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Jul 22, 2012

dark knight rises (no spoilers)

I've read a handful of comments of Facebook with various opinions and usually I keep to myself and don't delve into arguing publicly about things that don't matter, but this is something I feel strongly enough about to just come out and say:

If you think Dark Knight Rises was a "bad" movie, you are wrong. You are free to dislike it because of personal taste/preference/style, but it was not a bad movie.

I was discussing with a friend of mine how just like any kind of art there are things that make it good or bad whether you agree or not. DKR was a well-crafted story with dynamic characters and good messages and themes scattered throughout. Well cast (minus Anne) and executed well through the script, directing, production design, etc. Therefore it was a good movie. Whether you choose to buy into Superheroes is your decision, but you know what it was going into it. 

It, also, should not be blamed for any violence that is related to it because it does not glorify evil.

I will agree that the original Dark Knight, with the Joker, was highly unnerving and not something I would watch every day or show to young children. Sometimes when I watch violentesqe movies I wonder if we are giving crazy people ideas but it is only because they are singling out one small part of a film and ignoring the overall picture and themes. But...

Here is the thing about movies, to tell a story through the medium of film it has to be visual. So, yes, the movies are dark (and this one is less dark than the Dark Knight) but it is to show us that there is evil in the world--something the characters are actively trying to stop by the way. Sometimes it is hard to watch hard things, but it is also a part of life. We cannot go about pretending evil doesn't exist just because we don't see it immediately around us.  

Something I like about Batman is that it's not just a fanatic (did I say fanatic--I meant hunk) with a cape and mask and fancy equipment, but also local heroes in the government and police force that are trying to make a difference. And even everyday citizens are given the opportunity to do good. 

And, yes, the Batman is flawed. Turns out every human is. Turns out we don't always want to do the right thing, we are sometimes selfish, and we want to be the hero of the story and sometimes it's not always for the most noble reasons. That's what makes us wonderful and dynamic and those flaws and learning to overcome them are a part of God's eternal plan for us. What people don't realize is the movies with perfect characters are the ones that are really annoying. There was only ever one perfect person. We can't relate to perfect characters. 

I also want to point out the huge HONESTY theme that we got throughout in case you didn't notice they were telling us that we should be honest with the other humans in our lives--and with ourselves. The day before I saw it I made a pact with a friend to be more honest with people even when it is uncomfortable and the day after I had/heard of some refreshing experiences where honesty really paid off. Batman agrees, so everyone say what you're really feeling because it is always better than hiding/withholding information for the sake of crafting something that seems like it will work better. 

As for my review of the movie, the only complaints I have is that we never saw Tom Hardy's beautiful face...and that Anne Hathaway...she had her moments, but...bleh. 

I will also continue to love C. Nolan because he is a filmmaker who reminds us that even if you can now watch YouTube videos in 4K a good and put in special effects on your iPhone, an intricate story is what will really blow people's minds. 

Jul 17, 2012

the music video I've watched over and over

I know this guy named Derek Pueblo, D. Puebs, or DP the DP. 
I've worked on a thing or two with him, bought him deodorant once, you know...
He sort of looks like Justin Timberlake.

He made this video for New Electric Sound. And it is fabulous. Axe Motorcycle gang? Brilliant. That lead singer with his charming smile gets me every time (and I have watched it several times). And we all know I'm a sucker for anything with a bandana around its neck.


Jul 15, 2012

I'll call you...MAYBE.

Can someone explain to me and my female friends this phenomena...You meet a guy, you hit it off, he gets your number, he never calls.


Explanations that don't make sense: 

1. He's not interested. Because obviously he was at some point and somehow in a few days of not seeing the girl he has discovered something undesirable? Did he see weird pictures on facebook? Or look up her medical record? 

2. Fear of rejection. She already said yes! She gave you her number. Isn't that the hard part?



Explanations that could make sense:

1. He or someone he loves got into a horrible accident.
2. He ran into his ex-girlfriend the next day, fell back in love and is now engaged.
3. The girl really does have some weird pictures on Facebook. 
4. He found out later she's his cousin.
5. He found out later she's the ex-girlfriend of his roommate. 
6. Amnesia.
7. He is writing an article on how to confuse women.
8. He lost the piece of paper or put it into his phone wrong. 
9. He was actually just doing a survey to find the most popular area code in a given area.
10. His phone is broken 

Because yes, we are girls and we do over think things and come up with a million scenarios in our heads.

Anyone have any insight on this? Or personal experiences? I'm not talking about when the girl leaves the guy her number (and he ends up being gay---poor Carly) I mean when a guy goes out of his way to ask for the number, says he'll call and never does. How does that make sense?


Jul 13, 2012

We all have feelings. That doesn't make you unique.

But it does make you part of a big, grand community of feelers that consists of everyone who is or ever has lived or ever will live on this planet. 

Which is sort of better than being unique anyway.

Jul 7, 2012

independence









 signing the declaration of independence.










from the phone. #nofilter

Jul 3, 2012

Words of Wisdom

Today my co-worker critiqued my water bottle drinking skills. 
"It's not a boy, you don't need to put your lips all over it."

"We'll set up the loft bed...and then hang the hammock under it."
"No. We'll put a desk and another bed under it. You're fun. I'm practical."
"And that's why we make a great team."

"Zac Efron is like Justin Timberlake. I want to hate him...but he's actually really talented."

"It's a blessing and a curse."
"I feel like you could say that about all your personality traits."

"I mean this in the most platonic way, but you have many attributes that would make for a great wife."

"Why are you always wasting my life with youtube videos instead of enlightening my life with violin pop dancing?"
"You know you can have both of those."

Review of the new Spiderman movie: 
"Was it good?"
"Girls will like it."

"This should be the scruff standard at BYU. It would be so simple: if you don't look as good as [Paul] Newman you gotta shave." -Mrs. Kelly

"I like that I can always count on you to high five me over the smallest accomplishments."