Guess Where I'll Be In 24 Hours
Jul. 10th, 2007 12:00 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
talkingsoupListen, people of the world. You've really gotta start trying to get along with each other. It's getting kind of ridiculous.
*ahem*
Oh man, oh MAN, this time tomorrow, I will be sitting in a theater full of crazy, dressed up fans watching as the previews start just before the Harry Potter movie. And not many days after that, I'll be waiting in line at Barnes and Noble to get my copy of the LAST book. Holy. Shit.
For as excited as I am about this movie, it's probably gonna end up sucking, lol. But then again, I find that if you're really anticipating a movie, you end up liking it, even if it does suck ^_^
I'm at work tomorrow as well before the movie, but it's not a problem--12-3, so I'll have more than enough time to get shit done before the movie. As far as I know, I'm gonna show up at 9:30-10. That's about two hours in advance, and that should be alright, right? I mean, about six theaters are going to play it, so really. Even with the utterly insane amount of people who will be there, it should be okay. Mostly it's a parking space I'm worried about.
Hey, it's Pat's birthday right now! Happy Birthday, Pat!!
Dude, I finally managed to watch Dark Side of the Rainbow. What is that, you ask? Dark Side of the Rainbow is the infamous legend where you sync up Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon and The Wizard of Oz. And oh my God it works! Don't think this is just an urban legend--it really does work, so much so that it's kind of creepy. Admittedly, some of it is up for interpretation, and there's a chance I read too much into things, but even that aside, there's a lot of crazy transitions and syncs and stuff. If you guys have the opportunity, you should check it out. Pretty insane. It's relatively easy--if you're gonna play the CD, then start the CD right as the black and white MGM lion roars for the third time. However, if you're playing it on iPod and have the CD ripped as one whole thing--in other words, no gaps between songs--then start it when the MGM lion fades to black.
And along with that, I've got a movie review for you. And by the way, Julie, I thought of you while watching this movie because two of the characters reminded me of you and your adventures with the literateur-types in your Fiction class. XP
The Squid and the Whale
This is a movie about divorce, which means that it's also about all the things that go along with divorce. So it's a movie about melancholy and loss and discovering yourself and failure and writing and about the fading or rising of creativity and about how people deal with life-changing events.
I have to say right now, I didn't understand this movie entirely. I think it's one of those that needs at least two watches in order to fully comprehend it. But you know, I liked it all the same. I didn't love it, but I'd recommend it, definitely. This is one of those movies that people should just watch.
Basically, the father is a literary author and incredibly annal and pretentious. The mother is being suffocated by his insufferable attitude, and is trying to write her own stuff. They have two sons--Walt and Frank. Walt is the older one and is trying to follow in his father's footsteps, which means that he's focusing on the arts, acting pretentious, and pretending to know things about literature that he doesn't. The younger one is Frank, who is trying to eke out his own existence by playing tennis, and wants to someday become a tennis pro, which his father frowns on. Eventually the parents get a divorce, and both sons take sides either with father or mother, while they both try to grow up and explore their worlds.
This movie examines divorce from all angles. Now, I'm not exactly an expert on divorce--my parents are still together, and most people I know have undivorced parents--but from what I do know, this movie painted an incredibly accurate picture. You see in the very beginning how things are beginning to break down in the relationship, and as the movie progresses you see how both of them, at least to some degree, knew for years that things weren't working. You see how the kids react of course--the main focus of the movie is the two boys--and how too often in divorce, kids are forced to take sides and endure passive-aggressive comments or actions from one parent toward the other. The father deals with it by clinging to his children, becoming even more pretentious, and trying harder than ever to pass his attitudes and desires off on his kids. The mother deals with it by trying to start over--writing her own things and dating new people. Walt takes his father's side and tries to ignore what's going on, as he has a new girlfriend who he's trying to figure out if she is up to his father's, and therefore his own standards. And Frank deals with things by taking his mother's side and acting out in really kind of disturbing ways, considering he's about 12 or 13 in the movie.
The more I think about this movie, the more dimensions to it I see. The two boys are trying so hard to impress their parents, and their parents are trying so hard to do the best they can for their kids. The movie also looks at how we as children connect with our parents, and how we connect with one parent differently than we do the other. It's also about how our parents views and beliefs and attitudes rub off on us without us even realizing it.
And this movie is also about literature and artistic creativity and artistic failure. The father after all is a writer and a professor of literature. And he is Literateur to the core. There were points I actually yelled at the TV because he was being such a pretentious jackass, him and Walt, really. The father is frustrated because he hasn't managed to sell a book in ages, and because his wife's story is actually doing well. He judges everyone based on whether he thinks they're "intellectual" or not. Actually, his character made me finally understand why so many people hate people who claim to be "intelligent"--because too often they're thinking of this kind of intelligence, which is really just...I dunno, pretentiousness. Walt is trying so hard to be his father that he talks pretentious and acts like he knows things about literature that he really doesn't. He even takes a Pink Floyd song at one point (Hey You, incidentally) and tries to pass it off as his own, to try and show his parents his depth. And Frank, meanwhile, is rebelliously embracing his "philistine" side because he isn't interested in the arts, no matter how hard his father pushes him. All he wants is to play tennis.
And the ending is a bit random, but utterly brilliant.
In fact there was only one thing I really had a problem with in this movie, and that was the time in which it was set. The movie is supposed to take place in the late Eighties. Honestly, I don't think there was any point in setting it then, since it could have taken place in the Fifties or Nineties or today. They really didn't need to put the time period in at all, and I think the only reason they did it is because Walt was specifically ripping off Pink Floyd's "Hey You," which must have only just come out around then. After all, he certainly wouldn't have gotten away with ripping it off today. But I dunno. I just think they should have left the time period out, but that's mostly a nitpicky thing.
Overall, this is definitely a movie that makes you think. It's a great character study. In that respect, it's a bit like the movie Closer in that at certain points during the movie you just hate all the characters. The problem with Closer was that you hated them through the whole damn movie--but in this movie, there are points where you do like the characters. And that liking/hating is what makes them real, since you can never truly "like" or "hate" everyone all the time. Unless they're Hitler.
It also had amazing camera work and awesome editing. Some of the most amazing transitions I've seen in a movie.
This movie was brilliant. You should all watch it, but don't watch it expecting to come away all happy and bubbly, because this movie is raw and real. And movies that make you think as much as this one usually don't leave anything bubbly.
Score: 8.5 out of 10
No really, Julie, you should watch this one just so you can throw things at the father when he's being all pretentious and "literature is the only form of writing there IS, liek woah." He's like the embodiment of the kids in your class, lol. But don't worry, it's not like the whole movie will piss you off ^_^ It's really quite good.
Ugh, on the writing front...well, there is no writing front. I've told myself that nighttime is official writing time, but the muse is still pretty much on vacation. Little brat. It's not even for not wanting to write. Actually I have all these weird ideas bouncing around in my head. I had the craziest dream the other night that had this thing in it I really want to try and put into a story somewhere (I get a lot of ideas from dreams). There's also ideas bouncing around for that 20's book Julie and I are considering, and for Fox and Mike for the 100 Situations thing, and some things bouncing around for Mot--but I just can't seem to get anything down on paper. Or rather in pixels.
Oh, but I did look at Penta the other day. Actually I read a bit of it over. It's been awhile since I looked at some of those scenes, and I gotta say, I'd forgotten how fucking emotional some of those scenes are. I think that's one of the problems with me and Mot right now--all these things are happening or will be happening, but I don't really feel anything. It was quite a delight to go back to Penta and actually get worried and worked up about the characters' well-being. Now does that mean I have to leave Mot alone for a year and then come back to it? I certainly hope not. But I think maybe that giving it a read-through will help.
And for fuck's sake, I've really got to finish that stupid fic chapter.
*ahem*
Oh man, oh MAN, this time tomorrow, I will be sitting in a theater full of crazy, dressed up fans watching as the previews start just before the Harry Potter movie. And not many days after that, I'll be waiting in line at Barnes and Noble to get my copy of the LAST book. Holy. Shit.
For as excited as I am about this movie, it's probably gonna end up sucking, lol. But then again, I find that if you're really anticipating a movie, you end up liking it, even if it does suck ^_^
I'm at work tomorrow as well before the movie, but it's not a problem--12-3, so I'll have more than enough time to get shit done before the movie. As far as I know, I'm gonna show up at 9:30-10. That's about two hours in advance, and that should be alright, right? I mean, about six theaters are going to play it, so really. Even with the utterly insane amount of people who will be there, it should be okay. Mostly it's a parking space I'm worried about.
Hey, it's Pat's birthday right now! Happy Birthday, Pat!!
Dude, I finally managed to watch Dark Side of the Rainbow. What is that, you ask? Dark Side of the Rainbow is the infamous legend where you sync up Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon and The Wizard of Oz. And oh my God it works! Don't think this is just an urban legend--it really does work, so much so that it's kind of creepy. Admittedly, some of it is up for interpretation, and there's a chance I read too much into things, but even that aside, there's a lot of crazy transitions and syncs and stuff. If you guys have the opportunity, you should check it out. Pretty insane. It's relatively easy--if you're gonna play the CD, then start the CD right as the black and white MGM lion roars for the third time. However, if you're playing it on iPod and have the CD ripped as one whole thing--in other words, no gaps between songs--then start it when the MGM lion fades to black.
And along with that, I've got a movie review for you. And by the way, Julie, I thought of you while watching this movie because two of the characters reminded me of you and your adventures with the literateur-types in your Fiction class. XP
The Squid and the Whale
This is a movie about divorce, which means that it's also about all the things that go along with divorce. So it's a movie about melancholy and loss and discovering yourself and failure and writing and about the fading or rising of creativity and about how people deal with life-changing events.
I have to say right now, I didn't understand this movie entirely. I think it's one of those that needs at least two watches in order to fully comprehend it. But you know, I liked it all the same. I didn't love it, but I'd recommend it, definitely. This is one of those movies that people should just watch.
Basically, the father is a literary author and incredibly annal and pretentious. The mother is being suffocated by his insufferable attitude, and is trying to write her own stuff. They have two sons--Walt and Frank. Walt is the older one and is trying to follow in his father's footsteps, which means that he's focusing on the arts, acting pretentious, and pretending to know things about literature that he doesn't. The younger one is Frank, who is trying to eke out his own existence by playing tennis, and wants to someday become a tennis pro, which his father frowns on. Eventually the parents get a divorce, and both sons take sides either with father or mother, while they both try to grow up and explore their worlds.
This movie examines divorce from all angles. Now, I'm not exactly an expert on divorce--my parents are still together, and most people I know have undivorced parents--but from what I do know, this movie painted an incredibly accurate picture. You see in the very beginning how things are beginning to break down in the relationship, and as the movie progresses you see how both of them, at least to some degree, knew for years that things weren't working. You see how the kids react of course--the main focus of the movie is the two boys--and how too often in divorce, kids are forced to take sides and endure passive-aggressive comments or actions from one parent toward the other. The father deals with it by clinging to his children, becoming even more pretentious, and trying harder than ever to pass his attitudes and desires off on his kids. The mother deals with it by trying to start over--writing her own things and dating new people. Walt takes his father's side and tries to ignore what's going on, as he has a new girlfriend who he's trying to figure out if she is up to his father's, and therefore his own standards. And Frank deals with things by taking his mother's side and acting out in really kind of disturbing ways, considering he's about 12 or 13 in the movie.
The more I think about this movie, the more dimensions to it I see. The two boys are trying so hard to impress their parents, and their parents are trying so hard to do the best they can for their kids. The movie also looks at how we as children connect with our parents, and how we connect with one parent differently than we do the other. It's also about how our parents views and beliefs and attitudes rub off on us without us even realizing it.
And this movie is also about literature and artistic creativity and artistic failure. The father after all is a writer and a professor of literature. And he is Literateur to the core. There were points I actually yelled at the TV because he was being such a pretentious jackass, him and Walt, really. The father is frustrated because he hasn't managed to sell a book in ages, and because his wife's story is actually doing well. He judges everyone based on whether he thinks they're "intellectual" or not. Actually, his character made me finally understand why so many people hate people who claim to be "intelligent"--because too often they're thinking of this kind of intelligence, which is really just...I dunno, pretentiousness. Walt is trying so hard to be his father that he talks pretentious and acts like he knows things about literature that he really doesn't. He even takes a Pink Floyd song at one point (Hey You, incidentally) and tries to pass it off as his own, to try and show his parents his depth. And Frank, meanwhile, is rebelliously embracing his "philistine" side because he isn't interested in the arts, no matter how hard his father pushes him. All he wants is to play tennis.
And the ending is a bit random, but utterly brilliant.
In fact there was only one thing I really had a problem with in this movie, and that was the time in which it was set. The movie is supposed to take place in the late Eighties. Honestly, I don't think there was any point in setting it then, since it could have taken place in the Fifties or Nineties or today. They really didn't need to put the time period in at all, and I think the only reason they did it is because Walt was specifically ripping off Pink Floyd's "Hey You," which must have only just come out around then. After all, he certainly wouldn't have gotten away with ripping it off today. But I dunno. I just think they should have left the time period out, but that's mostly a nitpicky thing.
Overall, this is definitely a movie that makes you think. It's a great character study. In that respect, it's a bit like the movie Closer in that at certain points during the movie you just hate all the characters. The problem with Closer was that you hated them through the whole damn movie--but in this movie, there are points where you do like the characters. And that liking/hating is what makes them real, since you can never truly "like" or "hate" everyone all the time. Unless they're Hitler.
It also had amazing camera work and awesome editing. Some of the most amazing transitions I've seen in a movie.
This movie was brilliant. You should all watch it, but don't watch it expecting to come away all happy and bubbly, because this movie is raw and real. And movies that make you think as much as this one usually don't leave anything bubbly.
Score: 8.5 out of 10
No really, Julie, you should watch this one just so you can throw things at the father when he's being all pretentious and "literature is the only form of writing there IS, liek woah." He's like the embodiment of the kids in your class, lol. But don't worry, it's not like the whole movie will piss you off ^_^ It's really quite good.
Ugh, on the writing front...well, there is no writing front. I've told myself that nighttime is official writing time, but the muse is still pretty much on vacation. Little brat. It's not even for not wanting to write. Actually I have all these weird ideas bouncing around in my head. I had the craziest dream the other night that had this thing in it I really want to try and put into a story somewhere (I get a lot of ideas from dreams). There's also ideas bouncing around for that 20's book Julie and I are considering, and for Fox and Mike for the 100 Situations thing, and some things bouncing around for Mot--but I just can't seem to get anything down on paper. Or rather in pixels.
Oh, but I did look at Penta the other day. Actually I read a bit of it over. It's been awhile since I looked at some of those scenes, and I gotta say, I'd forgotten how fucking emotional some of those scenes are. I think that's one of the problems with me and Mot right now--all these things are happening or will be happening, but I don't really feel anything. It was quite a delight to go back to Penta and actually get worried and worked up about the characters' well-being. Now does that mean I have to leave Mot alone for a year and then come back to it? I certainly hope not. But I think maybe that giving it a read-through will help.
And for fuck's sake, I've really got to finish that stupid fic chapter.
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Date: 2007-07-10 01:35 pm (UTC)(no subject)
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