Movie Bliss

I'm the type of person who, ater seeing a particularily moving or well-made movie, becomes wrapped up in it's charm and fills to the brim with the feelings the director tried to erect. And this is what happened ater seeing Julie&Julia. To completely clear the air of what this provoked-I had been totally charmed by the life of the famous Julia Child, and inspired by Julie's blogging success (it also left my taste buds yearning even more to taste the exquisite cuisine known as Lobster Thermidor that I have been wanting to try since my trip to Oregon).

To put that extended explanation in shorter form I will say that I was immersed in movie bliss. To feel as though I have fully experienced everything the movie offered and for at least a short while after it's end, still live in the movie.

For example: After seeing Pan's Labyrinth I was swept into a horriying movie bliss (now there's an oxymoron) where my devastation ran well past the movie's end, and I couldn't even enjoy the choclate festival, where you can essentially get free samples of at least 150 dif. chocolate treats!

Now after being absorbed by this movie with my mother, both of us sitting in the lone back row of the theater, (somewhat annoyed that we had to pay 18 bucks for two) I kept that simple mind and air about me that the world is a wholly inspiring place, as long as you take advantage of the good around you.
Which is why after walking out of the theater all I wanted to do was give my mother a dinner to satisfy her appetite which was, conceivably, greatly inflated by the film. After a few minutes of debating on the best place to do so, we purchased a stuffed pretzel, SAT study book, and the last copy of "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" by Julia Child at Barnes and Noble. And I will take it upon myself to make sure that this becomes a positive project for my mom and I considering everyone in our household is leaving for a long while, so it will just be me and her. A mother-daughter bonding experience that leaves me with some greatly-needed cooking skills.

But the bliss doesn't last long, which in some cases, as the aforementioned exhibits, is good. Therefor I sink back into my world of high and low peaks of cynisicm, yet I will leave this on the high note of knowing that I will soon be partaking in a journey specifically made for "The Serventless American", which is exactly what I want to be.

Inspiration

I'm 16 today. It's nice to be able to say, but I've realized you don't change on the birthday, you change during the ensuing year. Anyway, this will be my first movie post, but I will intersperse quotes found in the 'Sunbeams' area of "The Sun" magazine that I love.

My top movies:
Little Miss Sunshine-I completely adore this director. All the work he has put out that I have seen is incredible. He has also created a very distinct style to recognize him by. This is a hilarious comedy about a family's travels to a beauty pageant for their young daughter. It's heart-warming in the way that it portrays real family life. Most of us would be able to agree that our family is a little out of the ordinary in one way or the other-and this family is no different. The dynamic between the characters is also very genuine and moving. Although the background of all the main characters are revealed early, the type of interaction they all share throughout the movie brings the character development to a whole new level. I would recommend Little Miss Sunshine to anyone who understands the love of a crazy family, or just anyone who wants a good, long laugh. (Rated: R)

"If a white man falls off a chair drunk, it's just a drunk. If a Negro does, it's the whole damn Negro race."-Bill Cosby

Pan's Labyrinth-This is a beautifully made, heart-wrenching Spanish film. Taking place in Spain after the Spanish civil war, it shows the untied ends of the war in guerrilla uprisings and much more bloodshed. Ofelia, the young girl who is comforted by her fantasy imagination, must go through many hardships after her mother marries the persistent captain Vidal who is on a violent mission to stop the Spanish guerrillas fighting against the Franco regime. Besides the fairy tales, the only other comforter for Ophelia in the beginning is her ill and pregnant mother since her father died when Ophelia was young. It's a story filled with wonder, war, and horrifying beauty. To anyone who can appreciate a superbly-made film, or anyone who used to revel in fairy tales, I recommend this to you. (Rated: R)

"There's a stereotype that black people are lazy. I don't know if that's true, but I know white people went all the way to Africa to get out of doing work."-Lance Crouther

Saved!-No, I did no put the exclamation point just because it's really good, it's actually part of the title, but well suited if you ask me. This one holds a story of a girl named Mary at a christian high school battling with her faith due to a SURPRISE! pregnancy. Her biblical name could be symbolism for the fact that now gays (the father of her child) are technically not allowed to have children, therefor he couldn't have gotten her pregnant-so she's a virgin who happens to be with child. This teaches the conflict between the, perhaps not-so-happy, surprises in life and the strict christian morals. It also teaches the great loyalty of friendship. The characters go through a transformation in the viewers' eyes as we learn not to trust first impressions. Sometimes friendships are best when they go through large hardships for it proves the loyalty of each person. A funny drama love-story, this is recommended to people who struggle with their faith or have none, anyone who wants a twist on the usual love-story, or anyone who would enjoy a realistic portrayal of a somewhat thought provoking drama. (Rated: PG-13)

"In this country 'American' means white. Everybody else has to hyphenate."-Toni Morrison

V for Vendetta-"Remember, remember the fifth of November..." Those opening words provide the basis of the plot that an idea is greater and lasts longer than any face, life, or generation. The idea that "government should fear it's people" is harbored by a masked man named V who stands only for that idea. He rescues a women named Evey in one of his terrorist tactics to rile the public to give them control. Evey soon becomes an unlikely, yet needed necessity to spread that idea to the world on November fifth. Although the screenplay was adapted from a graphic novel by David Lloyd, it sports it's own well-directed idea of what the novel should look like. Using well-known actors Hugo Weaving and Natalie Portman they create a movie that inspires the rights of the people. Fascist Britain is undermining it's subjects and setting strict rules throughout the country that intimidates people into following them. The power-hungry chairman is the source of the corrupt government and in turn, is the maker of V. While the story has many twists and turns it leaves viewers feeling more empowered and thoughtful. I would recommend this movie to any deep thinkers or anyone who is willing to be taken into the future to learn how to fix it. (Rated: R)

"There is inherited wealth in this country and also inherited poverty." JFK

The Kite Runner-Set in Afghanistan and America, this tale of redemption is beautifully shot and written. Based on the novel "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini, it brings to life the challenges of racism faced by Afghans during the dawn of the Russian invasion, challenges that ruin a brotherly friendship for many many years. After Amir, a young boy whose loyalty is questioned while his friend, Hassan, proves his, hears of Hassan's son's troubles, he returns to Afghanistan to redeem himself by showing the huge amount of courage he never could show before. It is one of the most moving films I have ever seen. Recommended to anyone who believes in redemption through selfless acts. (Rated: PG-13)

"Jon Stewart: Your mother is from Kansas. She's a white women. Your father, African. Are you concerned that you may go into the voting booth and...your white half will all of a sudden decide, 'I can't do this.'?
Barack Obama: Yeah, It's a problem."

New Idea

I've decided to try something different for this blog of mine.
It will hopefully become a place where I recommend and disapprove movies for the readers. Think of it as a site you can go to if you have a random urge to see a movie but don't know what to watch. I can direct you to something worthwhile.

So, it will work as follows: I will have a starter post of a review of my top favorite movies, and various lists of other movies that I have seen and enjoyed. It's kind of a cool way to get to know a large part of me (and my family, since I take after them in taste) since I am becoming quite the movie buff.
But it isn't all about me ranting on about how good my tastes are-I would enjoy feedback on what the pros and cons of what I have recommended were for you. I am also open to suggestions about any movies you have seen and would like to share, or just requests for different reviews on different movies. If you want me to add more PG movies or just a different genre or foreign films, I certainly will; all you have to do is respond and say "more PG, Horror, Japanese, etc..." and I will devote a post to that(those) specification(s).

I would love it if this actually works, but I need feedback from you...and hey? if it doesn't work there are plenty of possibilities out there anyway.

Number 1

And here it is: The blog that I have been pondering making for a very long time.

Obviously I will need a lot of practice to figure out my style with this, so bear with me.

Obviously (also) there's a lot of my life that is uncovered in this, but allusions will surely be made.

But let me start with yesterday: May 16, 2009.

Yesterday I woke up in a La Quinta hotel room somewhere in TN at 8:30 am. I was with Chelsea, Alison, Susanne, Rob, Alec, Keitan, and Jesse, and we were getting ready for pirate week at the renaissance festival. After putting on tons of clothes, make-up, jewelery, and squishing 8 people into a van that was packed with stuff we were fully piratized and ready for a day back in the 1500s.

It was the usual overpriced henna tattoos, barbarian food, jousting, romeo and juliet, and meeting Queen Elizabeth I. The things that made it memorable were the unusual, such as flying kettle corn, Alison sharing her lemonade with a guy at a stand who looked like he had herpes, the statment "all my ex-girlfriends are masochists," saving instruments from a flash flood, and turning the car into a dressing room in the cracker barrel parking lot.

All in all I thought it was a pretty sweet experience. It was all very hectic and adventurous, which is what I live for.

I wish I had some before pics, but chelsea has yet to upload them so they will probably be in the next blog-but here are some after the strom pictures from the car:

Go up....I guess.

(Like I said, I'm learning.)