- something should be here -

It’s been a long time since I’ve posted anything here and I have something to say.

I just finished a movie and I finally have an answer to that question: “What’s your favorite movie?”

500 Days of Summer.

 It’s got the quirkiness of independent movies that I like, the likable falling romantic guy, a hilarious overtone narrator, and an awesome narrative direction.

Marc Webb, is it safe for me to place my faith in you for The Amazing Spider-Man?

if that’s even a verb in this context.  i haven’t felt the need to go on tumblr as much anymore because, i don’t feel like i need to.  tumblr people only seem to be interested in really sub-par gifs or pictures with captions that generate a seemingly personal similarity with them, but actually its a rather vague statement on people in general.

or perhaps tumblr people like to reblog or follow folk who have hipster or artsy things, people who have a knack of understanding the things they portray best.  this can be fashion to photography.  whatever it is, they post it up to show the world this is their interest and taste.

i just feel like i don’t really belong here. i thought this could be a more personal thing than facebook or twitter (something i still don’t quite get), but people just aren’t interested in text posts.  or i am not interesting enough.  either or, i assume.

this isn’t the end of me, but i just don’t feel obligated to post as much now. i want to put original content, which is why i do movie reviews or talk about certain things.  every now and then i throw in a drawing of mine. but people just aren’t interested in people.  they are interested in the works of manipulating people into being interested in, on a cosmic scale, arbitrary things.  not that my posts aren’t arbitrary, but comparing objects and emotion…. eh. i’m done for the night. it’s been a long day.

can i just say, holy freaking crap!  when i first saw the trailer to this, i was sorely amused and kind of excited, but then i kept hearing good things about it and finally Netflix has it on instant to check out!

basically, group of college kids go out to have fun in hillbilly land where they run into Tucker and Dale, who they mistake for evil kidnapping psychopath killers, while in reality, Tucker and Dale rescued one of the college kids’ friend who had an accident.

it is absolutely hilarious!  while most of the things are partially predictable, it still enacts the action with good taste.  this is just a really good and fun time!  a good touch on new perspective!

technically, it was decent.  i had no real beef with the editing or cinematography.  none of those aspects are really defining but it didn’t matter.  what does interesting me is the order of certain events…

is it too much to say twist ending placed at the beginning of the film and it all wraps in a happy ending?

picked this up on Blu-Ray at random when browsing at a Japanese manga/anime shop.  went on a whim, since i didn’t wanna go empty handed.  i wanted something either i’d see over again and again, or something new.  went for new, and i grab this, as the shop owner explained to me what it was about: “Well.. just as the title suggests, its about a girl… who leapt.. through time.  It’s a story.  If you like stories, you’ll like this.”

the accent-tragic man was right.  i absolutely love this movie.

animation?  love it.  its my favorite kind, where the color palette is more on the lighter side, there is no intense cell shade, just bold base colors.  its fluid and visually fantastic.

now, the plot.  i love time-travel stories, because they’re always interesting!  Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, Hot Tub Time Machine, and Bender’s Big Score is among my favorite films where the plot is entirely focused on the aspect of time (whether it be restoring or rewriting it).  TGWLTT is a phenomenal time-travelling story, where the main character, Makoto, discovers she has the power to leap back in time with no real consequences.  The only real consequences are as hinted by her aunt - “I wonder if there is someone who is hurting from your enjoyment.”  Of course, this is a moral consequence, which I enjoy much more instead of a physical limitation.

the emotions are riveting as Makoto lives the quintessential life!  with each mistake, she can go back and reset things, with each loss of time, she can restore once again, with each pain, she can avoid.

if the plot or emotions aren’t meeting your standards, at least enjoy the visuals.  fantastic 2d animation with beautiful scenery (which i’ve realized is all the rage in Japanese animated films, and they have a reason to boast!) and crisp movement.

I’ve certainly had a great time watching this.  And I hope any of you (who actually follow this amateur emotive writing expo) find it intriguing enough to pick up and discuss with me!

Verdict: Just a splendid animated film with an engaging plot!

jeez, what a gutpuncher.. did not have me feeling good at all.

but, nevertheless, it is certainly a good movie.

buddy took this as we walked to grand central today.  that cat is such a boss!

this is a follow up to my previous post about finishing stories and feeling emotionally siphoned from them.

In this week, I have finished these stories (of all media forms) in the following order:

Portal 2 (video game)

The Hunger Games (fiction novel)

House of M (comic book)

Death of Spider-Man (comic book)

So, Portal 2 is so beautifully made, I felt myself so engaged with the contrasting characters of Wheatley and GLaDOS.  Finishing it just gave me a sense of accomplishment and I had to take a few hours to absorb it all.  It’s one of those sequels that knows that it doesn’t need another sequel (arguably inFamous 2, but I like to believe that game doesn’t need a third).

The Hunger Games was the first book I’ve been really engaged in for a long time.  I finished that thing in 2 days.  That’s quite an increased pace of speed for me.  What tied me in?  I could see it like a comic book so easily - imagining the texts into panels worked too well in my mind.  Also, hopeless romanticism within always entices me (hurrah for hopeless romantics~!)

I’ve been wanting to read some X-Men comics and I picked up House of M.  Ties in with other heroes such as the Avengers as the the teams clash around the fate of former Avengers member, Wanda Maximoff (Scarlet Witch, former secondary Avenger).  With her uncontrolled power of altering reality (my favorite comic book power by the way), she brings about the world’s desires.  Which in turn makes Magneto the king of the world.  There is a superbly powerful moment between the Magnus family and it will forever be etched into my mind.

I also picked up Death of Spider-Man.  Keep in mind this is the Ultimate series, which is a clever modern revision of our friendly neighborhood friend.  This was just a heartbreaker.  The front cover of a fading-to-white Uncle Ben and Peter walking away, with Uncle Ben saying, “You did good, kid.”  I kind of wished some things were written more dramatically, because it seemed to happen so fast, but perhaps the pacing of it was perfect.  Ultimate Spider-Man is my favorite Ultimate Marvel series line-up and seeing it conclude was just amazing.  Consistent art and beautiful story.

Ah.  I’m such a hopeless sap, aren’t I?

received The Hunger Games book about a day or so ago.  Finished it already.  I haven’t been tainted in text like that in so long.  It was just inexpressibly enticing, I guess.

usually when i finish a story of any sorts (in all forms of media), i tend to be unable to move on and must bask in its glory for some time.  right before I finished the first Hunger Games book, I had also finished Portal 2, which also put me into a strange funk for quite some time (actually, i’m still in that funk).

i’m just an emotionally hopeless sap, aren’t i?

Felt totally disrespected as a film maker today.  i am a person who believes that people should not talk during movies.  we are trying to enjoy the film, therefore we are respecting it.  so why make remarks and ruin the flow of a movie?  that’s like spitting at the director’s face, as well as the casts’ faces, the crew’s faces, and all of their family’s faces.

my production professor made a guideline that when watching film rushes, he will comment straight forwardly, but when viewing an edited film, everyone is to be quiet, including himself.

he is quiet and waits till the end for everyone, but apparently, my work offended him in some way or form.  right of the bat, he makes two comments.

now i understand that those were wrong or could have been fixed, but this was a RAW EDIT, no?  he liked the work, but had a lot to say in terms of technicality.

during break, i told him straight up that i felt disrespected that he amended his own rules just because certain things make him react a certain way.  he apologized and thanked me for telling him that, but i didn’t want to stick around any longer - so i left.

do i have a right to feel wronged?

solidly strong episode to kick off the new season!  although it was arguably a focus episode on Nathan Young’s replacement, Rudy Wade.

but hey, i really love Rudy Wade.  that’s all i gotta say. i love Nathan, but this “new guy” is a pretty fun character.  now if only BOTH of them we’re in the same scene together …

anything disappointing about the new season? the powers. yes, the new powers. the Asbo Five (the Misfits gang) and their new powers . . are not as interesting to me.  the first two seasons, their powers reflected their personalities.  give me a sec to put up the spoiler alert:

S P O I L E R S

(Name/Personality Trait - First power - New power)

Simon/Felt ignored and alone  - Invisibility - Personal Precognition (seeing the future of his actions)

Alisha/Wants to be loved and the center of the world - Instantaneous Attraction via skin-to-skin contact - Clairvoyance through others (sees what others see through their eyes)

Curtis/Regret and remorse for the past - Rewind Time - Gender Manipulation (Change gender at will O.O)

Kelly/Didn’t want to be judged by others - Mind Reading - Heightened Intellect (but only of Rocket Science and Propulsion..)

and although he isn’t here anymore..

Nathan/Impervious to people’s comments - Immortality - “Magic” (Warp reality)

END S P O I L E R S

Nathan isn’t even here and i love his powers both old and new!  Rudy’s power, although it isn’t listed here, is certainly enjoyable.  not sure on its practicability, but it will be a fun to watch.

i also heard that they even hired new writers for the show. they’re doing a good job for the first episode!