Movie Review: King Kong
Easily five stars
Words cannot fully describe the beauty of Peter Jackson's creations. His latest King Kong is by far the best. Powerful and moving, this is the film that movies want to be when they grow up. This is truly the reason cinema exists.
It takes a lot for me to want to pay full price for a movie. With the average cost hovering around ten dollars and matinees above five; there isn't much out there to justify spending your hard earned cash on. This is not the case with King Kong. It is definitely worth every penny.
With Oscar season around the corner, it would be a disgrace to the entire film industry if it doesn't win "Best Picture". Jackson's last film Lord of the Rings: Return of the King,, swept up the trophies and this picture deserves to do so as well. This is a sentiment that I am sure that I am not alone on.
I honestly have to say that this film will cast a large shadow upon Hollywood. The bar has now been set and it won't be surpassed easily. Even Speilberg's Jurassic Park looks like a student film next to this one. It will take some time for another film to come close to this one, and it will probably be made by Peter Jackson.
Footnote: As I was leaving the theater, I overheard a teenage girl say that "it was the dumbest movie I've ever seen". Maturity is not prevalent witht that age group, so I won't hold it against her.
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Website of the week:
My selection for website of the week is none other than http://movies.yahoo.com/mv/upcoming/ which used to be upcoming movies.com before Yahoo took over. The content hasn't changed much (as in they don't update too often), but I have found it to be a very useful website. I hope you enjoy it as well.
My selection for website of the week is none other than http://movies.yahoo.com/mv/upcoming/ which used to be upcoming movies.com before Yahoo took over. The content hasn't changed much (as in they don't update too often), but I have found it to be a very useful website. I hope you enjoy it as well.
Well, since one of my resolutions was to read more, I have decided to start a Book of the Month. There is no need for anyone else to participate (I am not Oprah, so I won't flog you if you don't join), I just will be posting what book I am reading for the month. So for the month of January, the Book of the Month is... the Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. I figured that the first book should be some sort of personal improvement, because well, I honestly could use some. I also am reading the book the way it's intended to-one chapter a day. Since my free time is rather sporadic, it's perfect. It is also very thought provoking, which is another good thing.
I have only just started reading the book, so I will be reading that as I move into February's selection, which I will announce later. Unlike my website of the week, I actually plan on posting a different book for each month. Again, the whole improvement thing.
Guten Tag.
I have only just started reading the book, so I will be reading that as I move into February's selection, which I will announce later. Unlike my website of the week, I actually plan on posting a different book for each month. Again, the whole improvement thing.
Guten Tag.
Friday, January 13, 2006
Happy birthday to me!
I have done it. I have finally survived for a quarter of a century. Now mind you that this really isn't much of a feat, but when you have come as close to death as many times as I (stupid drivers who don't pay attention to what they're doing), you begin to appreciate life a little more.
Even though it is Friday the Thirteenth, I will not let that ruin my day. I have plans, not big ones mind you, but plans none the less. I plan on getting the most out of today as I can while spending as little as I can. It's a goal. I also plan on seeing family, eating dinner out, and renting a movie. I hear that Hollywood Video will let you rent a free movie on your birthday, so that is one of my goals. Oh well, I better go. After all, I wouldn't want to waste my day on the computer.
You can't help getting older, but you don't have to get old. -George Burns
I have done it. I have finally survived for a quarter of a century. Now mind you that this really isn't much of a feat, but when you have come as close to death as many times as I (stupid drivers who don't pay attention to what they're doing), you begin to appreciate life a little more.
Even though it is Friday the Thirteenth, I will not let that ruin my day. I have plans, not big ones mind you, but plans none the less. I plan on getting the most out of today as I can while spending as little as I can. It's a goal. I also plan on seeing family, eating dinner out, and renting a movie. I hear that Hollywood Video will let you rent a free movie on your birthday, so that is one of my goals. Oh well, I better go. After all, I wouldn't want to waste my day on the computer.
You can't help getting older, but you don't have to get old. -George Burns
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
As it is the new year, I decided that I should probably post my first website of the (theoretical) week. This site was shown to me by my cousin with the suggestion that I make it one of my websites. I like it. So thus I present to you... http://bluepyramid.org/ which is one of those quiz websites that is humorous; but at the same time this one is also thought provoking. There is other content on this website which I have not viewed because I have had so much fun with the tests. There is literally a myriad of different possibilities to each test. In short, if you don't have a lot to do and you happen to be online, why not try it out. You may discover something about yourself.
Happy New Year (finally)
I have decided to start the new year (plus or minus a week) with the very sage advice that Mary Schmich from the Chicago Tribune gave to the graduating class of 1997.
Ladies and Gentlemen, wear sunscreen.
If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be IT.
The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience.
I will dispense this advice now.
Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded. But trust me, in 20 years you’ll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked.
You are NOT as fat as you imagine.
Don’t worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind; the kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday.
Do one thing every day that scares you.
Sing.
Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts, don’t put up with people who are reckless with yours.
Floss.
Don’t waste your time on jealousy; sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind. The race is long, and in the end, it’s only with yourself.
Remember compliments you receive, forget the insults; if you succeed in doing this, tell me how.
Keep your old love letters, throw away your old bank statements.
Stretch.
Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year olds I know still don’t.
Get plenty of calcium.
Be kind to your knees, you’ll miss them when they’re gone.
Maybe you’ll marry, maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll have children, maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll divorce at 40, maybe you’ll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary. Whatever you do, don’t congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself, either. Your choices are half chance, so are everybody else’s. Enjoy your body, use it every way you can. Don’t be afraid of it, or what other people think of it, it’s the greatest instrument you’ll ever own.
Dance. Even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room.
Read the directions, even if you don’t follow them.
Do NOT read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel ugly.
Get to know your parents, you never know when they’ll be gone for good.
Be nice to your siblings; they are your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.
Understand that friends come and go, but for the precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography in lifestyle because the older you get, the more you need the people you knew when you were young.
Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard; live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.
Travel.
Accept certain inalienable truths, prices will rise, politicians will philander, you too will get old, and when you do you’ll fantasize that when you were young prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.
Respect your elders.
Don’t expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund, maybe you'll have a wealthy spouse; but you never know when either one might run out.
Don’t mess too much with your hair, or by the time you're 40, it will look 85.
Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it’s worth.
But trust me on the sunscreen.
May you have a good year.
I have decided to start the new year (plus or minus a week) with the very sage advice that Mary Schmich from the Chicago Tribune gave to the graduating class of 1997.
Ladies and Gentlemen, wear sunscreen.
If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be IT.
The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience.
I will dispense this advice now.
Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded. But trust me, in 20 years you’ll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked.
You are NOT as fat as you imagine.
Don’t worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind; the kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday.
Do one thing every day that scares you.
Sing.
Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts, don’t put up with people who are reckless with yours.
Floss.
Don’t waste your time on jealousy; sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind. The race is long, and in the end, it’s only with yourself.
Remember compliments you receive, forget the insults; if you succeed in doing this, tell me how.
Keep your old love letters, throw away your old bank statements.
Stretch.
Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year olds I know still don’t.
Get plenty of calcium.
Be kind to your knees, you’ll miss them when they’re gone.
Maybe you’ll marry, maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll have children, maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll divorce at 40, maybe you’ll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary. Whatever you do, don’t congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself, either. Your choices are half chance, so are everybody else’s. Enjoy your body, use it every way you can. Don’t be afraid of it, or what other people think of it, it’s the greatest instrument you’ll ever own.
Dance. Even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room.
Read the directions, even if you don’t follow them.
Do NOT read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel ugly.
Get to know your parents, you never know when they’ll be gone for good.
Be nice to your siblings; they are your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.
Understand that friends come and go, but for the precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography in lifestyle because the older you get, the more you need the people you knew when you were young.
Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard; live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.
Travel.
Accept certain inalienable truths, prices will rise, politicians will philander, you too will get old, and when you do you’ll fantasize that when you were young prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.
Respect your elders.
Don’t expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund, maybe you'll have a wealthy spouse; but you never know when either one might run out.
Don’t mess too much with your hair, or by the time you're 40, it will look 85.
Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it’s worth.
But trust me on the sunscreen.
May you have a good year.
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