MIA

So I've been gone a couple weeks. Not literally, just not blogging. I know that's bad for a blog and I really want to try to do reviews regularly, but I haven't been watching movies. I have watched a few shows, mostly anime. I'd love to do a specifically anime-related blog, but I feel that would have a different audience than live-action (even though I enjoy both). I did recently watch this Netflix show called Manifest which was intriguing. Another show I've been watching, which I just recently finished, is Atypical. I think Atypical is a better show than Manifest (better characters, better development, more realistic character arcs) but they are altogether different genres. While Manifest tends towards the supernatural and even the spiritual in some ways, Atypical is more about the humanity and presents a realistic depiction of realistic people with real flaws. I also just started a show called "Feel Good" which is intriguing at the offset. It's about a comedian named Mae who falls in love with a girl named George and the move in together without really knowing much about each other. In the first episode George finds out Mae is an ex-addict (from a skype call with Mae's mom in Canada) and refuses to introduce Mae to her friends (presumably because Mae is a girl, since George lies to her male friend about the gender and name of the person she's seeing). I haven't really watched past that point, but it has the potential to be an interesting show. As I watch, I'll keep you posted. Maybe I'll even select it for a review.

One show I might review is Supernatural. I haven't seen all the early episodes and I'm still catching up on the more recent season, but I definitely have strong opinions about that show. Perhaps it is my religious upbringing (since the show relies heavily on Judeo-Christian mythology), or perhaps it is my love for dark cult type shows. Another one I should do a review on is Buffy: The Vampire Slayer. In fact, perhaps it would be better for me to start off with shows, both because they're shorter (episodes are typically less than an hour) and because they have more time to flush out the story and characters. I was doing a re-watch of The X-files with my Facebook group, but I didn't keep up and got desperately far behind, but that's another show I could definitely write a review on. Frasier is another one. I think this will be a good practice for movie reviews too, because I'll get used to figuring out exactly what worked and what didn't and if it was good or not so good. Episodic shows tend to have episodes that are stellar and ones that lack substance as well. 

At any rate, this is simply a filler blog post to let you know I haven't given up on the review thing yet. (oh and I haven't started reading anything yet, although a co-worker suggested what I assume is a YA novel which I might start reading.

Movie Review "The Half of It"

This gem (which came out in 2020) can also be found on Netflix, but it does not boast a star-studded ensemble cast like the last movie I reviewed, nor is it directed by the famous (or is it infamous?) Garry Marshal. This indie film, written and directed by Alice Wu, has a cast of relative unknowns, but big stars aren't what makes epic movies and this movie... Well, I'll let my review speak for itself.

I'm going to be honest. When I watched this movie for the first time, I was in love. The story, the characters, the setting, everything about it was perfect. I did not become disillusioned of this notion when I re-watched the film to show it to my children.

One of my favorite things about this story is the non-typical romance that exists within its borders, but does not play out like you might expect. Another thing is that it has a more realistic, bittersweet, ending. And a third thing is that the characters feel more like real people. The English teacher who knows Ellie is writing other kids papers but doesn't report her because "then I'd have to read whatever they wrote", the popular jock who thinks the entire world revolves around him, the popular pretty girl who doesn't really like being popular but goes along to get along, the less popular geeky jock who isn't the star of the team so no one really pays him any mind, the racist bully kids, the ultra conservative small town that seems like a black hole, and finally the main character.

The story follows teenage Chinese immigrant Ellie Chu who is very mature for her age because she has to be. Her father, who has found a roadblock in his career path (this is heavily implied to be because of discrimination) and whose wife has died years prior to the beginning of the film, is very obviously depressed. He sits around the house watching old movies while his daughter takes care of the responsibilities that should fall on his shoulders. Ellie makes money by writing essays for her classmates, which she passes out during band practice and by playing the organ for the local church's services. The opening scene, so important to pulling a viewer in, does its job to perfection. It sets up the whole movie:

As Ellie gets ready for school, she prints out copies of essays putting a different name on each. Then she checks items off a list she has written, gives herself a little pep talk and heads out the door to bike what seems like more than a mile to school. As she struggles uphill some racist bullies drive by yelling "chugga-chugga-chu-chu" this is both in reference to her Chinese name and the fact that her father works tending the railroad crossing. At school, she waits until the music teacher begins announcements and then passes out the essays folded inside the music books. Then, the choir begins to practice and the love interest comes on. The beautiful Aster Flores begins to sing "You Fill up My Senses" in an angelic voice and the camera pans, first to an enraptured Ellie, then outside to a young jock (Paul Munsky) who also seems entranced by the sound, so much so, that he lets an errant ball hit him. He is told to "pay attention" and goes back to practice.

Paul, who has never gotten up the courage to approach the beautiful Aster himself, asks Ellie's help in drafting a love letter. Ellie, who needs the money to pay the utilities before they are shut off, reluctantly agrees, and the triangle begins. Aster and Ellie exchange letters, but Aster believes she is communicating with Paul. Aster is dating a popular jock who is also rich but she doesn't feel as lucky as everyone else seems to think. She is looking for substance and the jock (Trig Carson) just doesn't bring that to the table. She finds an escape in "Paul's" letters and allows herself to get pulled in.

I really liked that this movie featured an LGBT main character without making that the primary focus for her arc. Yes, she is in love with Aster (at first from afar, more over time as she gets to know her through the letters), but there is so much more to her character. Her friendship with Paul also begins to blossom as they keep writing the letters and she resigns herself to cheering him on rather than getting what she really wants. As with any relationship rooted in deceit, things eventually come out. I don't want to spoil it, so I won't say more than that, but the climax was exceptional, and the ending was perfect.

I give this movie a 10/10, I would rate it higher if I could.

"Mother's Day" Movie Review

I chose this movie for my first review because I wanted to review something popular which I hadn't seen yet, so I was coming to it from a completely unbiased perspective. This movie can be watched on Netflix for the time being. I hope you enjoy my review.

This is a feel-good drama/comedy about several moms in Atlanta, Georgia who are all going through their own various life-dilemmas, all of which (for the purpose of a happy ending) get magically solved in the space of a week. Overall, I did enjoy this movie because I tend to like movies that make me experience a range of emotions. I enjoyed seeing several familiar faces from other shows or movies. That being said, this is a review and so I'm going to focus on some of the things I did not like about the movie as well.

The main story revolves around Sandy, a divorced mom who has a very friendly and open relationship with her ex-husband Henry. As her story opens he is shown ogling her and making a comment about her "hotness" this is a setup for the coming conflict for her character. Their dynamic seems to be: strict mom/fun dad, and this comes to a head when Henry announces out of the blue that he has gotten remarried to the much younger Tina. Sandy's 13 year-old son suffers from asthma, which plays a part in the conflict resolution for her character. Sandy's story was relatable, but her story could have been told just as well, if not better, without her very obviously still being in love with her ex. It is revealed at some point that the two have been amicably divorced for 11 years, and her still pining for Henry seems like a very worn trope. Sandy's issues with Tina could be confined to being seen as "replaceable" as a mom which is something Sandy admits aloud later in the movie before receiving good advice from a very unexpected place.

One of the main problems I have with the movie is how it treats the only two LGBT characters. The second family it follows are two sisters who have both moved far from home (Texas) to get away from their bigoted parents. One of the sisters (Gabi) is gay, and the other (Jesse) is in a bi-racial marriage with a man of Indian heritage (Russel). Both are afraid to let their parents know about their relationships which causes the main conflict for this family when the parents (Flo and Earl) show up on their doorstep in an RV as an unexpected Mother's Day surprise. Gabi and Max are a very stereotypical gay couple. They are quirky (creating a womb shaped float for the Mother's Day parade), Max is butch, while Gabi comes off as more feminine. But, worst of all, they seem to exist just for the conflict with Flo and Earl and the jokes about their unique parade float. Apart from that, Max gets no screen time whatsoever and Gabi gets less than her heterosexual sister. If the movie were actually being inclusive, they might have included a transgender mom as one of the characters, or at least flushed out the two lesbian moms a little more. I also take away points for one microaggression "Indians don't get divorced" spoken by one of the white female characters as they discuss the possibility of Jessie's marriage dissolving.

It also follows a grieving widower (Bradley) who is trying to take on the role of soccer mom, which his wife filled while she was alive, and also dealing with his older teenager's period (buying her feminine products), and her showing romantic interest in someone else for the first time. A lot of the responses this dad makes to raising his daughters are very stereotypical (getting embarrassed about buying tampons, being late to soccer practice even though their mom never was). Bradley mainly exists for comedic relief but there are a few tear-jerker moments concerning his grief and what it's doing to his family.

Finally, there is Kristin and Zack a couple who have been together for five years and have a child together but are not married. The main problem I have with this couple's arc is the huge emphasis it puts on marriage. I think this is the overall theme of the movie, because Sandy is fine with Henry's relationship with Tina when it was "casual" but as soon as they get married, she starts getting upset. There is also enormous pressure put on Bradley to "move on" from his wife's death, even though grieving is something everyone must do at their own pace.

As you would expect, all the familial conflicts (even the ones that seem the least likely) are resolved by the end and everyone gets what they want. Although this makes for a feel-good ending, it also feels more like a fairy tale. No one is a bad parent, not even the ones that literally threaten to disown their kids for bi-racial marriage or being gay. That is the most unrealistic element to this movie. Prejudice does not disappear overnight, although it can diminish by exposure. That and the adopted child/bio mom situation were the most obvious candidates for a bittersweet or unhappy conclusion. However, the writers decided that even those stories had to have a feel-good/happy ending where no one is a bad person and everything is resolved.

I will say that Sandy's situation and her reactions are the most realistic of anyone in the movie. Her arc (feeling that the step-mom is an intruder who has come to replace her, and her realization that being the bigger person and accepting this change is what is best for her kids) would have seemed more realistic if the situation had taken place over a longer period of time than a week. Even still, it was the best part of the movie, (although Bradley's situation did bring me to tears a time or two).

I give this movie a 7.5 out of 10. It loses points for being pretty formulaic, but gains some for an unexpected twist for one of the character arcs (I won't spoil for anyone who hasn't seen it yet), although there was some pretty good foreshadowing and, in retrospect, I should have seen it coming.

Rebranding

So I'm thinking of rebranding, myself, this blog. I thought, what's better for "thoughts of a nobody" than doing movie and book reviews, maybe even a game review here and there. I already watch a lot of stuff, and I have opinions about everything I see or read. Sometimes I have trouble finding other people who are interested in the same things I am interested in so all the energy I have in me that wants to discuss it or expand upon it gets wasted and then I move on to something else. But what if I didn't have to lose that energy and could use it to expand my writing horizons?

Ideally, I would get paid to write the things I want, but it takes time and experience to be considered an expert. If I don't put myself out there and have a list of relevant writing to point towards, then how am I going to find paying work?

I do need to finish up my teaching course and get started on that career path, if possible. However, there is a dream career I've always had of being a published author. I can write books and self-publish them, but there is little profit or satisfaction in that. I wish to travel as soon as humanly possible and I would love it if that were something I did not have to take time away from work to do. As nice as paid vacation would be, it would only last a short while. Reviews would be the ideal way to work while traveling, because movies can be watched from anywhere. If I became well-known and respected enough I could even branch out to reviewing other things while I travel. I would love to review foreign films and media as well. There, my language skills could come in handy.

I am excited to start this new journey, but I am unsure of what to review first. If any of my readers would like to see my perspective on a particular film, please comment the name of it. I will probably start with older films because I have them readily available. I will try to post at least one review a week, starting on my day off this week which is Friday. If I receive a comment on one of my posts requesting a particular review, I will address it as soon as possible.

I may still interject with a personal blog post updating everyone to my changing circumstances, or at the very least, letting you know how this change is effecting my blog (positively or negatively). If I get the time, or the posts get popular enough I may start posting more than one a week. Thank you for your readership up to now, I hope you stay for this exciting new development.

Week 42: My Favorite TV Shows

I've divided my list into two sections. I have a ton of favorites, so I'll just list them and then a brief summary of the plot and why I liked that show.

(Live Action)

Sherlock
This show, which originally aired on the BBC and consists of only three episodes per season, is (in my personal opinion) the best modern adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's famous detective series. For anyone who isn't familiar with the name (have you been under a rock?), Sherlock is a British detective who has a good eye for detail. He solves crimes along with his friend Dr. John Watson (who serves as the everyman to contrast Holmes' genius). My favorite thing about the series is how perfectly they adapted certain things from the original to fit a modern society and still were able to craft compelling characters and intriguing plot lines as well as exquisite character growth and a perfect character dynamic between the leading characters.

Frasier

A very popular spin-off from the old TV show Cheers, Frasier focuses on a pair of psychiatrist brothers and their dysfunctional family dynamic. I love this show because it is full of the type of subtle humor and irony I find most appealing in a comedy. Most of the jokes are nuanced especially after the characters are well established. The only thing I really disliked about the show was that the character of Roz Doyle was often the butt of not so subtle slut shaming. 

The X-Files

A sci-fi show which follows a pair of FBI agents as they investigate unexplained phenomena. I fell in love with this show and its creepy allure as a teenager. I have always been interested in the supernatural and especially the possibility of extraterrestrial life. A couple lines from the show's iconic duo sums it up pretty well. Scully: "Have you ever entertained the possibility of finding life on this planet?" Mulder: "I've seen the life on this planet, why do you think I'm looking elsewhere?" (this isn't verbatim as I would have to look it up to find the exact wording).

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

A teenage girl finds out she's been chosen to protect the people of the world by fighting vampires on a regular basis. There are a few things I love about this show. The lore and creep element are pretty cool. It has kickass characters (all except Xander, I cannot stand that guy) and even better villains (for the most part, I'll confess to thinking "really?" with a couple of them) and the lead is a strong, independent, female.

Breaking Bad

A show about a high-school chemistry teacher who ends up being one of the most dangerous drug dealers in the area after receiving a cancer diagnosis. What I loved most about this show was the realism. The progression of the characters felt real, the slow, but inevitable descent by the main lead Walter White who goes from sort of blah to vomit inducing villain. My favorite character in the show was Jesse (a small time meth cook who teams up with Walter when he's first starting out). The guy, even though he's a drug dealer, has the most scruples of anyone in the show. A particular episode sticks out in my mind where Jesse goes to collect from some addicts who owe them money and finds a young kid there. The fact that he stays almost until the police show up just to make sure the kid is okay, risking his own safety in the process. That cemented my love of the character.

Atypical

A more recent show about an Autistic teen and his family. What I like is this show doesn't sugar coat what it's like to be on the spectrum but it doesn't paint all autistic people with the same brush either. It is as unique a show as each of the characters it portrays.

Friends

A sit-com made in the 90's about a group of friends who live in New York. What I like best about it: Pheobe Greene. I rest my case. Actually, I also like the eventual romance between Chandler and Monica (never did like the Ross/Rachel ship, it was way too toxic from the get go). Chandler is my favorite character, probably because he's always cracking jokes to ease the tension (kind of like me).

Dr. Who

A show about time-travel. What's not to like? The last of his kind, a man (Timelord) calling himself the Doctor travels through time and space in what appears to be a police box no bigger than six feet in diameter, but which is quite expansive once entered. The TARDIS, as the machine is known can travel to any time period and anywhere in space. I have always been a sucker for anything time-travel related. My favorite episode? they travel back to Elizabethan England and meet Shakespeare.

The babysitter's Club

Based on a book series I read as a child, the Babysitter's Club follows a group of pre-teens as they form a babysitting business. Each girl in the club has her own challenges to face and the show focuses on a different girl per episode. What I liked best about this adaptation was that it had good LGBT representation and even featured an episode where one of them is babysitting for a little trans girl who gets sick and has to go to the hospital. There, the doctors and nurses unwittingly misgender her causing her dysphoria and prompting the babysitter (who is usually shy and non-confrontational) to speak up in her defense.

Supernatural

A show about two brothers that hunt monsters together. Having been raised in a religious household which appreciated both the old and new testament laws, I like this show because it is full of biblical easter eggs. I also love the character of Castiel, an angel who achieves character growth from his proximity to the two brothers and becomes an agent of free will even going against the other angels when necessary. My other favorite character is Chuck but I can't tell too much about him without spoiling the show for others who might want to watch.

The Good Place

A situational comedy about heaven and hell. The main character finds herself in heaven and realizes someone made a mistake so she spends her time trying to learn how to be good so she can stay. Along the way she makes some friends, some frenemies and learns about herself. I love this show because it is laugh-out-loud funny. The characters are all compelling and there is lots of character growth throughout the series. Some of the things I liked about the show are impossible to tell without spoiling it, so I won't dive that deep. 

Stranger Things

A supernatural series about a group of kids who get tangled in an interdimensional battle between good and evil. What I like most about this show is the way it handles suspense. My favorite characters are L and Nancy (although I hated her being with steve).

Last Week Tonight

A comedy news show, this program offers investigative journalism with a side of dry British wit. I like this show because it is super funny to me and also because of the in depth analysis it gives the topics it reports on.

Saturday Night Live

A sketch comedy show that has spanned decades. I love SNL, but how much often depends on the host because some of their stuff is hit or miss.

Umbrella Academy

A show about a dysfunctional group of adopted siblings who all have powers. My favorite character is Klaus, a narcissist with a chemical dependency problem whose antics liven up the show. His power is an ability to see and communicate with ghosts and since one of the siblings died, Klaus continues to see and talk with him even though no one else believes him.

Anne with an E

An adaptation of the classic Anne of Green Gables book series that has some interesting interpretations of the characters. In my opinion the best adaptation I've seen, even though it is merely inspired by the original and takes many liberties with the story line. I love how they introduce the issue of racism and homophobia and how Anne is so very open-minded to everyone. I feel like that fits her character so perfectly. I've heard that they canceled the show after season 3 and I really wish they hadn't because it was one of my favorites.

(Animated)

Rick and Morty

A spoof comedy with characters loosely based on doc and marty from back to the future. I love the character development especially as it relates to Rick and his family dynamic.

Steven Universe

A children's show about a boy who fights alien gem monsters with a group of his mom's friends while trying to unravel the mystery of his mother who was a gem but gave up her form so he could exist. All he has to piece together clues about his mom's past are the stories her friends or some of the gems he meets tell him. I like this show because, despite being a children's show, it has a unique storyline, good character development and good pacing.

Stein's Gate

You knew it was coming. This show is an anime about a guy who invents a way to send messages back in time. Although it is initially light hearted (the very first episode does hint at the darkness to come) it quickly escalates as changing timelines causes irreparable harm. I like the show for some characters and the time travel element as well as the changing timelines.

Log Horizon

Another anime about a large group of people playing an mmo who wake up inside a world identical to the game with no way to get out and no idea how they got there. They must learn to build a society and political system that will enable them all to thrive (they learn that they cant die as such because they are revived in the temple just like in the game, but "dying" does make you drop all your stuff). I love this show because it deals with various realities of forming a working government and societal cooperation that is necessary to thrive.

The Devil is a Part-Timer

This anime is about a devil king who is fighting a human hero and losing so he escapes through a portal to our world and finds that he has no magic so he ends up working at a fast food chain. I like it because the story is intriguing, the characters are unforgettable and it is really funny.

Wandering Son

One of the few anime I've found with accurate LGBT representation, this presents the story of a little trans girl who is struggling with her identity in a society that is conformist and conservative. From the reactions of the girl's older sister to how people lose their minds when she tries to go to school in a girl's uniform, this show is heartbreakingly realistic. I'm a sucker for a good tear-jerker and having two LGBT kids just made this show hit home even harder for me.

March Comes in like a Lion

This anime is about a professional shogi player (if you don't know what shogi is, it's kind of similar to chess but more complicated. I call it chess on steroids) who struggles with depression and the demons of his past. It comes from the genre known as "slice of life" which depicts realistic people and situations instead of fantasy ones. What I like about this show is, well everything. It has a gorgeous art style, beautiful animation, hauntingly beautiful soundtrack, memorable characters, good plot and an accurate portrayal of depression.

Natsume's Book of Friends

A show about a kid who can see yokai (Japanese mythical creatures) when no one else around him can, this show deals with societal ostracization and the joy of finally being accepted for who you are. I like the show's laid back style but it also has compelling story lines. Sometimes the yokai are friendly, sometimes they are not. My favorite character is Madara (a yokai that spends most of his time in cat form and protects Natsume from yokai who might wish him harm). Madara is often called Nyanko Sensei and other cat-like names. Other people can see Madara when he's in his cat or human form but not when he appears in his original (and much more formidable) yokai form.

Tanaka-kun is always listless

Another easy going anime, this is the story of a guy who just doesn't like expending energy. He spends most of his time sleeping or resting and doesn't even date because it seems like too much trouble. The show is a comedy about how the world around him reacts to him and how that changes or doesn't change the way he acts. I like the show because it is light and wholesome and because Tanaka is so relatable.

The disastrous life of Saiki-K

A comedic farce anime about a guy with god-level powers who just wants to be normal. This guy can read minds, teleport at will, turn people to stone for 24 hours just by looking at them, change the way the world works, lift heavy objects with ease, has x-ray vision and a bunch of other stuff and he hates it. He finds it difficult to hide his powers and is constantly trying to avoid situations where they might become evident. I like this show because it's sooo funny.

Charlotte

This anime is about kids who somehow have imperfect superpowers. The main character uses his power (the ability to inhabit another person's body for five seconds at a time) for personal gain and advancement until he is found and recruited to a school full of other kids with different abilities. They put him on the student council which is tasked with finding other students before the government (who wishes to experiment on them for scientific research or to use them as weapons) does. All the kids who develop abilities eventually outgrow them, so the school is designed to keep the kids out of harms way until their abilities go away. I like the show's plot progression. There are some heartbreaking moments, and I liked the character development as well.

Angel Beats

An anime about an afterlife designed to help kids who died tragically young move on to whatever's next, Angel Beats focuses on a group of students who are rebelling against whatever god might be in charge and do their best to disrupt the normalcy around them. I like this show because it is funny at times and sad at others. The only thing I'd really change about it is that it doesn't allow you to explore all of the group backstories instead focusing on a select few. Although the show would be decidedly longer if they had given backstories to all the kids in the group, I think it would have been that much better. I also love the opening song (which is played on piano) because it reminds me a bit of classical music.

Eccentric Family

An anime about a group of tanuki [raccoons which can shapeshift] and their familial relationships,  the mc has a crush on Benten, the human who ate his father, and admires humans even though humans are responsible for the death of many tanuki from new years  hot pot parties where tanuki is the main dish. I like this show because it has an element of absurdity,  it is somewhat laid back and yet also powerful and it has beautiful animation and art.

Hyoka

This anime follows a teen (houtarou oreki) who wants a bland life where he doesn't really engage if he doesnt need to. He tells a friend that the colorful high school life which includes clubs and dating is just not his scene. The friend is then understandably shocked when he joins the literature club at his older sister's request. He decides it would be more work to convince her he doesnt want to do it than just help her out. Besides, the club doesnt really have members so theres not a big risk that it will take up a bunch of time. He goes to the club room which is locked, so he gets a key but when he enters there is someone there. Eru Chitanda is one of the schools best students and her family is pretty well known, but this is the first houtarou has heard of her. As he gets to know the perpetually curious Eru, Houtarou begins to realize that maybe he actually does want a colorful high school life. What I like about this show is everything.  I like how perfectly the characters interact,  the animation, houtarou's character development,  the budding romance, and how the opening song and especially the accompanying animation so perfectly embodies houtarou's journey. *break out the tissues, this one's a tear jerker.

Week 27: My Favorite Quotes of All Time

It's hard for me to recall famous quotes, even if I really loved the quote when I heard it or read it. It's just not the way my brain works to recall specific sets of words. Rather, I often recall sequences of events and emotions with much more clarity. I have, however, compiled a few of the passages I've enjoyed reading (I had to search them up to get them exact) in various of my favorite books. I did not include movie quotes for this purpose. I was also unable to find some of the quotes that I remember liking very much and I do not own all the books. All the quotes are about different things and they certainly do not include all my favorite books, such a feat would be almost impossible. However, I did try to get as many as I could think of right at the moment and I may attempt to find more later and add them as I remember other of my favorite books.

"Can you see her? I want you to picture that little girl. Now imagine she's white." John Grisham -- A Time to Kill (My memory of this quote is a little different to what I found, but it is delivered in the book by one of the jurors to their fellow jury members and in the movie it is the lawyers closing argument. I have excluded the explicit part of the quote, but those of you who have either seen the movie or read the book will understand.)

"People generally see what they look for and hear what they listen for." Harper Lee -- To Kill a Mockingbird

"I am an invisible man. I am a man of substance, of flesh and bone, fiber and liquids -- and I might even be said to possess a mind. I am invisible, understand, simply because people refuse to see me." Ralph Ellison -- Invisible Man

"What are men to rocks and mountains?" Jane Austen -- Pride and Prejudice

 "Conventionality is not morality, self-righteousness is not religion. To attack the first is not to assail the last." Charlotte Bronte -- Jane Eyre

 "Teach the ignorant as much as you can; society is culpable in not providing a free education for all and it must answer for the night which it produces. If the soul is left in darkness sins will be committed. The guilty one is not he who commits the sin, but he who causes the darkness." Victor Hugo -- Les Miserables

"There are plenty of people, in Avonlea and out of it, who can attend closely to their neighbor's business by dint of neglecting their own; but Mrs. Rachel Lynde was one of those capable creatures who can manage their own concerns and those of other folks into the bargain." L.M. Montgomery -- Anne of Green Gables

"'Hide them all, then," he croaked. 'Keep her --them-- safe. Please.'

"'And what will you give me in return, Severus?'

"'In -- in return?' Snape gaped at Dumbledore, and Harry expected him to protest, but after a long moment he said, 'Anything'" J. K. Rowling -- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

"'Why doesn't anyone turn on this Improbability Drive thing?' he said. 'We could probably reach that.'

"What are you, crazy?' said Zaphod. 'without proper programming anything could happen.'

'Does that matter at this stage?' shouted Aurthur.

"'Though your dreams be tossed and blown...' sang Eddie.

Arthur scrambled up on to one of the excitingly chucky pieces of molded contouring where the curve of the wall met the ceiling.

"'Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart...'

"Does anyone know why Arthur can't turn on the Improbability Drive?' shouted Trillian.

''And you'll never walk alone.... Impact minus five seconds, it's been great knowing you guys, God bless..... You'll ne...ver...walk...alone!'"  Douglas Adams -- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Week 20: My Favorite Movies

Well, this is going to be a long list. I have several favorite movies. I do not know if I should try to narrow it down, or just write about each one and what I liked about that particular movie. Although I like quite a few anime movies or animated movies, I'm going to stick with live action movies for this list to keep it somewhat shorter.

The Notebook

It is rare that I like the movie version better than the book, but that was the case when I read the book after seeing this outstanding movie. Typically the book has more content, and a better view of the characters. For me, this book read like a cheesy romance (which I don't typically like). The movie, however, was an excellent and heartwarming story of two lovers who find a way to get past the detrimental effects of Alzheimer's if only for a few seconds. I found the sex scene in the movie was tasteful and well done, while the sex scene in the book felt like every other sex scene in every other romance novel. I wouldn't say the book was necessarily bad, but it didn't live up to my expectations after watching the movie.

Forrest Gump

Another movie where I didn't like the book as much. I felt like the book was making fun of mentally handicapped people in the way it portrayed Forrest and some of the things it had him do. The movie adaptation, however, was a classic. I enjoyed all the history references, since I'm somewhat of a history buff. I liked the romance element and felt it was extremely realistic for Jenny to think Forrest was not mature enough to handle a relationship, although it was her whose actions proved her own immaturity. Some elements of the movie were entirely fantastical, but it was still heartwarming and made me cry. 

Stranger than Fiction

One of the only Will Ferrell movies I can stand, Stranger than fiction is the story of a boring accountant who does not take risks and what  happens when he starts hearing his own story narrated. It is funny in parts and heartwarming in parts. It has some really unique characters, and since it is a character driven story, that is essential. I like the writer in particular, but the baker is also interesting. 

Cast Away

I really like Tom Hanks movies and I could probably make a list of my favorites just with him as the star. One thing I really like about Cast Away is something I didn't notice until I watched the commentary. There is no music until the moment he leaves the island. Most movies rely heavily on the musical score, but this one simply uses background sounds and it feels so much more realistic and makes the impact of him leaving the island that much more profound. Sometimes I feel like a bit of a loner, but I don't think I could survive without any human contact. I cry every time he chases after Wilson because that volleyball is the only string connecting him to the outside world. It is his lifeline and personifying it has helped him to stay (somewhat) sane, through the isolation.

Little Women (Greta Gerwig version)

This version of Little Women honors the author in a way that other versions do not. Because the author didn't want her main character to marry in the end, but was forced into writing it this way to get it published, the end of this particular version does Louisa May Alcott a service by making Jo's marriage ambiguous. That is not the only reason that I like this version better. It develops the other sisters' character better than other adaptations have done. It does move a little fast, but it keeps the most important bits. 

Shawshank Redemption

Apart from stellar acting and a superbly written story, the Shawshank Redemption has a great soundtrack. The music when he finally comes out into the rain after crawling through that sewer perfectly illustrates his triumph. I liked this movie mainly for the acting though. All the characters were realistic and well acted. When Andy gets thrown into solitary confinement for playing the music on the loudspeaker, you can see both a sense of triumph and defiance in the look on his face. I'm not sure if I have seen Tim Robins act in anything else, but I think he does comedy a lot. However, he nailed this role and the range of emotions that was necessary to do so. Morgan Freeman's narration is also on point, but then Morgan Freeman's voice seems like he was born to narrate. I even liked the movie somewhat better than the short story it was based off.

The Green Mile

Although I did like the book version of this one better than the movie, simply because it had more content, the movie is still one of my favorites. It is the movie that opened my eyes to how horrific a penalty the death penalty is. While it may seem like doing the world a favor by ridding it of murderers and rapists, there are far too many innocents convicted and even some whose action was impetuous and youthful. Since watching the movie and reading the book, I have learned that the story was loosely based on a 12-year old black boy who was sentenced to death in the 30's, the youngest ever to be put in the electric chair he pleaded his innocence to the very end. He was finally exonerated years after his death when it was determined that he was not strong enough to have wielded the murder weapon. Even if I hadn't learned this bit of heartbreaking history, The Green Mile would still be one of the most heartbreaking films I have ever seen.

A Time to Kill

This movie follows the trial of a man who killed his 9-year-old daughter's rapists after learning that they were going to be set free. It touches on racism, especially in the deep south, and how the system can be unjustly stacked so that it is difficult for people of color to get a fair trial. I liked the book version as well, although I can't say which of the two I liked better. In the movie, I especially liked the defense lawyers closing comments (although they were spoken by someone else in the book) because they illustrate the way prejudice changes the way we see certain things. I also liked how the injured cop, who was supposed to testify for the prosecution, turned it around on them by saying he would have done the same thing.

Crash

One of the best movies I have ever seen. Crash follows the lives of various people in L.A. as they imprint on one another. It has an excellent cast of characters, and some people play roles that are different from what they normally play. Sandra Bullock, for instance, who usually plays the good guy, plays a racist bigot. Racism is the biggest theme in this movie, but it also touches on how racism effects not only the victims, but also the perpetrators. It shows them all as human, with human feelings, even the ones that have horrible ideas about other people, and treat them horribly. My favorite character is probably the one played by Ludacris. He is an idealist, who is also the stereotype he is protesting against. He steals cars at gunpoint and sells them to a chop shop. My favorite part about him is that he eventually gets the chance to choose between living up to his ideals and making money and he chooses his ideals, which is awesome. 

Babel

This movie has a similar concept to Crash, in that it follows various different people and how they affect each others lives. This movie, however, doesn't focus on racism, it focuses on the language barriers that exist between different nations and people and how they can cause problems. It does not only focus on different spoken language, but also has a deaf girl who needs to communicate through signs and also has trouble communicating what she needs. It also shows various cultures from around the world. One story, for instance, is a young Iraqi boy who is messing around with a gun, but not aiming at anything and accidentally hits a bus full of passengers some of whom are American. This, of course, causes a lot of problems for everyone involved. Their inability to communicate is also combined with various stereotypes that might be held about that region to compound the misunderstandings.

Kalifornia

This movie, which plays David Duchovny and Brad Pitt off one another, is about a serial killer taking a road trip with a man who's writing a book about serial killers. The writer is completely oblivious to the trail of bodies they are leaving in their wake, at least up to a point, and does not suspect for a moment that his traveling companion is a dangerous criminal. The writer's girlfriend is more intuitive and immediately dislikes Brad Pitt's character, who beats and controls his adoring girlfriend. It's not often you get to see Brad Pitt play the role of the villain, but he does it extremely well.

That is most definitely not an exhaustive list and I'm sure I'll think of five to ten more as soon as I post this. If any of my readers can think of some I might have missed (I could have added the Marvel movies, but they deserve their own post), feel free to leave a comment. You can also comment some of your favorite movies if you'd like.

Edited to include the following:

Eternal Sunshine of the spotless mind

This gem starring Jim Carey and Kate Winslet is about how precious memories are, even the painful ones. After a nasty breakup with his girlfriend, a man decides to erase all his memories with her. While he is hooked up to the machine, his mind tries hard to retain those most precious memories that he shared with her. It's a beautiful and tragic story about the complexity of love and break-ups and heartache.

23

Another Jim Carey movie that follows a more sinister tone. In this one, he is a man who suddenly becomes obsessed with the number 23. It leads him down a rabbit hole of discovery about himself and ends up in an unexpected place. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this psychological thriller and loved the twist ending.

Seeking a Friend for the end of the World

This movie is about a world where the apocalypse is a foregone conclusion and everyone is just waiting for it to happen. They even know the date, so everyone can get their affairs in order. Steve Carrell plays a man who finds himself all alone at this most horrible time to be alone, but he discovers a letter from a former lover that was sent to the neighbor by mistake three months ago. The guy sets out on a quest to find her and requite the feelings she expressed in the letter, and on the way, he discovers that sometimes love sneaks up on you in the most unexpected places. Like Stranger than Fiction, it is about a guy who doesn't usually take risks doing just that. The message of both movies is to live life to the fullest because you never know when it might end.

Edited once more to include:

Moonlight

This movie, depicting the life of a gay black man growing up with a drug addicted mother in a poor neighborhood and bullied by the kids at his school is one of the most powerful stories I have ever seen. It shows the struggles many LGBT children still face growing up and how lack of support from those around them or validation can be detrimental to both their physical well-being and their mental state. This one really got to me, especially at the end.

The Perks of Being a Walflower

This isnt your usual coming of age movie. High school freshman Charlie has no friends and a troubled past. He gets off to a rocky start but ends up befriending a group of seniors who are all misfits in their own regard. Sam (played by Emma Watson) her stepbrother who is dating the captain of the football team (secretly because the popular guy wont come out of the closet), Mary elizabeth who is a Buddhist and candice who shoplifted Jeans even though she's rich and is into goth vampire stuff. The group regularly performs at the rocky horror picture show, parties, and they all stick together like glue. Charlie falls for Sam which almost ends up severing his ties to the group just when he needs them most. Very emotional movie. I kicked myself for not figuring out the plot twist as it was so obvious in retrospect.  Broke my heart several times over and even though it ended on a lighter note, it was more realistic in saying things weren't necessarily going to stay happy, but that was okay. Warning, this movie does contain potential triggers for certain things (domestic violence is indicated, sexual assault is alluded to, there is a fist fight scene) the movie also shows the use of controlled substances by teenagers.