Christmas is my favorite time of year. I love everything about it. The decorations, the music, time spent with family, the spirit of giving, and celebrating the birth of Jesus. There isn't a more magical time of year in my opinion. But as with every year, the Christmas season ends and I always feel a little down about it.
It always starts Chtistmas night. The realization sets in that this is the last hurrah for the Christmas season. Winter is a cold and dark season, and Christmas makes it all seem better. But what about these next two to three months? That's why the end of Christmas always depresses me. Winter against the lights of Christmas isn't such a big deal, but when the lights are down and it's even darker out there, it can be daunting.
So, I guess the only way to combat the gloom if winter is to keep that Christmas spirit alive. We don't have to stop giving, spending time with family, or celebrating Jesus just because Christmas is over. What if the Christmas spirit were genuinely carried on past Christmas one year? I think that would be a wonderful sight. So to anyone reading this, I hope you had the merriest of Christmases, and let's carry it on into a new year!
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Monday, December 24, 2012
Have A Merry Christmas And A Cheesy One Two
No, I'm not illiterate, I know that's the wrong spelling of the word "too." If you remember last year I did a post about cheesy Christmas specials/movies. If not, you can read it here. Well this year I have a couple of cheesy Christmas songs to share with you. I love Christmas music, and while I mostly go for just regular Christmas music, every now and then I find a good ole cheesy song that is just catchy enough for me to love. Hope you enjoy them!
Naughty Naughty Children (Better Start Actin' Nice) by Grace Potter
I first heard this song during the sequel to the Christmas Special Prep and Landing. I thought it was kind of catchy, and Grace Potter has a good voice.
Santa Stole My Lady by Fitz & The Tantrums
I heard this song at the end of this season's Christmas episode of New Girl. The lyrics are admittedly odd and cheesy, but the music is pretty catchy.
Naughty Naughty Children (Better Start Actin' Nice) by Grace Potter
Santa Stole My Lady by Fitz & The Tantrums
Sunday, December 23, 2012
A New Kind of Challenge
I have trouble blogging on a regular basis. The problem is, I just get busy. Every now and then I will have an idea and think to myself that I should blog about it, but it never ends up happening. So in the past I've done 30 day challenges to make myself blog. In fact if you've followed my blog at all, most of the posts on my blog are the result of a 30 day challenge. Well as interesting as those are, I need a new challenge to get me back into blogging. So here's the deal, I like the concept of 30 blog posts. It's a good number. The problem is, blogging every day is challenging, tiring, and often uninspired. There were days during my past challenges that I really had no idea what to blog, but I knew I had to blog something. Also with the 30 day challenges, there is feeling that if you fall behind a day, you are letting yourself down. It's depressing.
All of that being said, I really want to get back into blogging, especially while I'm on Christmas break. So I'm doing a 30 post challenge. Here's what I promise with this challenge: I will make 30 blog posts, within a reasonable amount of time. Yep, that's the best I can do for you. I could have one day where I have enough ideas for 5 posts, and there could be five day stretches where I can't come up with one idea for a post. I'm hoping this will keep me to my posting duty, but not force me to put up random posts or feel guilty if I can't or choose not to post one day. Following this post, I'm taking count of 30 posts with a hearty, "Let's do this!"
All of that being said, I really want to get back into blogging, especially while I'm on Christmas break. So I'm doing a 30 post challenge. Here's what I promise with this challenge: I will make 30 blog posts, within a reasonable amount of time. Yep, that's the best I can do for you. I could have one day where I have enough ideas for 5 posts, and there could be five day stretches where I can't come up with one idea for a post. I'm hoping this will keep me to my posting duty, but not force me to put up random posts or feel guilty if I can't or choose not to post one day. Following this post, I'm taking count of 30 posts with a hearty, "Let's do this!"
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Finished!
30th post for the challenge! I know it's kind of cheating to do a post about this being the 30th post of the challenge, but seriously guys, 30 posts is a lot. It was fun, challenging, and at times depressing. I'm glad I did it, but I don't think I will be doing it again any time soon. The hope is that I can just blog on a regular basis more often. We'll see how that goes. Anyway, be happy an blog on friends!
"So Edible"
Id: Based around the "pleasure principle" the Id represents those base animal instincts that a person has unrefined by the Ego or the Superego. The Id is irrational and instinctual.
Troy: Troy has a childlike innocence. At times it makes him endearing, but it also makes him one of the less rational members of the group. I mean this is the guy who swallowed a Troll statuette in the timeline episode because he thought it was the only way to defeat it. Troy's great, but not always the most rational.
Pierce: Pierce kind of just does whatever he wants without consideration of others. Look how quickly he became a villain in season 2. His frequently racist and insensitive comments show his lack of regard for social expectation. Also, he's right along there with Troy when it comes to not being able to grasp reality.
Dean Pelton: Animal urges? Yeah Dean Pelton's got that one covered. There isn't a character on Community with more fetishes and weird costumes than the dean.
Chang: He is the craziest, least rational, character on the show by far. If there were a living embodiment of the Id, it would easily be Chang.
Superego: The superego is based around the "morality principle." It uses social standards and guilt to keep the Id in check.
Shirley: Shirley is a master at using the guilt trip. Yes she can be sweet and nice, but she is also the person who kicked Jeff out of her Christmas party for breaking social expectation. Not to mention, the episode where she guilts Jeff into dealing with Chang by saying, "I know you're not going to make a pregnant woman..."
Jeff: Speaking of Superego, Jeff falls right into this category. He spends just about every episode manipulating social standards to get people to fall in line with his plans. Not only that, but his total facade is built around meeting social expectations. In the season 2 valentines day episode he mentions how he "got into soccer" just because it made him sound cool. Jeff's MO is being "cool" and using his skills as a former lawyer to convince everyone to do what he wants.
Annie: If there were a royal position given to the biggest Superego on campus, she would be known as "Queen Annie of the Superegos." Seriously, there isn't a bigger superego on campus. She takes the superego qualities of Jeff and Shirley and puts them together. She's defined by her need to fit society's standard of success, she uses her moral standards to make the study group fall in line with what she thinks they should be doing, and she has got the guilt trip down pat. Hence the Disney face.
Ego: The Ego is driven by the "reality principle." It is the rational part of the psyche that counters the Id's lack of rationality. It also can be a sort of mediator between the desires of the Id and the guilt induction of the Superego.
Abed: I mean come on, he's the obvious Ego of the group. He doesn't understand emotion, so he is forced to be a completely rational thinker. Yes, he does verge into the childish with the dreamatorium, but even that has a rational order to it. Abed is the only character that can make a decision completely based on rational thought as opposed to emotion or guilt.
Britta: This one might surprise people, but I definitely see her as an Ego. Yes, Britta screws everything up, but think about it, whenever she "britta's" something, it normally results in a member or the entire group coming to a realization. In the celebrity impersonation episode, she is the only one that recognized that Jeff's ego was growing out of control. Had it not been for Britta's test in the season 3 Halloween episode, the group never would have realized that they are all pretty much a little insane. She may not know the difference between "edible" and "oedipal" but she did accurately identify Jeff and Pierce's father issues. The biggest proof that Britta is an Ego, is her relationship with Abed (her fellow Ego). At the beginning of season 3 she may have broken Abed with Cougarton Abbey, but she also fixed him with Inspector Spacetime. Furthermore Abed himself says in the season 3 finale that Britta is the only person he could ever trust as his therapist because she has as little control over his brain as he does.
To Whom It May Concern (Incoming MNU Freshmen)
MidAmerica Nazarene University is a wonderful place. I have cherished the last three years there, and I am looking forward to my last year to come. One of the things I wish I had when I started here though, is a better understanding of what would come in the next four years. So for any incoming freshmen to MNU this year, here is my list of 12 things you should be aware of as an MNU student.
1.) Own a good study bible:
Being a Christian school, you have at least three classes you must take in the religion department, two of which will require you to own a bible. My advice? Go out and buy a Zondervan NIV Study Bible if you don't already own one. Zondervan makes good study bibles, and NIV is going to be the most universal translation you can use at MNU. It's a great resource for both your Old Testament and New Testament classes, and just a great book to own period.
2.) Set up a 4 year plan:
Your first couple of years at MNU, you will be meeting with your adviser to set up your class schedule. Two points of advice here. First, get to know your adviser. This is the person who will be helping you navigate through your college experience, so you'll want to be on good terms with them. Also, since your adviser is almost always a professor from your department of study, it's good to know them because they will likely be teaching a lot of your classes. Second, by the end of your freshman year, you need to tell them that you want to lay out a basic four year plan with them. I've seen students who neglected to take a class, and because of it are forced to go to college an extra semester. When you email your adviser about meeting to discuss classes, tell them that you would like to take the time in that meeting to set up an outline of the next four years. The important part is that you outline when you need to take the courses for your specific field of study. General education classes are offered every semester so getting those out of the way shouldn't be too hard. Make sure you do this! Getting through a liberal arts college without a plan will be hard.
3.) Declare a major:
Following in line with the last one, the sooner you can declare a major, the better. Now things might change. For my first three semesters, I was an English Education major, but by my fourth semester I had dropped the education part, which changed my graduation requirements. Here's what you need to know about declaring a major. If you want to graduate in four years, you have to have your major nailed down by your fourth semester. It will take you at least two years to get through the courses required for your major because the courses for a given major are offered in two year cycles. For example as and English major, the class Writers and Movements is only offered in the fall on even years. You'll only have two of these in your college career, so if you don't have your major nailed down by that second time, you won't be graduating in four years. The sooner you can declare a major, the better. You'll have more time and freedom to complete your necessary classes. Just be sure it's a major you can stick with.
4.)The class/professor makes a difference:
Being a liberal arts college, you will have a lot of different choices to make as to which general education courses you take. This is a great chance to expand your horizons, so choose wisely. Now you didn't hear this from me, but some professors teach a class better than others. Here are a few. For Comp. and Literature classes, always go for Dr. Thomas. She's the head of the English department and one of the most caring professors you will meet. For environmental science, go for Dr. Taylor. He's smart, understanding, and makes the class much more fun than the other professors. For religion classes, go for Dr.Cloud, Dr. Edlin, and Dr. Fine. Cloud or Edlin will likely be teaching Old or New Testament. They are very different, but both are really great. Some people complain that Edlin puts them to sleep, but honestly, he knows his stuff, especially for Old Testament. Cloud is passionate about education. Yes he hides it under layers of sarcasm, but he genuinely wants his students gain something from his classes. Fine teaches Christian Beliefs. Don't take this with anyone else. Seriously if you can have this experience with him, it will open your mind up to all kinds of ideas about your faith that you had never considered.
5.) Get to know the people in your major:
I think this one is important. Find people in your major to connect with. This is important, because you will often have classes with these people, and most importantly they are the only people on campus who can understand exactly what you are going through with your school work. I've gotten to know many people in my major well, and whenever we have a question or want to shoot ideas off of each other, we always have somebody to turn to. You'll have friends outside your major, but make sure to make friends inside your major as well.
6.) Study (Alone and in groups):
This one can kind of tie in with the last one. If you get to know people from your major, then it will be much easier to form groups to study in. You'll want to do this. It is much easier to study for a class if you know people who are studying for the same class. Also, just make sure that you make time for studying. You'll have plenty of distractions, and going to hang out with people on campus is important, but make yourself sit down and study for class. It's the only way you'll be able to keep up with your classes.
7.) Read the book:
You might have noticed in high school that you could probably get by in a class without really reading the book. Here's the thing about college, if you don't read the book you won't get much out of the class. Professors in college expect you to get more knowledge from the book than from their classroom lectures. If you want to be able to succeed in a class and actually learn something, read the book. Otherwise your money is kind of going down the drain, and your grade might suffer heavily.
8.) Ask for help:
For the most part, the professors at MNU are very approachable. Don't be afraid to ask them for help with something you don't understand. I've found that just about all of the professors are understanding and more than willing to help you with whatever issues you are having on an assignment. Also, if you are struggling in a class, contact a tutor. There is no shame in seeking help in a class. There is shame in failing a class because of pride or laziness.
9.) Attend/Pay attention to chapel:
Sometimes the obligation of chapel can feel like a drag. You're tired and have homework to focus on, but you have to take this time out of your day to go to chapel. First of all, don't skip chapel a lot. You don't want to be scrambling for chapel points at the end of the semester, and you definitely don't want to have to pay the fine for not having enough chapel points at the end of a semester. Second, pay attention while you're in chapel. 9 times out of 10, the people speaking in chapel have some really good things to say. You can learn a lot from chapel, so don't neglect it.
10.) Attend events:
This is the best way to meet people on campus and get to know them better. My best friend and I had classes together, and even had the same major, but we didn't actually really talk to each other until we were put in the same group for a corn maze at a freshman trip to the Louisberg Cider Mill. Things like this allow you to get to know people outside of an academic setting.
11.) Wait for sales:
MNU has a really nice store on campus called The Merc. You can get all kinds of MNU clothing, mugs, and other spirit wear here. The key however is to wait until they have a sale to buy anything. Normally The Merc has at least two good sales a year. The good thing is that they will email you days ahead of time so you can plan to attend the sale. That's the other thing, make sure you check your email daily to be aware of sales and other opportunities on campus. Not to mention, teachers might email you about class assignments or cancellations.
12.) Have fun!:
You only get four years at MNU, so enjoy them while you can. I've loved the last three years there and in many ways it is sad to be going into my last year. Make sure you make the most of what time you have at MNU.
1.) Own a good study bible:
Being a Christian school, you have at least three classes you must take in the religion department, two of which will require you to own a bible. My advice? Go out and buy a Zondervan NIV Study Bible if you don't already own one. Zondervan makes good study bibles, and NIV is going to be the most universal translation you can use at MNU. It's a great resource for both your Old Testament and New Testament classes, and just a great book to own period.
2.) Set up a 4 year plan:
Your first couple of years at MNU, you will be meeting with your adviser to set up your class schedule. Two points of advice here. First, get to know your adviser. This is the person who will be helping you navigate through your college experience, so you'll want to be on good terms with them. Also, since your adviser is almost always a professor from your department of study, it's good to know them because they will likely be teaching a lot of your classes. Second, by the end of your freshman year, you need to tell them that you want to lay out a basic four year plan with them. I've seen students who neglected to take a class, and because of it are forced to go to college an extra semester. When you email your adviser about meeting to discuss classes, tell them that you would like to take the time in that meeting to set up an outline of the next four years. The important part is that you outline when you need to take the courses for your specific field of study. General education classes are offered every semester so getting those out of the way shouldn't be too hard. Make sure you do this! Getting through a liberal arts college without a plan will be hard.
3.) Declare a major:
Following in line with the last one, the sooner you can declare a major, the better. Now things might change. For my first three semesters, I was an English Education major, but by my fourth semester I had dropped the education part, which changed my graduation requirements. Here's what you need to know about declaring a major. If you want to graduate in four years, you have to have your major nailed down by your fourth semester. It will take you at least two years to get through the courses required for your major because the courses for a given major are offered in two year cycles. For example as and English major, the class Writers and Movements is only offered in the fall on even years. You'll only have two of these in your college career, so if you don't have your major nailed down by that second time, you won't be graduating in four years. The sooner you can declare a major, the better. You'll have more time and freedom to complete your necessary classes. Just be sure it's a major you can stick with.
4.)The class/professor makes a difference:
Being a liberal arts college, you will have a lot of different choices to make as to which general education courses you take. This is a great chance to expand your horizons, so choose wisely. Now you didn't hear this from me, but some professors teach a class better than others. Here are a few. For Comp. and Literature classes, always go for Dr. Thomas. She's the head of the English department and one of the most caring professors you will meet. For environmental science, go for Dr. Taylor. He's smart, understanding, and makes the class much more fun than the other professors. For religion classes, go for Dr.Cloud, Dr. Edlin, and Dr. Fine. Cloud or Edlin will likely be teaching Old or New Testament. They are very different, but both are really great. Some people complain that Edlin puts them to sleep, but honestly, he knows his stuff, especially for Old Testament. Cloud is passionate about education. Yes he hides it under layers of sarcasm, but he genuinely wants his students gain something from his classes. Fine teaches Christian Beliefs. Don't take this with anyone else. Seriously if you can have this experience with him, it will open your mind up to all kinds of ideas about your faith that you had never considered.
5.) Get to know the people in your major:
I think this one is important. Find people in your major to connect with. This is important, because you will often have classes with these people, and most importantly they are the only people on campus who can understand exactly what you are going through with your school work. I've gotten to know many people in my major well, and whenever we have a question or want to shoot ideas off of each other, we always have somebody to turn to. You'll have friends outside your major, but make sure to make friends inside your major as well.
6.) Study (Alone and in groups):
This one can kind of tie in with the last one. If you get to know people from your major, then it will be much easier to form groups to study in. You'll want to do this. It is much easier to study for a class if you know people who are studying for the same class. Also, just make sure that you make time for studying. You'll have plenty of distractions, and going to hang out with people on campus is important, but make yourself sit down and study for class. It's the only way you'll be able to keep up with your classes.
7.) Read the book:
You might have noticed in high school that you could probably get by in a class without really reading the book. Here's the thing about college, if you don't read the book you won't get much out of the class. Professors in college expect you to get more knowledge from the book than from their classroom lectures. If you want to be able to succeed in a class and actually learn something, read the book. Otherwise your money is kind of going down the drain, and your grade might suffer heavily.
8.) Ask for help:
For the most part, the professors at MNU are very approachable. Don't be afraid to ask them for help with something you don't understand. I've found that just about all of the professors are understanding and more than willing to help you with whatever issues you are having on an assignment. Also, if you are struggling in a class, contact a tutor. There is no shame in seeking help in a class. There is shame in failing a class because of pride or laziness.
9.) Attend/Pay attention to chapel:
Sometimes the obligation of chapel can feel like a drag. You're tired and have homework to focus on, but you have to take this time out of your day to go to chapel. First of all, don't skip chapel a lot. You don't want to be scrambling for chapel points at the end of the semester, and you definitely don't want to have to pay the fine for not having enough chapel points at the end of a semester. Second, pay attention while you're in chapel. 9 times out of 10, the people speaking in chapel have some really good things to say. You can learn a lot from chapel, so don't neglect it.
10.) Attend events:
This is the best way to meet people on campus and get to know them better. My best friend and I had classes together, and even had the same major, but we didn't actually really talk to each other until we were put in the same group for a corn maze at a freshman trip to the Louisberg Cider Mill. Things like this allow you to get to know people outside of an academic setting.
11.) Wait for sales:
MNU has a really nice store on campus called The Merc. You can get all kinds of MNU clothing, mugs, and other spirit wear here. The key however is to wait until they have a sale to buy anything. Normally The Merc has at least two good sales a year. The good thing is that they will email you days ahead of time so you can plan to attend the sale. That's the other thing, make sure you check your email daily to be aware of sales and other opportunities on campus. Not to mention, teachers might email you about class assignments or cancellations.
12.) Have fun!:
You only get four years at MNU, so enjoy them while you can. I've loved the last three years there and in many ways it is sad to be going into my last year. Make sure you make the most of what time you have at MNU.
Respect and Care
I'm reading this book right now called Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell. I just finished a section that deals with the story of a man accidentally being held against his will in a nursing home. This section really made me think about the way we treat older people in our society. We don't have enough respect for them, honestly. I think it's horrible that we just ship them off to live in a home when they get so old that we don't want to deal with them anymore. Maybe it's just the empathetic side of me, but I always think when I read stories like this, what if that happened to me? I certainly don't want to be the person to do that to my parents. Now I understand that there are cases where illness makes it so a person needs to be looked after, but there are a lot of people who are forced by their children to live in nursing homes despite the fact that they suffer from no illness. We live in an out of sight out of mind world, and I think we try to "dispose" of our elderly in a way that makes us feel good about ourselves. One of the characters in the book puts it best:
"We--by whom I mean anyone over sixty--commit two offenses just by existing. One is Lack of Velocity. We drive too slowly, walk too slowly, talk too slowly. The world will do business with dictators, perverts, and drug barons of all stripes, but being slowed down it cannot abide. Our second offence is being Everyman's memento mori. The world can only get comfy in shiny-eyed denial if we are out of sight."
I don't think anyone could have explained the world's treatment of the elderly better.
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Two Sides of a Coin
One day in high school, I got into an argument with someone about what was more important, English or Science. You see she started the conversation by saying that English shouldn't be a 4 year core subject in high school. My rebuttal was that of course it should be and that if anything shouldn't be a core subject, it's Science, because it's a specialized subject matter. The argument went on like that for a while.
That was probably six years ago. Today I view it a little different. While I still think she was wrong, I think that I was too. Science is important. Without it you don't have the basic functions for life, health, or future innovation. We owe a lot to the discoveries that have been made by science, and we should continue to invest in science for the future. But science alone can foster a culture of ambition. With discovery comes those who fail to see its bounds or want to exploit that discovery. This is why the humanities are also vital. Through subjects such as literature, history, and philosophy, people can learn about ethics, how to avoid past mistakes, and what mistakes could arise in the future. Science alone can't fix the world. That's why both science and the humanities are important to study.
That was probably six years ago. Today I view it a little different. While I still think she was wrong, I think that I was too. Science is important. Without it you don't have the basic functions for life, health, or future innovation. We owe a lot to the discoveries that have been made by science, and we should continue to invest in science for the future. But science alone can foster a culture of ambition. With discovery comes those who fail to see its bounds or want to exploit that discovery. This is why the humanities are also vital. Through subjects such as literature, history, and philosophy, people can learn about ethics, how to avoid past mistakes, and what mistakes could arise in the future. Science alone can't fix the world. That's why both science and the humanities are important to study.
Summer Movie Review Part 2
People Like Us:
Rating: Good.
What works: This is a well acted movie with a good message at the heart of it. The writing isn't amazing, but the actors do everything they can to compensate for that, and they do so fairly well. There is a little humor, but not so much to make the more dramatic parts seem overly cheesy.
What doesn't work: Movies like these always run the risk of being labeled as "Hallmark" movies. They have a potentially cheesy premise and in the end everyone is hugs and giggles. I feel like in the end this movie doesn't come out like that, but it does skirt the line for most of the movie, so I can see where critics had issues with it.
To Rome With Love:
Rating: Okay
What works: Like most Woody Allen films, this movie is very quirky and has some outlandish plot-lines. I think that most of the actors really did well with the material they had in this movie. There were also some pretty witty moments that really made me want to like this movie much more than I actually did.
What doesn't work: The ending. It's a movie of vignettes about what happens when Italians and Ex-patriot Americans, living in Rome, have their lives turned upside down. For the most part it's amusing, but after seeing the end, you realize it got away from itself. What could have been a 10 minute ending became at least a half hour that kept dragging on. This is the major downfall of the movie. Woody Allen just doesn't know when to say enough.
Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted
Rating: Good
What works: This was probably the surprise movie for me this summer. I didn't expect it to be as good as it was. The graphics were stunning, and the plot was easily more entertaining than the first two combined. The comedic elements are also much stronger in this movie than the first two. If this is the last Madagascar film, it's a great end to the series. If it isn't, then it only gives me hope for what a future Madagascar film could be like.
What doesn't work: That "Afro-Circus" song got a little annoying after a while.
Moonrise Kingdom:
Rating: Bad
What works: Well, I guess you can say that the cast is full of stars...
What doesn't work: Just about everything. Critics were touting this as a modern day classic. Honestly I thought this movie was horrible. The little girl seems like she wants to kill someone in her sleep, and the boy is somewhere between incredibly annoying and totally lacking in emotion. Not to mention, the relationship between the two is creepy. I know that the whole quirky over-exaggerated indie movie thing is supposed to be in style right now, but I honestly just think it's annoying beyond belief. Also, can we stop with the 60's throwback stuff?
Madea's Witness Protection:
Rating: Okay
What works: Madea. I went to see this as a guilty pleasure movie. I realize these movies aren't great films, but in my opinion this was a more amusing way to spend an hour and a half than Moonrise Kingdom. Madea drives these movies. Her demeanor and one liners are funny enough to get some laughs.
What doesn't work: For a comedy, it's not funny enough on a consistent level. Also, the acting isn't always the best. Then again that's kind of why we call them guilty pleasures. We know they aren't great.
Hope Springs:
Rating: Good
What works: The actors and the script. The three main actors all give very good and convincing performances in this movie. The plot of the movie was well balanced. It had comedic elements and it had dramatic elements in equal proportion. It also dealt with a very serious issue, marital intimacy.
What doesn't work: It's not so much what doesn't work, as it is what might not work for the audience. If you aren't comfortable with a married couple talking about their sex life, then don't see this movie. It is only rated PG-13, so you don't have too much to worry about.
Ruby Sparks:
Rating: Great
What works: This is may be the most original movie of the summer. It's about a writer who is dealing with writers block, until he starts to dream about a girl. The dreams inspire him to write about her and one day she comes to life. The plot is well developed, the acting is great, and there is even a strong message about not controlling the person you are in a relationship with. A sign that this movie was a labor of love? The lead actor was a producer, and the lead actress wrote the script.
What doesn't work: The ending leaves a couple of minor questions in the mind of the audience, but honestly, this movie doesn't have a lot of flaws.
Sparkle:
Rating: Good
What works: The music. I'm not a huge fan of musicals because the music is always so dramatic, but Sparkle's songs are throwbacks to the heyday of Motown. Each of the actresses playing the three sisters does a great job, and Jordan Sparks really shows off her voice in the second half of the film. Also, this is Whitney Houston's last movie, so fans of her are sure to be drawn in for that reason alone.
What doesn't work: Some of the acting by the supporting cast seems pretty forced. Also, this is kind of a case of we've seen this story before. No, it's not highly original, but I think it does it's best to compensate for that with the musical performances.
Beasts of the Southern Wild:
Rating: AMAZING (I know that's not one of the four, but this movie is in a league of it's own.)
What works: Everything. Seriously. It's just gritty enough without over doing it, and it is incredibly emotional. The actors (all first time or little known) give Oscar worthy performances here. Essentially the movie is a whimsical and heartbreaking bildungsroman of a little girl who must learn how to survive in a harsh world. If you don't feel the emotion of this movie, especially by the end scene, you don't have a heart.
What doesn't work: It all works here, but there is a little animal violence for those of you that are squeamish.
What works: This is a well acted movie with a good message at the heart of it. The writing isn't amazing, but the actors do everything they can to compensate for that, and they do so fairly well. There is a little humor, but not so much to make the more dramatic parts seem overly cheesy.
What doesn't work: Movies like these always run the risk of being labeled as "Hallmark" movies. They have a potentially cheesy premise and in the end everyone is hugs and giggles. I feel like in the end this movie doesn't come out like that, but it does skirt the line for most of the movie, so I can see where critics had issues with it.
To Rome With Love:
What works: Like most Woody Allen films, this movie is very quirky and has some outlandish plot-lines. I think that most of the actors really did well with the material they had in this movie. There were also some pretty witty moments that really made me want to like this movie much more than I actually did.
What doesn't work: The ending. It's a movie of vignettes about what happens when Italians and Ex-patriot Americans, living in Rome, have their lives turned upside down. For the most part it's amusing, but after seeing the end, you realize it got away from itself. What could have been a 10 minute ending became at least a half hour that kept dragging on. This is the major downfall of the movie. Woody Allen just doesn't know when to say enough.
Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted
What works: This was probably the surprise movie for me this summer. I didn't expect it to be as good as it was. The graphics were stunning, and the plot was easily more entertaining than the first two combined. The comedic elements are also much stronger in this movie than the first two. If this is the last Madagascar film, it's a great end to the series. If it isn't, then it only gives me hope for what a future Madagascar film could be like.
What doesn't work: That "Afro-Circus" song got a little annoying after a while.
Moonrise Kingdom:
What works: Well, I guess you can say that the cast is full of stars...
What doesn't work: Just about everything. Critics were touting this as a modern day classic. Honestly I thought this movie was horrible. The little girl seems like she wants to kill someone in her sleep, and the boy is somewhere between incredibly annoying and totally lacking in emotion. Not to mention, the relationship between the two is creepy. I know that the whole quirky over-exaggerated indie movie thing is supposed to be in style right now, but I honestly just think it's annoying beyond belief. Also, can we stop with the 60's throwback stuff?
Madea's Witness Protection:
What works: Madea. I went to see this as a guilty pleasure movie. I realize these movies aren't great films, but in my opinion this was a more amusing way to spend an hour and a half than Moonrise Kingdom. Madea drives these movies. Her demeanor and one liners are funny enough to get some laughs.
What doesn't work: For a comedy, it's not funny enough on a consistent level. Also, the acting isn't always the best. Then again that's kind of why we call them guilty pleasures. We know they aren't great.
Hope Springs:
What works: The actors and the script. The three main actors all give very good and convincing performances in this movie. The plot of the movie was well balanced. It had comedic elements and it had dramatic elements in equal proportion. It also dealt with a very serious issue, marital intimacy.
What doesn't work: It's not so much what doesn't work, as it is what might not work for the audience. If you aren't comfortable with a married couple talking about their sex life, then don't see this movie. It is only rated PG-13, so you don't have too much to worry about.
Ruby Sparks:
What works: This is may be the most original movie of the summer. It's about a writer who is dealing with writers block, until he starts to dream about a girl. The dreams inspire him to write about her and one day she comes to life. The plot is well developed, the acting is great, and there is even a strong message about not controlling the person you are in a relationship with. A sign that this movie was a labor of love? The lead actor was a producer, and the lead actress wrote the script.
What doesn't work: The ending leaves a couple of minor questions in the mind of the audience, but honestly, this movie doesn't have a lot of flaws.
Sparkle:
What works: The music. I'm not a huge fan of musicals because the music is always so dramatic, but Sparkle's songs are throwbacks to the heyday of Motown. Each of the actresses playing the three sisters does a great job, and Jordan Sparks really shows off her voice in the second half of the film. Also, this is Whitney Houston's last movie, so fans of her are sure to be drawn in for that reason alone.
What doesn't work: Some of the acting by the supporting cast seems pretty forced. Also, this is kind of a case of we've seen this story before. No, it's not highly original, but I think it does it's best to compensate for that with the musical performances.
Beasts of the Southern Wild:
What works: Everything. Seriously. It's just gritty enough without over doing it, and it is incredibly emotional. The actors (all first time or little known) give Oscar worthy performances here. Essentially the movie is a whimsical and heartbreaking bildungsroman of a little girl who must learn how to survive in a harsh world. If you don't feel the emotion of this movie, especially by the end scene, you don't have a heart.
What doesn't work: It all works here, but there is a little animal violence for those of you that are squeamish.
Summer Movie Review Part 1
Summer and winter are my favorite times for movies. It seems like these times more than any other produce the most movies, and often some of the year's best movies. This summer I have seen a good deal of movies, so I thought I would do a quick review of all of them. I'm doing it in two parts so that these don't get too lengthy. I'll give each movie a ranking of bad, okay, good, or great.
The Avengers:
Rating: Great
What worked: Pretty much everything. This movies was so well planned, cast, written, and directed that I really can't find flaws with it. While I know Batman and Spiderman will probably get more recognition this summer, this is easily the best comic book movie franchise ever. Not to mention the way it blended action and comedy was great.
What didn't work: Like I said, I can't really find a flaw with this one.
The Dictator:
Rating: BAD
What worked: The only part of this movie that did anything was the mildly humorous ending speech that the main character gives making fun of American politics, and that wasn't even too impressive.
What didn't work: Pretty much any of it. The writing was mediocre, the premise was weak, and the acting was pretty awful. Not to mention, vulgarity isn't something I particularly like in a movie. I feel like most modern day comedy films are shoved full of vulgarity just for the shock value of it. The result, weak and unoriginal writing. In my defense, the only reason I saw this movie was because I went with someone else.
The Pirates: Band of Misfits:
Rating: Okay
What works: I have a hard time with this one. Based on reviews I expected it to be pretty great. It wasn't. There are some clever moments and jokes stuck in there so that's why I would say it's okay and not bad.
What doesn't work: For a movie about pirates, it's pretty boring. The plot just seemed to run around in circles. Like I said, I had pretty high expectations, and it didn't meet any of them. Yes some of the jokes in the movie were technically witty, but they didn't have any power behind them.
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel:
Rating: Great
What works: The great cast and the great cinematography really do wonders for this movie. This movie has elements of comedy and drama that are perfectly blended. This is a British movie that knew how to employ comedy and also incorporate a well developed plot. Like I said, the cast is great as well. I really like movies where a group of strangers are taken on a journey, especially when they do it as well as this movie.
What doesn't work: Not much. I guess the age barrier could be a problem for some movie goers, but I feel like this film even covered that well with Dev Patel's character.
Brave:
Rating: Good
What works: It's Pixar. They just make good movies. The characters are always charming, and there is always a great message. This movie is no exception. Also, you have to commend Pixar for finally creating a heroine.
What doesn't work: It's Pixar. Unfortunately for Brave, that means that it is being scrutinized against the amazing legacy of Pixar. The main flaw with this film is that the plot kind of runs around in circles a little. That's really the only flaw though. The positive elements of this film easily outweigh the negative elements.
Safety Not Guaranteed:
Rating: Good
What works: Aubrey Plaza, and a pretty well written script. I'm a fan of Plaza on Parks and Recreation, but she's kind of a character actor on there. It was very refreshing to see her in this role. It opened her up to more emotional content, and while she's still her curmudgeony self, she really showed just how great of an actress she can be.
What doesn't work: The ending is a little abrupt. There is a lot of build up to it, and it's not necessarily bad, just a little sudden. Some of the actors seem a little misplaced, but not so much that it really damages the movie.
The Avengers:
What worked: Pretty much everything. This movies was so well planned, cast, written, and directed that I really can't find flaws with it. While I know Batman and Spiderman will probably get more recognition this summer, this is easily the best comic book movie franchise ever. Not to mention the way it blended action and comedy was great.
What didn't work: Like I said, I can't really find a flaw with this one.
The Dictator:
What worked: The only part of this movie that did anything was the mildly humorous ending speech that the main character gives making fun of American politics, and that wasn't even too impressive.
What didn't work: Pretty much any of it. The writing was mediocre, the premise was weak, and the acting was pretty awful. Not to mention, vulgarity isn't something I particularly like in a movie. I feel like most modern day comedy films are shoved full of vulgarity just for the shock value of it. The result, weak and unoriginal writing. In my defense, the only reason I saw this movie was because I went with someone else.
The Pirates: Band of Misfits:
What works: I have a hard time with this one. Based on reviews I expected it to be pretty great. It wasn't. There are some clever moments and jokes stuck in there so that's why I would say it's okay and not bad.
What doesn't work: For a movie about pirates, it's pretty boring. The plot just seemed to run around in circles. Like I said, I had pretty high expectations, and it didn't meet any of them. Yes some of the jokes in the movie were technically witty, but they didn't have any power behind them.
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel:
What works: The great cast and the great cinematography really do wonders for this movie. This movie has elements of comedy and drama that are perfectly blended. This is a British movie that knew how to employ comedy and also incorporate a well developed plot. Like I said, the cast is great as well. I really like movies where a group of strangers are taken on a journey, especially when they do it as well as this movie.
What doesn't work: Not much. I guess the age barrier could be a problem for some movie goers, but I feel like this film even covered that well with Dev Patel's character.
Brave:
What works: It's Pixar. They just make good movies. The characters are always charming, and there is always a great message. This movie is no exception. Also, you have to commend Pixar for finally creating a heroine.
What doesn't work: It's Pixar. Unfortunately for Brave, that means that it is being scrutinized against the amazing legacy of Pixar. The main flaw with this film is that the plot kind of runs around in circles a little. That's really the only flaw though. The positive elements of this film easily outweigh the negative elements.
Safety Not Guaranteed:
What works: Aubrey Plaza, and a pretty well written script. I'm a fan of Plaza on Parks and Recreation, but she's kind of a character actor on there. It was very refreshing to see her in this role. It opened her up to more emotional content, and while she's still her curmudgeony self, she really showed just how great of an actress she can be.
What doesn't work: The ending is a little abrupt. There is a lot of build up to it, and it's not necessarily bad, just a little sudden. Some of the actors seem a little misplaced, but not so much that it really damages the movie.
Monday, August 20, 2012
Summer Listening
Summer is a time when music is abundant. I thought that in this line of thinking I would highlight some CD's that I have been listening to this summer.
Ghostbird by Zee Avi
Zee Avi is kind of the perfect summer music. Her music has an island vibe that's really cool. I first heard of her from YouTube. She gained quite the YouTube following before she was signed by a record label. This is her second CD and I feel it has really refined the sound of the first CD. The first song I really like off of this CD is The Book of Morris Johnson. The vibe of the song is just really cool. Another song on the CD that exemplifies summer is Roll Your Head in the Sun. Seriously this song puts me on a beach in the Caribbean.
One Song At A Time by Jamie Grace
I've had and enjoyed this CD since last fall, but this summer I turned my mom on to it by listening to it whenever we ran errands. It's really a great CD, and perfect for the summer. My mom's favorite song off of the CD is 1945. It's a really creative and catchy song.
Once Again by John Legend
I have to admit, the reason I got into John Legend at all was the reality singing competition Duets. I had always wanted to take the time to listen to some of his stuff, and the show just gave me the perfect excuse. R&B is a lost are in music these days, but John Legend goes back to the days of Marvin Gaye and really puts out some impressive music. My hands down favorite song of his is Slow Dance.
Chronicle, Vol 1 by Creedence Clearwater Revival
This is a greatest hits album, but I find that those are often a good way to get into a band that has a large catalog like CCR. They really have a plethora of amazing songs. Two of my favorites are Down on the Corner and Fortunate Son.
Human Again by Ingrid Michaelson
I've been a fan of Ingrid Michaelson for a while. Her newest CD came out this last winter, but I really haven't had a chance to listen to it until this summer. One of my favorite songs is Blood Brothers. It has a great meaning that people should be reminded of more these days.
Ghostbird by Zee Avi
Zee Avi is kind of the perfect summer music. Her music has an island vibe that's really cool. I first heard of her from YouTube. She gained quite the YouTube following before she was signed by a record label. This is her second CD and I feel it has really refined the sound of the first CD. The first song I really like off of this CD is The Book of Morris Johnson. The vibe of the song is just really cool. Another song on the CD that exemplifies summer is Roll Your Head in the Sun. Seriously this song puts me on a beach in the Caribbean.
One Song At A Time by Jamie Grace
I've had and enjoyed this CD since last fall, but this summer I turned my mom on to it by listening to it whenever we ran errands. It's really a great CD, and perfect for the summer. My mom's favorite song off of the CD is 1945. It's a really creative and catchy song.
Once Again by John Legend
I have to admit, the reason I got into John Legend at all was the reality singing competition Duets. I had always wanted to take the time to listen to some of his stuff, and the show just gave me the perfect excuse. R&B is a lost are in music these days, but John Legend goes back to the days of Marvin Gaye and really puts out some impressive music. My hands down favorite song of his is Slow Dance.
Chronicle, Vol 1 by Creedence Clearwater Revival
This is a greatest hits album, but I find that those are often a good way to get into a band that has a large catalog like CCR. They really have a plethora of amazing songs. Two of my favorites are Down on the Corner and Fortunate Son.
Human Again by Ingrid Michaelson
I've been a fan of Ingrid Michaelson for a while. Her newest CD came out this last winter, but I really haven't had a chance to listen to it until this summer. One of my favorite songs is Blood Brothers. It has a great meaning that people should be reminded of more these days.
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Even The Score
There are a lot of elements that going into making a TV show or movie. When those elements come together to create something awe inspiring, we are all quick to praise actors, producers, and visual effects teams. There is one element that people tend to forget though, the score. Now, I love a good score. To me, a score can convey all of the emotion and meaning of a show or movie in a very unique way. I have come across a couple of scores this summer that I believe do just that.
The first score is the opening theme for The Newsroom. When I looked this up on YouTube, a lot of people in the comments section complained that the score was far too old fashioned and boring. I completely disagree. Yes, the score does incorporate elements that hark back to the early days of journalism, but that's what is great about it. Journalism has a long and storied history, and that's exactly what this show and score are trying to capture. I also think the simplicity of the score helps to better evoke the emotion of the show. Listening to this, you can only imagine what great news story they will be tackling in the episode.
The other really impressive score I came across this summer was the score for Beasts of the Southern Wild. There are many great things about this score. First of all I love that they use music that is representative of the region that the film was shot in. I love a good ramp-up score. You know, those scores that start kind of slow and then build to something great. This score does that perfectly. I also feel like this score captures all of the triumph and whimsy that this film has to offer. It's truly great. Also, I find it kind of impressive that the film's director was also one of the people that worked on this score.
The first score is the opening theme for The Newsroom. When I looked this up on YouTube, a lot of people in the comments section complained that the score was far too old fashioned and boring. I completely disagree. Yes, the score does incorporate elements that hark back to the early days of journalism, but that's what is great about it. Journalism has a long and storied history, and that's exactly what this show and score are trying to capture. I also think the simplicity of the score helps to better evoke the emotion of the show. Listening to this, you can only imagine what great news story they will be tackling in the episode.
The other really impressive score I came across this summer was the score for Beasts of the Southern Wild. There are many great things about this score. First of all I love that they use music that is representative of the region that the film was shot in. I love a good ramp-up score. You know, those scores that start kind of slow and then build to something great. This score does that perfectly. I also feel like this score captures all of the triumph and whimsy that this film has to offer. It's truly great. Also, I find it kind of impressive that the film's director was also one of the people that worked on this score.
Friday, August 17, 2012
"New" Can Be A Good Thing
A couple of weeks ago I stumbled across a new show that I have come to love. The show is called The Newsroom and it is broadcast on HBO. Now I'm not a subscriber of HBO (actually I usually can't stand any of their shows) so I found out about this show from people talking about it on Twitter. I found the first episode online and I've been hooked ever since. So here is what I think really makes this show great.
First of all, the show started with a bang. You can't help but be intrigued by the first episode because it just draws you in and doesn't let go. It's a great way to start a show.
Second, characters. At first I couldn't decide whether to love or hate the main characters only to realize that they kind of expect you to do a little bit of both. Each character has a flaw or two, but in the end their virtues outweigh their flaws. Also, the casting is perfect. I can't imagine anyone else playing these characters and doing it this well.
Third, the premise. I love the premise of this show. A cable news broadcast team decides to drop the pomp and circumstance of cable news and just deliver the facts about what is going on in the world. It's great to see how a group of people can work to bring integrity to journalism. I also really like the whole, behind the scenes of a news broadcast, aspect of the show.
Fourth, the stories. The genius of this show is that they set it two years in the past. What makes this genius is that by doing this the show can tackle some of the biggest news stories of the past two years. This gives the show a sense of legitimacy. If the show were inventing news stories, then the audience wouldn't be able to grasp the magnitude of the events. Similarly it makes the "honest journalism" aspect of the show even more legitimate by showing how the characters refuse to compromise the details of a story.
Overall, it's a great show and I really think you should go give it a watch.
First of all, the show started with a bang. You can't help but be intrigued by the first episode because it just draws you in and doesn't let go. It's a great way to start a show.
Second, characters. At first I couldn't decide whether to love or hate the main characters only to realize that they kind of expect you to do a little bit of both. Each character has a flaw or two, but in the end their virtues outweigh their flaws. Also, the casting is perfect. I can't imagine anyone else playing these characters and doing it this well.
Third, the premise. I love the premise of this show. A cable news broadcast team decides to drop the pomp and circumstance of cable news and just deliver the facts about what is going on in the world. It's great to see how a group of people can work to bring integrity to journalism. I also really like the whole, behind the scenes of a news broadcast, aspect of the show.
Fourth, the stories. The genius of this show is that they set it two years in the past. What makes this genius is that by doing this the show can tackle some of the biggest news stories of the past two years. This gives the show a sense of legitimacy. If the show were inventing news stories, then the audience wouldn't be able to grasp the magnitude of the events. Similarly it makes the "honest journalism" aspect of the show even more legitimate by showing how the characters refuse to compromise the details of a story.
Overall, it's a great show and I really think you should go give it a watch.
Review: Moses, Man of the Mountain
I finished Moses, Man of the Mountain last week and I thought I would write up a quick review.
What works:
What works:
- Hurston's writing style. I've always been impressed with Zora Neale Hurston's writing style. Her words often come off as poetic and if you are really paying attention you can find some really great quotes within her works. I honestly think she's one of the most underrated authors.
- Character portrayal. The characters take on distinct personalities and voices in this novel. I think that this is a key to any great author. Hurston portrays the contrast between the many groups of characters with different motives, and unites them all in their humanity. You despise Pharaoh for being the captor of the Israelites, but at the same time you see the social pressures and personal flaws that have put him in the position he is in. Similarly you see the constant battle between Moses, who wants to teach the Israelites to prosper, and the Israelites, who want someone to hand them their freedom and prosperity.
- The last two thirds of the book. This is where the book really shines. When Moses escapes into the desert (not much of a spoiler for those familiar with the Exodus story) the story really begins to pick up. Moses starts to become his own man and learn from new groups of people and experiences. Most importantly, Moses learns not to be content with his circumstances in this part of the book, and that's really a driving point for the rest of the story.
- The beginning of the book. There are some really slow points in the beginning of this story. Moses is hard to like in this part of the book because he isn't that deep of a character. He wants to search for more knowledge and meaning, but never really fights to do so. Another problem I have with this part of the story is how far it deviates from the book of Exodus. Anyone familiar with Exodus knows that Moses was a Hebrew baby discovered on the river and taken in as part of Pharaoh's family. In this version of the story however Moses is simply just the Pharaoh's grandson and not a Hebrew. It may seem like a cosmetic change, but to me it really takes away from a part of the meaning behind the story. The famous line "Let my people go" has meaning as a message from God and a message from Moses, but in this story, they aren't his people. I'm glad to say that the latter part of the book does start to resemble the book of Exodus more than the beginning.
- The very end of the book. At the end of the book Moses leaves Israel to let them grow on their own. While Moses is traveling up the mountain and looking down he does a retrospective of all that he has been through in the book. I'm personally not a fan of these. Yes it recaps the book, but if you were paying attention while you were reading, you already know all of what the character is recapping. It's kind of boring and frankly there are better ways to end a book.
TV on DVD
I used to be opposed to the idea of buying a TV show on DVD. My philosophy was I've seen the episode, why do I need to see it again. That was until about two years ago when I was bored one weekend and on a whim bought the first seasons of Community and 30 Rock on DVD. Ever since I've been really into the concept. There are many things I like about TV on DVD. First of all, I learned that I really do like watching episodes of my favorite shows more than once. Yes, you already know what happens, but how is that different than watching a movie again? Second, it's much easier to see the whole concept behind a season of a show when it isn't broken up like it is when you watch on TV. Most shows really try to get somewhere in a season and you can see that development better when you aren't waiting around to watch them all the time. Finally it's a great way to spend a little time. I mostly buy sitcoms on DVD, so if I have a spare 20 minutes, I can just watch an episode and not feel to guilty about wasting as much time as I would if I were watching a movie.
Liz Lemon
I'm running a little short on blog ideas, and I have a lot of blogging to make up. This being the case, I figured I would do something easy. Here is a best of Liz Lemon (arguably one of the best TV characters ever) in YouTube clips:
Summer Regrets
School is starting in a couple of weeks, and summer will be coming to a close. I don't know about you guys, but I always have those things that I wish I had done during a break that I never got around to doing. For me that list is always topped with "Read More Books." It seems like every break I find something that distracts me from reading as much as I wanted to. So far this summer I have only finished two books, and one of them is a mystery thriller, so I don't even really count that. The problem for me is that reading takes focus and concentration, which don't always come naturally to me. I love reading, but often I find myself in situations that make it hard to really pay attention to what I'm reading. It's just one of those things I have to try harder to focus on. We all have room for improvement in life, and I guess one of my areas is taking more time to read.
P.S.
I also wish I had kept up with this whole blogging thing better. 10 posts behind. Geesh! I still do plan on getting done within the 30 days.
P.S.
I also wish I had kept up with this whole blogging thing better. 10 posts behind. Geesh! I still do plan on getting done within the 30 days.
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Priorities
Selfish people are by nature takers, not givers. They require you to cater to their needs whenever they demand, to keep them in your life. Loyal people on the other hand drop what they are doing to help those around them, even at their own expense. I have a warning to people out there. If you spend your life catering to the selfish people and ignoring what the loyal people do for you, both the loyal and the selfish will become glaringly aware of this. The selfish people will just demand more and more of you until you have nothing left of interest to them. The loyal people on the other hand will figure out that they come second and one day you will turn around and find that they aren't there anymore. Just be aware, loyalty in the face of neglect has its limits.
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
8-Bit Is Awesome
I've never been a huge video game nerd, but ever since my brother and I got a hand-me-down NES from our grandpa, we've been playing video games. In recent years, "nerd" culture (and gaming culture with it), has grown exponentially. Among this influx of gaming culture has been an increasing number of people recognizing and paying homage to gaming's origin, 8 Bit.
One of my favorite homages to 8 Bit is the one that "Community" did this season. If you haven't seen it, here is a clip:
If you look up 8 Bit on Google, the first entry is a Wikipedia link explaining what 8-Bit stands for. The second entry is a website called 8bit.com. It's a really interesting website that you should check out. My favorite feature of the website is that they have knock off versions of classic 8 Bit games that you can play.
Also, for movie fans, there is "Wreck-It Ralph" which hit theaters in early November. I know everyone is dying to see movies like The Hobbit this holiday season, but I'm really looking forward to this movie. I love the throwback to arcade gaming and the whole "game jumping" premise leaves room for lots of fun and creativity. Here is the trailer:
One of my favorite homages to 8 Bit is the one that "Community" did this season. If you haven't seen it, here is a clip:
If you look up 8 Bit on Google, the first entry is a Wikipedia link explaining what 8-Bit stands for. The second entry is a website called 8bit.com. It's a really interesting website that you should check out. My favorite feature of the website is that they have knock off versions of classic 8 Bit games that you can play.
Also, for movie fans, there is "Wreck-It Ralph" which hit theaters in early November. I know everyone is dying to see movies like The Hobbit this holiday season, but I'm really looking forward to this movie. I love the throwback to arcade gaming and the whole "game jumping" premise leaves room for lots of fun and creativity. Here is the trailer:
Cool Commercial!
I've been watching the Olympics a lot lately, and they tend to show a lot of the same commercials over and over again. One of the commercials that I have seen a few times now is this one:
I love this commercial! First of all I think it really highlights our city well. It highlights Kansas City's influence on jazz music, our BBQ, and our history with Negro League Baseball. These are monuments of our city's history and I love that Google took the time to emphasize that in this commercial. I also think it's really cool that they highlighted the "City of Fountains" aspect. They even used the famous 1950's song "Kansas City" in the background. I really wish I knew who did the cover version they use in the commercial, cause I really like it. Overall, thank you Google for taking the time to highlight our city and for giving Kansas City the opportunity to be a part of your legacy.
Friday, August 3, 2012
Something New? I'm 22!
Today was my birthday! Overall it was a pretty good day. I'm never the kind of person to get overly excited about my birthday, and honestly my idea of a good birthday is probably pretty different from most people's. To start things off, my dad picked up bagels from Panera for breakfast. The asiago bagels from Panera are by far my favorite bagels. Then I spent most of the day texting friends, tweeting, and watching The Newsroom (a show that is quickly becoming one of my favorites). For dinner I had BBQ (another favorite) from Smokin' Joe's and my parents got me The Complete Peanuts: 1950-1952 Comics as a present. I know it's not a really exciting birthday, but I had a good day. Now back to watching the Olympics!
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Breakfast for Lunch
The other day I had to meet my grandma and aunt for lunch, so I chose to meet them at my favorite breakfast restaurant, First Watch. I'm a big fan of eating breakfast food for lunch or even dinner. At First Watch I had a fairly basic breakfast consisting of eggs, bacon, and a waffle. First Watch does this better than anyone else in my opinion. Everything was cooked perfectly and they give a blueberry compote on the side to drizzle on top of your waffle. The coffee at First Watch is also pretty great. What normally would have been a horrible lunch (I don't really have the best relationship with my grandma or aunt) turned out to be pretty nice because of First Watch. I even managed to work a reference to my favorite show, Community, into the conversation.
Technology Sucks!
I'm a little mad at technology right now. I bought a device that was supposed to allow me to use my laptop as a screen for my Wii, but I can't get it to work at all. Apparently the problem is that the device was made for windows XP, yet it clearly says in the setup manual that it should work for Vista as well.
I checked YouTube to see if anyone had a video on how to fix this problem, and I did find a couple. The people on the videos seemed like they knew what they were talking about, but after following the steps presented, my problem still hadn't been fixed. After over an hour of trying to get the device to work, I had no luck and decided to just give up on the idea. I'm glad the device I bought only cost seven dollars, but I'm still mad that those seven dollars went down the drain.
I checked YouTube to see if anyone had a video on how to fix this problem, and I did find a couple. The people on the videos seemed like they knew what they were talking about, but after following the steps presented, my problem still hadn't been fixed. After over an hour of trying to get the device to work, I had no luck and decided to just give up on the idea. I'm glad the device I bought only cost seven dollars, but I'm still mad that those seven dollars went down the drain.
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Bad Quote
Back in junior high school, I did a little bit of work with the lighting for the theater department. I didn't really know what I was doing, but it was something to do and I knew some other people who were doing it too. The actors used to wear shirts that said, "Theatre is life. Cinema is art. Television is furniture." At the time I didn't think much of it. Now however, I really have to disagree on two counts.
We all give theater more credit than it deserves. It's no better than film or television just because it is the oldest of the three professions. You don't see anyone going around saying, "Boy I just miss my Windows 94." This is because development leads to change, and no that doesn't make the original bad, but it does open up new opportunities for the art of audio-visual storytelling.
The second point I disagree with is that television is just furniture. Yes, a lot of the television out there is trash. This concept has been heightened by reality television. At its most basic level though, television is the same as film and theater. In fact what I love about television that can't be found in theater or film is that it can tell a continuous story that allows the characters to developed beyond what the limited scope of the other two mediums.
We all give theater more credit than it deserves. It's no better than film or television just because it is the oldest of the three professions. You don't see anyone going around saying, "Boy I just miss my Windows 94." This is because development leads to change, and no that doesn't make the original bad, but it does open up new opportunities for the art of audio-visual storytelling.
The second point I disagree with is that television is just furniture. Yes, a lot of the television out there is trash. This concept has been heightened by reality television. At its most basic level though, television is the same as film and theater. In fact what I love about television that can't be found in theater or film is that it can tell a continuous story that allows the characters to developed beyond what the limited scope of the other two mediums.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Back to Basics
I blog a lot about movies, music, and television, but my first love is literature. Currently I am reading a book by Zora Neale Hurston titled Moses, Man of the Mountain. As I am reading along in a book, I like to write down quotes that catch my interest. Sometimes it's because I think they hold great truth, and other times it is just because I feel the passage is beautifully written. For this post I'm going to comment on a couple of quotes I have written down so far from Moses, Man of the Mountain.
"So! The will to humble a man more powerful than themselves was stronger than the emotion of gratitude. It was stronger than the wish for the common brotherhood of man."
This quote really makes me think of the human relationship with God. As humans we often let our pride encourage us to go against God in some false sense of power over Him. I think the idea is that if God wants us to do something and we refuse, then we think that means we have power over Him because we defied or denied Him. In reality we are only denying ourselves. God tries to bring us together in relationship with Him and our fellow human beings. We are lost without this relationship. Our pride only conceals us from truth and happiness.
"They wish to destroy me, and so they have quit using sense and taken to using phrases. Slogans can be worse than swords if they are only put in the right mouths."
This is a concept that goes back to the Bible. Shakespeare dealt with it famously in Julius Caesar. Deception is a strong force. As this quote says, all it takes for a mass of people to be led into evil actions is a well formed slogan. It has become the basis of American politics. We no longer pay attention to what candidates stand for or believe in. All we hear now is rhetoric. The company line. Politicians are always working to say "the right thing" instead of what is honest. In the 2004 election Bush spread the famous "flip flop" in reference to his opponent. Similarly, in the 2008 election Obama used focus points like "Yes We Can" and "Change" to win votes. These slogan mean nothing. Flip flop? That tells me nothing about what you believe or stand for. Same goes for "change" and "yes we can." Obviously that election would bring change, cause Bush had served his two terms. That doesn't actually tell me what Obama's ambitions as president are. Slogans misguide the masses into compliance. They sound good to people, and lead people to just take candidates at surface level.
"So! The will to humble a man more powerful than themselves was stronger than the emotion of gratitude. It was stronger than the wish for the common brotherhood of man."
This quote really makes me think of the human relationship with God. As humans we often let our pride encourage us to go against God in some false sense of power over Him. I think the idea is that if God wants us to do something and we refuse, then we think that means we have power over Him because we defied or denied Him. In reality we are only denying ourselves. God tries to bring us together in relationship with Him and our fellow human beings. We are lost without this relationship. Our pride only conceals us from truth and happiness.
"They wish to destroy me, and so they have quit using sense and taken to using phrases. Slogans can be worse than swords if they are only put in the right mouths."
This is a concept that goes back to the Bible. Shakespeare dealt with it famously in Julius Caesar. Deception is a strong force. As this quote says, all it takes for a mass of people to be led into evil actions is a well formed slogan. It has become the basis of American politics. We no longer pay attention to what candidates stand for or believe in. All we hear now is rhetoric. The company line. Politicians are always working to say "the right thing" instead of what is honest. In the 2004 election Bush spread the famous "flip flop" in reference to his opponent. Similarly, in the 2008 election Obama used focus points like "Yes We Can" and "Change" to win votes. These slogan mean nothing. Flip flop? That tells me nothing about what you believe or stand for. Same goes for "change" and "yes we can." Obviously that election would bring change, cause Bush had served his two terms. That doesn't actually tell me what Obama's ambitions as president are. Slogans misguide the masses into compliance. They sound good to people, and lead people to just take candidates at surface level.
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Another Olympic Post?
I've been watching a lot of the Olympics coverage this weekend, so most of my thoughts have to do with that right now. So here are a few thoughts that crossed my mind watching today.
First of all, I have to say I'm really impressed with what the Olympic athletes have been able to accomplish. Yes a lot of people are focusing on what isn't being done (such as the whole Phelps situation), but honestly, for all of the pressure these people are under, they are doing some pretty amazing stuff.
Second, the support that the athletes show for each other is amazing. These athletes have every reason to be completely focused on themselves, but it's encouraging to see things such as swimmers congratulating the person that just beat them in a race.
Finally, after watching the gymnastics qualifier, that system seems completely messed up. The rule that makes it so that only two athletes from one country can compete in the all around is ridiculous. I'm not one to normally complain about the way we have to make everyone feel good about themselves these days, but talk about unfair. The top people should compete, no matter what country they are from. Yes, this might keep some countries out of the competition, but the Olympics is a meeting of the best, and the best should be competing.
First of all, I have to say I'm really impressed with what the Olympic athletes have been able to accomplish. Yes a lot of people are focusing on what isn't being done (such as the whole Phelps situation), but honestly, for all of the pressure these people are under, they are doing some pretty amazing stuff.
Second, the support that the athletes show for each other is amazing. These athletes have every reason to be completely focused on themselves, but it's encouraging to see things such as swimmers congratulating the person that just beat them in a race.
Finally, after watching the gymnastics qualifier, that system seems completely messed up. The rule that makes it so that only two athletes from one country can compete in the all around is ridiculous. I'm not one to normally complain about the way we have to make everyone feel good about themselves these days, but talk about unfair. The top people should compete, no matter what country they are from. Yes, this might keep some countries out of the competition, but the Olympics is a meeting of the best, and the best should be competing.
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Competing and Connecting
Today was the first full day of competition at the Olympics and overall it was a pretty good one to watch. I probably enjoyed watching the volleyball (both indoor and beach) the most. All of the US teams won their matches. The swimming and men's gymnastics were also fun to watch. What wasn't fun about watching the Olympics today was the social media aspect.
On Twitter and Facebook people were posting their reactions and opinions to the outcomes of Olympic events. Most of these people had watched the events live online. I think it's great that people can do that, but for those of us who have lives and obligations (which means we have to wait to watch events as they are broadcast on television or recorded on our DVR) it kind of sucks to have events you are looking forward to see ruined by those who have to share spoilers online.
I asked my Twitter followers today to please not send out spoilers (not that I really have any influence over them) and for the most part it wasn't much of an issue. I did however receive an update from USA Today on my phone breaking the Phelps/Lachte result well before it had aired and similar posts on Facebook breaking the results of events before I even had a chance to watch them. I get that social media is all about what the individual has to say, but sometimes we should think about the people who will be reached by our words. USA Today should have known better and honestly I think they were just being hostile journalists out to get their claim on a story. I'm hoping that I don't have to spend the next two weeks avoiding Twitter and other social media, but if it means preserving my enjoyment of the Olympics, I will.
On Twitter and Facebook people were posting their reactions and opinions to the outcomes of Olympic events. Most of these people had watched the events live online. I think it's great that people can do that, but for those of us who have lives and obligations (which means we have to wait to watch events as they are broadcast on television or recorded on our DVR) it kind of sucks to have events you are looking forward to see ruined by those who have to share spoilers online.
I asked my Twitter followers today to please not send out spoilers (not that I really have any influence over them) and for the most part it wasn't much of an issue. I did however receive an update from USA Today on my phone breaking the Phelps/Lachte result well before it had aired and similar posts on Facebook breaking the results of events before I even had a chance to watch them. I get that social media is all about what the individual has to say, but sometimes we should think about the people who will be reached by our words. USA Today should have known better and honestly I think they were just being hostile journalists out to get their claim on a story. I'm hoping that I don't have to spend the next two weeks avoiding Twitter and other social media, but if it means preserving my enjoyment of the Olympics, I will.
Friday, July 27, 2012
London Calling...Just Let It Go To Voice Mail
Tonight millions of people will be watching the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics. I'll be watching them too. Every two years, I get into the Olympics like everyone else. First of all I think it's fun to root for team USA. Second, the Olympics are a chance to see those obscure sports that don't get a lot of media attention, and I like that. I'm not one of those people who sits around watching ESPN 24/7. That would drive me insane. I'm also not one of those people that doesn't watch any sports. In fact, I can watch pretty much any sport as long as I have someone to root for (golf is the exception, because it is boring and there is no entertainment value there at all). Overall, I'm pretty excited for the Olympics to start.
What I'm not so excited about is the hosting city. London? I mean really, London? So far there has been some criticism of London in regards to safety and the overall aesthetic of the location, and I would say it's pretty warranted criticism. Whenever I think of London hosting the Olympics my mind flashes to this...
But hey, it can't all be bad. I mean I'm sure they'll have nice facilities, and some state of the art equipment for the athletes to work with. Oh and you can't forget the mascots right. I mean those things will probably be cute or look really cool...
Wait, what the crap are those? If your goal is to scare little children into not watching the Olympics this year, you have definitely succeeded London. Sometimes the mascots convey a message about the home city, and from the look of these mascots, that message is, "Big Brother is watching you!"
Here is a list of things that I expect (but don't want to) see during the opening ceremony:
What I'm not so excited about is the hosting city. London? I mean really, London? So far there has been some criticism of London in regards to safety and the overall aesthetic of the location, and I would say it's pretty warranted criticism. Whenever I think of London hosting the Olympics my mind flashes to this...
But hey, it can't all be bad. I mean I'm sure they'll have nice facilities, and some state of the art equipment for the athletes to work with. Oh and you can't forget the mascots right. I mean those things will probably be cute or look really cool...
Here is a list of things that I expect (but don't want to) see during the opening ceremony:
- Shakespeare quotes
- Paul McCartney
- The phrase "London Calling"
- English Royalty
- Elton John
- A reference to Big Ben
- A crazy sense of what "art" is.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
What's New....And More To Come!
Okay, so I'm going to make a little apology in advance for this post. It's going to be music based, and I've done a lot of those lately. Yes I realize that this is not a music challenge, but what readers should probably know about me is that I really like movies, music, television, and reading. A fair amount of blog posts based on these topics should be expected. So what I want to do in this post is highlight some new and upcoming music that I think is worth taking a look at. Let's dive right in.
I'm a big fan of 90's music, as you could maybe tell during my 90's inspired post during the 30 day music challenge. One of my favorite 90's bands is Matchbox 20. When I heard they were getting back together to release a new album in September, I was thrilled. Here is the first single off of their upcoming album. I can't wait to give the whole thing a listen!
When it comes to Tenth Avenue North I'm on again off again. Sometimes I think their music is good and other times I think it is just okay. Well, if the single Losing off of their upcoming third album is any indicator, then this could really be an amazing album. I love everything about this song. It has a great message and I love the way it progresses from the simple beginning to the anthemic end. Now bear with me, I'm really not a fan of the way they did this video, but it has the best sound quality of any of the YouTube videos and I wanted you guys to really be able to hear this song.
Toby Mac makes some interesting music. I've been particularly impressed with his last two albums, and I am really looking forward to his album that comes out at the end of August. The first single off of the album is pretty catchy, and again has a great message. Hope you enjoy!
There has been a surge of folk/pop bands these last few years that I find interesting. While I'm really not a huge fan of most of these bands, one that I do find interesting is Milo Greene. They released their album earlier this month and I've yet to pick it up (trying to save some money). The first time I actually heard one of their songs it was in a blog post by Brooke White. She posted the song 1957 and I think it really shows what this band is capable of. Have a listen.
This final song is off of Britt Nicole's newest album, which again I don't own yet. When it comes to Britt Nicole, I like some of her songs, and then others just really aren't my style. This song is one that I wouldn't have thought I would like, but it's actually pretty catchy and I really like the collaboration with Christian rapper Lacrae.
Actually looking back at this post I'm not such a fan of any of these videos (with the exception of the Toby Mac video). The point is so that you guys can hear the songs though, so don't focus too much on the videos.
I'm a big fan of 90's music, as you could maybe tell during my 90's inspired post during the 30 day music challenge. One of my favorite 90's bands is Matchbox 20. When I heard they were getting back together to release a new album in September, I was thrilled. Here is the first single off of their upcoming album. I can't wait to give the whole thing a listen!
When it comes to Tenth Avenue North I'm on again off again. Sometimes I think their music is good and other times I think it is just okay. Well, if the single Losing off of their upcoming third album is any indicator, then this could really be an amazing album. I love everything about this song. It has a great message and I love the way it progresses from the simple beginning to the anthemic end. Now bear with me, I'm really not a fan of the way they did this video, but it has the best sound quality of any of the YouTube videos and I wanted you guys to really be able to hear this song.
Toby Mac makes some interesting music. I've been particularly impressed with his last two albums, and I am really looking forward to his album that comes out at the end of August. The first single off of the album is pretty catchy, and again has a great message. Hope you enjoy!
There has been a surge of folk/pop bands these last few years that I find interesting. While I'm really not a huge fan of most of these bands, one that I do find interesting is Milo Greene. They released their album earlier this month and I've yet to pick it up (trying to save some money). The first time I actually heard one of their songs it was in a blog post by Brooke White. She posted the song 1957 and I think it really shows what this band is capable of. Have a listen.
This final song is off of Britt Nicole's newest album, which again I don't own yet. When it comes to Britt Nicole, I like some of her songs, and then others just really aren't my style. This song is one that I wouldn't have thought I would like, but it's actually pretty catchy and I really like the collaboration with Christian rapper Lacrae.
Actually looking back at this post I'm not such a fan of any of these videos (with the exception of the Toby Mac video). The point is so that you guys can hear the songs though, so don't focus too much on the videos.
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Merry Christmas?
If you haven't seen a calendar today, then you might not have realized that today is July 25th. That means it's Christmas in July! Now don't get me wrong, I don't actually celebrate Christmas in July, but I kind of get excited every July 25th. What you have to understand about me is that Christmas is my absolute favorite time of year. That's why I like to pay a little attention to the fake holiday Christmas in July. No, it doesn't have any significance, and I don't really celebrate in any way, but it gives me a good excuse to think about the fact that Christmas is only five months away. If the place you live in is even close to as hot as it is here in Kansas right now, then I'm sure you would find a good snowfall pretty nice right now too.Well in the spirit of this non-traditional "celebration" of an awesome holiday, here are a couple of non-traditional Christmas songs I have heard through TV shows or YouTube. Enjoy, and have a merry (fake) Christmas!
I heard this first one off of a TV show one time and just thought it had a really catchy chorus. I don't even remember the show, but I think it's a fun little Christmas song to listen to.
This second song is from an artist that I actually found on YouTube before she got her record deal. Her name is Zee Avi and she actually has some really interesting music and a really beautiful tone to her voice. I don't normally go for these my loved one is out of town Christmas songs, but I like her tone so much on this song, that I've made an exception here.
I heard this first one off of a TV show one time and just thought it had a really catchy chorus. I don't even remember the show, but I think it's a fun little Christmas song to listen to.
This second song is from an artist that I actually found on YouTube before she got her record deal. Her name is Zee Avi and she actually has some really interesting music and a really beautiful tone to her voice. I don't normally go for these my loved one is out of town Christmas songs, but I like her tone so much on this song, that I've made an exception here.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
The Emmy Awards: A Love/Hate Relationship (Mostly Hate)
If you haven't heard yet, the Emmy Awards are approaching. The nominees have been announce and I find my self feeling the same why I always do about them, mostly disappointed. Year after year the Emmy Awards have neglected to recognize some of the most talented television actors and the most creative television shows. Don't get me wrong, there are always some very talented people recognized, but there is an equal number of actors and shows that go unrecognized every year. This is my assessment of this years nominations. If you haven't seen a list of the nominees, here is a link: http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/emmys/la-et-st-emmy-nominations-2012-list-20120718,0,521498.htmlstory
Julie Bowen. That's about it. While I have stated that I'm not a huge fan of the show, 90% of the times it has made me laugh are because of Bowen's performance.
Comedy Series:
What they got right:
The short answer? Not much. So many good shows have been left off of this list and in their place are a mass of HBO and CBS shows that are about as funny as getting a paper cut. The best show nominated in this category is hands down 30 Rock, but we all know it has no chance of taking home this award. I will give partial credit to Modern Family. It tries harder than HBO or CBS to actually be a smart show, and being produced by Steven Levitan (creator of the hilarious show Just Shoot Me) it has its bright spots. Not my personal favorite, but certainly a better nominee than the other four contenders.What they got wrong:
A better question might be what didn't they get wrong? How about almost completely ignoring the funniest network, NBC? Community and Parks and Recreation both should have received nominations in this category. Along with 30 Rock they are arguably the funniest, most witty, shows on TV. Another show that was ignored is Fox's New Girl, a show much more original and clever than most of this years nominees. I would add that ABC's Cougar Town is also worthy of a nomination, but I've resigned to the fact that the Emmy's don't like good comedy.Comedy Actor:
What they got right:
One name. Alec Baldwin. He's hilarious on 30 Rock. He should, and just might, win this award.What they got wrong:
Just about everything else. Nick Offerman and Adam Scott from Parks and Recreation both deserve nominations in this category. So does Joel McHale from Community. Can I just point out how ridiculous it is that Jon Cryer is nominated in this category again. Nobody has ever watched Two and a Half Men because they thought he was funny. People watch that show despite the fact that he's on there. I mean I know Charlie Sheen said some mean things about him, but can we stop throwing him pity nominations? Also Jim Parsons is probably the most overrated actor on the most overrated show on television.Comedy Actress:
What they got right:
Surprisingly more than they did with the other comedy categories. First of all, there is Tina Fey, who is clearly the funniest comedian of our time male or female. If you removed Fey's perfectly crafted Liz Lemon and her writing voice from 30 Rock, there would be no show. I was also glad to see that despite ignoring Parks and Recreation as a show, they did nominate Amy Poehler, who is the heart of the show. Finally, it was encouraging to see the Emmy's recognize Zooey Deschanel's work on New Girl. While not quite on Fey and Poehler's level, Deschanel has really crafted a funny and quirky character that deserves this nomination.What they got wrong:
Can we please all jump off of the Julia Louis-Dryfus is funny bandwagon? We all know it's not true, and yet we keep supporting her horrible decisions with nominations. I would add that Courtney Cox perfectly portrays the highly functional drunk that is Jules Cobb on Cougar Town.Supporting Comedy Actor:
What they got right:
I will throw a bone to Max Greenfield and Eric Stonestreet on this one. Both give solid enough performances on their shows to warrant this nomination, but not a win in my opinion.What they got wrong:
Rob Lowe from Parks and Recreation definitely deserves a nomination in this category. Community's Donald Glover and Danny Pudi both deserve nominations as well. In fact I personally think that Danny Pudi should be winning this award and am baffled as to how the Emmy's can nominate Jim Parsons and not Danny Pudi. Pudi plays a very similar role as Parsons, but performs the role ten times better.Supporting Comedy Actress:
What they got right:
Julie Bowen. That's about it. While I have stated that I'm not a huge fan of the show, 90% of the times it has made me laugh are because of Bowen's performance.What they got wrong:
So much. Alison Brie, Gillian Jacobs, and Yvette Nicole Brown all give wonderfully hilarious performances on Community. Aubrey Plaza is perfect on Parks and Recreation. Perhaps the biggest snub of all? Busy Phillips on Cougar Town. She plays Laurie Keller perfectly and somehow makes TV's biggest "tease" one of the most lovable and charming characters out there.Drama Series:
What they got right:
Downton Abbey. I'm not a big fan of period pieces, but I have to say that this show is on top of its game. The characters are intriguing and the plot lines keep you watching.What they got wrong:
I was livid when I saw the nominations and The Good Wife wasn't on there. It is hands down more intriguing than any other drama on television. Not to mention it does so without the gimmicks that so many of the dramas these days have to rely on. No, Alicia Florrick isn't a drug maker or a philandering ad salesman, she's a hard working lawyer fighting to keep her family in tact.Drama Actress:
What they got right/wrong:
I'm putting these two together cause honestly there isn't much that they missed here. Juliana Margulies and Michelle Dockery are both excellent nominations deserving of a win. If I could add one nominee it would be Ellen Pompeo, who I feel has always been under appreciated on Grey's Anatomy.Drama Actor:
What they got right:
Hugh Bonneville is perfect on Downton Abbey. His performance always balances out the more extreme characters on the show and keeps it from going off of the deep end like so many other dramas.What they got wrong:
Josh Charles took a more active role on The Good Wife this past seasons, ironically as his character took a less active role in his law firm. I feel that his performance has gotten better and he deserved a nomination in this category.Supporting Drama Actress:
What they got right:
The nominations of Maggie Smith and Joanne Froggatt for Downton Abbey, and Archie Panjabi and Christine Branski for The Good Wife are more than enough to make me content with this category. If one of these four women doesn't win the award, it's a real crime.Supporting Drama Actor:
What they got right:
Brendan Coyle and Jim Carter both deserve their nominations for Downton Abbey.What they got wrong:
Allen Cummings and Matt Czuchry both deserve nominations for The Good Wife. Cummings is especially great as the cunning and manipulative political adviser Eli Gold.
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