Greetings all,
It's been a while. Things get busy, ruts happen and life moves along.
So starting off small:
I saw two movies this week. 500 Days of Summer and The Ugly Truth.
First, 500 Days of Summer was pretty good. I'm usual not big on Indie-esque flicks because I feel that they're pretentious, but this was amazing. Joseph Gordon-Levitt really played his role well as a hopeless romantic, thinking he's found the "one" in Zooey Deschanel's character summer. It's non-chronological, but not in an annoying way like Vantage Point, and in fact it really adds to the movie. The end makes it realisitc and not your typical romantic movie, but at the same time, it leaves a lot of potential for the characters (and further reinforces a belief of mine that I'll discuss sometime in the future)
The Ugly Truth was funny. Honestly there's not better way to put it. So maybe there wasn't amazing writing or academy award winning acting, but it was entertaining and just fun. Ars gratis artis, people.
As far as T.V., I've been watching Torchwood Children of the Earth. I've kind of followed Torchwood and the Doctor Who series sporadically, but rather than do a season three, Torchwood did a five episode mini-series. It was interesting. The gist involves an alien race using children to contact the world. We find out the aliens have requests for a chamber they can live in and commands for the world to give up 10% of their children. Torchwood is an organization trained in alien affairs that try to help but then are put on a hit list by the government in order to cover up a similar event in the '60's. Other minor need to knows are that Captain Jack Harkness, who is in charge of Torchwood, is incapable of dying, and that Gwen, a former cop turned Torchwood, is pregnant. It leads to some very interesting drama. It really was an amazing run with lots of unexpected turns and things that would be Taboo in American t.v. (Ah, thats BBC for you). It also showed an amazing depth in the characters and in the personality of people. I suggest watching it to get the full effect.
Yesterday a group of us went to Hard Rock Cafe Dallas, which was pretty fun. I got an awesome Hard Rock Glass and the TRE failed at being on time, but it all in all went well.
Sadly though, I must now get ready for the monotony that is work. The bright side is I have 1 month until Rice!!!
7.25.2009
7.21.2009
New Moons and New Troubles
It's a new moon out tonight. According to my beliefs and my lifestyle, I should be in my element.
Yet while in a spiritual way I'm in my element, in a more concrete and terrestrial form, I've never felt worse.
I hate wasting new moons. It's like wasting time and letting life slip away
7.15.2009
Inspiration, Intimidation and Everything in between.
I really feel like I'm not keeping up with my blogging as I should, but with life consisting mainly of work and sleep, I find it difficult to escape the monotonous days and find something to write about.
But, alas, as I am now here typing, something (or rather some things) have come up that brought me to blogging again.
I went to the Harry Potter premiere with Valorie and my younger brother at Harkins. We did a lot of high school reminiscing and didn't really run into anyone we didn't want to, which was refreshing. Also, the movie itself was one of the better Potter films in my opinion. As usual there were some plot details I wish they had covered, but it had less uselessness, and it utilized light moments in an otherwise dark film.
A new store opened in the place of virgin records. It's a female clothing store and I seriously might need a whole day to check it out, because it looks legit awesome.
This afternoon I watched the film "To Sir, with Love" starring Sidney Poitier. I've always been a fan of Poitier and I watched this film once with my mother as a child (It's her favorite). I even have the single by Lulu on my iPod. But I had yet to watch it at a mature age where I fully understood what was going on. It reminded me of other later films such as "Stand and Deliver" and "Dead Poet's Society" both of which portray influential teachers. But each film covers different means through which respect for a teacher is gained. With "Stand and Deliver" it's a unique teaching style, with "Dead Poet's Society" it Robin Williams encouragement of the boy's creativity and interests outside the class room. With Sidney Poitier's character, the tool is treating the kids as adults in the real world. He teaches them manners and propriety and the all too sadly true fact that life just isn't fair. It handles social situations rather while for a '60's film as well. I really enjoyed it and encourage those who haven't seen it to try it.
Finally, I started two new projects. One was inspired from Valorie's "Photo a Day" resolution. I'm essentially trying to do the same thing. I really ought to use my camera more. My other project is to incorporate art more into my daily life and
possessions. In honor of this, I sharpied my black and green converse. One shoe is a portrayal of war and destruction while the other is love, peace and happiness. I'm not quite done yet. I need to color the lines around the shoes and either switch to more colorful paperclips or buy new laces. But I like this one so far. I'll try to post other projects and they come along.
Anyway, that's all for now. More to come your way soon.
But, alas, as I am now here typing, something (or rather some things) have come up that brought me to blogging again.
I went to the Harry Potter premiere with Valorie and my younger brother at Harkins. We did a lot of high school reminiscing and didn't really run into anyone we didn't want to, which was refreshing. Also, the movie itself was one of the better Potter films in my opinion. As usual there were some plot details I wish they had covered, but it had less uselessness, and it utilized light moments in an otherwise dark film.A new store opened in the place of virgin records. It's a female clothing store and I seriously might need a whole day to check it out, because it looks legit awesome.
This afternoon I watched the film "To Sir, with Love" starring Sidney Poitier. I've always been a fan of Poitier and I watched this film once with my mother as a child (It's her favorite). I even have the single by Lulu on my iPod. But I had yet to watch it at a mature age where I fully understood what was going on. It reminded me of other later films such as "Stand and Deliver" and "Dead Poet's Society" both of which portray influential teachers. But each film covers different means through which respect for a teacher is gained. With "Stand and Deliver" it's a unique teaching style, with "Dead Poet's Society" it Robin Williams encouragement of the boy's creativity and interests outside the class room. With Sidney Poitier's character, the tool is treating the kids as adults in the real world. He teaches them manners and propriety and the all too sadly true fact that life just isn't fair. It handles social situations rather while for a '60's film as well. I really enjoyed it and encourage those who haven't seen it to try it.
Finally, I started two new projects. One was inspired from Valorie's "Photo a Day" resolution. I'm essentially trying to do the same thing. I really ought to use my camera more. My other project is to incorporate art more into my daily life and
possessions. In honor of this, I sharpied my black and green converse. One shoe is a portrayal of war and destruction while the other is love, peace and happiness. I'm not quite done yet. I need to color the lines around the shoes and either switch to more colorful paperclips or buy new laces. But I like this one so far. I'll try to post other projects and they come along.Anyway, that's all for now. More to come your way soon.
7.09.2009
A Few Good Men and thoughts.
So Originally today's post was going to revolve around an article a friend of mine sent me that would've focused on racism. And while I'm still going to write on that sometime soon, this was fresh in my head and I needed to get it down.
I recorded the 1992 film A Few Good Men on my DVR the other day. I've been aware of this film for a long time, mainly for the line "You can't handle the truth" by Jack Nicholson's character while on the stand. In more recent years I've become aware of it more for it's overall features as a good film, including acting and the way the story was told. I was not overly aware of it's contents.
The synopsis of the film is pretty straightforward (and if you're particulary picky about spoilers I suggest you don't read this blog).
A couple of marines at GitMo are on trial for murdering a fellow marine (who was planning on ratting out one of said marines for a transfer). In an effort to have the case finished with as quickly as possible, Tom Cruise's character is chosen to represent the defendents, as he is known for his tendency to take plea deals.
However, after some urging from Demi Moore's character, Cruise's character finds that there is more to the case than it seems. The two marines were following a direct order from their chain of command to issue a "Code Red," a sort of hazing used to acknowledge and remind marines of their status as part of a unit. When the code red ends in the marine's death, the two are blamed.
More and more is uncovered in the case and it is found that Jack Nicholson's character, the Colonol had issued an order for the marines not to harm the victim, yet supposedly had issued his transfer, and then secretly instructed for a "Code Red" with no true intention of transfering the marine.
In the end, the Colonol is arrested (as code reds are technically not allowed, and he lied and falsified documents). The two marines are cleared of the charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder, but are found guilty of conduct unbefitting a marine and dishonorably discharged. All this despite following direct orders they would've been discharged for not following.
This is a sadly accurate depiction of what would probably happen if such a case truly existed. And it's rather sad, because a marine that does his or her job and serves his or her country suffers for following a simple command that they would be penalized for not obeying as well. Meanwhile, anyone higher on the chain of command rarely faces true punishment due to varying issues from connections to the shame it would bring the branch of the military. And yet it's the common, everyday marines that face the most danger in times of trouble and are the first to suffer when something goes wrong.
The movie was indeed strong, but for differing reasons than film buffs may believe, because it brings to light a sorry bureacracy that many are ignorant of and that should not exist, especially when it comes to deciding the fate of those who choose to defend us.
I recorded the 1992 film A Few Good Men on my DVR the other day. I've been aware of this film for a long time, mainly for the line "You can't handle the truth" by Jack Nicholson's character while on the stand. In more recent years I've become aware of it more for it's overall features as a good film, including acting and the way the story was told. I was not overly aware of it's contents.
The synopsis of the film is pretty straightforward (and if you're particulary picky about spoilers I suggest you don't read this blog).
A couple of marines at GitMo are on trial for murdering a fellow marine (who was planning on ratting out one of said marines for a transfer). In an effort to have the case finished with as quickly as possible, Tom Cruise's character is chosen to represent the defendents, as he is known for his tendency to take plea deals.
However, after some urging from Demi Moore's character, Cruise's character finds that there is more to the case than it seems. The two marines were following a direct order from their chain of command to issue a "Code Red," a sort of hazing used to acknowledge and remind marines of their status as part of a unit. When the code red ends in the marine's death, the two are blamed.
More and more is uncovered in the case and it is found that Jack Nicholson's character, the Colonol had issued an order for the marines not to harm the victim, yet supposedly had issued his transfer, and then secretly instructed for a "Code Red" with no true intention of transfering the marine.
In the end, the Colonol is arrested (as code reds are technically not allowed, and he lied and falsified documents). The two marines are cleared of the charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder, but are found guilty of conduct unbefitting a marine and dishonorably discharged. All this despite following direct orders they would've been discharged for not following.
This is a sadly accurate depiction of what would probably happen if such a case truly existed. And it's rather sad, because a marine that does his or her job and serves his or her country suffers for following a simple command that they would be penalized for not obeying as well. Meanwhile, anyone higher on the chain of command rarely faces true punishment due to varying issues from connections to the shame it would bring the branch of the military. And yet it's the common, everyday marines that face the most danger in times of trouble and are the first to suffer when something goes wrong.
The movie was indeed strong, but for differing reasons than film buffs may believe, because it brings to light a sorry bureacracy that many are ignorant of and that should not exist, especially when it comes to deciding the fate of those who choose to defend us.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)