The Darjeeling Limited

Interesting movie that was about… nothing really. Famous actors and actresses, and discusses the travels of three brothers on a so called spiritual journey. Nice cute camerawork and goings on, but I cannot really say anything happened. And the end was a bit of shock, since it wasn't what I expected to happen. Do not get too excited about the end though.

Watch it if you feel like watching a pretty movie that is a bit strange. T said it sort of reminds her of Science of Sleep (something I've always wanted to watch, but hesitated at the same time). Either way, perhaps I will get to that movie next.

Bake-off

Tada. HMC is getting tired; or perhaps I'm getting tired [and of it]. It's a good thing that graduation isn't that far away, and I'm looking ahead into the future. Bake-off happened today and we made caramel popcorn (which is baked, believe it or not) and something we're now calling "blue-cheese cheesecake" which is what it sounds like, with toffee pears and sugar sauce. Delicious. Pictures to follow at a later date.

Little things like this really are the ones that make my day. :D

stickk.com

An interesting website. Apparently studies have shown that having something on the table when you don't follow through (punishment/reward system) makes it more effective. Example if you "sign" the contract, and don't accomplish it, then it'll debit your account for a donation to some foundation - or money to a friend, etc. It's a good idea, and although I signed up (and opted for the no money option), I wonder how many people will opt for that type of option. If it is a good motivator perhaps...

My goal is centered around exercise and running. Much better now that I have music to listen to.

Back on?

To write again. A catharsis for my soul. To express myself with almost no one listening. An opportunity to start once again.

Daily Lit

Link is here: DailyLit

This website is very interesting and will email you a section each day or however you specify until the book is finished. They've got those books that are now "classics" meaning that the copyright has long gone, but there's plenty I've always wanted to read and thought were too long. I suppose in a year I could finish a long one, and I've started just today. Just thought I'd share the site with you...

Art Institute of Chicago

A really wonderful museum with a fabulous collection. Turns out they're doing construction and closed a tiny bit of the museum, and are currently rotating some of my favorite art into storage (figures). She said to come back in 2009 when the new part opens and they'll have more room for art from what the museum already owns, which is probably currently in the basement somewhere gathering dust...

Either way, this picture by Sarah Hobbs was too cool for words. Click it to see it as big as I could find the file online.

Once

This movie is a real keeper -- or see-it type movie. Apparently they're real musicians in life and have an album out besides the soundtrack for this movie. His voice reminds me of Damien Rice, but I'm sure some music-phile could say better who he (and she actually) remind you of. Either way, they meet in the street as he's a street musician and become fast friends. I'll leave the rest for you to find out about, but the movie is absolutely fabulous as is the soundtrack and their songs. A+. See it now in your nearest independent movie theater or wait for it to be out on DVD.

Annapolis

A navy movie this time, with James Franco. No one thinks he'll make it, but of course he does. Hope I didn't spoil it for you... but not really worth your time or mine either. Just an update.

Rain

What lovely rain my city has. I woke up from my nap to hear the sound of the rain, real rain pouring down complete with thunder. I felt some drops outside earlier and it was cold rain, pure pleasure for the summer. Guess I can't go out now and take pictures of Lincoln Ave. covered with motorcycles from the Mods vs. Rockers thing; I suppose they'd all go for cover.

Firewall

Another Harrison Ford movie, although I do have to say he's aging well.

The gist: He works for this bank, and a few men want some money (typical) so they take hostage of his family. Not too thrilling I must say, and halfway through I was sure the movie was over, but no.

Honestly, don't bother.

Who Framed Roger Rabbit?

This 1988 film featuring a ton of famous people (Christopher Lloyd, and so on) was acted out and then the cartoons were drawn in.  Essentially the question was about who framed him for the murder of Mr. ACME.  Plenty of drawn in characters you'll recognize, and I finally understand that stuffed animal I had years ago.  You pulled the string and he spoke, just like Roger Rabbit in the film.  This was a good one.  Funny and classic to boot.  Many of the themes are pretty adult and this is definitely not a film for the kiddies.  Enjoy.

RV and Fun With Dick and Jane

Don't know why I waste my time really, but some days you just need a good laugh.  RV is with Robin Williams, as he takes his family on an RV vacation.  Personally, I always thought an RV would be great... could drive anywhere and really sleep and cook inside.  It's like a home on wheels.  Anyway.  Fun with Dick and Jane is about Jim Carey, being his usual face-making self, who loses his job after the company goes down and who resorts to stealing with his wife.  Watch neither.

FoxTrot, and the best comic strip...

Kingdom of Hearts

Don't know why I even bothered.  The fighting, not too superb.  The love story?  Not too thrilling.  It's about a blacksmith who finds out his father is a knight and a lord, and later fights to defend Jerusalem.  One of the longest movies I've watched where I kept thinking I should turn it off. 

Why you should watch it?  Just don't.

Invincible

The short of it?  A sports movie featuring Mark Wahlberg. It's a biographical movie based on Vince Papale who became a star player on the Philly Eagles in the 1970s.  Drafted from the general public, he rose to become a great football player.

Why you should see it?  Only if you're a sport movie lover.

A Hard Day's Night

If you can't recognize this poster, you're missing out. It's been hanging on my wall for ages :D. Either way, decided to rewatch the movie today, and I got my Dad watching and singing along with me. Oh, what a British day. It's so much more enjoyable this time around, perhaps since I can finally understand them clearly. Turning on the closed captioning helps out too. The Beatles are a crazy lot, jumping all about, taking baths with submarines, singing with mysteriously appearing instruments, and that dirty little old man. Watch it for yourself, it's one of those classic experiences you need to have. Enjoy it all you can.

Hot Fuzz

A superior movie, that was all fun. This movie actually made me laugh out loud, something that hasn't happened in a movie theatre for a long time. And it happened more than once. OK, a bit gruesome, and bloody, but it was all in good fun. It was a British day all around. (See the next post), and I enjoyed every second of it, and all the slang too. The movie was about a cop sent from London to the countryside since he was too good. Haha. Turns out the "perfect" village wasn't so perfect, and instead mostly criminals. Definitely recommended. I'm glad I only paid $3 for it, but it's probably out in a file or on a disc somewhere.

Take The Lead

Another one of those teach dance to public school students. This was done up with Antonio Banderas and was more of a reenactment in comparison with a movie like Mad Hot Ballroom. The students turned out to be really good at dancing, and as it said at the end, it eventually lead to a larger program in NYC, perhaps fueling the other movie I mentioned. It was cute, and well done, and I do love these dancing movies. Not particularly recommended, unless you too have a soft spot for dancing.

The Lake House

An interesting movie. Haven't seen either Sandra Bullock or Keanu Reeves for a very long time in any picture. Don't know if I like these love stories across the boundaries of time type, but I feel like I've watched something comparable before. Either way, it was a nice relaxing film to watch filmed in a suburb of Chicago, since it's all around Chicago, and the house itself was pretty neat, at least I thought so. The film wasn't fabulously beautiful, heart-wrenching, or all that fascinating, so I'm not suggesting it, just telling what I saw.

Who Killed the Electric Car

This is a wonderful documentary that everyone should go and watch this instant. It's not about our environment, but rather why we can't even change our cars to use electricity rather than oil. Absolutely enlightening. It brings to mind the idea about how much these documentaries influence us -- think about that one about McDonalds, remember that? Did you eat at McDonalds after watching the movie? I probably have. It just goes to show, that we watch, we learn, but do we really follow? Either way, it was a great movie and exposed a lot about General Motors and what they did to squash the electric car. Then what the car companies did to squash all electric cars and lead us to Hydrogen Fuel Cells, which the movie implies is not going to work out in the short term future, and will be even more costly. Definitely go watch this film, and enjoy it for what it tells you. It's frightening that such things can occur, with conspiracy theories leading the way about who is at fault. And in addition to those companies and perhaps the California board, the consumers too are at fault. Why do we need four seats and a huge trunk? Why do we need a car to go 300 miles in a day? How far should work and school, etc., be?