honestly don't know why. The only way I feel better is if I can pinpoint what exactly is wrong. Many times I can do that, and many times I can't. Just refreshing my mind of psychoanalytic theory makes me feel better because it explains some things. Our film habits say something about our repressed desires. This is a bold statement, but it is so true. Why is it that we are called to wanna watch a particular film? Why do we like a particular genre? It obviously says something. I should be paying attention to what I'm watching now since I average between one and three movies a day. And yes that's a lot, but the escapism that is films is amazing. I love getting lost in a good story. Film is the easy version of a book, but in film, the camera can show the viewer so much more. It is a great example of voyeurism and scopophilia . Which is looking at something that your not supposed to be or an obsession to seeing things to provoke excitement. That can describe a film. This whole subject is very interesting me because I love thinking deep and I get inspiration from these types of things to write poems, screenplays, or just a short story. Writing is therapy, I highly recommend it to everyone. Make a blog, don't need to make it public for the world to see, but it can be a diary for the modern day/age. So besides talking about this is in class, we watched the film, Fargo. I will have to admit that it was my first time viewing it and the first thought that pops in my mind is that the accents were TERRIBLE, they were way over exaggerated. You would think Joel and Ethan Coen, who are from MN, would allow such a terrible accent. Second thought I would like to say is that even though the beginning says that it was a true story, that is a blatant lie. That is a ridiculous thing to do in a film to straight out do that. Other than that, the story was pretty messed up, I don't really know how I feel about it. The accent was too distracting for me to critique the rest of the acting. Frances McDormand won best actress for this film, which is great, but I did not see it. The accent kind of ruined the whole film. That is my mini review. And now that is all I have for now. So long to all, may your dreams come true.

Twins WIN!!

Yes the Twins win. I can tell you that this is the year we return to the world series. It is unbelievable how well the season has gone considering all that has happened. Orlando Hudson and JJ Hardy have spent two times a piece on the disabled list, Justin Morneau has been out since July, our bench is a never ending circle of players, and the rotation has had its share of soreness. The year has been phenomenal. Jim Thome is the MVP of this years team,  he brought his humbleness and big stick to Minnesota and let me tell you, I'm very thankful for that. In the first year of Target Field, the year has been memorable. Most of the players have had great success at home. Mid-season call up Danny Valencia has made his mark which I'm glad to see because it has been a long time since Minnesota has had a steady third baseman since Corey Koskie left. Valencia has been a large contributor and I hope he can continue to provide the strength on the field. It's amazing that I've gotten this far down and haven't even said Joe Mauer's name. What more can you say about the guy? He is truly a once in a lifetime player. And its awesome that he is homegrown talent. I think a lot of the success of this season can be credited to Carl Pavano's mustache. It is the perfect stache. So as the Twins storm into the postseason, let them continue the success of the year and win one for Minnesota and Target Field.

My Poetic Year Part 3

So here is the final poems that I have written this past year that I am wiling to share:

Compass? Or West?
I hear this voice inside my head,
Saying I need to leave this place.
It does more damage than good these days.
I need to start all over, a new name, a new goal.
Moving doesn't solve everything, but I've felt this way for a long time and I need to get out of this place.
Broaden my horizon, let the sun shine through again.
The dust has piled up on this place.
I can hardly see what it used to be, my heart, thats what.
My family should join me in my move, I need to know someone, otherwise I will be alone, and right where I am now.
I wish I could shut this off.
I had everything, but thats not what I wanted.
I wanted a challenge, something to be proud of, but look where it got me.
I wish I could turn back around and things were the same at age eight, and that smile lit up the world.
We were young and restless, but we had a dream, not knowing at the time that I would want to leave and that has become my dream.
So as I sit and ponder, should I head west?

What's Left of Me
My body is light, hair messed up, I look like I've been through hell.
Thats what's left of me.
A journey I took, lead me astray, now I'm looking to get back home. Where is that? Do I have enough strength to get there? Whats left of me?
The journey is long and painful, what else is new?
A journey that a man could be proud of, get me back together, put the pieces together.
I know who I was but I've lost who I am. Whats left of me?
As the gray sky lies overhead, it brings the feeling of cold, which chills my body.
There's not a lot of me to create heat, help, I need heat.
What's left of me? Bring the pieces together and solve this mess I've made.

So that is the final poem I wrote. Like I said they come from personal and witnessed experience, I like to place deeper meaning in all of my words. There is a story in all of these poems, most, happier than what they sound. I draw inspiration from everything around me, I look at the words written by the late Jim Morrison and  Kurt Cobain, who in their own right, were poets. I'm not looking for the fame that came to them, because neither ended well for both. Writing is a form of therapy, my thoughts on paper help relax me. I've always been able to write how I feel compared to actually speaking it out loud. Now you know. Hope you enjoyed them. Well so long to all, may your dreams come true.

My Poetic Year Part 2

Here continues my flurry of poems:

Dreams
Gotta have dreams,
they're the key to life.
Without the dream,
there's nothing worth fighting for.
Don't ever let anyone tell you your not good enough,
or that its not possible.
If that's the case, then their not your real friend.
Go show them whose wrong in the real world.
Sometimes there is things that get in your way,
but no hurdle is too big.
If you have family on your side,
you can do anything,
if you have friends on your side,
you can do anything,
and if your blessed to have the love of a great woman,
fly to the heavens and thank God.
Dreams are meant to be achieved.
So get off your butt and get it.
Give me time.
There's only so much waiting a man can do.
So get on that train,
and start living the life you want.
And leave behind those who don't believe in you.
No one can tell you who you're supposed to be,
be who you want to be.


Love
Love is a feeling I've never experienced, but have always desired.
Sometimes I put too much pressure on myself to find the one while other times I think I know the one.
It sucks to see the one you want in her own love, but maybe its just not meant to be.
No one really knows exactly what love is, but everyone can explain those same feelings:
Jitters before every date, willing to drop everything for them, and do anything in reach to see them smile.
It's great to see love.
And one day my day will come.
Drop the pressure, it only hurts.
There is no deadline to find it.
It's happens when it happens.
I only wish that after so long, I have the look in my eye for my love that I see in my parents eyes for each other.
Love is word that may be hard to say, but easy to feel.
Let someone in and you'll be walking on water.
Love has everything to do with everything.


Why Must Good Things Come to an End
Why must good things come to an end?
It breaks me up inside and gives me the awful pain.
Things should be meant to last and never come to an end.
You got love and life.
You got TV and music.
Even movies get you all caught up in them.
I just can't shake this gut awful feeling.
What will rid me of the feeling?
Find something that is guaranteed to last.
Nothing is guaranteed and what is up with that?
Things should continue or go on. You must embrace and get lost in those dreams.
Good things should last and its only you that can make it happen.
Good things are great.
Great things are amazing.


Blues
The blues are amazing.
You can feel the emotion with the strum of every chord.
Each note rings with pure passion.
It may not be everyone's cup of tea.
But how can you hear the music and not feel emotionally enticed in it.
To some its an aged genre, while to others its a whole new world.
The music brings out the depths of the human soul and truly shows how it means to feel.
And the best part is that through the lack of verbal words, but through the words of the emotions of each note.
The poetic embodiment the music portrays is an uplifting experience for the human ear.
And you just hope for acceptance.
You may not have to get it, you may not have to like it, but what you need is to appreciate it.

Blow

I never could quite understand this

I never knew I felt

The feeling that is built inside

Like a bomb set to explode

The reverse of a butterfly,

With my life about to hit the sky

A blow in the stomach,

Feels like a kick in the brain,

A sting in the heart

Lost all what mattered

What’s left to see?

I don’t know the outcome of this line

I’d like to say I had a time machine,

To go back in time.

Erase this moment

So we could be our way

But that can’t happen,

Thanks to you.

A blow in the stomach,

Feels like a kick in the brain,

A sting in the heart.

Lost what mattered

What’s left to see?

I’ve collapsed in this desert

I need help up

Be that crutch,

That I wished she’d been,

Why must the knife hurt so bad

Take away the pain

And let me live my life

A blow in the stomach,

Feels like a kick to the brain,

A sting in the heart

Lost what I thought mattered

What’s ahead of me

I walk this line,

I don’t turn back around

For the hell of it will reach me

Get away and be gone

Let me live my life

Just let me live my life

Release me

Thank you.

I can live my life, be free.

I’m free.

Smile
I saw you standing there, I knew I loved you again, But how was I supposed to tell you, we've been down this road before, this time could be different.
A smile says a million different things, this time not all good. I show support, but all you see is superficial. Whats in a smile? Smile?
That day when you got that friend, I was hurt beyond belief. I couldn't let you know because that wouldn't be fair. All I want is your happiness, but my smile is fading, it is sliding.
A smile says a million different things, this time is says I'm happy for you, I wish you all the best, but I'm hurt deep down inside. Superficial feelings is all you see, just ask, look.
I can't talk to you for a time, I make up a poor excuse, but that is not good enough. I know I love you now. I do wish your happiness, but at what cost to me.
A smile says a million things.This time its happy, but for what you can see beneath the superficial. Finally, I love you.
The smile is real, your done, I can't get over what happened. I hurt inside, I only sit and ponder because I don't know exactly what happened.
Can we get together, I love you, I want you, Your everything to me, the most beautiful girl I know, but I need to get over these hurt feelings. I feel trapped, I need to be let free inside.
What needs to happen, I need help. Help me, I want to feel love, I want to feel your love.
A smile can mean a million different things, can't it be good just this time?

Love and Life
At the beginning she is a piece of life.
As your passion and fondness grows larger, she becomes part of life.
As the feelings of love grasps the heart, she becomes your life.

F You
People would think I'm depressed, but I'm not.
I'm just lost look for myself.
I thought I knew who I was and what I wanted, but that is no longer true.
I like to make my adventure fun.
Catch some baseball games and drink a few.
The inspiration comes from all over, in bad and in good.
The writing is better than the wishing.
I'm so ready to achieve something.
A writer in the mind, but a poet in the heart.
The love I feel gets stronger everyday.
Don't know where its going, but i'll know soon.
Wishing is a disease, it eats at you, and you have lost what you were.
But if you fight, you'll find what your looking for at the least expecting movement.
I just need to get up from this chair, I've sat dormant for too long.
I must be active and seek out joy.
I know its there, I've heard about it.
People all around me have it, and I typically have it but I lost it for awhile.
Love the way you live, otherwise nothing is going to matter

My Poetic Year

So here is a compilations of poems I had wrote between November 2009 to as recent as September 16, 2010, a few days ago. I can admit some may seem depressing, but if you only knew the story behind each, you would know the happy ending to all. This is my way of expressing feelings and opinions that for so long I held inside.

Every Girl I've Ever Loved
How is it that things can be so great,
then all of a sudden you can't even say hi?
How can a change occur in a matter of a minute,
without anything ever being said?
Why does it all turn into a game?
Do you even know what you did to me?
All I cared about was our friendship,
but you thought I wanted more.
Did you ever stop to think that just seeing you meant the world?
Texts are too impersonal,
why can't you get that?
I travel on hours to see the people I care about,
but you can't even fit me into your schedule.
Why do you do that to me?
Should I even trust you anymore.
Are you a best friend anymore?
Time will tell


Change
I don't like change,
it jumbles all things inside.
Sometimes its to deal with.
Other times you just wanna cry.
What's the point of feeling this way?
How do I get over it?
Maybe I should be talking to a therapist,
maybe I should be talking to a friend.
Change is the hardest part of growing up.
Gotta learn to deal with it if your gonna make it.
Set the support system.
Some things aren't always meant to stay the same,
so you have to deal with change.
Grow up! Get up! Get going!
Have faith that God will help you out.
Change is another word for different,
different isn't necessarily bad,
different is just different.

The Exorcist

So currently I am watching the original Exorcist. This is the all time horror film. I must say I love to watch classics from all genres. It fascinates me what can be done with the horror genre. In many cases, horror films tend not to be scary, but more jumpy which I would classify as a thriller. I'm not trying to put horror films down in any way, but there are many cases when I am just not scared and the stories get ridiculous. There are some horror films that jump out at me though: The Exorcist, The Amityville Horror (2005), and The Silence of the Lambs. One film that is classified as horror, The Village by M. Night Shyamalan is a good movie, but not in the horror genre. I believe that the film had a great message and had deep meaning but was told in the wrong format. I could talk for hours on genres, what I like, what I dislike, but I shouldn't bore quite yet. In my life today, I frolfed and studied film. Sounds like a boring day to most, but great to me. I love to just hang back and chill, but I do feel like I cut myself off from the world which I shouldn't do. I had a good day, but the feeling of being cut off doesn't sit well. I did realize that this summer I may pack up for a month and head out on the open road and see where it takes me. The book and film Into the Wild really inspire me to take a journey, to find what is important, to know who I am. I mean I know who I am, but living life on the open road for awhile and hiking and being out in the world sounds like heck of a good time. The mind is an interesting tool and program because I started this by talking about horror and am finishing up with a cross country trip. Interesting in deed. Well I must return to my film. So long to all, may your dreams come true.

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

So I just watched the film, Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. To most who do not know the name, it was the late Heath Ledger's last role, the one he sadly passed away during. It was a magnificent role, but one that could disturb the mind. After all, many conspiracy theorists originally believed that Ledger's death was in part due to the disturbing role of the Joker he played in The Dark Knight. However, after viewing this film and reading articles relating to it, it seems like this role played a tremendous role in his mental state. The film should be credited to the brilliance of director Terry Gilliam, a Minnesota native. He lost his star, three-quarters of the the way through production and the films conclusion laid in the balance. Then in stepped Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Collin Farrel to complete the role. They did a fantastic job finishing the film, and that again should be credited to the brilliance of Terry Gilliam because he had to rewrite the story according to the footage he had with Ledger. The film is ultimately amazing aesthetic beauty in fantasy. The world created is unlike any else, and constantly keeps the mind on edge.  The cardboard cuts out, the elaborate worlds, and the world of Doctor Parnassus played an extreme message in the battle between heaven and hell which is an underlying element of the film. The film will definitely will be remembered as the late Heath Ledgers last  role and the kindness and generosity of Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Collin Farrel as they finished the role and gave the money they earned from filming to Ledger's daughter, Matilda. The film will also be remembered for the crazy world that Terry Gilliam creates and the scenery throughout the film. So overall, I would recommend the screening of the film for what it will be remembered for, Heath Ledger, etc. However, the story  is difficult to follow, but with close attention it makes sense... after awhile. So go out and see this film, but be in a mode to pay close attention to detail and wallop in the aesthetic beauty of the scene. Well so long to all, may your dreams come true.

Clarity

So today the opening will be a word, clarity. I wanted to choose some of the lyrics from John Mayer's song, but none of them I felt pertained to me. Today I had the overwhelming feeling of clarity. It was awesome. I finally received some of answers I have been looking for. I now know that I can be done with school after this year and still manage to achieve all that I planned to do. I can teach film studies and film making to high school students which is awesome. I will thoroughly enjoy that I believe. The day overall just provided clarity, again my word of the day. It brings out a poem in me:

Clarity
When the world is spinning,
and you can't figure out which way to go,
You seek clarity.
The feeling is spontaneous,
a jump of glee.
To know where your headed,
So there's no need to turn back.
The path behind is dark,
So keep looking forward.
Clarity is standing there

That poem had to be the first happy sounding one I've written in awhile. That is good. I hope to check back later and provide a movie review of somethings I'll watch here shortly. Well so long to all, may your dreams come true.

Raise the Bar

Cause I'm raising the bar, I shoot for the moon. This is a quote I took out of Eminem's "I'm not afraid." I'm gonna use it out of his context, but the words are great nonetheless. These words represent dreaming. A dream is not always attainable, but always worth trying for. Anyone can have the drive to succeed. I have multiple massive dreams that I hope to reach, and in my opinion will reach. Today kinda sucked though because the vikings lost and it was a terrible game. The twins also lost which sucks. They need to keep shrinking the magic number. And to be more random, my frolfing today was not too good, but better than the last two days. The other day I fell in a pond trying to fetch a disc. Quite embarrassing I would say, especially when my three year old brother laughs at me, but that also made my day at the same time because he's three, and laughing at me. Anyways, I'm surprised I used a quote from a rap song considering how anti-rap I am. But the words spoke to me. Tis interesting that I'm not feeling the rest of this like I typically am, so i'll just be gone. Well so long to all, may your dreams come true.

My Fault

So this poem just came to me while I was trying to fall asleep and I figured I better write it down or else I would not have slept all night. It truly amazes me, what can come to a person at any point during a day. Well here it goes, hope you enjoy.

My Fault
The anger I feel is my fault,
I have come to realize that.
I've put you on a pedestal,
And expected too much,
It's a new world, I know that.
The anger I feel is petty to most,
But it is fueled by love.
Love is passionate.
It keeps my life running,
And that's not a good thing always.
Don't get me wrong,
I wanna love,
I do love,
but I need to be careful.
I should probably take you down from that pedestal.
You're just an ordinary person to most,
but nonetheless, special to me.
I always wish you the best,
You deserve the best,
I am the BEST.
I'm not expecting the classic Hollywood ending,
But I can dream.
And ultimately, that is what I will do.

Hope you enjoyed, this is the first poem I've let the world see, it may seem depressing, but I write from personal experience, along with witnessed experience. Well so long to all, may your dreams come true.

LA

I dont think I'm going to go to LA anymore. not really sure that I ever could.... What more to say about this quote. It is a very brilliant quote from a very brilliant artist, John Mayer. This quote represents me. It represents what I wanted and where I'm headed. I thought I was on my way to LA, but I'm not sure where thats where I wanna go. I'm on a course to follow multiple dreams; ones I hope to succeed and believe I will succeed in. Ambitions are my drive. If you haven't caught on by now, this blog is to represent me and things I encounter throughout any particular day. I love music, I heard this song once today, and I just knew it meant something. I wish I was at school so I could publish my poems, but they will be up soon enough. I have a passion for this writing business. Random thoughts will also fill this blog. Twins won today, good game, Valencia rocked it. I saw Resident Evil Afterlife 3D- surprisingly, never having seen any of the previous films and/or played the game,- it was pretty good. I enjoyed it, and would even recommend it, though the story is quite predictable. That should be kinda assumed to any movie goer, not even a film student, considering the genre. This is fun to write, I'll try to provide extended reviews in upcoming posts as well as the poems as promised. Well so long to all, may your dreams come true.