movie sweetness

I love going to movies when it's cold outside. Actually I love going to movies whatever the weather is. This week/weekend has been movie theater mania. I've gone to see three movies...so far...muahahaha.

A brief review perhaps?

26 December 2007

JUNO

I went to this movie thinking it would be a nice light-hearted and witty comedy about a pregnant teen. I was correct, however did not give it near the credit I now know it deserves. Juno was hilarious as well as surprisingly poignant. Movies don't often make me feel a certain way. This one did. Can't explain it. It just did. Please go see it.

28 December 2007

I AM LEGEND

Um. Interesting. I went into this movie expecting a big flashy action movie. I was for the most part right again, however, I was surprised. It was definitely not your run-of-the-mill Will Smith action movie. It did have the humor and the action but...I Am Legend was a seriously scary movie. I mean, cover your ears and eyes scary at parts. I'd say this movie was pretty good. I'd also say that if you had any desire to see it in the first place, I would recommend seeing it in the theater. The CG is pretty cool--coming from a non-expert of course--and Will Smith got in really good shape for this movie ;)

29 December 2007

ATONEMENT

I had no idea what to expect going into this movie. I hadn't read anything about the actual movie; I'd only read that it was very good. I'd have to agree. It was good. It was a tiny bit weird at parts-my mom and I decided that they probably tried to stick too closely to the book, probably having left out information that would have been helpful to the flow of the story. I LOVED the cinematography of Atonement better than any other component of the movie. The story was interesting, with a good twist, however the look and sound of it was incredible. Fabulous. I recommend it.

Overall rating for these three movies:

1. Juno

2. Atonement

3. I Am Legend

matrimonial theory

Maybe it's my age, or maybe it's the relationship baggage from my past, or some combination of the two. Whatever it is, I've got a problem with marriage. I suppose the broader framework would, even more importantly, encompass the stigma of divorce.

What is it with our society and marriage? Why is there such pressure to tie the knot? Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a nice, long-term, committed relationship. I think we crave it somehow as humans. Something about the intimacy. However, I definitely think making a promise to be with someone for a lifetime is overly optimistic. Why not make it like a lease of some type? "I'll give ya 10 years; then we'll assess the situation". If it's working...renew. If it's not working...don't. If I ever marry someday, I'll say something along the lines of "I promise to be with you for a longer than average amount of time".

How can two people predict what they will be like in 10 years? (SHIT! I can't predict what I'm going to be like tomorrow!!) You might mesh well at first, but later on you might not. Those marriages that do last, are those in which the people got really lucky. They grew and changed in such ways that they were still compatible--or at least they don't want to kill each other.

I would say the concept that causes me the most confusion about the institution of marriage is: stigmatization of divorce. Why is divorce such a terrible thing? I understand that separation and divorce result in many levels of pain. Guess what...staying in a bad marriage will fuck you up!! And if you're "staying together for the kids", you might as well put them in therapy before they show signs of how much that fucked them up.

All I can say at this point is: for the love of all that is reality, only get married if you find someone who you WANT to be legally bound to. Don't go out and search for someone to marry just because you want to get married! That is a recipe for...a lot of unneccessary bullshit. Ladies and gentlemen; be not afraid of singledom. It is a beautiful, beautiful thing.

Next rant topic: weddings and children.

happy christmas

At the moment I'm acting as a concierge at the Seaboard Building downtown (I kiss asses and open the door). What a lovely way to spend the eve of such a lovely holiday. Instead of regretting the silly decision of accepting a temporary position on Xmas Eve I've decided to look at it as a gift--of a big chunk of virtually uninterrupted time to do whatever I want with my brain, a book, and the internet.

In between hiding from some of the crazies who reside downtown (thank goodness for the locked door!) and schmoozing the richies (the condos in this building are at least a million a piece) I've come across some interesting and entertaining things:

Theoretically Mary could very well have been a virgin mother ! The chances are slim-to-none, however how much more likely could it be that it was a divine conception? Who the hell knows.

If you've ever heard or used the phrase "that's sadder than a whore on Christmas", The Whore on Christmas is a good read. Very informative article about how one woman in the sex industry has spent a few of her Xmas days. Not a half bad way to spend part of the magical day... makin' some extra cash ... if you're into the whole "selling your body" thing of course!

Since this is "a victory for advocates of empirically established scientific fact", it is a victory for me as well! Finally, Mr. Bush acknowledges the existence of a molecule! Who knows if he knew with the fuck he was talking about -- but hey! Whatever. I hope our next president finds some use for these banks of empirical data.

Ok, that's all for now. Super duper happy thoughts on your Holidays!

do-gooder.

I listened to a story on the radio this morning. It was about a factory owner who brought more than 50 men over from India and used them for cheap labor in his factory. Of course he promised them long-term work and green cards. The men were treated terribly; very little food, verbal abuse, unfit living quarters, deportation, etc. After a bit of time some of these men escaped (yes, they were told they could not leave the factory) and were helped by a nice man they met at a church which they snuck to every so often.

This guy who rescued them from their situation said he persisted in helping them even though it wasn't "easy". He said that other church members stopped helping because it took several tries, which of course meant that it wasn't "God's will". Wow. Such sincere helpers.

I suppose a good deed is a good deed is a good deed. No matter the reason - a good deed was done (geez!). I wonder though, if it there would be any differece in number or frequency if the deeds were done for different reasons. I'm not neccessarily saying I am in the right, I am just pondering the thought. If these othere church people didn't rely only on God's will for a reason for the deed, the other church guy might have had alot more help - well, that's what I think.

I do things for other people because I like to and because at times I get something out of it for me. I don't do it for karma, or to go to heaven, or because someone told me to. I do it simply because it's nice, I might get something out of it, and because it makes me feel good. Some of us do things out of altruism, but that's a rather difficult thing to judge.

On that note; why not take the credit for doing something good? Why do you have to say you are doing it because God told you to? I don't see anything wrong with doing something and saying you did it to feel good. After all, the good thing got done!!

All-in-all I'm glad this church guy helped out these men from India. They were able to escape the maltreatment of Mr. Freak Man. Good work Mr. Church!!