Movie Madness Challenge

Another day and another challenge. I'm not thinking of doing something as structured as my Bookmark Break Challenge, but I am curious about the number of movies I watch in a year. Of course, we are quite a ways into the year, but better to start now than later. I am going to create a page on my blog that keeps track of the number of movies I watch, new and old, but especially the ones I see in theaters.

Would anyone like to join me?

I'm not thinking about challenging anyone to see if they can watch more movies, or see more movies in theaters, especially since that involves spending money, but more a challenge to just keep track. Could be kind of fun!

Well, I'm off to create my page. Please let me know if you are going to keep track too. Then, I will add a link to your list somewhere on my page!

Happy movie watching!

"Cabin in the Woods" Movie Review

Oh, Joss Whedon, you just make me so happy with your strange way of twisting the normal around and around and around until it all make sense once again. This really was a clever movie, done completely in the style of my most faved director!

Ever get tired of the same formulaic horror movie where five kids hop in the car to go to someone's cousin's cabin in the woods, only to be picked off one by one by a redneck zombie family? Ever wonder why there is a formula in the first place? Then, this is the movie for you!!!

An absolutely strange mixture of classic modern horror, scifi/fantasy goodness! The movie will build and build in intensity, and just when you think you are going to scream, someone makes a wise crack and you end up laughing instead.

Be prepared to yell "WHAT?!" and "COOL?!" at the exact same time!

This is going on my list to buy the day it comes out!

"The Hunger Games" Movie Review!

Let's recap a bit on the book. I wrote a review a while ago which you can read here. Now, to further the discussion I wanted to comment on something I've been hearing a lot of. The gruesomeness of the story is the number one excuse I hear from people who have not read the book. But, I cannot stress this to those of you who are avoiding this read enough, the gruesomeness is not glorified and it is not the focus! It's more about the bravery of these children, especially Katniss, to have the courage to face this, not lose themselves in the Capitol and the injustice, get home to their families, and start fighting back for the first time in 74 years! What is happening to them is not their fault, it is the fault of others, elders, that fear the power even a child can have in raising hope.

Their character is what defines these books and makes them worth reading. They give you the hope and courage you need to continue reading.

With that said, onto the movie, (Note: very minor spoilers about what is not in the movie) I'm mostly on the side of the fence of really enjoying it. I miss very small things that only a reader would be endeared to, like Katniss yelling at Peeta for being too noisy while they are hunting during the games, or Haymitch being much slobbier at the beginning and falling off the stage at the reaping. But, the movie is already almost 2 1/2 hours long and I can't think of anything I would have wanted them to remove to find more room for other stuff.

Also, I went with a friend that had not read the books first and she said that she got it, she wasn't too confused, but she could not depend on the usual devices, such as dialog or narration to tell her what was happening, instead she had to look to the actors movements, glances, comments, etc to fill her in.

On that note, I thought the young cast of this movie was wildly talented!!! Especially Jennifer Lawrence! Way to really bring a character to life. If some other young actors or actresses had even half the talent of Lawrence or her costars, we all might enjoy some of these books-to-movies concepts a lot more. :)

It's only been a day since I saw it, and the excitement has yet to wear off. In fact, I may be entering a withdrawal period here in a few days. I'm more than certain I will see this movie again before it leaves theaters and it is on my "To Buy" list, and not just any old "To Buy" list, but the one with the disclaimer that reads, Must be purchased on or before the official release date!

Here is the trailer for anyone else that may be expecting side effects like shaking, chills, giggles, random rants, screaming, sudden excitement, etc after seeing the movie...

Now, my absolute favorite part!

DISCUSSION!

You MUST discuss this with me. I fear it is the only thing to hold off the withdrawal.

Let me know what your thoughts are on the books or movie.

Things you liked, disliked, wish you saw more off, what you could have lived without, etc.

Just talked to me about it!

I look forward to this!

SO EXCITED!!!

So, I know I still have to tell everyone about my trip to Chicago (it was amaing by the way!) but right now I am just too excited for HUNGER GAMES!!!! No, I am not going to the Midnight premiere (Twilight ruined that for me, thank you very much! Too much screaming and chatting through the whole thing!) But, I did get a pretty amazing group of friends to pitch in on tickets and now 8 of us are going to the 6:30 show on Saturday!

Are you planning on going?
When are you going to see it?

Final Days of Movies!

19. Who's your favorite actor?

I have lots and lots, but for the longest time Pual Walker was my favorite actor just because he is so pretty. But perhaps Anthony Hopkins is my favorite actor to watch because of his talent. I think he has some very entertaining personalities that he pulls out. I also like that he can play the bad guy, the good guy, someone somewhere inbetween, the mentor, etc.

20. Who's your favorite actress?

Right now, it's Emma Stone. I think she's unbelievable talented and gorgeous! Plus, she also has a diverse range from comedy, to drama, etc.

21. What's the most overrated movie?

Recently? Avatar! Doesn't mean I didn't enjoy seeing it,. I thought it was beautifully executed. Just with all the hype going on around it, I really expected something different. Also, probably any of the new Star Wars movies. I can't believe that all have to be re-released in 3D. That's a bit overkill for me.

22. What's the most underrated movie?

Again, recently? The Three Musketeers! It was torn to shreds by the critics, which I really think hurt the movie in theaters! But it was FABULOUS! The costuming was gorgeous, the acting was fun and entertaining, the choreography was refreshing! WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT!!!

23. Who's your favorite character from any movie?

That's a tough one. After Hunger Games is released, I have a feeling it will be Katniss Everdeen, but I also really love Sherlock Holmes played by Robert Downey Jr. in Sherlock Holmes, Mal played by Nathan Fillion in Serenity, and Captain Jack Sparrow played by Johnny Depp in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies.

24. What's your favorite documentry?

The sad thing is that I don't think I have ever watched a documentry in my entire life, unless you count short ones or part of ones you watch in history classes or the extended behind the scenes features on movies. :(. I suppose I would love some of the ones that Disney has put out. Like the one about the family of polar bears. I like animals.

25. What's a movie that no one would expect you to love?

Ummmm. I think everyone knows I weird enough to love some really stupid movies. But maybe, The Tourist. It was a little out of my comfort zone to see it. A bit artsier that I tend to go. I wouldn't say I loved it, but I was surprised by it and enjoyed it very much.

26. What movie is your guilty pleasure?

I've watch Prince of Persia a few too many times. Probably more than is healthy! lol. But I love the scenery, the music, and the casting. Van Helsing is another one of those crazy movies that I just love and have watched at least 100 times.

27. What's your favorite classic movie?

This is probably the easiest question I have had to answer. It would definitely be Singing in the Rain! I love both Debbie Reynolds, still do, and Gene Kelly! The dancing and singing combined was just amazing! This movie was actually on tv the other day and I got to see the part where Donald O'Connor sings and dances to the "Make them Laugh" bit.

28. Which movie has the best soundtrack?

Oooooh! I am a soundtrack fool! I love the soundtrack to movies like Braveheart, The Last of the Mohicans, and Dances with Wolves. More recently I like a few songs from Pride and Prejudice, The Holiday, and The Island. Also, I love the music from Harry Potter, Star Trek, and Tron.

29. Which movie changed your opinion about something?

I'm sure the people who wrote up these questions were probably looking for something terribly profound to go here, but I'm young, and my opinions are constantly changing. Center Stage made me want to try ballet, Princess Bride made me want to be a princess for Halloween, and Into the Blue made me want to search for buried treasure in the ocean. Other than whims of wanting to try new things, I don't think movies have made much more of an impact.

30. What's your least favorite movie?

Whay end on such a sour note? I don't know. I'm a bit of a movie addict and tend to find the good in even the worst movies. I didn't like Skyline or The Hills have Eyes. Those two were definitely a waste of money.

Well, that concludes what was supposed to be 15 days of movies, but turned more into 3 1/2 days of movies. lol. I hope you enjoyed it though. It was fun to answer all the questions and talk about one of my favorite things! Be ready for March 1st! When I do the next update for The Bookmark Break Challenge!!!

You can do this too! I choose to do mine in 15 days, but here is the list to try in 30 days:

Day 1- Your Favorite Movie

Day 2 - The last movie you watched

Day 3 - Your favorite action/adventure movie
Day 4 - Your favorite horror movie
Day 5 - Your favorite drama movie
Day 6 - Your favorite comedy movie
Day 7 - A movie that makes you happy
Day 8 - A movie that makes you sad
Day 9 - A movie that you know practically the whole script of
Day 10 - Your favorite director
Day 11 - Your favorite movie from your childhood
Day 12 - Your favorite animated movie
Day 13 - A movie that you used to love but now hate
Day 14 - Your favorite quote from any movie
Day 15 - The first movie you saw in theaters
Day 16 - The last movie you saw in theaters
Day 17 - The best movie you saw during the last year
Day 18 - A movie that disappointed you the most
Day 19 - Your favorite actor
Day 20 - Your favorite actress
Day 21 - The most overrated movie
Day 22 - The most underrated movie
Day 23 - Your favorite character from any movie
Day 24 - Favorite documentary
Day 25 - A movie that no one would expect you to love
Day 26 - A movie that is a guilty pleasure
Day 27 - Favorite classic movie
Day 28 - Movie with the best soundtrack
Day 29 - A movie that changed your opinion about something
Day 30 - Your least favorite movie

15 Days of Movies! Day 2!

3. What's your favorite action/adventure movie?

Now, this one is difficult!!! Considering action/adventure is probably my favorite genre. I want to say King Arthur, Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl, Resident Evil 3, etc., but I think I am going to say Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time!!!

Here's a synopsis...

A young fugitive prince and princess must stop a villain who unknowingly threatens to destroy the world with a special dagger that enables the magic sand inside to reverse time.

I know some people and critics really trashed this movie, but I LOVED it!!! I thought the cinematography was excellent, the costumes were gorgeous, the action was funny. It was comical and serious, told almost in an epic odyssey kind of way.

4. What's your favorite horror movie?

Ha! I kind of laugh at this question because my favorite horror movies are not classics, are usually not anyone else's favorites, really could be more of a spoof than anything else, but I just liked them for really no apparent reason whatsoever. My favorites are a close call between Wrong Turn and Stay Alive. I could probably argue for Resident Evil 1 as well. But I choose Stay Alive as my #1.

Here's a synopsis...

For a group of teens, the answer to the mysterious death of their old friend lies within the world of an online video game based on the true story of an ancient noblewoman known as the Blood Countess.

I enjoyed the plot of this movie. It's simple: You die in the game, you die in real life! EXCELLENT!!! Who would have thought a plot could be so straight forward! Plus, it takes into account the ever-continuing fight about violence in video games and learning the difference between reality and the game.

Like before, I would love to hear your answers as well. Please share! or do your own posts!

You can do this too! I choose to do mine in 15 days, but here is the list to try in 30 days:

Day 1- Your Favorite Movie

Day 2 - The last movie you watched

Day 3 - Your favorite action/adventure movie
Day 4 - Your favorite horror movie
Day 5 - Your favorite drama movie
Day 6 - Your favorite comedy movie
Day 7 - A movie that makes you happy
Day 8 - A movie that makes you sad
Day 9 - A movie that you know practically the whole script of
Day 10 - Your favorite director
Day 11 - Your favorite movie from your childhood
Day 12 - Your favorite animated movie
Day 13 - A movie that you used to love but now hate
Day 14 - Your favorite quote from any movie
Day 15 - The first movie you saw in theaters
Day 16 - The last movie you saw in theaters
Day 17 - The best movie you saw during the last year
Day 18 - A movie that disappointed you the most
Day 19 - Your favorite actor
Day 20 - Your favorite actress
Day 21 - The most overrated movie
Day 22 - The most underrated movie
Day 23 - Your favorite character from any movie
Day 24 - Favorite documentary
Day 25 - A movie that no one would expect you to love
Day 26 - A movie that is a guilty pleasure
Day 27 - Favorite classic movie
Day 28 - Movie with the best soundtrack
Day 29 - A movie that changed your opinion about something
Day 30 - Your least favorite movie

15 Days of Movies!!! Day 1!

1. What is your favorite movie?

This used to be a hard one, but lately I think I have had it down. I have a long list of favorite movies, like The Goonies, Pride and Prejudice, Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl, etc., but my very favorite is Serenity!

Here's a synopsis...

In the future, a spaceship called Serenity is harboring a passenger with a deadly secret. Six rebels on the run. An assassin in pursuit. When the renegade crew of Serenity agrees to hide a fugitive on their ship, they find themselves in an awesome action-packed battle between the relentless military might of a totalitarian regime who will destroy anything - or anyone - to get the girl back and the bloodthirsty creatures who roam the uncharted areas of space. But, the greatest danger of all may be on their ship.

This movie comes from the mind of its fabulous creator and director, Joss Whedon, who is the only man that can successfully create a cult classic movie from a cancelled tv show!!!

2. What's the last movie you watched?

I watched The Rite with Anothony Hopkins who I love as an actor.

Here's a synopsis...

Seminary student Michael Kovak is sent to study exorcism at the Vatican in spite of his own doubts about the controversial practice and even his own faith. Wearing his deep skepticism like armor, Michael challenges his superiors to look to psychiatry, rather than demons, in treating the possessed. Only when he's sent to apprentice with the unorthodox Father Lucas -- a legendary priest who has performed thousands of exorcisms -- does Michael's armor begin to fall. As he is drawn into a troubling case that seems to transcend even Father Lucas's skill, he begins to glimpse a phenomenon science can't explain or control... and an evil so violent and terrifying that it forces him to question everything he believes.

The trailors looked super scary so I waited until it came out on DVD and just bought it, at a reasonable price. My parents and I wtched it together. It was not nearly as scary as I thought it would be, but I enjoyed the story, and the thought that the Vatican actually trained exorcists, maybe even still do, is fascinating!!!
In the comments, I would love it if you guys gave me your own answers to these questions, or you can try doing this yourself as well!!! See below for the whole list!

You can do this too! I choose to do mine in 15 days, but here is the list to try in 30 days:

Day 1- Your Favorite Movie

Day 2 - The last movie you watched

Day 3 - Your favorite action/adventure movie
Day 4 - Your favorite horror movie
Day 5 - Your favorite drama movie
Day 6 - Your favorite comedy movie
Day 7 - A movie that makes you happy
Day 8 - A movie that makes you sad
Day 9 - A movie that you know practically the whole script of
Day 10 - Your favorite director
Day 11 - Your favorite movie from your childhood
Day 12 - Your favorite animated movie
Day 13 - A movie that you used to love but now hate
Day 14 - Your favorite quote from any movie
Day 15 - The first movie you saw in theaters
Day 16 - The last movie you saw in theaters
Day 17 - The best movie you saw during the last year
Day 18 - A movie that disappointed you the most
Day 19 - Your favorite actor
Day 20 - Your favorite actress
Day 21 - The most overrated movie
Day 22 - The most underrated movie
Day 23 - Your favorite character from any movie
Day 24 - Favorite documentary
Day 25 - A movie that no one would expect you to love
Day 26 - A movie that is a guilty pleasure
Day 27 - Favorite classic movie
Day 28 - Movie with the best soundtrack
Day 29 - A movie that changed your opinion about something
Day 30 - Your least favorite movie

Must Reads #5: "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins

Title: The Hunger Games

Author: Suzanne Collins

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Edition: 1st edition Hardcover: September 14, 2008

Back Cover Summary: Katniss is a 16-year-old girl living with her mother and younger sister in the poorest district of Panem, the remains of what used be the United States. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called, "The Hunger Games." The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed. When Katniss' sister is chosen by lottery, Katniss steps up to go in her place.

*******

When I finished reading Twilight, I was really starved for another book that would capture my interest. I had a long summer ahead on me, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I like to fill it with lots of reading! Harry Potter had ended, I was waiting for Breaking Dawn, I had finally finished The Host, and none of my other favorite authors seemed to be producing anything. So, when Stephanie Meyer suggested The Hunger Games, saying she couldn't even put it down, I jumped. I wanted the book in my hands now!

High Notes: Absolutely, one of the most interesting and well thought out dystopian novels I have ever read. Believable too! I loved all the characters. Everyone from Katnis, to Gale and Peeta, to Prim and Rue, to Haymitch, and all the funky people from the capitol. I loved the creation of this new world that had new rules, yet was dealing with the same timeless ordeals that any human must face, like love, sacrifice, pain, survival, etc.

The book truly dived into what you have to do when you feel helpless, when your entire family is depending on you, when you are forced to do things you don't want to do, and finding a way to stay true to yourself, to act both selfishly and selflessly at the same time.

Also, a major contributing factor to the novel's, and it's 2 sequels', success is its appeal to a wide audience. After discovering the book for myself and wanting to discuss the book with others, I found people as young as 12 or 13 reading it, and people as old as 60 reading it. I not only could chat with my friends, but my cousins, aunt, uncle, grandma, etc. It was very exciting.

Low Notes: The only low note for me was that I did not get to see enough of Gale!! Luckily, he is a continuing character that you get to see much more of, especially in Mockingjay, the 3rd installment.

Now, before this is over, for all of those who have read it and are girls! Peeta or Gale? I'm obviously partial to Gale. lol.

Ratings:

Character Development: 5/5
Dialogue: 5/5

Prose: 5/5

Believability: 5/5

Style and Grammar: 5/5
Entertainment Value: 5/5

Overall Rating: 100% Yes, that's right! 100%

You can find the next two installments of The Hunger Games just about anywhere! In stores and online! Go and get them!

  

 And don't forget about the movie that comes to theaters in March!!!

Who else is excited for that!??!

 

Discussion Topic: What to do FIRST? Read the book or watch the movie?

What should you do first? Read the book or watch the movie/show?

This topic has come up in discussions before, but we never just talked about how you choose and what seems to be the best way to go about doing things.

In the past, I have found that most people say to read the book first. However, I feel that reading the book first sets too high of an expectation for the movie. You read the book, fall in love with every word of it, and you expect the directors and writers to fit it all into a 2 hour period. Yet, this never works. Lines must be cut, scenes must be rearranged, and all in all, many of us end up hating the movie for it!

Seeing the movie/show first can allow you to enjoy it for what it is, without the heavy expectations. You take the new twists and turns for what they are, just some wonderful entertainment.

But the discussion goes both ways. When in came to Harry Potter, I'm very happy that I read the books first. I think it helped me understand the movies better, know more of what was really going on, especially in a world that is so new. The same goes for Lord of the Rings. That movie would have been terribly confusing (not really the plot, but all the names) without having read the book first.

On another note, sometimes I have watch a series/movie, loving the characters, the ongoing plots, etc. Then, turned to read the books for the full inside info, and absolutely condemned the book for not being as good. Case and point would be my two reviews of The Vampire Diaries and Pretty Little Liars. I LOVE the shows, but really can't stand the books at all.

It's hard to decide which is the better route.

Perhaps if I make a list, this will help...

Read the Book First and was Happy with the Show/Movie:

• Harry Potter
• Lord of the Rings
• Pride and Prejudice
• Frankenstein
• Confessions of a Shopaholic
• To Kill a Mockingbird
• Much Ado About Nothing

Read the Book First and was Unhappy with the Show/Movie:

• Twilight
• Romeo and Juliet
• Beastly (was a little better the 2nd time around)
• Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Saw the Show/Movie First and was Happy with the Book:

• The Last Song
• Matilda
• James and the Giant Peach
• A Midsummer Night's Dream

Saw the Show/Movie First and was Unhappy with the Book:

• The Vampire Diaries
• Pretty Little Liars
• Great Expectations

Seems to be just about even to me.

However, I think your best bet is to read the book first, but WELL BEFORE the movie/show comes out. Give yourself enough time to forget some of the book, so it can be a pleasant surprise when certain parts show up in the movie to remind you.

What do you all think?
Do you have a list of your own that you could make out?

"The Tourist" Movie Review

At first, I thought, "FINALLY! Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie are making a movie together!" Then, I thought, "CRAP! They've both done some strange movies lately and this could be double the disaster."

Luckily, it started playing on the Stars channel while I had the free few months or so, so I figured I might as well DVR it (BEST invention EVER!) and give it a try.

I was not disappointed!!! Parts were a little artsy, yes, but the overall story was fascinating and terribly romantic!

Johnny Depp plays his signature slightly not-all-there, but handsome persona, charming you the whole way through with his clumsy, yet clever character.

Nevertheless, Angelina Jolie steals every scene (a VERY difficult thing to do next to the previous Captain Jack Sparrow). She's stunning from head to toe! Looking robust, healthy, steeled and confident, yet graceful, she makes me want to be her, and have the capabilities to stare someone straight in the eye and either intimidate or attract them without saying a word!

This is a difficult one to summarize, even just a little without giving too much a way, but I will try and just be plain cryptic for you:

Depp is a tourist who meets a beautiful woman during his travels that changes his entire life from a seemingly dull existence into an edge-of-your-seat European adventure. The problem is, did he ever want to meet this mysterious beauty in the first place, or did he decide to stay with her the moment he first laid eyes on her.

Definitely one to check out. Especially if you love just a little artiness, but not too much, some action, adventure and intrigue, and just the right amount of romance.

"Thor" Movie Review

This review is long overdue so I better write it now! I wasn't exactly sure what to expect from the movie. I've seen quite a few Norse lore movies and they have all been pretty dark and dirty (nothing really wrong with that), with big, hulking men, weilding big, hulking swords, on big, hulking horse (again, nothing really wrong with that.) Nevertheless, this Thor is based off a comic, which usually means light hearted and a bit corny!

In short, Thor thinks he is ready to be king and defies his father by going off to the ice world to prevent them from ever attacking the kingdom again. Thor's father finds this foolish and banishes Thor to Earth until he can learn to be a good and honorable man. Thor meets a scientist, fascinated with the bridge between worlds. Thor believes he will not make it back home and his brother, Loki, is determined to be king instead. But with the help from Thor's warriors and the scientist, Thor recovers his hammer and saves Earth and his own world.

Suffice to say, it was on the corny side, much more than I expected it to be, but some of the effects were great, especially the big fight on the ice peoples' planet (sorry, but I do not know the official name.) I like the robustness of the characters. You can especially see it when Thor or his friends are on Earth. They have such BIG personalities compared to the humans.

Natalie Portman has not been a favorite of mine in just about anything I have seen her in. I think she tends to play the same character, a bit mopey. (Granted, I have not seen Black Swan, but I imagine her to be a bit mopey in that too.) She didn't strike any extra points for me in this movie. I tended to be more entertained by Kat Dennings (now starring in the show 2 Broke Girls. Love it!) who plays Portman's assistant and is wildly known for her fantastically dry humor!

I like Chris Hemsworth. He is a very bold and handsome Thor (very tall, which is always a plus!) and I look forward to seeing him in Snow White and the Huntsman. If only someone would stick a real woman next to him and not a non-communicative little stick like Natalie Portman or Kristen Stewart! Oh well.

Looking forward to The Avengers where all these comic heroes will collide. And did I even mention that JOSS WHEDON is directing!!! Let me say it again, JOSS WHEDON IS DIRECTING THE AVENGERS! Thank goodness someone had some common sense to hire him. He is BY FAR! the most ingenious man when it comes to movies and television!

The BEST 3 Minutes in the Theaters in 2011!

My cousin was selling those magazine subscriptions to raise money for his class and I felt like supporting him so I signed up for one the only magazines that I really dive into and read almost everything. Entertainment Weekly!!! For some of you who may feel the same about the magazine as I do, you might have noticed that they named off their top 10 lists of EVERYTHING--Books, Movies, TV, Music, etc. And, on a random page, they noted that the new Hunger Games trailor was the best 3 minutes in theaters! I laughed because, partly, it was so clever, and the other part, because it was so true! (Note: My mom had just seen the trailor for the first time (having not read the books) when we went to go see Sherlock Holmes 2 and she thought it was clever too!)

I'm wildly excited for the movies. I read ALL THREE books in a matter of 4 DAYS! LOVED THEM! Really, a very VERY clever plot. I was nto surprised when I heard they were being turned into movies. I had no idea who they were going to choose to play all the characters, but I am pleased with who they came up with. They're going to blog Twilight out of the water!!!

So, have you seen the trailor?
Was it the best 3 minutes in the theaters for 2011?
If not, what was?
Have you read the books?
Looking forward to the movie?
Other thoughts?

"Twilight:Breaking Dawn Part 1 (4)" Movie Review

Yes, I did end up seeing it in theaters. How could I resist after that shocking yet funny story my friend shannon told me the other week? (To read the FUNNIEST TWILIGHT STORY EVER, click here.) For some reason, a lot of my friends thought I had already seen it, but no. Yesterday was the first time.

Let me provide some backing for my feelings about Twilight. It all began on a road trip to Cedar point in Ohio one beautiful afternoon. Nine of my friends and myself were packed into two cars and we were stopped on the expressway behind a truck full of sheep (the animals, not the common idiot.) Some of us had hopped out of our cars and were roaming around, looking for something to entertain us while we waited for traffic to get moving once again, but two individuals (girls) were still crammed in the back of our car with their noses shoved in the pages of this black, white, and red hard covered book. Deciding to ignore them for the moment, I continued walking around, being entertained by the boys daring each other to do something funny in front of the other cars.

(I promise this comes to a point)

The weekend ends after getting lost in Ohio, sleeping in a KOA, spending the entire afternoon on rollarcoasters, spending the entire evening with friends and whisky, experiencing the entire next morning and ride home with a hang over, and then finally asking the girls, "What the hell are you reading?! You don't read?! What is this?!" Turns out it was Twilight and the books was shoved in my hands and I was told to read it now!

Suffice to say, I loved it! I called Borders the next day and told them to reserve me the first three books in hardcover (the fourth wasn't out yet) , and I would be in the next day with my $63 dollars to purchase them all!

To this day, the first book is my favorite, the second, my second favorite, and so on.

I was thrilled to hear a movie was being made, but upon going to the first midnight premiere, I was thoroughly disappointed. I began blaming everyone who worked on the movie, except for Carter Burwell, the music composer who I appreciate very much and was recently brought back for the last two movies!!! I did not enjoy Catherine Hardwick's artistic inputs and Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson were more awkard together than milk and lemon juice!

The second movie was a little better, especially since Taylor Lautner got more of a part, but I was still disappointed that the two main characters were not being portrayed accurately (in my personal opinion.) Eclipse was okay. I still liked the second one the best. When it came time for Breaking Dawn, I was NOT EXCITED AT ALL, only mildly curious if someone could make it remotely work.

Let me give a very general summary in bullet points:
-Bella and Edward get married
-Jacob is not happy
-Bella and Edward go on their honeymoon
-Bella gets pregnant
-Baby is killing her
-No one is happy
-EVERYONE wants to kill the baby except for Bella and Rosalie
-Baby is born
-Everyone is happy
-Bella = Newest Vampire

(Hopefully, this doesn't give anything away. It's pretty much layed out in the trailer. There are no surprises really.)

So, the big question...Did I like it? The quick answer...Yes. I was quite impressed that the story stayed true to the books with only a few scenes that were a bit indulgent. Like when Jake finally imprints and we travel back into his mind to when he first told Bella what it was like to imprint, and the person he is now in love with grows before his eyes and all that links him to her at the moment are her hazel colored eyes. He is so taken by the moment that he must fall to his knees, finally complete in his search for THE ONE! I tried not to laugh. My friend, Amanda, was bursting at the seams. Or, when we get to hear the werewolves voices for the first time while they are in wolf mode and Jacob has an "Inigo Montoya" moment as he declares himself independant from the leader of the pack.

Other than that, I was trilled with the outcome. Congrats to Bill Condon for getting it right on most scenes. Congrats to Carter Burwell for his return as the Music Composer. Congrats to Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson for FINALLY getting it together, not stammering, and realizing that they have got to be comfortable with each other by now (you're really dating for goodness sakes!). And congrats to everyone who did not faint this time around.

That's all I'm saying. lol.

I need more books like I need a million holes in my head!!!

Yes, I bought MORE books. This time I limited myself to two books before walking into the store...Well, I found two outside the store and two inside...That's okay, right?
Anyway, I thought I would add to my previous list of books I own but have not read featured here, here, and here.
This is what I bought:

Evanovich- One for the Money

Richardson- Labyrinth

Clare- Clockwork Angel

Holder & Viguie- Crusade

Anyone else read any of these? If so, what did you think? If not, do you want to read any of them?I know the Evanovich novel is being turned into a movie! Do you plan on seeing it?

PS: I did see Breaking Dawn today. I hope to have my review up some time tomorrow. If not, then definitely on Monday. NOTE: There is a stinger at the end of the movie. So, if you see it, stay through the credits.
PPS: Did anyone know that there was a stinger at the end of Percy Jackson and the Lightning theif?

I just made my FIRST SALE!!!

I just sold my first pair of earrings at my Etsy store!!!! I can't believe it! It's made my entire week and paid for all my fees on the website for the next 4 months!!! YEAH!

My store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/AubrieAnne?ref=si_shop

The Amber Droplets are now gone, but I have two other pairs in the same style, just different colors that should go up at some point!

Amber Droplets

Plus, I added 4 new pairs today and photographed 4 other. Photography is the longest process and I plan on doing more tomorrow morning as long as it isn't raining. The rain will steal all my light!

Moss Squares
http://www.etsy.com/listing/87065066/sterling-silver-earrings-moss-squares

Egyptian Groove
http://www.etsy.com/listing/87065462/sterling-silver-earrings-egyptian-groove?ref=v1_other_1

Wish me luck!

PS. I might be seeing Breaking Dawn tomorrow so watch for a review! I've heard pretty mixed feelings, but it's obviously faint-worthy! lol.

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 2" Movie Review

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 is the final movie in the Harry Potter series and boy did it end with a bang. I really don't think I could have been more pleased with the series as whole. Each movie got better and better, the actors grew beautifully through the series, the effects, costumes, make up, writing, etc, were all stunning. I'm a happy camper.

To say a bit about the movie without ruining for any of those poor souls that have been unfortunate enough not to have read the book OR seen the movie. Harry is down to his final mission, stop the dark and evil Lord Voldemort before he destroys both muggle world and the wonderful world of wizards. The final show down takes place at Hogwarts, Harry, Hermione, and Ron's wizardry school. Everyone fights, some die, some fall in love (Finally!), some give rousing speeches that make you cry more than any other part in the whole movie (Thank you so much Neville Longbottom!)

All in all, I thought the movie was spectacular. In this case, I do recommend that every one read the books first. They are fantastic, but if you must only see the movies, I guess that in fine too. Just know that you are missing out on a bit.

(Damnit Neville Longbottom!!!)

What did you think of the Harry Potter movies?

Did you read the books?

Were you satisfied with the final movie?

"Immortals" Movie Review

I got the chance to see this movie in the theaters with my cousin, Michael. (The same cousin that saw In Time with me last week.) It certainly looked like a movie I would enjoy and since it had the same producer as 300 (Mark Canton) I figured I really couldn't go wrong as far as it being entertaining.

In summary, a slave is caught in the middle of a war between men, gods, and titans. Secretly trained by Zeus himself, and the unofficial body guard of the virgin oracle, he's the best warrior to save man.

The storyline on paper sounds fantastic, but it really didn't take the spotlight. Instead, it was overwhelmed with the multiple beheadings and virtual buckets of computerized blood. Don't get me wrong, the fight scenes were choreographed beautifully. It was just very hard to see with so much splattering going on. Definitely not for the faint-hearted.

The cinematography was beautiful, though. As were the costumes, makeup, and abdominal muscles. lol.

"Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader (3)" Movie Review

This is another one that I saw in theaters and was completely unsure about. I thoroughly enjoyed the first and second movie, especially since the only other version I had seen of the books was an old VHS recording of some ancient TV series that tried to recreate the books with the combination of live action actors and animation...Strange!

In the third installment, only Lucy and Edmund return to the fantastical world of Narnia, along with their annoying cousin Eustace Scrubb. The appear in the ocean where they are picked up by Prince Caspian, who appeared in the franchise for the first time in the second installment, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. This time, all of Narnia is being threatened by a creepy green smoke that is spreading across the sea, gobbling up ships and everyone on them. It's up to Caspian, Edmund, Lucy, and even Eustace to five the seven missing lords and their seven missing swords to break this curse and stop the evil green smoke.

It really sounds cornier than it is. Nevertheless, this is still my least favorite of the three movies out so far. It felt more like a series of four or five small stories rather than one whole storyline, making the whole movie a bit disjointed. Also, the green smoke had a tendency to bring out the "ugly" in everyone. Caspian was a bit power hungry, Lucy wanted to be beautiful like her sister, Susan, and Edmund is STILL haunted by the White Witch (I'm not sure how thrilled Tilda Swinton is about returning to these last 2 movies for a mere 5 minute cameo. I'd be done with it.)

But, the colors were beautiful, the effects were nice, and the actors were doing there thing. I also enjoyed watching Eustace go from fainting at the sight of a talking Minotaur, to getting teased for talking to a seagull, to asking if he could return to Narnia someday.

"Transformers: Dark of the Moon (3)" Movie Review

I did see this movie when it came out in theaters. In fact, I am pretty sure that I saw it twice. Once with my friend Amanda who always manages to be able to see movies with me the day that they come out. And once with my friends Sarah and Morgan that decide to go see it randomly a week or two later.

I enjoyed it both times, but it certainly was more over the top than the first or second. More about the huge effects than the actual storyline.

In short, and as always, without giving too much away, the Decepticons are at it again, trying to take over Earth, but this time they are looking to bring their home planet here and enslave all the humans as a workforce of 6 billion and growing! Of course, Sam, his new obnoxious girlfriend, and the Autobots are there to stop them.

Speaking of Sam's obnoxious new girlfriend. I didn't like her. Yes, she was pretty, like Megan Fox, but blonde. And yes, the writers tried to make her a strong female lead, as in she was the one with the good job, bringing home the bacon, while Sam moped about his glory days. But she screamed A LOT! And her miraculous hair transformed from curly, to flat, and back to curly more times in the action scenes than was humanly possible. Plus, I guess no one thought we would notice how she changed shoes several times from 4 inch black stilettos to black flats while also running for her life (all while still screaming her head off.) I thought for a while there that maybe she just broke her heals off (reasonable and probably more practical) but NO! In the final scene, as she stood on a car, with the wind blowing through her newly curled hair, her heels were back! Thank goodness!

Did I mention that the city of Chicago must no longer exist because it was completely decimated by an alien race and half the army blowing shit up. Anyone been there lately? Does it still look like an atom bomb went off?

All in all, you're going to enjoy the movie if you love the big effects and watching buildings crumble under the strength of a giant robotic sea serpent/worm/snake/whatever that thing was.

"Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" Movie Review

I finally got a chance to see it! I wasn't surprised when I saw that there was another Pirates of the Caribbean, especially after the way the last one ended, and the fact that there was a stinger at the end of the movie (not always a definite indication of a sequel, but a pretty good one.)

As a short summary and with few to no spoilers, this movie follows Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) as he, Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush), Black Beard (Ian McShane), Anjelica (Penelope Cruz), and the Spanish Prince discover the existence of the fountain of youth. There's more pirates, but also zombies and mermaids!!!
I enjoyed the fourth installment, perhaps even more than the third, that just got too weird for me. I LOVED the mermaids, so pretty, but so deadly. I didn't care much for the zombies, there didn't seem to be a reason for them to be zombies and not just regular men. I actually enjoyed whatever tensions was going on between Jack and Angelica, and I thought the little romance between the young man and mermaid was cute, but unfinished, frankly ignored at the end. The effects were fantastic. The music was spectacular as always, Mr. Zimmer. And the costumes and makeup were inspired. A good addition to the series.

Plus, don't forget to stay tuned after the credits because, you guessed it! There is another stinger!
I also thought I would add a link to the website Media Stinger. If you are one of those people who loves to see the stinger, but never knows what movies even have one, then this is the site for you. I bookmarked the website in my phone and every time I go to the theater to see a movie, I open the website to check whether or not I need to stay through the credits or not.