Whew! Sorry it's been a while. And this one will be short since I have to be out the door in 30 minutes and I haven't taken a shower yet. (TMI!)
I finally finished The Hurt Locker last week. I don't want to spoil the end, but wow is that movie intense! I don't care what some theorists say, the absence of a soundtrack is really haunting. So way to go Kathryn Bigelow! and you too Jeremy Renner! Looking forward to watching more movies from these two in the future!
Evil Dead. I had seen this campy, yet awesome, Sam Raimi horror (?) flick a few years ago. However at the time I didn't realize that Raimi had done the Spider Man series so now going back and watching Evil Dead again made the experience even more fun. That and if you're a Bruce Campbell fan you should really listen to him on Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me. Hilarious.
However, I was eating some cannelloni while Cheryl was stabbing Linda's Achilles tendon with a pencil. Goo. So I turned it off for the time being. But, someday I want to make a super low budget, campy horror movie in the essence of Evil Dead. It will be EPIC!
So after Evil Dead, I decided to turn on The Fighter. Sometimes I forget how much I love Mark "Don't Call Me Marky-Mark" Wahlberg. Especially after watching such videos as these:
POW!
Ok, but anyway, I only got about 2/3 through the movie before I got off work. I think Christian Bale is just crazy good at his craft. Let's think about the guy's range: Empire of the Sun to Newsies to Batman Begins to The Figher. That's just awesome. Same with Amy Adams.
I read up a little bit after watching the fighter to find out that she wanted to take a job that she wasn't totally comfortable with. I think with a lot of jobs it's hard to put ourselves in the same position. When we think of uncomfortable jobs we think we're going to be leading a sales pitch or being promoted to over seeing more employees... but that's not the case. I think for actors when they truly challenges themselves they becomes physically, emotionally and psychologically uncomfortable. I've heard stories that Jack Nicholson was a little disturbed after playing The Joker in the original Batman. We will never know about Heath Ledger... I still can't believe he's gone.
So anyway, the next movie I want to tackle is Doubt... mostly because I want to watch Amy Adams. :)
Thanks for stopping by! (and please listen to that NPR segment... it's so funny!)
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Friday, June 24, 2011
The Hurt Locker and Akira
Well, I picked up an extra shift today at work... which means more movie watching. Today I chose Akira and The Hurt Locker.
A little bit about Akira. This was Katsuhiro Otomo's first big work and Akira is often sited at the first "grown up" animated feature. It broke many animation barriers namely the extensive use of animation cels giving the film fluid motion throughout.
Overall, I thought it was enjoyable, creative and entertaingly graphic. I mean, when people died in this movie they DIED in only the way anime characters can. I had actually taken a class earlier this summer called "Literature and Society: From Pearl Harbor to Hiroshima" in which we dealt with past relationships between the US and Japan, the bombings of Pearl Harbor, the atom bombs of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and just WWII on the Pacific front in general. The class was heavily geared toward the Japanese view (which makes sense since we mostly learn about the American view in school) which helped me gain insight to what the overall political message of Akira was. Especially since the movie begins with Tokyo 1988 and watching another seemingly atom bomb (ends up being Akira) go off in the city. In which Neo-Tokyo is built on a man-made island in Tokyo Bay.
I think the part that was most sad to me was taking these children (the Espers) to be used as experiments. For me it was like reading about the hibakusha (or the survivors of the atom bombs in Japan). In the most critical stages of recovery (mostly the time right after the bombs), the hibakusha were left with little care were more monitored to see what kinds of effects were being progressed on their bodies leaving many scarred or dieing. Like the children in Akira who lost their physical youth but are given a child's sanctuary within a laboratory.
Moving on...
So after getting bombarded with allergies in the parking booth I turned on The Hurt Locker. Wow is that movie intense. I didn't end up finishing it last night. I just got to the part where they find the little boy with the bomb in his body.
This is the conclusion I've come up with: If you're part of a bomb unit in the armed forces, you have to be a little bit crazy in your head. Or at least that's what I get from Jeremy Renner's character. But wow... what a terrifying and intense job.
I'm usually not one to sit down and watch war films, but this one made the exception purely because it's the movie that got Kathryn Bigelow her first Academy Award for Best Director - the first by a woman.
Truly an inspiration. Usually when I watch movies by myself I don't really think about the technical, theological motives of the movie. However, I really tried in this one. I felt that Bigelow's use of in/out focus, quick cuts, and variety of long/medium/close shots really added to the intensity of the moments. All the above also portrayed the mentality of each soldier well. Sanborn's demeanor is calm and when he is looking through the sniper telescope thingy it really showed. I especially liked the angle looking straight at him through the telescope. Eldridge is kind of jittery and his angles are a lot of up and downs and shots at him so you can't tell if he's ready to take a bullet or not. Lastly, James is the crazy like one and while he is defusing bombs that's when we get a lot of quick cuts of his working hands, his sweating head, or whatever he is looking at.
Overall, I'm enjoying the movie (oh jeeze, the door behind me slammed shut because of the wind going through the house and I jumped about 3 feet). I can't wait to finish it tonight.
If you have seen one or both of the movies please let me know what you think!!
A little bit about Akira. This was Katsuhiro Otomo's first big work and Akira is often sited at the first "grown up" animated feature. It broke many animation barriers namely the extensive use of animation cels giving the film fluid motion throughout.
Overall, I thought it was enjoyable, creative and entertaingly graphic. I mean, when people died in this movie they DIED in only the way anime characters can. I had actually taken a class earlier this summer called "Literature and Society: From Pearl Harbor to Hiroshima" in which we dealt with past relationships between the US and Japan, the bombings of Pearl Harbor, the atom bombs of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and just WWII on the Pacific front in general. The class was heavily geared toward the Japanese view (which makes sense since we mostly learn about the American view in school) which helped me gain insight to what the overall political message of Akira was. Especially since the movie begins with Tokyo 1988 and watching another seemingly atom bomb (ends up being Akira) go off in the city. In which Neo-Tokyo is built on a man-made island in Tokyo Bay.
I think the part that was most sad to me was taking these children (the Espers) to be used as experiments. For me it was like reading about the hibakusha (or the survivors of the atom bombs in Japan). In the most critical stages of recovery (mostly the time right after the bombs), the hibakusha were left with little care were more monitored to see what kinds of effects were being progressed on their bodies leaving many scarred or dieing. Like the children in Akira who lost their physical youth but are given a child's sanctuary within a laboratory.
Moving on...
So after getting bombarded with allergies in the parking booth I turned on The Hurt Locker. Wow is that movie intense. I didn't end up finishing it last night. I just got to the part where they find the little boy with the bomb in his body.
This is the conclusion I've come up with: If you're part of a bomb unit in the armed forces, you have to be a little bit crazy in your head. Or at least that's what I get from Jeremy Renner's character. But wow... what a terrifying and intense job.
I'm usually not one to sit down and watch war films, but this one made the exception purely because it's the movie that got Kathryn Bigelow her first Academy Award for Best Director - the first by a woman.
Truly an inspiration. Usually when I watch movies by myself I don't really think about the technical, theological motives of the movie. However, I really tried in this one. I felt that Bigelow's use of in/out focus, quick cuts, and variety of long/medium/close shots really added to the intensity of the moments. All the above also portrayed the mentality of each soldier well. Sanborn's demeanor is calm and when he is looking through the sniper telescope thingy it really showed. I especially liked the angle looking straight at him through the telescope. Eldridge is kind of jittery and his angles are a lot of up and downs and shots at him so you can't tell if he's ready to take a bullet or not. Lastly, James is the crazy like one and while he is defusing bombs that's when we get a lot of quick cuts of his working hands, his sweating head, or whatever he is looking at.
Overall, I'm enjoying the movie (oh jeeze, the door behind me slammed shut because of the wind going through the house and I jumped about 3 feet). I can't wait to finish it tonight.
If you have seen one or both of the movies please let me know what you think!!
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Benjamin and Allergies
Well 3rd day of film theory class...
I don't know if it's because I'm older and I learned from the 1st time I went through college... but I feel like I'm the only one or the few who do the readings in this class. Or else people will NOT speak up. C'mon, people this is a 2 hour class and our TA can't/shouldn't lecture for that long. GROWL!!!
Anyway...
Today's reading was about Walter Benjamin and his work called "The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction". If you're in film, you're probably read this one. Through the 4 articles we've read in class, I particularly enjoyed this one. To me it's basically arguing and finding the points to: what is art? how is film an art compared to other mediums (paintings, music, stage plays, etc.)? how can film be used for or against us? It's fun to read these early works, especially when you can get your mindset back to early cinema and sound films.
What I like about this class is the reading responses we're supposed to do everyday and turn in. I really sound like the Hermione Granger know-it-all but I hope it helps emphasize that I have been putting a lot of effort into these complex articles.
Here is mine:
I don't know if it's because I'm older and I learned from the 1st time I went through college... but I feel like I'm the only one or the few who do the readings in this class. Or else people will NOT speak up. C'mon, people this is a 2 hour class and our TA can't/shouldn't lecture for that long. GROWL!!!
Anyway...
Today's reading was about Walter Benjamin and his work called "The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction". If you're in film, you're probably read this one. Through the 4 articles we've read in class, I particularly enjoyed this one. To me it's basically arguing and finding the points to: what is art? how is film an art compared to other mediums (paintings, music, stage plays, etc.)? how can film be used for or against us? It's fun to read these early works, especially when you can get your mindset back to early cinema and sound films.
What I like about this class is the reading responses we're supposed to do everyday and turn in. I really sound like the Hermione Granger know-it-all but I hope it helps emphasize that I have been putting a lot of effort into these complex articles.
Here is mine:
Walter Benjamin’s “The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction” tries to categorize film within the world of art by way of radiating auras and arguing the presence within time and space. What I found particularly interesting was his argument about the lack of an aura that film movies or photography present. In the world we live today, it is hard to imagine a world without mass production, which Benjamin states in his first section. Aside from pottery and money, few things were made for the masses. In his second section he explains that the reverence is lost in any kind of reproduced piece of art (photographs, music, etc.) that is experienced outside its original context. To me this is a valid point because as humans we tend to show respect to those we are admiring. If we are watching a play or a concert we idolize for that time the people we are giving our attention. Thus I think that Benjamin’s aura is a two-way track – a give and receive system. In one acting class I took the instructor said “You energy is having a conversation with the energy of the audience.” While this is true for plays and concerts, what does this mean for paintings? Again a painting is something that we admire. Pending on the viewer, one decides how much aura to receive from the painting. Someone may give more energy to seeing the Mona Lisa verses The Persistence of Memory verses The Winged Victory of Samothrace. However, I believe a sense of aura, or at least a certain level of respect, can be achieved by film and photography, especially now.
Tell me what you think. Agree? Disagree? Don't really care?
In other news... WHO THE HELL STEALS A MCFLURRY, TAKES 7 BITES AND GIVES IT BACK?!
And future work - short youtube show (?) about Parking and Transportation. It will be epically awesome.
PS - my allergies are killing me. Will be posting in about 5 minutes about the new movies I watched today.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Sherlock Jr.
and here it goes... the 1st day of The Theory of Film...
and in my opinion... BAH! <<< but still necessary. As the good student that I am (even I rolled my eyes typing that), yesterday I started doing the readings for tomorrow. This is mainly because there's a lot for tomorrow and the last thing I want to do is fall behind and not participate in class (otherwise it will be a very long and silent 2 hours). The book we're using is Film Theory and Criticism by Leo Braudy and Marshall Cohen. If you're a film person you've probably seen some sort of edition of this book sometime in your life. While reading my first assignment - a great (but somewhat convoluted) piece by Erwin Panofsky - I realized that early film would have been just CRAZY to people in the early century.
I just want to take for instance Georges Méliès Le Voyage dans la lune (or A Trip to the Moon). Seeing as this is considered the first feature like film ever I would think that a special effect like the umbrella making creatures blow up very disorienting for that audience watching it. It's hard for us today to think of something like that. However creatures meeting their doom from the smack of an umbrella - terrifying (circa 1902). But today, the way the Méliès achieved this is actually quite innovating for the time. Oh, I'll just tell you how he did it... this was during the time that the film had to be cranked through the camera. Méliès figured out that if you were filming an object then stopped the camera and removed the object and then resumed filming it would seem the object just disappeared out of nowhere. Hence being able to disappear by means of umbrella.
So in our first class today we watched Buster Keaton's Sherlock Jr. In my vast experience with silent movies (and by vast I mean super incredibly minuscule) I watched another Keaton movie called The General. I found Sherlock Jr. more enjoyable actually. I felt that The General went on a little long in the slap stick area for my liking... on the other hand, slap stick movies were made purely for the enjoyment of movement and not for the narrative quality. Panofsky talks about this in his "Style and Medium in the Motion Pictures".
From a modern stand point (by modern I mean right now... 2011) the special effects that were achieved in the film were actually quite spectacular. I still can't figure out how Keaton jumped through a man... even with cuts. Overall I found the movie enjoyable... it was even probably a little more because my TA though it would be a good idea to watch a silent movie in total silence (she informed us that she didn't like the musical score accompanying the movie). So when cellphones were heard vibrating around the room it made us all chuckle from time to time.
Anyway, from my own opinion I think Sherlock Jr. even had a political tone behind it. Throughout the movie Keaton (who was 2nd to Charlie Chaplin in the slap stick/comedy genre of the day) had problems with technology (even when he was dreaming, he couldn't dream that he could properly use technology). His aspirations throughout the movie was to become a detective, however he never solves a crime... except for in his dream. Also aside from wanting to be come a detective his real job is being a projectionist at a movie theater.
ANYWAY what I'm trying to get to is that Keaton's aspirations to becoming a detective is presumably from watching Sherlock Holmes movies (since the name of the film is Sherlock Jr.). Also at the end of the film when Keaton is trying to woo the girl in the projection room as a film is rolling he has to take his cues from the film itself how to hug her, kiss her, and propose to her. Interesting though, as the movie that he is cuing from rolls on to the next scene the model couple is seen holding two babies... and the movie ends with Keaton scratching his head in confusion obviously thinking "Well, how do we get those?!"
So even during the silent era people knew that movies made a big impact on audience's everyday lives.
Ok, I think I've rambled on long enough. Thanks for listening and let me know what some of your favorite silent films are!!!
and in my opinion... BAH! <<< but still necessary. As the good student that I am (even I rolled my eyes typing that), yesterday I started doing the readings for tomorrow. This is mainly because there's a lot for tomorrow and the last thing I want to do is fall behind and not participate in class (otherwise it will be a very long and silent 2 hours). The book we're using is Film Theory and Criticism by Leo Braudy and Marshall Cohen. If you're a film person you've probably seen some sort of edition of this book sometime in your life. While reading my first assignment - a great (but somewhat convoluted) piece by Erwin Panofsky - I realized that early film would have been just CRAZY to people in the early century.
I just want to take for instance Georges Méliès Le Voyage dans la lune (or A Trip to the Moon). Seeing as this is considered the first feature like film ever I would think that a special effect like the umbrella making creatures blow up very disorienting for that audience watching it. It's hard for us today to think of something like that. However creatures meeting their doom from the smack of an umbrella - terrifying (circa 1902). But today, the way the Méliès achieved this is actually quite innovating for the time. Oh, I'll just tell you how he did it... this was during the time that the film had to be cranked through the camera. Méliès figured out that if you were filming an object then stopped the camera and removed the object and then resumed filming it would seem the object just disappeared out of nowhere. Hence being able to disappear by means of umbrella.
So in our first class today we watched Buster Keaton's Sherlock Jr. In my vast experience with silent movies (and by vast I mean super incredibly minuscule) I watched another Keaton movie called The General. I found Sherlock Jr. more enjoyable actually. I felt that The General went on a little long in the slap stick area for my liking... on the other hand, slap stick movies were made purely for the enjoyment of movement and not for the narrative quality. Panofsky talks about this in his "Style and Medium in the Motion Pictures".
From a modern stand point (by modern I mean right now... 2011) the special effects that were achieved in the film were actually quite spectacular. I still can't figure out how Keaton jumped through a man... even with cuts. Overall I found the movie enjoyable... it was even probably a little more because my TA though it would be a good idea to watch a silent movie in total silence (she informed us that she didn't like the musical score accompanying the movie). So when cellphones were heard vibrating around the room it made us all chuckle from time to time.
Anyway, from my own opinion I think Sherlock Jr. even had a political tone behind it. Throughout the movie Keaton (who was 2nd to Charlie Chaplin in the slap stick/comedy genre of the day) had problems with technology (even when he was dreaming, he couldn't dream that he could properly use technology). His aspirations throughout the movie was to become a detective, however he never solves a crime... except for in his dream. Also aside from wanting to be come a detective his real job is being a projectionist at a movie theater.
ANYWAY what I'm trying to get to is that Keaton's aspirations to becoming a detective is presumably from watching Sherlock Holmes movies (since the name of the film is Sherlock Jr.). Also at the end of the film when Keaton is trying to woo the girl in the projection room as a film is rolling he has to take his cues from the film itself how to hug her, kiss her, and propose to her. Interesting though, as the movie that he is cuing from rolls on to the next scene the model couple is seen holding two babies... and the movie ends with Keaton scratching his head in confusion obviously thinking "Well, how do we get those?!"
So even during the silent era people knew that movies made a big impact on audience's everyday lives.
Ok, I think I've rambled on long enough. Thanks for listening and let me know what some of your favorite silent films are!!!
Saturday, June 18, 2011
True Grit vs. True Grit
Well after 3 days of sitting through old True Grit (oTG) I finally finished it. I'm trying really hard, but it's difficult for me to sit through westerns. Especially the old ones. I get that we're supposed to embrace the wide open spaces and the independence of cowboys and the diversity of Indians... but it's just hard for me. I especially respect that a lot of what we would call "auteur" directors of our time (I'm speaking of Lucas (before episodes I, II, and III), Spielberg, Scorsese... and even maybe Tarantino) use the Western genre as a source of their inspiration.
In my effort to aspire to be like these gentlemen, I have decided to understand Westerns. So in my list of 500 that I gave to my mother (will explain about this more) I included classics such as Shane, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.... well ones like those.
However, after watching oTG I watched new True Grit (nTG) right afterward. I watched it in one sitting while at work. Also, I read the book right before watching oTG. I think John Wayne was AWESOME in oTG. I've never actually sat down and watched a whole movie with him in it, so it was nice to see a great performance that landed him the Academy Award. What didn't help my cause for oTG was Kim Darby. I had actually watched the Star Trek (OS) episode with her in it... also noting that she was 21 when filming oTG. With that in mind, it didn't help the feeling that a woman was playing a girls part... thus the forceful manor of Mattie Ross was unconvincing to me.
For nTG I really enjoyed watching Jeff Bridges (I'm a big fan after seeing him in Crazy Heart). Just sometimes it was a little hard to understand him... which I guess helps with the drunkeness Cogburn was in throughout the movie. And as much as I love love LOVE Matt Dillion he part as LaBoeuf was ehhhhh. However, I don't blame him, there just wasn't a whole lot there to work with. But who really stole the show for me was Hailee Steinfeld as Mattie. Wow. She's one of those kids I can't wait to see a great career if she can avoid the drama and drugs of Hollywood. I hope she can. I add her to my list of "Kid to Grown ups" which includes Dakota Fanning, Abigail Breslin, and Jaden Smith (Haley Joel Osment was on here till he got caught with drugs).
Anyway, as always the Coen Brothers did another awesome movie. It also helped the nTG didn't follow the book page for page like oTG. There were some minor differences... one in particular (little spoiler alert) that I liked in nTG was the fact that Cogburn let Maddie smoke out the bandits in the shack. That and as nTG stayed true to the book, they traveled in the wintertime as opposed to oTG as they traveled during a warmer season.
Well, I guess that's all I have for that. Please let me know what you think!!
In my effort to aspire to be like these gentlemen, I have decided to understand Westerns. So in my list of 500 that I gave to my mother (will explain about this more) I included classics such as Shane, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.... well ones like those.
However, after watching oTG I watched new True Grit (nTG) right afterward. I watched it in one sitting while at work. Also, I read the book right before watching oTG. I think John Wayne was AWESOME in oTG. I've never actually sat down and watched a whole movie with him in it, so it was nice to see a great performance that landed him the Academy Award. What didn't help my cause for oTG was Kim Darby. I had actually watched the Star Trek (OS) episode with her in it... also noting that she was 21 when filming oTG. With that in mind, it didn't help the feeling that a woman was playing a girls part... thus the forceful manor of Mattie Ross was unconvincing to me.
For nTG I really enjoyed watching Jeff Bridges (I'm a big fan after seeing him in Crazy Heart). Just sometimes it was a little hard to understand him... which I guess helps with the drunkeness Cogburn was in throughout the movie. And as much as I love love LOVE Matt Dillion he part as LaBoeuf was ehhhhh. However, I don't blame him, there just wasn't a whole lot there to work with. But who really stole the show for me was Hailee Steinfeld as Mattie. Wow. She's one of those kids I can't wait to see a great career if she can avoid the drama and drugs of Hollywood. I hope she can. I add her to my list of "Kid to Grown ups" which includes Dakota Fanning, Abigail Breslin, and Jaden Smith (Haley Joel Osment was on here till he got caught with drugs).
Anyway, as always the Coen Brothers did another awesome movie. It also helped the nTG didn't follow the book page for page like oTG. There were some minor differences... one in particular (little spoiler alert) that I liked in nTG was the fact that Cogburn let Maddie smoke out the bandits in the shack. That and as nTG stayed true to the book, they traveled in the wintertime as opposed to oTG as they traveled during a warmer season.
Well, I guess that's all I have for that. Please let me know what you think!!
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Ok not that it matters
but, does anybody read this?
I want to know who the 2 Malaysian viewers are out there!
In short news: our trip to Chicago was a success and fun! The Megabus turned out to be an experience but overall helped us save lots of money from gas and parking in the city. The Cubs won!!! (Boo Treasure and the Brews!)
And please... if you're drunk, note that spitting is NOT attractive.
The Field Museum was a lot of fun... would not want to experience The Night at the Museum there... lots of animals and mummies and Indian displays (I wouldn't want to mess with Indians!) and Sue the dinosaur.
Also note that the Central Loop Hotel is very nice and decently affordable for downtown. They had no bed bugs in our room... and believe me, we checked it over pretty thoroughly.
Well short but that's all for now :) Ciao!
I want to know who the 2 Malaysian viewers are out there!
In short news: our trip to Chicago was a success and fun! The Megabus turned out to be an experience but overall helped us save lots of money from gas and parking in the city. The Cubs won!!! (Boo Treasure and the Brews!)
And please... if you're drunk, note that spitting is NOT attractive.
The Field Museum was a lot of fun... would not want to experience The Night at the Museum there... lots of animals and mummies and Indian displays (I wouldn't want to mess with Indians!) and Sue the dinosaur.
Also note that the Central Loop Hotel is very nice and decently affordable for downtown. They had no bed bugs in our room... and believe me, we checked it over pretty thoroughly.
Well short but that's all for now :) Ciao!
Saturday, June 11, 2011
The Dream Team
Here's the start to a list of actors or whoevers I'd like to work with someday:
Geena Davis
Colin Firth
... well they're the only two I can think of right now. There's more and I'm sure I'll keep just slooging them here and there!
BTW - in compiling a list of movies I'd like mom to keep an eye out for I ran across some of Disney's upcoming projects. Let's see here... The Muppets (there hasn't been a new Muppet movie since... I'm pretty sure a long time. At least since a couple years after Jim Henson died). The Avengers - I really hope that this movie does the comic justice.
That and I think Scarlett Johansson's hot. Add her to my list:
Scarlett Johansson
What else is on their list. Brave the next Pixar movie after Cars 2 sounds like fun. I never thought of this before but I guess it will feature the first solo heroine in a Pixar movie. Huh. Anyway, a new Swiss Family Robinson. I absolutely loved the old one!!! C'mon, what would you make if you were on an abandoned island. And you have to admit that the Robinson's digs were cooler than Brook Shields' in The Blue Lagoon.
Ironman 3, Monsters University the next for Pixar... maybe something like Monsters, Inc.? It doesn't really matter to me since I love Monsters, Inc. Continue: Oz, the Great and Powerful I'm all for little spin offs or side stories. Maleficent being made by Tim Burton - maybe a spin off from Sleeping Beauty? Something called Snow and the Seven is next.
THEN! Doctor Strange based off the comic. I hope its AWESOME! Aida comes after that. I saw the show on Broadway with Debra Cox and it was... good, but I wouldn't say AMAZING. But I look forward to that in 2014... if the world doesn't end in 2012.
This originally was going to be a short post :p
Geena Davis
Colin Firth
... well they're the only two I can think of right now. There's more and I'm sure I'll keep just slooging them here and there!
BTW - in compiling a list of movies I'd like mom to keep an eye out for I ran across some of Disney's upcoming projects. Let's see here... The Muppets (there hasn't been a new Muppet movie since... I'm pretty sure a long time. At least since a couple years after Jim Henson died). The Avengers - I really hope that this movie does the comic justice.
That and I think Scarlett Johansson's hot. Add her to my list:
Scarlett Johansson
What else is on their list. Brave the next Pixar movie after Cars 2 sounds like fun. I never thought of this before but I guess it will feature the first solo heroine in a Pixar movie. Huh. Anyway, a new Swiss Family Robinson. I absolutely loved the old one!!! C'mon, what would you make if you were on an abandoned island. And you have to admit that the Robinson's digs were cooler than Brook Shields' in The Blue Lagoon.
Ironman 3, Monsters University the next for Pixar... maybe something like Monsters, Inc.? It doesn't really matter to me since I love Monsters, Inc. Continue: Oz, the Great and Powerful I'm all for little spin offs or side stories. Maleficent being made by Tim Burton - maybe a spin off from Sleeping Beauty? Something called Snow and the Seven is next.
THEN! Doctor Strange based off the comic. I hope its AWESOME! Aida comes after that. I saw the show on Broadway with Debra Cox and it was... good, but I wouldn't say AMAZING. But I look forward to that in 2014... if the world doesn't end in 2012.
This originally was going to be a short post :p
Friday, June 10, 2011
Iowa City Writer's Workshop
Well, most of you probably don't know this... but Iowa City (IOWA of all places) is the third city in the world for literature. I know right? So in my so awesome job (I'm a cashier at the University's parking ramps) I find out that there is the annual Writer's Workshop starting this weekend. So I have all these resound authors going through my line (who you may ask? I have no idea). But, I'm sure they're all respected if they are here for the Workshop.
Seriously, go check it out.
Anyway, so while talking to these people I find out that some of them are actually screenwriters on the side. Some say that they are this and that and did this with that actor or director. However, I soon find out that an author named Justin Cronin was in attendance and his trilogy The Passage is being made into some movies by Ridley Scott.
Now something that you are about to learn about me: I am a HUGE Ridley Scott fan. I think he's really great not only in directing but choosing a wide range of genres and only chooses projects he thinks bests suits him. There's some directors out there who I think do movies just for shits and giggles (can we say Rob Reiner's movie North after making This is Spinal Tap, Stand by Me, The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally..., Misery, A Few Good Men, and Sleepless in Seattle?!?!)
So anyway... I just got home from a reading from Iowa City's semi-famous pub, "The Mill" and sat through readings of some of the alumni of the Workshop. The first was by a woman who came through my line and I asked her what she liked to write. She said poetry, and especially translating Russian poetry. Cool, I thought. So she read a women about her son who was born with autism. At first I didn't get it, but my friend who joined me, Victoria, said that if I had personal and regular contact with someone with autism the poem would have made more sense. So reflecting back on the poem, I thought it was very cool.
Another woman wrote about her challenges with MS which was very moving. After that a man named Richard Cummings read. However, I'm not sure on the name since I can't find him on the internet machine. But, he wrote a very charming piece about going to school at the U in the 1960's... a time that I can't even imagine. My favorite line from his story is "We found Dr. Yates (professor at the time) sitting in his regular booth at the Airliner (another notable bar in Iowa City) on the day of our final. He said "There's no such things as fuckin' finals in life! Sit down and let's drink it out together!" I wish I had a professor who would say that to me.
After that Victoria and I decided to leave mostly because we didn't want to stay out too late (we're getting a little old for that - she's 24, while I'm 25) but partially also because the guy sitting behind her was starting to creep us out.
I'll make this last part quick. On the subject of Ridley Scott, I forgot how weird yet satisfyingly primitive Blade Runner is. I think the scene that best describes the whole movie is when Roy and Tyrell kiss but then Roy crushes his skull in his hands (still makes me go AAAHHHHH!!! on the inside). Anyway, it's about loving and hating your creator at the same time. Loving for what he made us but hating what he gave us.
And I also want to share the shirt I wore tonight for all the literary peoples to see.
If you don't get it, you should really google it and read some of the stories ... IF YOU DARE!! (a la Are You Afraid of the Dark). If you don't know what that is either, you should really google that ;)
Night night all!
Seriously, go check it out.
Anyway, so while talking to these people I find out that some of them are actually screenwriters on the side. Some say that they are this and that and did this with that actor or director. However, I soon find out that an author named Justin Cronin was in attendance and his trilogy The Passage is being made into some movies by Ridley Scott.
Now something that you are about to learn about me: I am a HUGE Ridley Scott fan. I think he's really great not only in directing but choosing a wide range of genres and only chooses projects he thinks bests suits him. There's some directors out there who I think do movies just for shits and giggles (can we say Rob Reiner's movie North after making This is Spinal Tap, Stand by Me, The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally..., Misery, A Few Good Men, and Sleepless in Seattle?!?!)
So anyway... I just got home from a reading from Iowa City's semi-famous pub, "The Mill" and sat through readings of some of the alumni of the Workshop. The first was by a woman who came through my line and I asked her what she liked to write. She said poetry, and especially translating Russian poetry. Cool, I thought. So she read a women about her son who was born with autism. At first I didn't get it, but my friend who joined me, Victoria, said that if I had personal and regular contact with someone with autism the poem would have made more sense. So reflecting back on the poem, I thought it was very cool.
Another woman wrote about her challenges with MS which was very moving. After that a man named Richard Cummings read. However, I'm not sure on the name since I can't find him on the internet machine. But, he wrote a very charming piece about going to school at the U in the 1960's... a time that I can't even imagine. My favorite line from his story is "We found Dr. Yates (professor at the time) sitting in his regular booth at the Airliner (another notable bar in Iowa City) on the day of our final. He said "There's no such things as fuckin' finals in life! Sit down and let's drink it out together!" I wish I had a professor who would say that to me.
After that Victoria and I decided to leave mostly because we didn't want to stay out too late (we're getting a little old for that - she's 24, while I'm 25) but partially also because the guy sitting behind her was starting to creep us out.
I'll make this last part quick. On the subject of Ridley Scott, I forgot how weird yet satisfyingly primitive Blade Runner is. I think the scene that best describes the whole movie is when Roy and Tyrell kiss but then Roy crushes his skull in his hands (still makes me go AAAHHHHH!!! on the inside). Anyway, it's about loving and hating your creator at the same time. Loving for what he made us but hating what he gave us.
And I also want to share the shirt I wore tonight for all the literary peoples to see.
If you don't get it, you should really google it and read some of the stories ... IF YOU DARE!! (a la Are You Afraid of the Dark). If you don't know what that is either, you should really google that ;)
Night night all!
Monday, June 6, 2011
From Spielberg to Bay
If you were the fortunate 2 that had visited here since I changed my little "Next _____" in my gadgets to the right you would have noticed that I had changed it from Spielberg to Bay. Treasure said "There's a difference between blogging and self gratitude." I took this into account and decided to lower my standards...
And I guess I'll fully utilize the use of a blog by being critical.
I'm not a very big Michael Bay fan. I feel like all his movies are primitive self satisfying ... things... I'm not saying that they're bad or uncreative (I personally like The Island) I just think they're WAY over sexualized (please watch Transformers 1 and 2 and how Megan Fox is depicted) and on the cusp of gory to the extent that we find it enjoyable (a little messed up, but it's my theory of "That's why we enjoy horror movies.") But what can I say... sometimes overly satisfying action movies are fun to watch. Sometimes.
On top of that, I have a good friend from Purdue (which we Iowans so lovingly call Purdouche bags) that would yell every time Armageddon comes one "Don't watch that! It'll make you stupid!" And she works for NASA now so I'll believe her.
So, here's to you Michael Bay. I hope to join you in the ranks!
And I guess I'll fully utilize the use of a blog by being critical.
I'm not a very big Michael Bay fan. I feel like all his movies are primitive self satisfying ... things... I'm not saying that they're bad or uncreative (I personally like The Island) I just think they're WAY over sexualized (please watch Transformers 1 and 2 and how Megan Fox is depicted) and on the cusp of gory to the extent that we find it enjoyable (a little messed up, but it's my theory of "That's why we enjoy horror movies.") But what can I say... sometimes overly satisfying action movies are fun to watch. Sometimes.
yup, let's just bring in that camera and ram it up her ass
On top of that, I have a good friend from Purdue (which we Iowans so lovingly call Purdouche bags) that would yell every time Armageddon comes one "Don't watch that! It'll make you stupid!" And she works for NASA now so I'll believe her.
So, here's to you Michael Bay. I hope to join you in the ranks!
Why Hello There!
Hi Everyone!
My name is Ana and currently a (second time around) college student at the University of Iowa. I graduated in 2008 with a BA in History and then thought about law school then I decided it wasn't for me. So now here I am going back to school for film. It was a very long and rocky journey to figure out that this is what I really wanted to do. My husband, Treasure (that's not his real name, but we'll just call him that), and I had a nice talk this last winter about happiness and what really makes me happy. Before this spring semester I was actually going back to get a teaching degree in math.
Anyway, this is just the beginning for me. But before this I was in a couple movies. I was in a student film called Resist Evil... but I eventually got asked to leave that.
I was also in a SAG movie (big deal if you're from Iowa) called Collapse starring Chris Mulkey and Karen Landry. So that was exciting for me because then I became eligible for a SAG card (although I don't have one).
I don't know why I keep on getting asked to do scary movies. Maybe I have a scary face?
So in an effort to gain more experience for film making I decided to join our COMPLETELY student run newspaper/news station for the more technical side of production work. I started ... oh... yesterday (Sunday) and got my first assignment ... oh... yesterday (Sunday) :p I just went up to our local arts fest (go to summerofthearts.org) and just got some footage. Sounds easy, but on your first day it's a little nerve wrecking! So just watch the arts fest part and check it out here!
So, I think that's good enough for now. I would really appreciate any kind of feed back, even if you don't think it's that great :) Thanks for reading!
My name is Ana and currently a (second time around) college student at the University of Iowa. I graduated in 2008 with a BA in History and then thought about law school then I decided it wasn't for me. So now here I am going back to school for film. It was a very long and rocky journey to figure out that this is what I really wanted to do. My husband, Treasure (that's not his real name, but we'll just call him that), and I had a nice talk this last winter about happiness and what really makes me happy. Before this spring semester I was actually going back to get a teaching degree in math.
Anyway, this is just the beginning for me. But before this I was in a couple movies. I was in a student film called Resist Evil... but I eventually got asked to leave that.
I was also in a SAG movie (big deal if you're from Iowa) called Collapse starring Chris Mulkey and Karen Landry. So that was exciting for me because then I became eligible for a SAG card (although I don't have one).
I don't know why I keep on getting asked to do scary movies. Maybe I have a scary face?
So in an effort to gain more experience for film making I decided to join our COMPLETELY student run newspaper/news station for the more technical side of production work. I started ... oh... yesterday (Sunday) and got my first assignment ... oh... yesterday (Sunday) :p I just went up to our local arts fest (go to summerofthearts.org) and just got some footage. Sounds easy, but on your first day it's a little nerve wrecking! So just watch the arts fest part and check it out here!
So, I think that's good enough for now. I would really appreciate any kind of feed back, even if you don't think it's that great :) Thanks for reading!
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