Super 8

This is my first post of the new direction of my blog. So for those who don't know, I'm changing the direction of my blog to review movies I've recently seen. They may not all be new movies, just ones I have an opinion about and have recently watched. I figured Jessie has our life pretty much blogged out, so I can do my own thing. So on to the review.

"Super 8" was in my opinion a great movie. J.J. Abrams did not disappoint with this one. From the first preview that debut at the beginning of "Iron Man 2" (I think) you knew it had to be something good if Speilberg was willing to stamp his name on it. As more previews were posted about it I lost interest. It seemed like something I wouldn't really care too much about. However when opening weekend came and it still managed to get excellent reviews I decided it would be worth a watch, and boy was I right. "Super 8" had something unique that movies have failed to produce lately. That is, regrettably, a good original story! Don't get me wrong, I love comic books, and classic literature, but an adaption of your favorite childhood comic, book, or a new creative vision of an already classic film does not demonstrate to me enough creative thinking (sorry Cohen brothers, I loved "True Grit" but it wasn't original). "Super 8" on the other hand was so genius! Abrams not only told an original story, but he did it how it used to be done...that is he told it well. As of late films have lost their integrity to technology and her cruel mistress, special effects. These effects exist to enhance the moving going experience not replace it all together. However every now and then a film will come along that dares to challenge this insufferable social norm (yes, we are looking at you "Black Swan", and "Kings Speech") where the visual effects do nothing more but enhance the movie, not take it's dignity and leave it lying in the gutter (yes, we are looking at you "Thor", and "Pirates", and "I am Number Four"). And as could have guess, "Super 8" is one of those. Sure there were special effects. They needed to crash a trail, and create a monster, and it's spaceship. But those were all small minor details, nothing that distracted from the main point of the story (which get's me wondering, when directors decided to throw mountain loads of special effects into an already struggling movie does the thought ever cross there mind of, "Hey, maybe this might distract from the story and look really fake?"). Which bring me to the point of Abrams story. "Super 8" is surprisingly not about a monster (thanks goodness we didn't have a "Cloverfield" repeat) but it is about the human relationships between a group of tween friends, and them and their parents, and their parents with each other. Abrams finds a way to drag all these plots lines together in a very simple way that remind us of the old classics like "The Goonies." It seems that he's take Michael Scott's KISS (Keep it Simple Stupid) to heart. The plot is not complex. Everything is explained well and clear so that your head is not spinning the whole time and instead your heart begins to twirl to a top. But isn't that why we go to the movies? Don't we love to go so that we can become attached to these fictional characters and rejoice in there success, and mourn with them in their pain?

And was it enough for Abram just to master that concept? No it wasn't. Abrams not only had to show us that he knows best how to write a story, he had to weave into the plot and instructional on how to make a good story. As young film maker Charles (Riley Griffiths) sets out to make his master film 'The Case' he is constantly 'plagued' by having to explain to his friends why he is doing certain things in the movie. With the movie being set in the 1960's, its like we see a young Abrams in action. The story is so well done that I would dare say that next time Michael Bay is thinking of making a film I would instruct him to first watch "Super 8."

As for any film is concerned, the movie is only as good as the music and in this aspect Abrams does not disappoint. Some directors find a composer they like and stick with them, which is fine as long as that composer is not Danny Elfman (yes, we are looking at you Tim Burton). Lucky for us Abrams has teamed up with Michael Giacchino (Star Trek, Up, The Incredibles, Mission Impossible III) and what a match! Giacchino, who is arguably the John Williams of our time, does a magical job of capturing both the suspense and the drama of Abrams story. His tracks are well composed in both score and title (anyone who has listened to one of his scores knows he is quite the sarcastic comedian).

Overall "Super 8" was "super gr8!" as Jessie would say. I give it an 8 out of 10 rating and would recommend it to any of my friends.

Irony

(It's like rain, on your wedding day). Isn't it iron how the one person in the family that designs website as a profession has the lamest blog out of the whole family? Of course I write this as if the rest of the family will read it, but when in fact I know that if anyone would read this it will be Ainsley. So, on the off chance that Ainsley does read this I'm just going to re-emphasize the fact that the story of how Prince William got engaged is NOT a real book....Okay, lets move on. This week will be a tough one. I fear that the remaining weeks of school will be that way, but after 9 weeks of not having to do anything for school I guess I can handle two weeks of work. By the way, I have one final this semester. That's great. Except I don't have a job this summer, that's not great. Anyone want to hire me? I don't even have to do anything, you can just pay me. I think that would be a fair deal for all parties involved.

I went home for Dad's birthday this weekend. We got him an iPad and it was in my room staring me down. The pressure was more than I could handle, so I made the trip down there. OMG Jessie got me the greatest gift from Disneyland ever. I'll give you a hint, it's a glow-in-the-dark TRON Legacy shirt. Best! I love it. Best movie ever, you should go and watch it.

Sometimes when I don't know what more to say I just think of what I want to say to Ainsley. We aren't the best at having long talks on the phone (with good reason cause that's a huge waste of battery). Uhm I'm thinking of getting an iPhone. What do you think? I think it'd be cool. But I can't decide between that or some of the other fine cellular devices available through Verizon Wireless. I think what is really leading me toward the iPhone, other than pure awesomeness, is the good battery life and the size. All these other phones are way to big. No kosher man.

So I'm going not. Be excellent to each other.

In light of Thanksgiving

A sweet aroma fills the halls as I walk from one room to another. It’s the smell of the sweet glaze that covers pecans in a pecan pie. Mom has been working hard for the past two days preparing for the greatest feast of the year, Thanksgiving! I’ve resisted the urge to eat all day, even though I am extremely hungry. Now the smell of warm pecan pie fills the whole house, and you can just tell that mealtime is coming soon. In an attempt to curve my appetite I go the outside fridge to get a bottle of water, but right when I open the door I realize the trap I’m going into. I try to detour, but it is too late. Right in front of me is the holy grail of all Thanksgiving, mothers 4 layer trifle! It seems to glow as I stare at it intently, knowing perfectly well that although the day will be filled with glorious food nothing will top this. I reluctantly shut the door, all-the-while not breaking eye contact with it. I walk slowly back into the house, empty handed, forgetting all reasons why I went outside in the first place. It wouldn’t be long before my mind would be temporarily distracted by the distinct smell of the other food in our upcoming meal. “Time to eat!” I hear my dad’s voice echo through the house. We all know he gets impatient when he’s hungry and the food is ready, so no one lags. We bow our heads, give our thanks, and then…the rest is a blur. The next thing I know the food that was in front of us is almost all gone, my plate looks used, and my stomach feels like I just ate my own weight in mashed potatoes. As I glory in out-eating everyone in my family, those dreaded words come out of my parents mouths, “Who wants desert?” Oh no! Did I do it again? I over ate and now I don’t have room for desert. My pecan pie that my mother makes just for me…and the trifle! How could I have been so foolish! That trifle is better than any of this food I just ate, but I filled myself up and now I don’t even want the best part!

What it was like...

Sweat drops glide smoothly down your face as you feel their familiar salty sting in your eye. “It’s been 3 days!” you moan in a dry raspy voice. Relief from this minor discomfort would be nice. But even if you could lift your arms to dry your face, or to plug your nose and stop the smell of death from entering your lungs it wouldn’t change anything, because lingering in the back of your mind is the one question that fear itself is even to afraid to ask: What is Auschwitz? The more you think about this the less sweat or the rotting dead bother you. As your stomach begins to toss you realize that it’s not the smell of death that causes you to want to vomit, but it is the fact that you feel your own death rapidly approaching that churns your insides like butter. As your vision gradually becomes enveloped in black you can faintly hear a child’s plea, “Daddy I’m so hungry! Will there be food where we’re going?” A smile creeps over your face. For the first time since the SS broke into your home you realize that it doesn’t matter. For the first time in years you have something to look forward to. Knowing you won’t live long enough to hear the fathers reply, you finally find comfort in death.

More than 2 millions souls were loaded onto Nazi cattle cars and transported to Auschwitz in this same manner. As far as records show, only 1% left there alive (University of Minnesota). The Nazi Holocaust was one of the most horrific acts of genocide committed in all of human history. Human beings were treated so poorly, and tortured so severely, that many begged for death and welcomed it like a long awaited friend. Since World War II there have been many other popular issues that have attracted much of the people’s time and interest; however, no such issue has ever been as grand or horrific as was the Jewish Holocaust.

First Day of Work

So today is my first day of work at DAC. So far my boss hasn't come in yet. So I've been here since 9 a.m. sitting around in this same position doing nothing. But I get paid to do it. I've been reading up on some stuff to help me along, but I've reached a wall. Either I don't have the attention span to read anymore, or I've run out of stuff to read. Not sure which one it is. All I know is tonight is bowling night!

...One more

I thought this one was good too.

School...psh give me a break, it was a vacation.

So here are just some highlight shots from my trip to DC and Gettysburg. I'll give the full story sometime. But for now I thought I'd show off my awesome photo skills to Ainsley and Quinn.

WWII Memorial

Washington DC Temple

Coolest Car ever. He's not making a statement...he's just himself.

The Army of Northern Virginia