Thursday, June 14, 2012
Summer of Movies - "The Avengers"
I had a date with my teenager to see "The Avengers" on the big screen today. What can I say - I really like these comic books turned movies. I'm not a comic book reader, but I like the action of the film versions - the fighting, the crashing, all of it. A lot of my students saw "The Avengers" when it first came out and told me I needed to see it after I told them I like "Batman" and "X-Men". They were right - it was a great movie. It had lots of action and fighting, but I also enjoyed the repartee between the characters. I have loved Robert Downey, Jr., since first seeing him in "Weird Science" and his portrayal of Tony Stark is so much fun to watch in this film. There were a lot of laughs, even if I was the only laughing (at least out loud). I was surprised by Scarlett Johansson's performance, though her ass and lips got more screen time than was necessary. Yeah, we all know she's hot, but c'mon, guys! If you haven't seen "The Avengers," you should, but make sure you stay through the credits! And now I need to see if Iron Man is on Netflix - it's time I finally watched those movies...
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Marriage Maturity
I've been thinking a lot about when a person knows that he/she is mature enough to be married. (Not for me - if you don't know, I'm not married and don't plan to be married, but enough about me). My oldest nephew, at the advanced age of 23, recently announced his engagement and we were told to save the date - 2 whole months later. That was my first concern - that was awfully quick for a girl we had all just heard about.
Her age is another major concern. At 19, I didn't know what I wanted out of my life; I sure didn't know who the right person was to spend my life with. Had I chosen a person at 19 to spend my life with, I likely would have chosen very very badly. This is not to say that my nephew, J, at 23 would not choose correctly, but he hasn't had a lot of experience in this area - another concern.
So the date was set and plans were being made. And the main reason for the short engagement and quick wedding was so that the kids wouldn't be tempted to do what they're not supposed to do before marriage (according to a particular religious view, not my own - do it if you wanna do it, I say) and have "an accident." The girl's dad is serving overseas, so he wouldn't even be there. Isn't the father being there for the wedding much more important? I think it is. If it's important for you to wait to have sex until you're married, then what's a few more months? If it's important, you'll wait.
J's prospective future MIL, I found out later, is kind of a bully. The girl is kind of meek. Another problem. Why would you want to get married to a girl whose mother is still telling her what to do? Do you really want her all up in your business after the wedding? She will be.
The biggest issue of all, though, is straight up immaturity, on both sides. After working a full 8-hour day in the sun, the girl wanted J to visit her. That would all be fine if they lived in the same town, but she is more than 2 hours away. Practically speaking, working 8 hours outside in the heat of summer then driving 2+ hours there and back doesn't sound like a good time for anyone. She accused him of putting his work first. Um, hello, honey - if he doesn't put some importance on his job, won't it be difficult for him to support the new family ya'll are about to have? Grow up!
There is so much more to write, but really what I wanted to write is that it's hard to know when a person should get married. Who's to say when the time is right? For these two, it's not yet time. They got into a fight and broke up. J is hurting and realizes he made some mistakes. But he is not fully to blame here. A young girl, not yet ready for this kind of commitment, was feeling pressure to take a very adult step in her life. She's not ready for this - there are so many signs that she's not. And J, well, he's not ready either. He still needs to learn how to take care of himself, to live on his own, and be responsible for his own shit. Most of all, he needs to accept what he's done wrong here and learn from it. Stay strong, J.
Her age is another major concern. At 19, I didn't know what I wanted out of my life; I sure didn't know who the right person was to spend my life with. Had I chosen a person at 19 to spend my life with, I likely would have chosen very very badly. This is not to say that my nephew, J, at 23 would not choose correctly, but he hasn't had a lot of experience in this area - another concern.
So the date was set and plans were being made. And the main reason for the short engagement and quick wedding was so that the kids wouldn't be tempted to do what they're not supposed to do before marriage (according to a particular religious view, not my own - do it if you wanna do it, I say) and have "an accident." The girl's dad is serving overseas, so he wouldn't even be there. Isn't the father being there for the wedding much more important? I think it is. If it's important for you to wait to have sex until you're married, then what's a few more months? If it's important, you'll wait.
J's prospective future MIL, I found out later, is kind of a bully. The girl is kind of meek. Another problem. Why would you want to get married to a girl whose mother is still telling her what to do? Do you really want her all up in your business after the wedding? She will be.
The biggest issue of all, though, is straight up immaturity, on both sides. After working a full 8-hour day in the sun, the girl wanted J to visit her. That would all be fine if they lived in the same town, but she is more than 2 hours away. Practically speaking, working 8 hours outside in the heat of summer then driving 2+ hours there and back doesn't sound like a good time for anyone. She accused him of putting his work first. Um, hello, honey - if he doesn't put some importance on his job, won't it be difficult for him to support the new family ya'll are about to have? Grow up!
There is so much more to write, but really what I wanted to write is that it's hard to know when a person should get married. Who's to say when the time is right? For these two, it's not yet time. They got into a fight and broke up. J is hurting and realizes he made some mistakes. But he is not fully to blame here. A young girl, not yet ready for this kind of commitment, was feeling pressure to take a very adult step in her life. She's not ready for this - there are so many signs that she's not. And J, well, he's not ready either. He still needs to learn how to take care of himself, to live on his own, and be responsible for his own shit. Most of all, he needs to accept what he's done wrong here and learn from it. Stay strong, J.
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Summer Reading
In addition to watching lots of movies, I plan to read and read and read some more all summer long (and hope that it I can make time to continue in the fall). In the past week, I've read 2 books. One I've been working on little by little for about 3 weeks and finally finished. The other I finished off in about 2 days. Would it surprise you that I devoured the 849-page "11/22/63" in just under 48 hours (actual reading time was much less - I did get some sleep in there)? Gawd, I love his books. I think I'll do the same with books as I'm doing with the movies, just a little review to share with anyone who happens to stop by my blog. The same disclaimer applies to books as to movies - I can find something I like in just about everything I read. If I can get through the first chapter, I'll finish the book. If I can't get through it, I won't finish it. Simple as that. My main criteria for books are (1) give me believable characters and dialog and (2) get me hooked from the get-go. If an author can do those things, I can step into the pages and be lost for as long as it takes to get to the last page. Sometimes it's 3 weeks, sometimes 2 days - one never knows.
Eiger Dreams - Jon Krakauer
This book is a collection of essays that Krakauer has written, some previously published individually in outdoor magazines. The stories are geared toward mountain climbers of the extreme variety, so the name-dropping meant nothing to me. The descriptions are what get me every time with his books - vivid descriptions of people and places and objects and events that I get drawn in and stay there, wondering what happens or who I'll meet next. It was the same with this collection. Another aspect of Krakauer's writing that I particularly enjoy is his laid-back style of writing. He's a storyteller, and his stories read as though he were sitting in the room, telling the story to a rapt audience.
More by Jon Krakauer: Under the Banner of Heaven, Into the Wild, Into Thin Air, and various essays on Byliner.com (read "Three Cups of Deceit if you've read "Three Cups of Tea" or "Stones Into Schools" by Mortenson)
11/22/63 - Stephen King
He's done it again. I love love love love this book. I was intrigued as soon as I first heard the idea of this book - a time traveler who goes back in time to try to stop the Kennedy assassination. It's the story of a pretty regular guy with problems like everyone else has. He goes back and the bulk of the story is his life in the past, leading up to 11/22/63. There's love, suspense, mystery, history (both truth and fiction), and characters that make you root for them. Just like every King novel, I'm always sad at the end when it's over, but I am never able to slow down when I read, to savor each word, sentence, and paragraph - when I said I devoured the book, I wasn't kidding. I'm sure I'll read it again, and catch many more bits and pieces that I missed this time. Until then, I'll think about time-strings and the butterfly effect and wonder how this blog changes the future.....
My favorites by Stephen King: The Dark Tower Series, Different Seasons, and The Stand
Some of the books I'll be reading
What are you reading this summer?
Eiger Dreams - Jon Krakauer
This book is a collection of essays that Krakauer has written, some previously published individually in outdoor magazines. The stories are geared toward mountain climbers of the extreme variety, so the name-dropping meant nothing to me. The descriptions are what get me every time with his books - vivid descriptions of people and places and objects and events that I get drawn in and stay there, wondering what happens or who I'll meet next. It was the same with this collection. Another aspect of Krakauer's writing that I particularly enjoy is his laid-back style of writing. He's a storyteller, and his stories read as though he were sitting in the room, telling the story to a rapt audience.
More by Jon Krakauer: Under the Banner of Heaven, Into the Wild, Into Thin Air, and various essays on Byliner.com (read "Three Cups of Deceit if you've read "Three Cups of Tea" or "Stones Into Schools" by Mortenson)
11/22/63 - Stephen King
He's done it again. I love love love love this book. I was intrigued as soon as I first heard the idea of this book - a time traveler who goes back in time to try to stop the Kennedy assassination. It's the story of a pretty regular guy with problems like everyone else has. He goes back and the bulk of the story is his life in the past, leading up to 11/22/63. There's love, suspense, mystery, history (both truth and fiction), and characters that make you root for them. Just like every King novel, I'm always sad at the end when it's over, but I am never able to slow down when I read, to savor each word, sentence, and paragraph - when I said I devoured the book, I wasn't kidding. I'm sure I'll read it again, and catch many more bits and pieces that I missed this time. Until then, I'll think about time-strings and the butterfly effect and wonder how this blog changes the future.....
My favorites by Stephen King: The Dark Tower Series, Different Seasons, and The Stand
Some of the books I'll be reading
- The Wind through the Keyhole - Stephen King (newest addition to the Dark Tower series)
- The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
- The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Stieg Larsson
- I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings - Maya Angelou
- Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen
- Let's Go Play at the Adams' - Mendal Johnson
- The Last Summer (of you and me) - Ann Brashares
- Shoe Addicts Anonymous - Beth Harbison
- East of Eden - John Steinbeck
- Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury
- The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho
What are you reading this summer?
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Summer of Movies
In 2001, between May and August (4 full months), I saw about 2-3 movies every week and remember it as one of my favorite summers. I've decided to do it again. In the last few years, I've been lucky to see 2-3 movies a year and feel very much out of the loop. Beginning June 1, I've decided to see as many movies as I possibly can this summer. I've already seen 3 since Saturday - woo! And I will document my Summer of Movies here with reviews of all the movies I see.
I should make a disclaimer about my movie reviews before I begin. I love the movies. Going to the movie theater is one of the best things in life. I go to be entertained, and I can see just about anything and find something good to say about it. I don't go to the movies to be critical - if I've chosen to spend my money on it, I plan to get lost in the movie. So on that note, my reviews will mostly be positive most of the time - except, well, when they're not. Please comment if you've seen the movies and have anything to add!
Men in Black III
I still watch the original once in a while and always have a good laugh. The second film was also quite funny, though not as good as #1. I expected to be entertained in the third film, and I was. There were a few little tie-ins to the previous movies that I thought worked really well. Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones make a great pair as always, and Josh Brolin was a great addition. He did the whole "Tommy Lee Jones" accent so well! The twist at the end was a fantastic way to bring the whole trilogy to a close. I was waiting for a little joke after the credits, though, so I was a bit disappointed when there wasn't one.
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
I knew I wanted to see this movie from the first time I saw the trailer. The cast is an outstanding group of actors that I have enjoyed watching in many movies, especially Judy Dench and Tom Wilkinson. The movie was focused on the characters and how they learn about themselves, and I felt like I was part of their lives. They were so believable. I laughed and cried and will definitely have this in my Instant Queue on Netflix when it comes out.
Snow White and the Huntsman
I was a bit skeptical about this one before I went. I like Charlize Theron, but am not a fan of Kristen Stewart. In fact, I don't think she was the best choice for Snow White - she just was not believable as a strong female lead and her acting still needs work. Despite my dissatisfaction with KS, the movie as a whole was a good piece of action. I enjoyed Charlize Theron's portrayal of Ravena - she does evil very well. And I was pleasantly surprised to realize that Bob Hoskins played the part of Muir. We all know how the story basically goes, and this adaptation was a good one.
Movies I'm looking forward to seeing:
I should make a disclaimer about my movie reviews before I begin. I love the movies. Going to the movie theater is one of the best things in life. I go to be entertained, and I can see just about anything and find something good to say about it. I don't go to the movies to be critical - if I've chosen to spend my money on it, I plan to get lost in the movie. So on that note, my reviews will mostly be positive most of the time - except, well, when they're not. Please comment if you've seen the movies and have anything to add!
Men in Black III
I still watch the original once in a while and always have a good laugh. The second film was also quite funny, though not as good as #1. I expected to be entertained in the third film, and I was. There were a few little tie-ins to the previous movies that I thought worked really well. Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones make a great pair as always, and Josh Brolin was a great addition. He did the whole "Tommy Lee Jones" accent so well! The twist at the end was a fantastic way to bring the whole trilogy to a close. I was waiting for a little joke after the credits, though, so I was a bit disappointed when there wasn't one.
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
I knew I wanted to see this movie from the first time I saw the trailer. The cast is an outstanding group of actors that I have enjoyed watching in many movies, especially Judy Dench and Tom Wilkinson. The movie was focused on the characters and how they learn about themselves, and I felt like I was part of their lives. They were so believable. I laughed and cried and will definitely have this in my Instant Queue on Netflix when it comes out.
Snow White and the Huntsman
I was a bit skeptical about this one before I went. I like Charlize Theron, but am not a fan of Kristen Stewart. In fact, I don't think she was the best choice for Snow White - she just was not believable as a strong female lead and her acting still needs work. Despite my dissatisfaction with KS, the movie as a whole was a good piece of action. I enjoyed Charlize Theron's portrayal of Ravena - she does evil very well. And I was pleasantly surprised to realize that Bob Hoskins played the part of Muir. We all know how the story basically goes, and this adaptation was a good one.
Movies I'm looking forward to seeing:
- For Greater Glory
- Prometheus
- Rock of Ages
- Brave
- Magic Mike
- The Amazing Spiderman
- The Dark Knight Rises
- The Bourne Legacy
- Total Recall
- And many more once I read up on them all!
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