I haven't watch most of the films that were nominated this year, mostly because I was in Germany when November and December (Oscar Bait Season) rolled around.
What can I say about the show?
Seth MacFarlane was fantastic. Especially that bit with the Sound of Music gag. That had my dad in hysterics.
Anne Hathaway won. I know everyone predicted that, but it's really nice to see the Queen of Genovia/the English voice of the girl from The Cat Returns winning an Oscar. Goddamn, she's gorgeous.
Paperman got Best Animated Short. Spectacular. I really wish I knew where to actually watch some of these shorts.
Brave. Honestly, I wasn't that crazy about Brave. I'm not sure if Wreck-It Ralph would've been more deserving, but I still haven't seen Frankenweenie and ParaNorman. Pirates: Band of Misfits was clever and well done, but I'm sure about Oscar-worthy. Wow, this was a great year for stop-motion animation, eh?
Great performances from Shirley Fassey and Adele. I should probably watch more Bond movies. I've only seen Goldfinger (about a few years ago) and You Only Live Twice (when I was pretty little).
All in all, a pretty good. show.
Here's hoping that they use this in future Oscar shows.
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Beautiful Creatures (and other topics)
Last week, Emily and I went to see Beautiful Creatures. Afterwards, we talked for about 45 minutes; half the time about the movie, and the other half about other stuff. This video is the result.
Monday, February 11, 2013
Camera One
It's been about two weeks since my return to the homestead, and I am sure of two things. 1) There's no fucking way I'm leaving the States ever again unless I have trustworthy companions to make the homesickness tolerable and remove loneliness from the equation. 2) I'm not entirely sure what I want to do next.
I have a myriad of options. Get a job, go to community college, look at better colleges, experiment with anything and everything to see what I like to do, et cetera. Obviously, I have a full life ahead of me to figure out what I truly desire to do, but for now I'm floating.
Concerning my review series, I have essentially over-complicated the show to the point of making it undesirable. I find it unnecessary to have three characters, neither of which have any differentiating character traits aside from outfits, to review anything, with snark or otherwise. Really, it just comes down to that word that I've discussed before: passion. And I can honestly say that my friend and co-writer shows more passion and interest in my reviews than I do as of late.
I realize that nearly every time I write one of these (at least the previous few times) I end up depressing myself and possibly the reader. I don't know, I guess I still have a lot to think over and deal with.
I've contemplated taking up a musical instrument or two and making some music, though that would involve figuring out how to write music.
As for the reviews, I would like to finish the convoluted Rugrats story arc before I decide anything further, but I'll need to actually film sometime.
On the whole, I don't know what I really want to do, but I certainly don't want to do absolutely nothing.
I have a myriad of options. Get a job, go to community college, look at better colleges, experiment with anything and everything to see what I like to do, et cetera. Obviously, I have a full life ahead of me to figure out what I truly desire to do, but for now I'm floating.
Concerning my review series, I have essentially over-complicated the show to the point of making it undesirable. I find it unnecessary to have three characters, neither of which have any differentiating character traits aside from outfits, to review anything, with snark or otherwise. Really, it just comes down to that word that I've discussed before: passion. And I can honestly say that my friend and co-writer shows more passion and interest in my reviews than I do as of late.
I realize that nearly every time I write one of these (at least the previous few times) I end up depressing myself and possibly the reader. I don't know, I guess I still have a lot to think over and deal with.
I've contemplated taking up a musical instrument or two and making some music, though that would involve figuring out how to write music.
As for the reviews, I would like to finish the convoluted Rugrats story arc before I decide anything further, but I'll need to actually film sometime.
On the whole, I don't know what I really want to do, but I certainly don't want to do absolutely nothing.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Within a Mile of Home
I've decided that it would be best for me emotionally to go back to the States.
I intended to stay here until June, but considering how my being introverted and how that can be perceived by those around me, I end up being alone most of the time, and those around me don't want to associate with me because they think I don't want to associate with them.
But really, the reason I'm going isn't about my personality or my lack of social interaction. The reason boils down to one fact: I just don't want to be here. I want to be with friends. I want to talk with people who are on the same wavelength as I am and not just have it be on the computer.
So on Wednesday, I'm flying home. Hopefully, I may get some much-needed inspiration once I'm back in a familiar setting.
Although, just because I'm going back early does not mean I consider this a failure. I've certainly improved my German, I now a healthy supply of literature to help with further studies, and I have seen some beautiful sights. But I must go back, and have more misadventures with those I miss the most.
(keep in mind that I have a sort of flare for the dramatic at times)
And so ends another chapter of what I hope will be a long and interesting life.
I intended to stay here until June, but considering how my being introverted and how that can be perceived by those around me, I end up being alone most of the time, and those around me don't want to associate with me because they think I don't want to associate with them.
But really, the reason I'm going isn't about my personality or my lack of social interaction. The reason boils down to one fact: I just don't want to be here. I want to be with friends. I want to talk with people who are on the same wavelength as I am and not just have it be on the computer.
So on Wednesday, I'm flying home. Hopefully, I may get some much-needed inspiration once I'm back in a familiar setting.
Although, just because I'm going back early does not mean I consider this a failure. I've certainly improved my German, I now a healthy supply of literature to help with further studies, and I have seen some beautiful sights. But I must go back, and have more misadventures with those I miss the most.
(keep in mind that I have a sort of flare for the dramatic at times)
And so ends another chapter of what I hope will be a long and interesting life.
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
The Review Must Go On
If you haven't seen it, Doug Walker has released a mini-movie in which he finishes Demo Reel and brings back the Nostalgia Critic. See here for details.
An excellent video, I must say.
In case you were wondering, I'm someone who actually liked Demo Reel, and it is a bit heartbreaking to see it go away (or rather, stop). I very much enjoyed the character interactions and the comedy.
But I do respect the creator's choice (if, of course, what is portrayed on screen is the true reason for bringing NC back, and not just 'supply and demand'), but afterwards, I started thinking of my own reviews, and how much I've changed since November, or even when I started out.
I asked myself a few questions. Why does this concept of passion seem to escape me? Why do I not feel like finishing the damn Clown story-arc? Will I be invigorated once I do? But most importantly, What happened to me?
What happened to the enthusiastic 15-year-old who had so many ideas and seemed to be only held back by schoolwork rather than his own lethargy? Why has he become so apathetic to almost everything except for his own neuroses? Is it the homesickness? Does the pain of his first break-up still permeate, even subtly so? Why has he become less confident in his opinions? Where is that confidence? Where is that passion? Why can't he work through it? Why is he so skittish and afraid now?
And what in God's name was he thinking somehow bringing in three fucking characters to review shit?
I've have never once thought about officially stopping, but as I sit here drowning in the memories the albums of DragonForce bring back, I think about how I can even continue if I just don't feel like doing a goddamn thing.
An excellent video, I must say.
In case you were wondering, I'm someone who actually liked Demo Reel, and it is a bit heartbreaking to see it go away (or rather, stop). I very much enjoyed the character interactions and the comedy.
But I do respect the creator's choice (if, of course, what is portrayed on screen is the true reason for bringing NC back, and not just 'supply and demand'), but afterwards, I started thinking of my own reviews, and how much I've changed since November, or even when I started out.
I asked myself a few questions. Why does this concept of passion seem to escape me? Why do I not feel like finishing the damn Clown story-arc? Will I be invigorated once I do? But most importantly, What happened to me?
What happened to the enthusiastic 15-year-old who had so many ideas and seemed to be only held back by schoolwork rather than his own lethargy? Why has he become so apathetic to almost everything except for his own neuroses? Is it the homesickness? Does the pain of his first break-up still permeate, even subtly so? Why has he become less confident in his opinions? Where is that confidence? Where is that passion? Why can't he work through it? Why is he so skittish and afraid now?
And what in God's name was he thinking somehow bringing in three fucking characters to review shit?
I've have never once thought about officially stopping, but as I sit here drowning in the memories the albums of DragonForce bring back, I think about how I can even continue if I just don't feel like doing a goddamn thing.
Friday, January 18, 2013
Passion
It has been said countless times that one needs to be passionate in what they are doing in order to succeed. Often, I heard this sort of phrase in the context of acting and internet video making (both fields I have participated in). The phrase goes something like this, "if you wanna do something, you gotta be passionate about it, because there's a lot of competition out there." And there inlies the problem with me, the word passion.
Simply put, at this point, I don't really have much passion for anything, at least in something that become a source of income.
I don't know if it's this Germany trip that has messed with me, but at times I just don't feel like doing anything. I start a few things (drawing, writing, etc.) and I just lose interest. I could work through it, but I don't really want to.
I don't know what I'm doing when I get back to the States. I've planned on going into film editing, but I never bothered to do anything about it, like looking up different schools or applying for scholarships.
I guess every detail that I've just laid may stem from one problem. I just don't care, but I feel like I should. And as such, I don't know what the hell I'm doing.
That, or I'm just in one of my depressed moods again.
Or both.
"My goal is to not wake up at 40, with the revelation that I wasted my life in a job I hate because I was forced to decide on a career in my teens."
-Daria Morgendorffer
Simply put, at this point, I don't really have much passion for anything, at least in something that become a source of income.
I don't know if it's this Germany trip that has messed with me, but at times I just don't feel like doing anything. I start a few things (drawing, writing, etc.) and I just lose interest. I could work through it, but I don't really want to.
I don't know what I'm doing when I get back to the States. I've planned on going into film editing, but I never bothered to do anything about it, like looking up different schools or applying for scholarships.
I guess every detail that I've just laid may stem from one problem. I just don't care, but I feel like I should. And as such, I don't know what the hell I'm doing.
That, or I'm just in one of my depressed moods again.
Or both.
"My goal is to not wake up at 40, with the revelation that I wasted my life in a job I hate because I was forced to decide on a career in my teens."
-Daria Morgendorffer
Monday, January 7, 2013
The Picture of Dorian Gray - Chapter 1
I decided to make a new post, so that my depressing diary entry written in third person isn't the first thing that people see.
Anywho, I was exceedingly bored in my German classes here, partly because I still don't fully understand the speech, and partly because I don't feel like they are trying to get me involved. So I spent my non-music classes today reading one of the only books in English I managed to find here, The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde.
What I knew of Dorian Gray beforehand was basically that it's about a guy who tries to obtain eternal youth by selling his soul (I think, I haven't gotten that far yet) and his portrait ages while he remains youthful. This story always intrigued me, ever since I looked through the pictures in the Great Illustrated Classics adaptation of the book in grade school. The last illustration was of Dorian stabbing the portrait, him becoming the old man with the knife in his chest, and the portrait returning to its original, youthful state.
And since then, this story had always been in the back of my mind, periodically coming to the forefront whenever a reference is made (like at the end of this old MovieBob review, for example).
The novel opens with the painter, Basil, painting the titular portrait while his friend, Lord Henry, waxes philosophical like the smartass he is. Though, admittedly, he is so for the most quotable character because, A) I legitimately found some of the things he says interesting, and B) he's the one doing most of the talking. Literally whole blocks of text taking up most of the pages are dedicated to his views on the world. Either this character is the megaphone for Wilde's voice, or he just intended the character to be a smarmy intellectual.
Two of my favorite quotes:
"and the worst of having a romance of any kind is that it leaves one so unromantic."
"It is only the intellectually lost who ever argue."
Henry asks why Basil does not want to exhibit the portrait, despite it being one of his best works. Basil explains that he put too much of his own soul into the painting, saying, "We live in the age when men treat art as if it were meant to be an autobiography. We have lost the abstract sense of beauty. Someday I will show the world what it is."
Basil goes on to explain how he met Dorian, and how he has been the greatest inspiration for his art (in terms that only an artist would not find homoerotic, though, this is Oscar Wilde, so who knows).
And so the chapter ends right before Basil introduces Henry to Dorian.
I admit, as much as I ragged on about Henry's philosophizing, I do find him to be an engaging character. The way Basil describes Dorian made me imagine some sort of Jay Gatsby type of character, but that doesn't seem to be the case from what I've read in the second chapter, however that's a subject for a later blogpost.
Anywho, I was exceedingly bored in my German classes here, partly because I still don't fully understand the speech, and partly because I don't feel like they are trying to get me involved. So I spent my non-music classes today reading one of the only books in English I managed to find here, The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde.
What I knew of Dorian Gray beforehand was basically that it's about a guy who tries to obtain eternal youth by selling his soul (I think, I haven't gotten that far yet) and his portrait ages while he remains youthful. This story always intrigued me, ever since I looked through the pictures in the Great Illustrated Classics adaptation of the book in grade school. The last illustration was of Dorian stabbing the portrait, him becoming the old man with the knife in his chest, and the portrait returning to its original, youthful state.
And since then, this story had always been in the back of my mind, periodically coming to the forefront whenever a reference is made (like at the end of this old MovieBob review, for example).
The novel opens with the painter, Basil, painting the titular portrait while his friend, Lord Henry, waxes philosophical like the smartass he is. Though, admittedly, he is so for the most quotable character because, A) I legitimately found some of the things he says interesting, and B) he's the one doing most of the talking. Literally whole blocks of text taking up most of the pages are dedicated to his views on the world. Either this character is the megaphone for Wilde's voice, or he just intended the character to be a smarmy intellectual.
Two of my favorite quotes:
"and the worst of having a romance of any kind is that it leaves one so unromantic."
"It is only the intellectually lost who ever argue."
Henry asks why Basil does not want to exhibit the portrait, despite it being one of his best works. Basil explains that he put too much of his own soul into the painting, saying, "We live in the age when men treat art as if it were meant to be an autobiography. We have lost the abstract sense of beauty. Someday I will show the world what it is."
Basil goes on to explain how he met Dorian, and how he has been the greatest inspiration for his art (in terms that only an artist would not find homoerotic, though, this is Oscar Wilde, so who knows).
And so the chapter ends right before Basil introduces Henry to Dorian.
I admit, as much as I ragged on about Henry's philosophizing, I do find him to be an engaging character. The way Basil describes Dorian made me imagine some sort of Jay Gatsby type of character, but that doesn't seem to be the case from what I've read in the second chapter, however that's a subject for a later blogpost.
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