Movie Reviews

I meant to write a review of Pride and Prejudice after seeing it when I went home for Veterans' Day weekend, but somehow time got away from me and I never got around to writing it. When I went home for Christmas, I went to see Narnia with my family. So I figure it's about time to write the reviews...

Pride and Prejudice
I liked it, but I think it had more do do with my love of the story itself than any admiration for the acting or creative license taken. Though I thought Keira Knightly did a good job as Elizabeth, my favorite actress for this part will always be Greer Garson, who's quick wit and sharp tongue in the 1940 version of Pride and Prejudice is the reason I fell in love with Jane Austen's books. No one can ever play Mr. Darcy the way Colin Firth did, so Matthew MacFadyen did not have a chance with me. The background and landscape were done much better than the A&E version and Mr. Darcey's proposals to Elizabeth were done in a more romantic setting. I was not quite sure why the movie was rated PG. The only part of the story that is at all risqu'e is the Lydia affair, which this version barely addresses. I suppose to be politically correct, they did not want to get into the fact that an unmarried woman, living with a man is wrong. This change is actually detrimenal to the story because it changes Mr. Darcy's actions from great sacrifice to a kindness, of which any rich man is capable. Like I said in the beginning, I liked it, but it does not compare with the book.

Narnia
C.S. Lewis is one of my favorite authors, so when I heard Disney was making a movie of "The Lion, the Which, and the Wardrobe," I was both excited and disappointed... excited because I love to see a good book turned into a good movie, and disappointed because I hate to see a good book turned into a bad movie. I was afraid that Disney would destroy the whole thing by taking out the whole spiritual side of the story. In the end, I was pleasantly surprised that all the important parts were left in, though some of my favorite scenes were left out. The death and resurrection of Aslan were done very well, and the idea of the innocent dying to save the sinner was crystal clear. For those looking for spiritual meaning in the movie, it will be evident. However, for those who are merely going for the sake of entertainment, the deeper meaning will be lost on them. It will be just another movie about witches and supernatural powers, like Harry Potter, or anything else in that line.

Hmmm... Does This Mean Orlando Bloom Will Come After Me?

Which Pirates of the Caribbean character are you?

My Latest Favorite Song =)

I'd like to dedicate this song to my dear sisters (C&S, you will understand why when you read the words ;o) ... the 100 proof attitude power is totally you, S... C, I leave you to figure out which parts were meant for you =P)

Just the Girl

She's cold and she's cruel

But she knows what she's doin'

She pushed me in the pool

At our last school reunion

She laughs at my dreams

But I dream about her laughter

Strange as it seems

She's the one I'm after

Cause she's bittersweet

She knocks me off of my feet

And I can't help myself

I don't want anyone else

She's a mystery

She's too much for me

But I keep comin' back for more

She's just the girl I'm lookin' for

She can't keep a secret

For more than an hour

She runs on 100 proof attitude power

And the more she ignores me

The more I adore her

What can I do?

I'd do anything for her

Cause she's bittersweet

She knocks me off of my feet

And I can't help myself

I don't want anyone else

She's a mystery

She's too much for me

But I keep comin' back for more

She's just the girl I'm lookin' for

The way she sees it's me

On her caller ID

She won't pick up the phone

She'd rather be alone

But I can't give up just yet

Cause every word she's ever said

Is still ringin' in my head

Still ringin' in my head

She's cold and she's cruel

But she knows what she's doin'

Knows just what to say

So my whole day is ruined

Cause she's bittersweet

She knocks me off of my feet

And I can't help myself

I don't want anyone else

She's a mystery

She's too much for me

But I keep comin' back for more

Cause she's bittersweet

She knocks me off of my feet

And I can't help myself

I don't want anyone else

She's a mystery

She's too much for me

But I keep comin' back for more

Oh, I keep comin' back for more

She's just the girl I'm lookin' for

Just the girl I'm lookin' for
I'm lookin' for

I'm lookin' for

I'm lookin' for

Just the girl I'm lookin' for

~ The Click Five

Memories... =)

I came across some PHC quotes that were sent to me last year around this time...

Dr. Stacey
...on his grading philosophy:
“How else did you lose your hair?” – John Grosjean
“Not the same way you lost your high grade.”

“If I say, “this paragraph is incomprehensible,” it doesn’t mean I despise you.”

...on military strategy:
“What’s the point of having a big navy if you don’t shoot things?"

...on his previous employment:
“I used to teach Introduction to American Government to dumb kids at bad colleges.”

...on color:
"I can't even tell you what the color of my car is. It's not red; it's not orange. Some girl probably came up with the name!"

...on his students:
"Your feelings are irrelevant to me."

...on freshmen

“They really exist for our pleasure”

...on his neighbors:
“If you can’t love them, then move. That’s what I say.”

...on pop-quizzes

“I was thinking of giving a quiz today, but everyone showed up.”

Dr. Noe

...on freshmen:

"Freshmen have fragile egos. They crush like eggs."

Dr. Smith

...on children's stories:

"[the Three Little Pigs] is actually prejudiced against wolves. You've got to look for these things in children's stories. They corrupt them early."

"[the Three Little Pigs] is actually prejudiced against wolves. You've got to look for these things in children's stories. They corrupt them early."

...on diamond rings:

"Now I know that all you guys are not thinking about this, but an engagement ring is NOT a substitute for a glass cutter. Not that I speak from personal experience, or anything."

Shocking...

You Belong in New York City

You're an energetic, ambitious woman. And only NYC is fast enough for you. Maybe you'll set yourself up with a killer career Or simply take in all the city has to offer.

What City Do You Belong In?

I could have told you that! =)

I Guess I Just Wanted to Go Home

I'm dreaming tonight

Of a place I love

Even more than I usually do.

And although I know

It's a long road back

I promise you

I'll be home for Christmas.

You can count on me.

Please have snow and mistletoe

And presents under the tree.

Christmas Eve will find me

Where the love-light gleams.

I'll be home for Christmas

If only in my dreams.

Please pray that the mass transit strike in NYC ends before Friday morning!

I have been thinking about and preparing to go home for the past two weeks. I don't mind living where I am, but there is no place in the world like NY (especially for Christmas)!

I knew there was supposed to be a strike last week and although I felt bad that it was going to prevent my family from seeing the train show at the NY Botanical Garden, I had not thought about the longer term problems it would cause. I was talking to one of my co-workers yesterday about going home and he asked it the strike was going to be a problem. My jaw dropped! I had not been keeping up with the news and thought that the possibility of strike was behind us. So, I pull up the NY Times today (as is often my custom... the craziness at work lately has prevented me from doing so in the last couple of weeks) and see headline after headline devoted to the mass transit strike and the difficulties all the poor NYers are facing because of it.

Here are a few interesting items in these articles:

"This is the first citywide transit strike in more than 25 years. It is illegal for mass transit workers to strike in New York, which means the 33,000 bus and subway employees will face huge fines."
I mean, it makes sense to make it illegal, but I had never thought about it before. NY is does everything largescale...including breaking the law... it's kinda' fitting.

"The strike called early yesterday by subway and bus workers had a "severe to devastating" effect on businesses... City Comptroller William C. Thompson Jr. estimated the cost to the city's economy at $400 million the first day, and $300 million for each subsequent weekday this week. "
WOW!

"At Lord & Taylor's flagship store in Midtown, so many sales clerks were absent that managers were pressed into service helping the small number of customers."
All I can say to this one is ... AWWW what a shame!... maybe it would be good for managers to learn something about customer service.

http://nytimes.com/2005/12/21/nyregion/nyregionspecial3/21business.html?hp&ex=1135227600&en=fa58925676d2f99b&ei=5094&partner=homepage

"Thrown Together in a Crisis, Strangers Share Cars and Life Stories"
I love this headline =) It sounds so altruistic despite the fact that the motives of most were more utilitarian. If nothing else, NYers are tough. They will do WHATEVER it takes to move on... even if that means being nice to other people. =P

"Throughout the city, strangers crammed into sedans and minivans. Rides were offered from rolled-down windows. Makeshift hitchhiking posts sprung up along the curb."
How fitting for the Christmas season! =P

"Congratulations, guys, you made it," yelled Henry Chin, a volunteer. "Have some coffee or hot chocolate. You need the energy for the rest of your trip."
I thought this was sweet.

http://nytimes.com/2005/12/21/nyregion/nyregionspecial3/21coping.html?hp&ex=1135227600&en=61a1f98c923d6e00&ei=5094&partner=homepage

Here are a few of the touching stories...

I live in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and work in SoHo.Before I even got to the bridge, a car full of ladiesstopped and asked if I needed a ride. I accepted theiroffer and we whizzed across the bridge, no traffic atall. They let me off at Essex St. and I stopped for apancake breakfast since I was so early for work. Icalled my grandmother in Georgia to let her know that abunch of Christian ladies gave me a ride to the citytoday. -Natalie Beall

I walked ten blocks from my house in the Bronx toYankee Stadium, because I read online that there wouldbe a shuttle bus leaving Yankee stadium going to theMetro-North on 125th street. I planned to take theMetro-North to Grand Central, and then walk from thereto 58th and Broadway to my high school where I teach. A police officer informed me that the shuttle bus wouldnot be running until tomorrow (Wednesday). As I was about to give up and go back home, a 4 X 4 pulled up tothe sidewalk and gave three other people and me a rideto 46th and Broadway for FREE! - MIbrahim

I stopped in Starbucks (it seemed about half theStarbucks I passed were closed) to warm up for a while,and got to work at 7. It was an invigorating walk and Idon't mind if I have to do it again Thursday, etc.The determination of New Yorkers to go abouttheir business reminded me of the blackout from acouple years ago, when people just started walking towhere they needed to go. -Mary Pat Campbell, Dec. 20, 2005

How Pretty!

Last night, we had our first snowfall of the season, and it is truly beautiful! It's kinda funny because autum was so warm for so long that the trees never really shed their summer plumage. The snow arrived much earlier than usual, thus falling on leaves that forgot to fall. The affect is breathtaking! As I walked through the parking lot and the tree-lined pathway (it's called a park, but it's really not a park), I could not help but enjoy the sight despite the fact that snow is supposed to be my sworn enemy (I am a beach bum at heart). The USS Barry was behind me, looking very festive, all decked out in colorful lights, the pre-dawn sky rflected off the whiteness all around me, and for a moment, I could imagine that I had stepped into a utopia and I was the only one there (that part was actually true... I'm always on the first to arrive at work). Maybe it's just the fact that Christmas is near and there is nothing like snow to put you in the mood to sit inside and write Christmas cards and listen to the traditional carols, while drinking hot chocolate. It's pretty funny that we have this image, instilled in us since childhood, that lights and snow = Christmas. I mean, it really depends on where you live. In any case, I am going to try to enjoy each coming snowfall as I have enjoyed last night's because I have a feeling there will be many more in the next several months and I might as well be happy rather than miserable =)

Messiah, Christ's Incarnation, and Other Related Topics

This past Friday, I attended Handel's Messiah for the first time in my life. It was at the National Cathedral, which made the setting awe-inspiring, but when the tenor hit the first note as he sang out "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people..." from Isaiah 40, I knew I was in love (with the music, of course =P). It was truly an amazing experience! The entire gospel, set to music and presented in less than 3 hours! I believe that music is the language of the soul. It is one of the many blessings God has bestowed on us to show us His love, both now and through eternity. As the second part began I could not help but wonder what the soloists and choir thought as they sang of Christ's suffering and sacrifice on our behalf (Isaiah 53). Do they know what they are singing? Do they believe it?

Yesterday, at church, we were discussing the two natures of Christ. This led my thoughts back to Messiah and the numerous scripture passages that speak of the reason for Christ's birth. If He did not have to redeem us, He would not have had to take on a human nature. He could have existed as pure diety. I once hear Ravi Zacharias explain Isaiah 9:6 this way: ""For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given... Notice the words. He didn’t say the son is born. The son never was born; the son eternally existed..."" He did not need to be born to exist. As humans, we prefer humanity to any other state of being, but that is only because we are finite and cannot truly comprehend the infinite. Christ, who is infinite, was willing to step into time and space to be "in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin." (Hebrews 4:15) Christ's becoming human was not only a point-in-time occurance, it was an eternity-changing event in every possible way. All who died in Christ (both OT and NT believers) are given eternal life through His one time sacrifice. But this is not the only change. Christ Himself will also be eternally God and man; a constant reminder of His great love for us.

Sometimes I Just Don't Know Why I Ask...

Guys not only do not know how to ask for advice, they also do NOT know how to give it... apparently. The following is an email conversation between me and a friend at work. I didn't think my question was all that difficult, but the answer was certainly not easy to get.

Me: Do you think it would be ridiculous to even try to go straight to NY from here? I REALLY don't want to drive in the rain/snow tomorrow morning =(


Him: You could try, but it's gonna be slow going I expect. But maybe not as slow as driving in the weather tomorrow. It's a crap shoot either way.


Me: That wasn't exactly helpful... I had actually figured that much out on my own }:-[ (that's my angry face)


Him: OH, you wanted help..................Ok, I cleared up the traffic for you. Good luck!!


Me: You are SUCH a BRAT!
I wanted your advice... I don't know why...?


Him: My advice was in the first reply I sent to you - I don't think, with the available information, that you can say which would be better. Hence, a "crap shoot." Tomorrow, the weather might not be as severe as predicted, and more people may go today trying to avoid it, but it could go the other way. Personally, I would leave at around 9 PM - probably miss most of the day's traffic and possibly beat the weather.


Me: Thank you. The last sentence was all that I was looking for =P


Him: It's still a crap shoot.

UGH!!!

This is a Test... it is ONLY a Test!

That's what I've been telling myself today =)

It was the kind of morning wher you get to work early just because it's better than stumbling around your apartment in the dark (with roommates in the bedrooms and roommate's friends in the livingroom, the only light that doesn't disturb anyone at 4:30 in the morning is the bathroom light). So, I arrived at work by 5:40 this morning. After looking over my ever-growing to do list and organizing a time schedule for my day to ensure that everthing gets done in a timely fashion, I hear the little Microsoft Outlook "ding." I waited a moment to check what it was because I wanted to finish what I was doing. Several minutes later I hear a second "ding." This time I decided to see what the new emails were about. The first one began with:

"Background for our new project!"

followed by a LONG email. The second email was the first email, forwarded, with one little addition...

"FYI -- Ms. K. B. has the lead for this project..."

With two overdue projects , along with some not-so-urgent tasks, on my hands, I assumed I was not up for any new projects (guess that'll teach me not to assume anything!).

I just have to keep reminding myself, this is all just a test. When I look back at the end of my life, I will not remember the stress, the deadlines, how many projects were finished on time, or even finished at all, but God, who sees the heart, knows what I've done with the opportunities given and He will remember whether or not I lived for Him during the difficult times.

So... I will try to keep smiling as I remember, this is only a test. =)

Another Ravi Zacharias Quote...

"We talk of manhood and we see a lot more hoods than we see men..."

Of course, his point was that without Christ there is no standard by which to understand what it means to be a man. Though the truth of statement is sad, I thought it was an amusing way to put it. =)

Dentyne-isms

Words of wisdom from a pack of gum... ok, so maybe the words aren't that wise - I will even explain why they are not wise =) but they still provide amusement.

Dentyne-ism # 85
If you're scared, just whistle. If that doesn't work, run.

Now I'm thinkin' that if you take the time to whistle and you are actually in trouble, by the time you start to run, it will be too late (just a thought).

Dentine-ism #82
You're only as old as people think you are.

That really doesn't help me because people always think I'm older than I am and I want to be younger than I am.

Dentine-ism # 117
A first date is not the place to mention you've done time.

True. I would definitely want to know before then.

Medicamina Faciei Femineae

Sic potius iungetur amor quam fortibus herbis, quas maga terribili subsecat arte manus. Nec vos graminibus nec mixto credite suco, nec temptate nocens virus amantis equae; nec mediae Marsis finduntur cantibus angues, nec redit in fontes unda supina suos; et quamvis aliquis Temesaea removerit aera, numquam Luna suis excutietur equis. Prima sit in vobis morum tutela, puellae. Ingenio facies conciliante placet. Certus amor morum est: formam populabitur aetas, et placitus rugis vultus aratus erit. Tempus erit, quo vos speculum vidisse pigebitet veniet rugis altera causa dolor. Sufficit et longum probitas perdurat in aevum, perque suos annos hinc bene pendet amor.
~ Ovid, lines 35-50

Click here for the English translation.

Happy Birthday Rosie!

Have We Advanced Too Far For Our Own Good?

Malcolm Muggeridge has SUCH a way with words! His discription of the current state of Western civilization is right on target, sad as that is. In the following excerpt, Mr. Muggeridge addressed the education system, the advancement of technology, the increasing availability of multiple forms of entertaniment, the new onslaught of terrorism, and the "right" of choice, which some people possess, while others do not.

Thus did Western man decide to abolish himself, creating his own boredom out of his own affluence, his own vulnerability out of his own strength, his own impotence out of his own erotomania, himself blowing the trumpet that brought the walls of his own city tumbling. And, having convinced himself that he was too numerous, labored with pill and scalpel and syringe to make himself fewer, until at last, having educated himself into imbecility and polluted and drugged himself into stupefaction, he keeled over, a weary, battered old brontosaurus, and became extinct.

Movie Review of the Month... or Year (ok, so I don't get out much!)

Elizabethtown

-

There are few movies that I actually go to the theater to see, but I have been waiting for several months for this one to come out and would have gone to see it opening night if it weren't for the fact that I was waiting to see it with my roommate who was out of town. Having said that, I was dissapointed.

The overall theme was good: there are things more important than success as defined by the amassing of wealth, namely, family, love, and life. There were a number of funny scenes, but just as many crude elements. This was not Kirsten Dunst's finest performance. She is not cut out to be a man chaser. Orlando Bloom, on the other hand, did a pretty good job as an average American (especially for a Brit). Unlike his other movies, there were plenty of good shots of him without costume make-up. =)

It's not a bad movie, just not worth the $9.50 I paid to see it. It is definitely one that you should wait to see on DVD, unless you just really want to see Orlando Bloom on the big screen. =P

I'd give it 2 stars (one for O.B. and one for the humorous elements).

-

Is There Ever Really No One There?

I have always liked like limerics. Once again, I heard this quoted by Ravi Zacharias and so looked it up. It's a good reminder that nothing exists in a vacuum. Regardless of where we are, we are seen by our Creator. This should be a good reminder to us when we are making a personal decision that we think will affect no one.

There was a young man who said, "God
Must think it exceedingly odd
If he finds that this tree
Continues to be
When there's no one about in the Quad."

REPLY
Dear Sir: Your astonishment's odd:
I am always about in the Quad.
And that's why the tree
Will continue to be,
Since observed by Yours faithfully, GOD.

~ Ronald Knox

1936 Insight

As usual, I was listening to Ravi Zacharias this morning. He quoted a poem I had never heard before, so I looked it up and was surprised to find that it was written in 1936! I often think things are bad now, but when I read things like this, the truth "there is nothing new under the sun" becomes more apparend to me.

First dentistry was painless;

Then bicycles were chainless

And carriages were horseless

And many laws, enforceless.

Next, cookery was fireless,

Telegraphy was wireless,

Cigars were nicotineless

And coffee, caffeinless.

Soon oranges were seedless,

The putting green was weedless,

The college boy hatless,

The proper diet, fatless.

Now motor roads are dustless,

The latest steel is rustless,

Our tennis courts are sodless,

Our new religions, godless.

~ Arthur Guiterman

Epitaph

The wall on which the prophets wrote
Is cracking at the seams
Upon the instruments of death
The sunlight brightly gleams
When everyman is turn apart
With nightmares and with dreams
Will no-one lay the laurel wreath
When silence drowns the screams

Between the iron gates of fate
The seeds of time were sown
And watered by the deeds of those
Who know and who are known
Knowledge is a deadly friend
When no-one sets the rules
The fate of all mankind
I seeIs in the hands of fools

Confusion will be my epitaph
As I crowl a cracked and broken path
If we make it we can all sit back and laugh
But I fear tomorrow I'll be crying...

~ King Crimson

"Do you ever feel like, "I am fooling everyone"?"

In the movie, Elizabethtown (not that I've seen it yet - this part is in the trailer), Kirsten Dunst asks "do you ever feel like, "I am fooling everyone"?" Orlando Bloom responds with "you have no idea." It caught my attention because this is a topic that a coworker and I were recently discussing. At first I thought I was among the silent minority, suffering from the IAFE syndrome, but I am realizing more and more that everyone must feel that way to some extent, or in some aspect of their lives. It's not that people purposely try to hide who they are from the world (although that is true for some). It's more that only each individual knows the extent of their sin. No matter how bad a person may be on the outside, it does not measure up against the wickedness of which he is capable. It is impossible for anyone to know everything about someone else. That is a mercy of God. Only God is capable of knowing His children completely and still loving them.

The Muse of the Deep Blue

"Pushing through green waters

Symbol of joy

You leap from the depths

To touch the sky

Scattering spray

Like handfuls of jewels..."

~ Horace Dobbs