What I Do

"It's not who I am underneath, but what I do that defines me."

~ Batman Begins, Christopher Nolan

I have been thinking about this post for a while and still don't think that I have a good way of discussing my thoughts on the horrible shooting in Aurora, Colorado this past Friday.  What is there to say other than to wish love, sympathy, and healing to the victims and their families?  Because I cannot possibly begin to understand what they are going through.  So here it is, heartfelt despite its unoriginality: you all are in my thoughts and prayers.

I have been watching as nearly every news program on television procedes to report and cover this story to death (pardon the wording).  Searching for some new take on the event, I found myself considering this quote from the first of Christopher Nolan's three Batman films.  This is the exact lens through which the nation is judging the shooter, James Holmes.  He will no longer be remembered as that quite kid who liked video games, or the graduate student studying neuroscience, but as a crazy, blood thirsty shooter.  Not that I am arguing for his innocence or general goodness, but I think its tragic and fairly selfish that this is what he decided he wanted to be remembered by.  Holmes will be forever immortalized as the shooter in "the movie massacre," and his family will have to live with that everyday.

I can only hope that this event does not completely eclipse the spectacular phenomenon that is The Dark Knight Rises.  It was a brilliant movie that I would still suggest seeing.  The cast and acting are simply phenomenal; even though this is a movie about Batman, it feels more like an ensemble cast than a leading role and his supporting cast.  The action sequences are stunning, and yet there is also quite a bit of character development and plot for a "blockbuster" thriller.

To the families in Aurora, keep your chins up.  It will get better with time.  To true fans of the Nolan trilogy, do not be deterred.  To paraphrase from the film, we should not let fear rule us.

Book Review: The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games
Suzanne Collins
384 pages

First off, I need to admit that the only reason that I actually read this book was in anticipation of the movie.  I wish I could tell you that I had heard fantastic things about the series from friends and fellow readers, but to be completely honest, I did not pay it much attention until I realized how exciting the movie looked.  And I generally try to read the actual book before going to see its film adaption.

Now that all that is off of my chest, I want to impress upon you all that this is possibly the best young adult series since Harry Potter.  The writing isn't particularly complex or elevated (hello, it is young adult fiction), but the ideas that Suzanne Collins raises are what make this series a must read.  The novel, for those of you who don't know, follows a teenage girl named Katniss through her life in the post-apocalyptic nation of Panem.  When her younger sister is picked to fight other children to the death in the nation's annual, televised contest, Katniss volunteers in her stead.  She is taken from her impoverished home of District Twelve and thrust into the extravagant and highly political life of the Capitol, where she fights for her life as a contestant in the Hunger Games.  Throw in a couple of sweet-hearted and yet realistic love interests, and you have a book that readers of all ages will not be able to put down.

The characters Collins has created are phenomenal and just so real.  A lot of young adult fiction is full of fairly static characters (cough cough Bella Swan) that quickly become annoying and repetitive.  The characters of The Hunger Games, however, are as dynamic as we could hope for.  Most of the character's motivations are a bit ambiguous, and consequently we are continually discovering new sides of their personalities.  As far as young female heroines go, Katniss Everdeen is probably the best there is.  She is not yet another teenage girl swooning in the arms of the two boys that are vying for her attention, but probably the strongest of them all.  For the younger generations of readers, Katniss is a good example of taking the crap that life has thrown at you and making the best of it.  And although a good chunk of the first book is dedicated to Katniss' developing relationship with her fellow competitor Peeta Meelark, Collins makes it clear that Katniss has better things to be do than obsess over her boy problems.

However, it is the overall plot that really grabbed my attention when I first picked up the book.  At first glance, the idea of kids killing kids for the entertainment of an entire nation seems horribly grotesque.  I know that my first reaction was "Why would anyone write about this for kids?"  After reading it, however, I now think "Why not?"  It is especially necessary in today's society, where children are inundated with violent movies, video games, and news headlines, to have an open discussion about what violence is doing to our younger generations.  Are we desensitizing them?  Are we giving them the impression that violence is okay?  What Suzanne Collins has done is to create a platform where society can ask, "Is it wrong to expose children to the level of violence they are exposed to today?"  Although we are not forcing children to fight each other to the death, what is this constant contact with violence really doing to them?

For a quick blurb about the movie, I would recommend that you go see it, especially if you've read the book.  I was highly impressed; the filmmakers managed to cover the vast majority of the novel.  They kept in all of the major characters and plot points, only leaving out some of the more complex details for time's sake.  It was well cast, well acted, and the location scouts and stunt coordinators deserve gold medals.  Keep in mind that it is a long movie (2.5 hours), but I would say take your friends and take your kids if you're a parent.  Maybe talk about the violence on the way home, and what your children thought of it.  Utilize the platform that Suzanne Collins is giving you!

I plan on devouring, erm, reading Book 2: Catching Fire this weekend, so look for another review soon!

Movie Review: The Kids Are All Right

I realize that I am about two years too late to be reviewing this movie.  However, I watched it a couple of days ago, and felt that I really wanted to share my opinion of it.

First off, I was really drawn to this movie because of the idea of a fully functional, well-established gay household.  The lesbian characters Nic and Jules in the movie are just like any other committed, heterosexual couple, and I found this to be very refreshing.  I am a big believer that acceptance comes through not yelling about our differences, but by also accepting what makes us similar.  Nic and Jules fight, struggle with their sex life, have awkward conversations with their kids, and dine with friends, like the completely "normal" couple that they are.  Annette Bening (Nic) and Julianne Moore (Jules) give a phenomenal performance.

Of course, part of what makes them a "normal" family is the equally amazing performance by Mia Wasikowska (Joni) and Josh Hutcherson (Laser) as the couple's teenage kids.  Joni is in the difficult position of a girl going to college, stuck in her parental relationship between dependent child and equally intellectual adult.  In a similar position, I found her character well played and easily relatable.  Wasikowska is definitely an actress to keep an eye on in the future.  Laser is in a difficult position as the only boy in an overwhelmingly female household, struggling to find who he is.  Hutcherson's performance is mainly through facial expressions and body language that are, although distinctly teenage-boy, evidence of his longing to find his own place in the world.

Last but not least, Mark Ruffalo stuns in his role as Paul.  To be honest, I wasn't expecting much from him, but I was wrong.  He manages to be sexy and mysteriously without trying, clueless and yet touching at the same time.  And, although he was an endearing character, I am glad that he was not (spoiler alert!) welcomed back into the family at the end.  I am also glad that the movie leaves Nic and Jules' big fight unresolved.  It's clear that they're on the path to forgiveness and recovery, but their future is not wrapped up in a nice, neat bow.

Again, this is a beautifully acted, refreshingly real depiction of the struggles of being a family.  For those of you skeptical about the fact that it is about a lesbian couple, do not worry.  Once you get to the heart of the story, you won't even notice.

50/50

Before I get started, I just want to mention that I am a huge Joseph Gordon-Levitt fan.  I fell in love with him watching the clever and amazingly filmed (500) Days of Summer, and then proceeded to work my way through many of the major films he's done over the years.  What I love about him most is his uncanny ability to morph into whatever character he's playing.  I don't think I've ever watched him give the same kind of performance twice.

And he does not disappoint in the self described "cancer comedy" 50/50 with Seth Rogan, Anna Kendrick, and Bryce Dallas Howard.  It was actually my dad who first told me about the movie, remembering my fondness for Gordon-Levitt.  I have to admit, I was a bit apprehensive about seeing the movie at first, for fear of it being really sad.  Boy, am I glad that my curiosity won out over this fear.

This was, without a doubt, one of the best movies I have seen all year.  It is not flashy, and despite the subject matter, does not continually shove the "cancer thing" down your throat.  It's really just film about a guy living a boring life, just existing, really, who is faced with the most unexpected of obstacles. He gets the ultimate wake up call, if you will.  The acting was absolutely amazing, portraying completely real characters from every awkward moment to every glorious triumph.  By the end of the movie, I felt personally invested in the lives of nearly every single character.

The other reason this film has such a ring of truth to it?  Well, it could be that it's based on a true story.  If you're interested on hearing the writer/inspiration's story, I encourage you to check out this NPR interview.

All in all, I would highly recommend this movie to anyone with a craving for genuine characters and a great story.  It will make you laugh, cry, and want to jump in right along side them.

Jane Eyre

Being the eager English majors that we are, last night Justine and I went to a late showing of the new film adaption Jane Eyre, starring Mia Wasikowska. Having just read the book for one of our English classes, we were eager to see what this new film adaption would bring to the table. Unfortunately, I was sorely disappointed in what we saw.

Don't get me wrong, the film is truly beautiful and moving. The acting is amazing, and the costuming, location, props... all of it was just right. However, because I consider myself fairly well aquatinted with Charlotte Bronte's book Jane Eyre, I cannot say that it was a good film adaption. The movie left out so many vital parts of the book, while portraying Jane in such a weak and dependent way that it actually changed the meaning of the story.

Now, having said that, I don't discourage you from going to see it, especially if you have read the book. I would be very interested to get other people's opinions on this adaption. Although you may wince at the somewhat butchered plot, the acting will pull at your heartstrings. If you haven't read the book, I also encourage you to see the movie, but I would hope that you would not judge the book based on what you see on screen.

On a final note, we are coming up on the end of the semester, which means lots and lots of work. I have two finals and four research papers in the next two weeks, which means my presence here will be very scarce. But never fear, as soon as I get a free moment I will write another post. I have loads of pictures I haven't yet shared with you all!