Sideways
Directed by Alexander Payne, Sideways follows Miles (Paul Giamatti), who is distressed about his lack of success as a novelist, and Jack (Thomas Haden Church), an equally unsuccessful actor with a rapidly approaching wedding. In a last-ditch effort to sow their wild oats, Jack and Miles take off on a final road trip to California's wine country the week prior to Jack's wedding. Both men have goals for the vacation -- Miles wants to turn Jack on to the art of wine tasting, while Jack is concerned with exploiting his last days as a bachelor -- but when the two men come across two fascinating women (Virginia Madsen and Sandra Oh), the duo is forced to examine their morality, and if maturity isn't such a depressing prospect -- or at least, for one of them. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
I'm not entirely sure how I made it so long without seeing this movie because it had every indicator that I would love it with the bonus of being nominated for about a gazillion awards including Best Picture. I rented it awhile ago and K and I started watching it on two different occassions but each time ended up deciding that we didn't want to spend the small amount of time we had together watching a movie. Sometimes it just happens that way, yo. I put it on the Blockbuster online que and it showed up a bit ago and I finally got to finish watching it.
I hated it. I understand how it was artsy and why it was nominated for awards. I thought the actors did exceptional jobs (except I don't really understand why Paul Giametti was so pissed he didn't win. He plays practically the same role in everything. He was superb in Cinderella Man though) and I enjoyed the way the movie looked. I just hated the story. I get that it was two men going through serious life change and questioning the paths they were on and how to move to another one if that was what needed to be done. I didn't like the pace and I didn't like how it ended. I'm not one who needs everything to be neatly tied up at the end of a story, but for heaven's sake, it was frustrating this time around.
So that's about it. If you did like it, totally explain to me why. I feel like I missed something because I really did WANT to like it...
Rating: 1 of 4 stars. The actors did really do good jobs.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Friday, April 27, 2007
friday five, the whiny version
Five Things That Should Not Happen When You Are Sick:
1. A coworker from your second job should not call you and ask you to switch with them so you go in two hours earlier than scheduled, making your shift a 9 hour one.
2. Your boyfriend should not try to start a conversation that is remniscient of picking a fight over something that you have already discussed several times before and isn't even a real issue.
3. You shouldn't have to set an alarm for anything if you've called in legitmately sick that day.
4. If you are a single adult living alone, you shouldn't have to go pick anyone up. The only travelling involved while sick should be you going to the nearest store to get more cold medicine and juice, and maybe stopping at a good Chinese food place to get some hot and sour soup.
5. You should not feel sorry for yourself. You should only be lulling yourself to sleep with NyQuil or movies you've watched a gazillion times.
1. A coworker from your second job should not call you and ask you to switch with them so you go in two hours earlier than scheduled, making your shift a 9 hour one.
2. Your boyfriend should not try to start a conversation that is remniscient of picking a fight over something that you have already discussed several times before and isn't even a real issue.
3. You shouldn't have to set an alarm for anything if you've called in legitmately sick that day.
4. If you are a single adult living alone, you shouldn't have to go pick anyone up. The only travelling involved while sick should be you going to the nearest store to get more cold medicine and juice, and maybe stopping at a good Chinese food place to get some hot and sour soup.
5. You should not feel sorry for yourself. You should only be lulling yourself to sleep with NyQuil or movies you've watched a gazillion times.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
wednesday wonders
Today has actually been kind of a rough day so far, so making my weekly list of happy things is probably a really good idea right now. So here we go:
...heavily toasted waffles with peanut butter and syrup.
...my set of three rings that I've been wearing for a good chunk of time that were stupid cheap that STILL garner compliments often.
...24 hour allergy medicine, courtesy of my parents.
...baked sweet potatoes with a little butter and cinnamon and sugar.
...my boyfriend thinks I'm beautiful and I can tell by the way he looks at me, even if he didn't actually say it as much as he does.
...movies.
...the way the keyboard on my laptop sounds. It's muted clacking which is so much cooler than the clunky (well, clunkier) keyboard at work.
...sushi. Mmm, sushi.
...the whole concept of the library. I love reading new books for free.
...my hair is really long these days. I might chop it all off soon, but for now, it makes me happy that it is so long.
...the pictures from Easter are super cute.
...www.overheardinnewyork.com
...overhearing this exchange myself:
-How was your recent trip to China? I heard you had a problem eating or something?
-Yeah. Let me tell you, that continent is not known for their cuisine.
...blog and MySpace comments.
...making the ridiculously grumpy guy who works in the same department I do genuinely laugh at something.
...conversations about literature.
...having a nice (small, but nice) little savings account that is accuring interest. I'm really proud of myself for socking little bits of money away in there. The little bits do actually add up.
...crazy Texas storms (when there's no tornados anyway).
...two more weekends of overnights to go and then I'm done! Yay!
...blogs. Writing them AND reading them. Maybe especially reading them.
...looking for background pictures for my desktop at work.
...K has suddenly taken to calling me "baby."
...the mini vanilla scones at Starbucks.
...wiping down all the counters at the store on the overnight because you actually get a chance to see them all look brilliantly clean before they get messed up again.
...Will Ferrel.
...trading music.
...my blue reclining arm chair. I told a friend he could have it, and I really meant it, but now I am kind of glad we never got around to him picking it up. If he asks, I'll totally make good on my word, but now I just basically hope he doesn't ask.
...having cosmopolitans with my boyfriend's sister and talking about work.
...Grey's Anatomy.
...making lists.
...heavily toasted waffles with peanut butter and syrup.
...my set of three rings that I've been wearing for a good chunk of time that were stupid cheap that STILL garner compliments often.
...24 hour allergy medicine, courtesy of my parents.
...baked sweet potatoes with a little butter and cinnamon and sugar.
...my boyfriend thinks I'm beautiful and I can tell by the way he looks at me, even if he didn't actually say it as much as he does.
...movies.
...the way the keyboard on my laptop sounds. It's muted clacking which is so much cooler than the clunky (well, clunkier) keyboard at work.
...sushi. Mmm, sushi.
...the whole concept of the library. I love reading new books for free.
...my hair is really long these days. I might chop it all off soon, but for now, it makes me happy that it is so long.
...the pictures from Easter are super cute.
...www.overheardinnewyork.com
...overhearing this exchange myself:
-How was your recent trip to China? I heard you had a problem eating or something?
-Yeah. Let me tell you, that continent is not known for their cuisine.
...blog and MySpace comments.
...making the ridiculously grumpy guy who works in the same department I do genuinely laugh at something.
...conversations about literature.
...having a nice (small, but nice) little savings account that is accuring interest. I'm really proud of myself for socking little bits of money away in there. The little bits do actually add up.
...crazy Texas storms (when there's no tornados anyway).
...two more weekends of overnights to go and then I'm done! Yay!
...blogs. Writing them AND reading them. Maybe especially reading them.
...looking for background pictures for my desktop at work.
...K has suddenly taken to calling me "baby."
...the mini vanilla scones at Starbucks.
...wiping down all the counters at the store on the overnight because you actually get a chance to see them all look brilliantly clean before they get messed up again.
...Will Ferrel.
...trading music.
...my blue reclining arm chair. I told a friend he could have it, and I really meant it, but now I am kind of glad we never got around to him picking it up. If he asks, I'll totally make good on my word, but now I just basically hope he doesn't ask.
...having cosmopolitans with my boyfriend's sister and talking about work.
...Grey's Anatomy.
...making lists.
big open skies
Yesterday, there was a small buzz about what the weather was bringing in. I've lived here for over a year now and am only vaguely used to how things ebb and flow. I grew up with earthquakes, but little to no humidity and basically two seasons. I never had problems with allergies and I didn't have to use nearly as many hair products to make it look good when I actually style it. San Antonio has brought a great many changes into my life.
I looked at www.weather.com because you can get an hour by hour forecast. This crazy storm was supposed to roll in at night, unleash it's fury on the area, and be gone by the morning. In California, this kind of thing was very atypical, as far as my experience goes. There's something about Texas and the big open skies that makes it feel like you can literally watch weather systems move in and out. It honestly may just be that in Riverside, the smog and haze that hangs over everything dillutes the possibility of this experience. Storms are definitely different here though. Thunder and lightening are a rare occurence and certainly never appear the same way they do here. Even just plain rain is different. The skies can open up and flood the streets in twenty minutes and then dissipate back into hot sunshine.
Anyway, this storm was supposed to come in about 9 pm and be gone by the time I was leaving for work, which incidently, is pretty freaking early to me sometimes. I was at Starbucks at 4 pm and saw the sky get grayer and grayer, but it wasn't overwhelmingly storm like. It was still about 80 degrees and not even misty much less rainy.
When I was leaving my store at a little after 9 pm, the lightening had started. As I drove home, the wind picked up. You know those news stories with the reporters standing in the rain and the wind is blowing so hard they can barely stand still? That's what came in by 10 pm. And then at midnight, I woke up because of the lightnening and thunder, even though I have literal blackout drapes in my room. I stood at the window and watched the lightening light up the sky to brighter than daylight because there was so much. It was pouring down rain, and the wind was making it flow sideways from the sky. It. Was. Crazy.
This morning, I went outside to go to work and I wasn't sure what to expect. The sky was beautiful with the broken clouds and the sun just starting to rise making it all different shades of blue. The ground is saturated, but the air is calm.
And that is the difference in weather between Riverside and San Antonio.
I looked at www.weather.com because you can get an hour by hour forecast. This crazy storm was supposed to roll in at night, unleash it's fury on the area, and be gone by the morning. In California, this kind of thing was very atypical, as far as my experience goes. There's something about Texas and the big open skies that makes it feel like you can literally watch weather systems move in and out. It honestly may just be that in Riverside, the smog and haze that hangs over everything dillutes the possibility of this experience. Storms are definitely different here though. Thunder and lightening are a rare occurence and certainly never appear the same way they do here. Even just plain rain is different. The skies can open up and flood the streets in twenty minutes and then dissipate back into hot sunshine.
Anyway, this storm was supposed to come in about 9 pm and be gone by the time I was leaving for work, which incidently, is pretty freaking early to me sometimes. I was at Starbucks at 4 pm and saw the sky get grayer and grayer, but it wasn't overwhelmingly storm like. It was still about 80 degrees and not even misty much less rainy.
When I was leaving my store at a little after 9 pm, the lightening had started. As I drove home, the wind picked up. You know those news stories with the reporters standing in the rain and the wind is blowing so hard they can barely stand still? That's what came in by 10 pm. And then at midnight, I woke up because of the lightnening and thunder, even though I have literal blackout drapes in my room. I stood at the window and watched the lightening light up the sky to brighter than daylight because there was so much. It was pouring down rain, and the wind was making it flow sideways from the sky. It. Was. Crazy.
This morning, I went outside to go to work and I wasn't sure what to expect. The sky was beautiful with the broken clouds and the sun just starting to rise making it all different shades of blue. The ground is saturated, but the air is calm.
And that is the difference in weather between Riverside and San Antonio.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
of utterly no consequence
Something that I love to do with K is swap stories of stuff we did when we were kids or just things from when we were growing up. We have a gazillion similar interests and whatnot, but then there are a lot of things that we've just always done a certain way because that's how it was when we were kids.
This weekend, we got to finally spend some quality time together on Sunday. The window was 12 pm to 3:45 pm. Both of us had late nights and we decided to have breakfast together. At first, it was going to be this elaborate spread of glorious breakfast food but then we realized we'd have to make it all and then clean it all, so we just decided to go for eggs and waffles. Eggo waffles, to be exaxt.
I scrambled up the eggs and then got the appropriate condiments out for the waffles. Butter, powdered sugar, syrup, and peanut butter. Never in my life have I used all of these at the same time, but I'm a big fan of having condiment options. I prefer to have both ketchup and ranch for my french fries if at all possible so I can alternate if I feel so inclined.
Sunday I was thinking about how when I was a little kid, sometimes I'd eat breakfast with my dad before he'd go to work. He'd make us waffles with peanut butter and syrup with milk to drink. I would eat the whole waffle without licking all the peanut butter off of my fork so I had (what seemed like) a giant ball of peanut butter to eat at the very end.
K pretty much had only ever had butter and syrup on his waffles. He gamely tried butter and powdered sugar and found it to be the delight I insisted it would be. And he tried a bite of my waffle with peanut butter and syrup. He liked that too.
When I was telling him that you can eat peanut butter on your pancakes too, I realized, maybe my dad just REALLY LOVES peanut butter.
This weekend, we got to finally spend some quality time together on Sunday. The window was 12 pm to 3:45 pm. Both of us had late nights and we decided to have breakfast together. At first, it was going to be this elaborate spread of glorious breakfast food but then we realized we'd have to make it all and then clean it all, so we just decided to go for eggs and waffles. Eggo waffles, to be exaxt.
I scrambled up the eggs and then got the appropriate condiments out for the waffles. Butter, powdered sugar, syrup, and peanut butter. Never in my life have I used all of these at the same time, but I'm a big fan of having condiment options. I prefer to have both ketchup and ranch for my french fries if at all possible so I can alternate if I feel so inclined.
Sunday I was thinking about how when I was a little kid, sometimes I'd eat breakfast with my dad before he'd go to work. He'd make us waffles with peanut butter and syrup with milk to drink. I would eat the whole waffle without licking all the peanut butter off of my fork so I had (what seemed like) a giant ball of peanut butter to eat at the very end.
K pretty much had only ever had butter and syrup on his waffles. He gamely tried butter and powdered sugar and found it to be the delight I insisted it would be. And he tried a bite of my waffle with peanut butter and syrup. He liked that too.
When I was telling him that you can eat peanut butter on your pancakes too, I realized, maybe my dad just REALLY LOVES peanut butter.
Monday, April 23, 2007
movie review monday: the guardian
The Guardian
A decorated Coast Guard search and rescue specialist still haunted by the death of his teammates during a disastrous mission off the coast of Alaska is charged with the task of training the next generation of Coast Guard rescue swimmers in director Andrew Davis' ocean-bound adventure drama. Ben Randall (Kevin Costner) was the best swimmer of his graduating class, but upon surfacing as the sole survivor of an Alaskan rescue mission attempted during a Category Three storm, his outlook on life has grown increasingly jaded. Now, as hotshot young swimmer Jake Fischer (Ashton Kutcher) arrives at Coast Guard rescue school looking to accomplish something meaningful with his life, he will be forced to endure the rigorous training methods of a man who expects nothing less than the very best in order to become a member of one of the most elite rescue squads on the planet. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
This movie is like the Coast Guard version of Top Gun.
With that said, I really enjoyed it. It was captivating and enthralling and the right amount of heart appeal without making it cheesey or otherwise overdone. I think Kevin Costner and Ashton Kutcher are fantastic and was also delighted to see Dule Hill for a minute or two on screen.
I liked the methods Randall used to train his group of students in an effort to close the gap between training and real life. I enjoyed the struggle and the background of the trainees and how similar Randall and Fischer were. There were a lot of great metaphors through the movie, but seriously, it wasn't cheesey.
I reccommend it, but I'm glad I didn't see it in the theater. It was kind of nice to be reading email and the like while watching.
Rating: 2 of 4 stars
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Friday, April 20, 2007
friday five!
Five Reasons I'm a Barista and Not a Shift Supervisor:
1. I clock in, do what I'm asked to, and clock out, all at my pre-designated times.
2. If someone asks me to come in early or stay late, I can say no and although it might be accepted grudgingly, it will be accepted.
3. No cash handling outside of actual transactions.
4. No key carrying.
5. I don't have to lay out breaks, appease angry customers who ask for a manager, be accountable for labor, and so on and so forth.
Being a barista is fabulous.
1. I clock in, do what I'm asked to, and clock out, all at my pre-designated times.
2. If someone asks me to come in early or stay late, I can say no and although it might be accepted grudgingly, it will be accepted.
3. No cash handling outside of actual transactions.
4. No key carrying.
5. I don't have to lay out breaks, appease angry customers who ask for a manager, be accountable for labor, and so on and so forth.
Being a barista is fabulous.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
wednesday wonders
Ta-da!
...email.
...text messages.
...yesterday I gave a customer I see a lot a hefty discount and she almost cried because of the unexpected happiness. It's just coffee, but stuff like that makes me feel good.
...flowers.
...allergy medication making life bearable again.
...having my own apartment means I know it will be quiet and calm when I get home today and I can take a nap inbetween jobs. A much needed nap.
...a really good conversation with my store manager yesterday. She's pretty awesome, really.
...Starbucks sent in tons of people to Virigina to cover stores, to offer counseling without anyone having to really seek it, and to make sure all employees were accounted for. They opened up the store budgets so that anyone can cover shifts for anyone who needs to not be in the area or just needs some time off. This company has immediately risen to the occassion time and time again during the time I've been employeed and I think it's fairly impressive.
...even though I started off the day pretty grumpy, thinking about Andy saying he had new ways to handle the grumpies made me laugh. At least I've never punched a whole through the wall.
...there are TONS of people to talk about The Office as if they are real people with. It's fantastic. I have gotten several people hooked on it which I am very proud of. Splenda, you're next.
...and for the third Office mention in a row, check these out.
...sometimes I really do think I have a story for everything.
...new music.
...a sushi date with my parents tomorrow night.
...a drive-thru customer said I was the cutest thing he ever heard yesterday.
...little cups of soda instead of several refills on my tumblers.
...even though I still love those tumbler cups.
...salad for lunch, two days in a row baby. Cheaper and healthier.
...voicemail and not being afraid to use it.
...bottled water.
...my truck. It's fabulous even though I'm sure it's going to need a new battery soon. It's name is Alice, by the way, not that I ever refer to it as that.
...K said "Well, I'll be" in genuine conversation the other day and still insists to me that he's not Texan to the core.
...email.
...text messages.
...yesterday I gave a customer I see a lot a hefty discount and she almost cried because of the unexpected happiness. It's just coffee, but stuff like that makes me feel good.
...flowers.
...allergy medication making life bearable again.
...having my own apartment means I know it will be quiet and calm when I get home today and I can take a nap inbetween jobs. A much needed nap.
...a really good conversation with my store manager yesterday. She's pretty awesome, really.
...Starbucks sent in tons of people to Virigina to cover stores, to offer counseling without anyone having to really seek it, and to make sure all employees were accounted for. They opened up the store budgets so that anyone can cover shifts for anyone who needs to not be in the area or just needs some time off. This company has immediately risen to the occassion time and time again during the time I've been employeed and I think it's fairly impressive.
...even though I started off the day pretty grumpy, thinking about Andy saying he had new ways to handle the grumpies made me laugh. At least I've never punched a whole through the wall.
...there are TONS of people to talk about The Office as if they are real people with. It's fantastic. I have gotten several people hooked on it which I am very proud of. Splenda, you're next.
...and for the third Office mention in a row, check these out.
...sometimes I really do think I have a story for everything.
...new music.
...a sushi date with my parents tomorrow night.
...a drive-thru customer said I was the cutest thing he ever heard yesterday.
...little cups of soda instead of several refills on my tumblers.
...even though I still love those tumbler cups.
...salad for lunch, two days in a row baby. Cheaper and healthier.
...voicemail and not being afraid to use it.
...bottled water.
...my truck. It's fabulous even though I'm sure it's going to need a new battery soon. It's name is Alice, by the way, not that I ever refer to it as that.
...K said "Well, I'll be" in genuine conversation the other day and still insists to me that he's not Texan to the core.
just thinking
Yesterday I tried to write a blog about the Virginia Tech shootings and stuff it made me think about, but I couldn't get the words out right. So all I want to say is that I'm basically currently avoiding news coverage. I want to read people's blogs and just get their personal experiences and whatnot, but I was quickly deterred by the fact every other comment posted on the one blog I did see was a request from some sort of reporter for an interview. We live in a weird age of communication, where we can instantly know what's going on, but nothing is left sacred by the same exact mechanism. I don't know how I feel about this exactly.
Last night while I was at Starbucks, I heard a gunshot. It made my heart stand still for a second. Of course that sound in a city-ish area is going to make you pause, but even more so after the massacre that happened in what everyone basically designated as a safe area. It turns out they were shooting flares into the trees and whatnot across the street because of all the retarded grackles. It's times like these when I wonder if anyone else around me thinks the way I do and wonders if anyone considered the timing of such an undertaking.
Last night while I was at Starbucks, I heard a gunshot. It made my heart stand still for a second. Of course that sound in a city-ish area is going to make you pause, but even more so after the massacre that happened in what everyone basically designated as a safe area. It turns out they were shooting flares into the trees and whatnot across the street because of all the retarded grackles. It's times like these when I wonder if anyone else around me thinks the way I do and wonders if anyone considered the timing of such an undertaking.
Monday, April 16, 2007
me and k!
My parents took this picture of us on Easter at this random spot kind of near their house.
I need to loose some serious weight and have taken some steps towards that recently but I think this picture is pretty good anyway. Curly hair everywhere!
I need to loose some serious weight and have taken some steps towards that recently but I think this picture is pretty good anyway. Curly hair everywhere!
movie review monday: 300
300
Full Synopsis:
Sin City author Frank Miller's sweeping take on the historic Battle of Thermopylae comes to the screen courtesy of Dawn of the Dead director Zack Snyder. Gerard Butler stars as Spartan King Leonidas and Lena Headey plays Queen Gorgo. The massive army of the Persian Empire is sweeping across the globe, crushing every force that dares stand in its path. When a Persian envoy arrives in Sparta offering King Leonidas power over all of Greece if he will only bow to the will of the all powerful Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro), the strong-willed leader assembles a small army comprised of his empire's best fighters and marches off to battle. Though they have virtually no hope of defeating Xerxes' intimidating battalion, Leonidas' men soldier on, intent on letting it be known they will bow to no man but their king. Meanwhile, back in Sparta, the loyal Queen Gorgo attempts to convince both the skeptical council and the devious Theron (Dominic West) to send more troops despite the fact that many view Leonidas' unsanctioned war march as a serious transgression. As Xerxes' fearsome "immortals" draw near, a few noble Greeks vow to assist the Spartans on the battlefield. When King Leonidas and his 300 Spartan warriors fell to the overwhelming Persian army at the Battle of Thermopylae, the fearless actions of the noble fighters inspired all of Greece to stand up against their Persian enemy and wage the battle that would ultimately give birth to the modern concept of democracy. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
I saw a preview for this movie several times in the theater. I had absolutely no interest in seeing it because the previews made it look so fake. A lot of it was filmed in front of a green screen and about a gazillion special effects were added in after filming was done. The previews had almost a video game feel. Better than a video game because it looked like real people, but they didn't REALLY look like real people. I also had no interest in it because I already knew the story of Sparta and whatnot. Not in great detail, but enough to know how the movie ended.
However, it was K's turn to pick a movie and this is what he wanted to see. It was actually a tie between this and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, but we decided this was the more important choice for actually seeing in the theater.
And I loved it. Apocalypto is still the most bad ass movie I've ever seen, but this is in the top five if not just plain number two. It was gory and there were sexual situations, but it was a wonderfully done movie. Strangely enough, that fake looking thing that had turned me off in the previews didn't happen at all. It was a beautiful movie. I was captivated by the story line but also just by how it looked.
If I was a ruler of anything, I hope I would be like King Leonidas. I also loved Queen Gorgo and one specific scene that I don't necessarily want to give away because it was just that great.
I reccommend this movie if you're okay with some gore and disgusting visuals (the wall they build is particularly gross but I see the point/reasoning behind it). The story is great even when you already know how it will end and you will leave all pumped up and ready to take things on.
Rating: 3 of 4 stars.
Full Synopsis:
Sin City author Frank Miller's sweeping take on the historic Battle of Thermopylae comes to the screen courtesy of Dawn of the Dead director Zack Snyder. Gerard Butler stars as Spartan King Leonidas and Lena Headey plays Queen Gorgo. The massive army of the Persian Empire is sweeping across the globe, crushing every force that dares stand in its path. When a Persian envoy arrives in Sparta offering King Leonidas power over all of Greece if he will only bow to the will of the all powerful Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro), the strong-willed leader assembles a small army comprised of his empire's best fighters and marches off to battle. Though they have virtually no hope of defeating Xerxes' intimidating battalion, Leonidas' men soldier on, intent on letting it be known they will bow to no man but their king. Meanwhile, back in Sparta, the loyal Queen Gorgo attempts to convince both the skeptical council and the devious Theron (Dominic West) to send more troops despite the fact that many view Leonidas' unsanctioned war march as a serious transgression. As Xerxes' fearsome "immortals" draw near, a few noble Greeks vow to assist the Spartans on the battlefield. When King Leonidas and his 300 Spartan warriors fell to the overwhelming Persian army at the Battle of Thermopylae, the fearless actions of the noble fighters inspired all of Greece to stand up against their Persian enemy and wage the battle that would ultimately give birth to the modern concept of democracy. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
I saw a preview for this movie several times in the theater. I had absolutely no interest in seeing it because the previews made it look so fake. A lot of it was filmed in front of a green screen and about a gazillion special effects were added in after filming was done. The previews had almost a video game feel. Better than a video game because it looked like real people, but they didn't REALLY look like real people. I also had no interest in it because I already knew the story of Sparta and whatnot. Not in great detail, but enough to know how the movie ended.
However, it was K's turn to pick a movie and this is what he wanted to see. It was actually a tie between this and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, but we decided this was the more important choice for actually seeing in the theater.
And I loved it. Apocalypto is still the most bad ass movie I've ever seen, but this is in the top five if not just plain number two. It was gory and there were sexual situations, but it was a wonderfully done movie. Strangely enough, that fake looking thing that had turned me off in the previews didn't happen at all. It was a beautiful movie. I was captivated by the story line but also just by how it looked.
If I was a ruler of anything, I hope I would be like King Leonidas. I also loved Queen Gorgo and one specific scene that I don't necessarily want to give away because it was just that great.
I reccommend this movie if you're okay with some gore and disgusting visuals (the wall they build is particularly gross but I see the point/reasoning behind it). The story is great even when you already know how it will end and you will leave all pumped up and ready to take things on.
Rating: 3 of 4 stars.
Friday, April 13, 2007
five reasons why i am excited to watch last night's episode of the office again tonight with k
1. Andy's back! Or should I say Drew?
2. Dwight: Jim, could you please inform Andy Bernard that he is being shunned?
Jim: Andy, Dwight says welcome back, and he could use a hug.
Dwight: Okay, tell him that that’s not true.
Jim: Dwight says that he actually doesn’t know one single fact about bear attacks.
Dwight: Okay, no, Jim, tell him bears can climb faster than they can run. Jim! Tell him!
Jim: Andy … nah, that’s too far.
Dwight: Damn you.
3. The betting on EVERYTHING. I so wish I had a group of cool office people I worked with that we could wander around doing this.
4. Michael called Dwight an ignorant slut. Twice.
5. That show literally makes me laugh out loud every single time I watch an episode. Even the ones I've seen a million times still make me laugh. Last night's episode made me laugh out loud at least three times. That's pretty kickass for a 30 minute show.
2. Dwight: Jim, could you please inform Andy Bernard that he is being shunned?
Jim: Andy, Dwight says welcome back, and he could use a hug.
Dwight: Okay, tell him that that’s not true.
Jim: Dwight says that he actually doesn’t know one single fact about bear attacks.
Dwight: Okay, no, Jim, tell him bears can climb faster than they can run. Jim! Tell him!
Jim: Andy … nah, that’s too far.
Dwight: Damn you.
3. The betting on EVERYTHING. I so wish I had a group of cool office people I worked with that we could wander around doing this.
4. Michael called Dwight an ignorant slut. Twice.
5. That show literally makes me laugh out loud every single time I watch an episode. Even the ones I've seen a million times still make me laugh. Last night's episode made me laugh out loud at least three times. That's pretty kickass for a 30 minute show.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
wednesday wonders, the thursday edition :)
There's still happy things this week, even if I skipped putting on makeup today because I sneezed forty times in the twenty minutes I was awake at my apartment before coming to work today. Ew, snot, gross. :)
...Yesterday I got my tips without even having to ask for them!
...My tips were three dollars more than what I was hoping for!
...I left my phone in an accessible place and a coworker took a funny picture of himself and set it as my background. I didn't change it yesterday and somehow keep forgetting so every time I open up my phone it makes me laugh. I am totally going to do that to someone soon.
...grande two pump mocha two pump vanilla non fat no whip hot chocolate. It took me awhile, but I finally figured out the exact appropriate ratio of syrup to milk to make a delightful cup of hot chocolate from Starbucks. The mocha isn't sweet at all and it's kind of thick so I'm not a very big fan. But this, this is good.
...Easter was a very fun day.
...my niece told me about her job where she'll get paid five dollars and five pennies. Who knows how she got any of that in her head at all.
...my nephew has this new things where he growl speaks things. I want to teach him how to say "(insert his name here) smash!" in that voice because I think that would be HILARIOUS coming from a two year old boy.
...I started eating a lot better this week and it's not nearly as hard as I was making out to be in my head.
...making lists of things. Things to do, things to buy, things I was thinking about, etc. I just like lists.
...a phone call from my friend Splenda.
...I made peanut butter cookies and K said it had been ages and ages since the last time he had peanut butter cookies. I said "Stick with me, and you'll have this in your life way more often." He laughed ridiculously hard.
...I had a realization that something that had been annoying me is not nearly as awful as I had been giving it credit for.
...cold medicine. Especially Nyquil.
...getting a paycheck every week. Even though this isn't permanent, it's fairly awesome for the time being.
...new episodes of The Office last week AND tonight!
...last week's episode of The Office was HILARIOUS. With the pepper spray and the accidental cross-dressing and the trip to New York City and the more pepper spray.
...you can personalize your google.com homepage. I have a beach scene that changes through the day with the time and weather!
...the picture at this link being the most awesome and disgusting thing ever all at the same time.
...regular readers. Say hi sometime!
...good movies.
...Dr. Mario.
...pomegranate and strawberry frappuccinos.
...personal calls while at work.
...getting a tax return. I never ever get as much back as my friends do, but a hundred bucks is a hundred bucks.
...my parent's gorgeous house is also very homey. I want to steal away and borrow their bath tub again soon.
...popcorn.
...my mom still turning into Mama Bear at the drop of a hat even though I am 26 years old.
...paperclips.
...orange juice.
...Yesterday I got my tips without even having to ask for them!
...My tips were three dollars more than what I was hoping for!
...I left my phone in an accessible place and a coworker took a funny picture of himself and set it as my background. I didn't change it yesterday and somehow keep forgetting so every time I open up my phone it makes me laugh. I am totally going to do that to someone soon.
...grande two pump mocha two pump vanilla non fat no whip hot chocolate. It took me awhile, but I finally figured out the exact appropriate ratio of syrup to milk to make a delightful cup of hot chocolate from Starbucks. The mocha isn't sweet at all and it's kind of thick so I'm not a very big fan. But this, this is good.
...Easter was a very fun day.
...my niece told me about her job where she'll get paid five dollars and five pennies. Who knows how she got any of that in her head at all.
...my nephew has this new things where he growl speaks things. I want to teach him how to say "(insert his name here) smash!" in that voice because I think that would be HILARIOUS coming from a two year old boy.
...I started eating a lot better this week and it's not nearly as hard as I was making out to be in my head.
...making lists of things. Things to do, things to buy, things I was thinking about, etc. I just like lists.
...a phone call from my friend Splenda.
...I made peanut butter cookies and K said it had been ages and ages since the last time he had peanut butter cookies. I said "Stick with me, and you'll have this in your life way more often." He laughed ridiculously hard.
...I had a realization that something that had been annoying me is not nearly as awful as I had been giving it credit for.
...cold medicine. Especially Nyquil.
...getting a paycheck every week. Even though this isn't permanent, it's fairly awesome for the time being.
...new episodes of The Office last week AND tonight!
...last week's episode of The Office was HILARIOUS. With the pepper spray and the accidental cross-dressing and the trip to New York City and the more pepper spray.
...you can personalize your google.com homepage. I have a beach scene that changes through the day with the time and weather!
...the picture at this link being the most awesome and disgusting thing ever all at the same time.
...regular readers. Say hi sometime!
...good movies.
...Dr. Mario.
...pomegranate and strawberry frappuccinos.
...personal calls while at work.
...getting a tax return. I never ever get as much back as my friends do, but a hundred bucks is a hundred bucks.
...my parent's gorgeous house is also very homey. I want to steal away and borrow their bath tub again soon.
...popcorn.
...my mom still turning into Mama Bear at the drop of a hat even though I am 26 years old.
...paperclips.
...orange juice.
i don't know how to tell the difference between a cold and allergies
I took some time off from work this week to nurse a cold and have been a little behind in everything. Including this blog, obviously. So I'll see what I can do to catch up on things.
I have a sinus headache that kind of dulls down but doesn't actually go away and this amazing amount of snot in my head. How do you know when it's allergies and do you treat things differently? Do allergies make you feel like crap like a cold does? The thing about the two jobs and the boyfriend means I'm kind of just so tired all of the time that I can't tell the difference between being tired from my schedule and being tired because I'm getting sick. Then when you add various sources of stresses into the mix, I'm basically at a loss. I have distinct plans on alleviating this madness in about three weeks. Until then though, I think I might just be saying no a lot more.
No to staying up past 10:30 pm, no to hanging out in the spare hour minutes I have inbetween things, no to not cooking nutritionally valuable foods, no to picking up shifts at the coffee shop, etc. I'm not angry or anything, I'm really not. I'm just weary of feeling like crap and I think it's okay to just put myself first for a little while. I really suck at that in the long term. It usually happens in spurts of fiestiness or as a last resort when I cannot figure out why I'm so under the weather. So, here we are.
I have a sinus headache that kind of dulls down but doesn't actually go away and this amazing amount of snot in my head. How do you know when it's allergies and do you treat things differently? Do allergies make you feel like crap like a cold does? The thing about the two jobs and the boyfriend means I'm kind of just so tired all of the time that I can't tell the difference between being tired from my schedule and being tired because I'm getting sick. Then when you add various sources of stresses into the mix, I'm basically at a loss. I have distinct plans on alleviating this madness in about three weeks. Until then though, I think I might just be saying no a lot more.
No to staying up past 10:30 pm, no to hanging out in the spare hour minutes I have inbetween things, no to not cooking nutritionally valuable foods, no to picking up shifts at the coffee shop, etc. I'm not angry or anything, I'm really not. I'm just weary of feeling like crap and I think it's okay to just put myself first for a little while. I really suck at that in the long term. It usually happens in spurts of fiestiness or as a last resort when I cannot figure out why I'm so under the weather. So, here we are.
Friday, April 6, 2007
friday five!
Five Addictions That Were Especially Prevelant This Week:
1. www.lifehacker.comIt's the coolest, nerdiest, most helpful web site EVER. I go there twenty times a day. Okay, that's a lie. But only because I subscribed to it on www.bloglines.com and it is in bold every time it's updated.
2. Eating edamame at work. My dad gave me a GIANT bag that has all these smaller portions in pouches. It's all frozen, but all you have to do is thaw and eat, so I put a back in the fridge overnight and then take it to work and get salt from the cafeteria and eat edamame while I do my data entry assignments. It's awesome because it's pretty good for you (mmm, fiber and protein) and at the very least a much better snack than anything I can get out of the vending machine here.
3. Ice water from Starbucks. A venti cup with a ton of ice is ridiculously great to me. This isn't particularly new, but I realized how much I was drinking this week when last night I walked around my apartment cleaning things up and there were several cups here and there. I drink a few glasses while actually at work and then always fill it up before I leave. And almost every time I go to K's store, I get a venti ice water there too. It's triple filtered water and it's another addiction I have that is actually good for me. This one is good for me with no strings attached.
4. Watching television shows on dvd. I cannot watch one episode at a time, I have to watch one and then at least part of another episode if not just all the episodes on a particular disc. Lately it's been Six Feet Under. I finally finished the series, so if anyone wants to talk about how crazy it was, don't hesitate to hit me up.
5. Reading. For awhile I got a little out of the habit of reading, but I am pretty much back to being a book glutton. I finished three this week. I feel rich when I have a little stack of books to read. I love going to Barnes and Noble or amazon.com and writing down titles and authors and requesting them at the library if I can't find them on the shelves. I like checking out books because they have cool covers or because I heard the author talking on tv or just because even though I've read it twenty times, it's been awhile since the last time I read it. I love getting lost in a book or being challenged by a premise even if the work is a piece of fiction. I love reading. Maybe more writing is soon to follow.
1. www.lifehacker.comIt's the coolest, nerdiest, most helpful web site EVER. I go there twenty times a day. Okay, that's a lie. But only because I subscribed to it on www.bloglines.com and it is in bold every time it's updated.
2. Eating edamame at work. My dad gave me a GIANT bag that has all these smaller portions in pouches. It's all frozen, but all you have to do is thaw and eat, so I put a back in the fridge overnight and then take it to work and get salt from the cafeteria and eat edamame while I do my data entry assignments. It's awesome because it's pretty good for you (mmm, fiber and protein) and at the very least a much better snack than anything I can get out of the vending machine here.
3. Ice water from Starbucks. A venti cup with a ton of ice is ridiculously great to me. This isn't particularly new, but I realized how much I was drinking this week when last night I walked around my apartment cleaning things up and there were several cups here and there. I drink a few glasses while actually at work and then always fill it up before I leave. And almost every time I go to K's store, I get a venti ice water there too. It's triple filtered water and it's another addiction I have that is actually good for me. This one is good for me with no strings attached.
4. Watching television shows on dvd. I cannot watch one episode at a time, I have to watch one and then at least part of another episode if not just all the episodes on a particular disc. Lately it's been Six Feet Under. I finally finished the series, so if anyone wants to talk about how crazy it was, don't hesitate to hit me up.
5. Reading. For awhile I got a little out of the habit of reading, but I am pretty much back to being a book glutton. I finished three this week. I feel rich when I have a little stack of books to read. I love going to Barnes and Noble or amazon.com and writing down titles and authors and requesting them at the library if I can't find them on the shelves. I like checking out books because they have cool covers or because I heard the author talking on tv or just because even though I've read it twenty times, it's been awhile since the last time I read it. I love getting lost in a book or being challenged by a premise even if the work is a piece of fiction. I love reading. Maybe more writing is soon to follow.
Thursday, April 5, 2007
just thinking
I've been thinking about death a lot lately. Not because I'm depressed or because anyone close to me has died recently. Mostly it's been on my mind because I've been watching Six Feet Under. Someone dies in every episode. Often the dead person appears to the living and interacts with them in some way or another. It's a brilliant show for the way it displays how people's imaginations can work for and against them, but also completely bizarre and most likely offensive to the majority of the people who at least read this blog.
I'm not particularly afraid to die. What I do worry about is what kind of impact that will have (or not have) on those around me. Sometimes when I'm writing in my journals I worry about the wrong person finding them and reading them. Some of them have written records of things I don't want anyone else to know about ever. Some of them have things I wrote in anger as I vented to myself about a situation or why a person was frustrating me and I don't really want them to know I ever thought those kinds of things about them. Some of them make me look retarded because of the things I wrote about being worried by and how ridiculously dramatic I can be. So I worry who is going to come across them and read every word. But I keep writing...
Today one of my co-workers was telling me how ovarian cancer runs in her family so she had her DNA tested to see if she had the genetic marker that would put her in the category of being 90% likely to get cancer instead of the general population 3% likely to get cancer. She was telling me how I should do it too because my insurance would totally cover it. My grandfather had Alzheimer's and sometimes I worry about my dad having it too later on. If he has it, I wonder how likely I am to have it. I know they are getting closer and closer to being able to predict who will have Alzheimer's.
I don't think I want to do the tests that show what kind of predisposition I have. They aren't 100% accurate which means I could easily be lulled into a false sense of security or be panicked into thinking I will die of a specific cancer or have some sort of other degenerative disease. I think I would rather do my best to be healthy, do the medical screening everyone is supposed to do to be on top of things, and make decisions from there.
Mostly I just hope I can live my life in a way that I will be missed when I am gone and that I will have as few regrets as possible.
I'm not particularly afraid to die. What I do worry about is what kind of impact that will have (or not have) on those around me. Sometimes when I'm writing in my journals I worry about the wrong person finding them and reading them. Some of them have written records of things I don't want anyone else to know about ever. Some of them have things I wrote in anger as I vented to myself about a situation or why a person was frustrating me and I don't really want them to know I ever thought those kinds of things about them. Some of them make me look retarded because of the things I wrote about being worried by and how ridiculously dramatic I can be. So I worry who is going to come across them and read every word. But I keep writing...
Today one of my co-workers was telling me how ovarian cancer runs in her family so she had her DNA tested to see if she had the genetic marker that would put her in the category of being 90% likely to get cancer instead of the general population 3% likely to get cancer. She was telling me how I should do it too because my insurance would totally cover it. My grandfather had Alzheimer's and sometimes I worry about my dad having it too later on. If he has it, I wonder how likely I am to have it. I know they are getting closer and closer to being able to predict who will have Alzheimer's.
I don't think I want to do the tests that show what kind of predisposition I have. They aren't 100% accurate which means I could easily be lulled into a false sense of security or be panicked into thinking I will die of a specific cancer or have some sort of other degenerative disease. I think I would rather do my best to be healthy, do the medical screening everyone is supposed to do to be on top of things, and make decisions from there.
Mostly I just hope I can live my life in a way that I will be missed when I am gone and that I will have as few regrets as possible.
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
wednesday wonders
I am so flipping tired! I haven't caught up yet from my weekend and I'm running out of time to catch up before the next one starts! Bleh. Anyway, here's my list!
...Microsoft Outlook at work. Email and a calendar that I can print out a copy for myself and for K every week. It's awesomely nerdy.
...a giant bag of edamame from my parents that is seperated into pouches perfect for taking to work and snacking on while doing my data entry.
...naps.
...naps with K.
...the process of finding a job that allows me to change my schedule is not as daunting as I had thought it would be.
...ice water.
...my dad getting really excited about how K still loves Lost. My mom gave up on it and I pretty much have to, but he's got a glimmer of hope of watching it with K.
...the Discovery channel show Planet Earth.
...personal emails. I get like 30 message a day but most of it is spam. So the personal ones super rock.
...I know I've said this a million times, but I LOVE MY BED. And it's not even a super duper mattress! It's just comfortable and mine and I love it.
...contacts. If I have to have lousy vision, at least I can correct it and still wear sunglasses.
...candles.
...watching Six Feet Under on dvd. I got the last disc today and I am stoked but also sad. There are no more episodes after this disc.
...the song Hallelujah sung by kd lang. I didn't think there was anyone who could sing it better than Jeff Buckley, but she's giving him a run for his money that's for sure.
...sharing music with friends.
...The Office. Only thing better is a marathon and GUESS WHAT! There was a marathon last week.
...stars.
...wandering around Barnes and Noble for a little bit.
...going to the movies with my boyfriend.
...hanging out with Andrew! He moved to Wisconsin but came back for spring break this week. Yay for omelettes at IHOP!
...old school Nintendo.
...a new toothbrush.
...I like my hair.
...apple bodywash.
...Microsoft Outlook at work. Email and a calendar that I can print out a copy for myself and for K every week. It's awesomely nerdy.
...a giant bag of edamame from my parents that is seperated into pouches perfect for taking to work and snacking on while doing my data entry.
...naps.
...naps with K.
...the process of finding a job that allows me to change my schedule is not as daunting as I had thought it would be.
...ice water.
...my dad getting really excited about how K still loves Lost. My mom gave up on it and I pretty much have to, but he's got a glimmer of hope of watching it with K.
...the Discovery channel show Planet Earth.
...personal emails. I get like 30 message a day but most of it is spam. So the personal ones super rock.
...I know I've said this a million times, but I LOVE MY BED. And it's not even a super duper mattress! It's just comfortable and mine and I love it.
...contacts. If I have to have lousy vision, at least I can correct it and still wear sunglasses.
...candles.
...watching Six Feet Under on dvd. I got the last disc today and I am stoked but also sad. There are no more episodes after this disc.
...the song Hallelujah sung by kd lang. I didn't think there was anyone who could sing it better than Jeff Buckley, but she's giving him a run for his money that's for sure.
...sharing music with friends.
...The Office. Only thing better is a marathon and GUESS WHAT! There was a marathon last week.
...stars.
...wandering around Barnes and Noble for a little bit.
...going to the movies with my boyfriend.
...hanging out with Andrew! He moved to Wisconsin but came back for spring break this week. Yay for omelettes at IHOP!
...old school Nintendo.
...a new toothbrush.
...I like my hair.
...apple bodywash.
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
part of my day yesterday
K and I are both night owls by nature. We'd each prefer to stay up most of the night and then sleep in heartily the next day. He often gets to do this because of his work schedule. My work schedule, however, does not afford me this opportunity. I have to get up at 5:25 am in order to get ready for work and leave at a time that gets me just ahead of the mass transit of people going to work at the seventeen hospitals by the one where I work. My magic bed time hour, where I actually wake up on my own just before my alarm clock is 10 pm. If I can be in bed at 10 and either reading or watching tv until 10:30 pm, I'm golden. This doesn't really happen very much.
First of all, it kind of pains me to be in bed just as the double digits are starting. Secondly and probably more influential, the days that K and I do get to spend time together often go into the night and it is just too hard to have to end whatever we're doing by then. So I usually give myself a curfew of 11 pm, by which I mean that's about when we leave for me to take him home. Thirdly, sometimes I work at Starbucks during the week. I changed my availability so I'm off by 10 pm, but that means I'm not actually home until 10:15 or 10:30 pm. That hasn't been happening as much because I've been working more just on the weekends, but it can be a factor.
Yesterday, K covered a shift for someone who tried everywhere to get someone to come in for her because she was having daycare issues. He got a ride at 6 am and worked from 6 something until 3 something pm. I met up with him after I was done with my working and whatnot. We went to a bar with some people and hung out and they played a couple of games of pool. Then he and I went to my apartment to get something to eat. We napped while the frozen pizza baked (I'm an amazing girlfriend, obviously, for inviting him over for a dinner of frozen goods). I let him sleep awhile longer and then we ate.
Then we resumed our positions on my bed. Except I wasn't nearly as tired as he was, so we got all curled up together and I finished the book I had been reading while he slept. I drifted off for awhile and he woke me up with a kiss on the cheek and we laid there and talked for awhile until he had to go back to work.
I have a lot of fun with K when we do stuff that has us out all day. Going to the movies, hanging out with my parents, spending time with his family, playing pool, so on and so forth. But sometimes it's just really nice to be still with him for awhile. When naptime is involved, I get the added bonus of my pillow smelling like him and that's a lovely thing to go to sleep to when I do go to bed at an hour that I still think is kind of early regardless of the necessity.
First of all, it kind of pains me to be in bed just as the double digits are starting. Secondly and probably more influential, the days that K and I do get to spend time together often go into the night and it is just too hard to have to end whatever we're doing by then. So I usually give myself a curfew of 11 pm, by which I mean that's about when we leave for me to take him home. Thirdly, sometimes I work at Starbucks during the week. I changed my availability so I'm off by 10 pm, but that means I'm not actually home until 10:15 or 10:30 pm. That hasn't been happening as much because I've been working more just on the weekends, but it can be a factor.
Yesterday, K covered a shift for someone who tried everywhere to get someone to come in for her because she was having daycare issues. He got a ride at 6 am and worked from 6 something until 3 something pm. I met up with him after I was done with my working and whatnot. We went to a bar with some people and hung out and they played a couple of games of pool. Then he and I went to my apartment to get something to eat. We napped while the frozen pizza baked (I'm an amazing girlfriend, obviously, for inviting him over for a dinner of frozen goods). I let him sleep awhile longer and then we ate.
Then we resumed our positions on my bed. Except I wasn't nearly as tired as he was, so we got all curled up together and I finished the book I had been reading while he slept. I drifted off for awhile and he woke me up with a kiss on the cheek and we laid there and talked for awhile until he had to go back to work.
I have a lot of fun with K when we do stuff that has us out all day. Going to the movies, hanging out with my parents, spending time with his family, playing pool, so on and so forth. But sometimes it's just really nice to be still with him for awhile. When naptime is involved, I get the added bonus of my pillow smelling like him and that's a lovely thing to go to sleep to when I do go to bed at an hour that I still think is kind of early regardless of the necessity.
Monday, April 2, 2007
movie review monday: the prestige
The Prestige
Obsession, jealousy, and deceit define the tense relationship shared between two turn-of-the-century magicians in Memento and Batman Begins director Christopher Nolan's dizzying tale of sleight of hand. Rupert Angier (Hugh Jackman) and Alfred Borden (Christian Bale) are London-based magicians of the highest order, both blessed with spectacular powers of deception and both cursed with unrelenting envy for one another's skills. When Alfred performs an awe-inspiring trick for which there seems no logical explanation, the friendly competition shared between the pair turns to deadly rivalry as the enraged Rupert determines to uncover his rival's deepest secrets. In the world of illusion, however, nothing is ever quite as it seems, and the rules of the physical world simply don't apply. Now, as bitter competition quickly begins to consume the souls of both performers, the firestorm birthed by their anger threatens to consume all who surround them. Michael Caine, Scarlett Johansson, and David Bowie co-star in a feature that finds director/screenwriter Nolan reuniting with brother and Memento story author Jonathan Nolan to adapt author Christopher Priest's original novel. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Running Time: 130 mins
If you are a fan of movies with twists and turns, see this one immediately. I mean, if you're like me and loved Ocean's 11, The Sting, Matchstick Men, The Usual Suspects, The Sixth Sense, so on and so forth, why haven't you seen this one yet? It's not a cool crime movie but it is a well done magic movie that is worth the time. I saw The Illusionist as well, but it was only okay and I figured it out at the beginning and then was basically bored through the rest of the movie.
It's about magic tricks and friendly competition turining into a rivalry. How far is too far when trying to get even or one up someone else? Can you believe what you see with your own eyes?
This was a great ensemble, written well, and carried out deliciously. The only real drawback is that it's kind of long. See it and tell me what you think!
Rating: 3 of 4 stars
Obsession, jealousy, and deceit define the tense relationship shared between two turn-of-the-century magicians in Memento and Batman Begins director Christopher Nolan's dizzying tale of sleight of hand. Rupert Angier (Hugh Jackman) and Alfred Borden (Christian Bale) are London-based magicians of the highest order, both blessed with spectacular powers of deception and both cursed with unrelenting envy for one another's skills. When Alfred performs an awe-inspiring trick for which there seems no logical explanation, the friendly competition shared between the pair turns to deadly rivalry as the enraged Rupert determines to uncover his rival's deepest secrets. In the world of illusion, however, nothing is ever quite as it seems, and the rules of the physical world simply don't apply. Now, as bitter competition quickly begins to consume the souls of both performers, the firestorm birthed by their anger threatens to consume all who surround them. Michael Caine, Scarlett Johansson, and David Bowie co-star in a feature that finds director/screenwriter Nolan reuniting with brother and Memento story author Jonathan Nolan to adapt author Christopher Priest's original novel. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Running Time: 130 mins
If you are a fan of movies with twists and turns, see this one immediately. I mean, if you're like me and loved Ocean's 11, The Sting, Matchstick Men, The Usual Suspects, The Sixth Sense, so on and so forth, why haven't you seen this one yet? It's not a cool crime movie but it is a well done magic movie that is worth the time. I saw The Illusionist as well, but it was only okay and I figured it out at the beginning and then was basically bored through the rest of the movie.
It's about magic tricks and friendly competition turining into a rivalry. How far is too far when trying to get even or one up someone else? Can you believe what you see with your own eyes?
This was a great ensemble, written well, and carried out deliciously. The only real drawback is that it's kind of long. See it and tell me what you think!
Rating: 3 of 4 stars
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