Summer Movies Satisfy My Cravings!

I have a confession to make: I am a MOVIE JUNKIE! Yeah, I'm one of THOSE PEOPLE: 

• the annoying people in the movie theater who've already seen the film twice before and comment the WHOLE time
• the people who correct you when you try to make witty comments about the latest film ("The Hobbit is NOT the sequel to The Lord of the Rings!")
• the people who go to the midnight premier even though they have to get up early the next morning... and then proceed to go again the next day
• the people who quote various movies ALL the time and don't have the courtesy to explain the reference
• need I go on?

Not surprisingly, the latest summertime flicks did nothing to discourage my addiction - in fact they probably mase it worse! This summer had a particularly impressive list of movies, especially superhero movies! I've commented briefly on each one that I've seen for those who don't mind *Spoiler Warnings*!

To start things off, The Avengers was probably one of THE BEST movie theater experiences since The Lord of the Rings (which is why I went to see it more than once!). I am a huge Marvel fan, and even though I didn't care for Thor all that much and didn't see all of The Hulk, The Avengers was a breath of fresh air for me! I was so concerned that they had hyped up this giant movie project so much that it would be disappointing. Thankfully, I was pleasantly surprised. There was witty humor (thanks to Ironman), exciting action, a good blend of characters, an interesting villain, implied romance, and a tragic death *sniff*. I was very, very impressed and hope that they don't make a stupid sequel just to rake in more money. In fact, what I'd like to see first is a film about Black Widow and Hawkeye's relationship... there was definitely something going on! Besides, they're the only two main characters who don't have their own movie yet!

As a huge fan of the Sam Raimi's Spiderman films (except for the third one, of course *shudder*), I was looking forward to a new take on Spiderman, though I didn't expect to be "wowed." And I wasn't, at least not completely. I appreciated the fact that MJ was absent and replaced by Gwen (hurray for goody-two-shoes!). I felt that Andrew Garfield's performance was definitely more emotional and angsty, though there were times when the angst reminded me too much of Peter Parker's "dark side" in the third film! Finally, the Lizard really freaked me out! I didn't expect him to be creepy - I mean, the Goblin is supposed to be Spiderman's #1 Bad Guy, right? - but I actually jumped several times! The techie/computer guys did a good job.

I had been looking forward to the final Batman movie since I made myself watch the second one for the first time. Here's another confession: I have an irrational fear of clowns, and I just didn't think that I could handle the Joker. Thankfully, I faced my fear and experienced one of the greatest movie experiences of all time. However, I had no idea what to expect from The Dark Knight Rises. I'm not a comic geek, so I wasn't very familiar with the storyline (though a good friend did give me a spoiler - thanks M!). I could probably write an entire blog post on this movie, which I may do in the future, but for now I'll say this: Batman was a complete jerk to Alfred, Officer Blake was my favorite, Anne Hathaway did a fairly good job as Catwoman, and the entire time I KNEW that Miranda/Talia was no good! Oh, and I actually felt bad for Bane at the end (despite all of the previous neck-snapping!).

Besides the superhero flicks, I had greatly anticipated Pixar's latest film... and was sadly disappointed. My little sister enjoyed it more than me, probably because I had much greater expectations. She loved the pretty horse, the little girl who shot arrows at bears, and the fairy glowy lights. I cringed at the cliched feministic approach to a girl's coming of age story, reveled in the lush animation and Celtic soundtrack, and cried at the end because I wanted there to be more of... something, especially to the story! Just as Cars 2 failed to meet my expectations, Brave (which was originally titled The Bear and the Bow - who the heck wanted to change that title?!) wasn't quite as inspiring as it could have been. Still, it was enjoyable, just not the same sort of Pixar experience that I have come to expect. Though, I must say that Merida's hair was the best I've ever seen on an animated character!




Finally, I saw The Bourne Legacy - not because I enjoyed the other three movies (I've actually only seen one of them.) but because I had been so impressed by Jeremy Renner's performance in The Avengers. And once again, his character was very engaging. He brought a lot of energy to the movie, which was definitely necessary for an action film. The ending was very abrupt, the script was difficult to follow at times, a chase scene went way too long in my opinion, but other than that it was a fun spy flick. Oh, I must also comment on one scene in particular: due to recent events this summer involving various shootings around the country, a scene in which a group of people are locked in a room and shot down by a colleague was much more chilling than it would have been otherwise. Perhaps, out of sensitivity to the still-grieving families in Colorado and Wisconsin, that scene should have been cut or at least shortened for audiences. Just a thought.




So, why am I such a junkie? Why do I love movies so much to the point that I'm a little compulsive? I, just like all people, love stories, plain and simple. Our lives are stories, stories that intertwine and cross with the stories of others. Some stories are a bit more exciting (The Bourne Legacy), some are more complex (The Dark Knight Rises), some are just fun (The Avengers), and some are tragic (For Greater Glory, see first above poster). The point is that movies may not be factual, but they do mirror something of reality, something we recognize in our own lives... and I think that is what people find appealing and applicable in films. Films are just another medium in storytelling - a more colorful and exciting medium than say radio - but a form of storytelling, nonetheless. The best part about movies is when the stories teach us something or give us a chance to think about something deeper than the special effects or script. Movies have accomplished their purpose when one leaves the movie theater... thinking.

*Note: The film that I mentioned (the first movie poster) but didn't expound upon, For Greater Glory, was the ONE movie that I wanted to see this summer but didn't. Sad day. There wasn't a large release, unfortunately, but hopefully, I'll have a chance to see it once it comes out on video!

Life Stops for No One

Oh my goodness, this was a/an [add any combination of adjectives - all are relevant: difficult, frustrating, long, short, crazy, awesome, exciting, instructive, God-filled] summer! My summer job, teaching religious education (see http://catholicdioceseofwichita.org/totus-tuus/totus-tuus-home) to children and teenagers, was one of the most challenging experiences I've ever had... and it is finally OVER!

Earlier today, I bade farewell to many dear friends/teammates/coworkers with whom I had the pleasure of spending almost my entire summer. Hugs were shared, tears were wept (ok, I actually bawled as soon as I got in the car!), and now I'm home again, preparing for my next adventure: another semester of college. Which leads me to explain my title: life stops for no one.

Several years ago, this was a particularly poignant life-lesson for me as a teenager; while in the midst of high school, I experienced the illness and death of a family member. It was at that point of my life that I realized that no one is truly invincible. Sooner or later, you...me...everyone will fail, will suffer, and will die. And you know what? Life will continue on as it always has. I'm reminded of a song from one of my favorite movies:

Eliza does her best to prove that she does not need 'Enry 'Iggins in her life in order to be happy (which may or may not be true - those of you who've seen the movie know what I mean :P), and she does so by pointing out that normal, everyday things will continue occurring whether or not he's around.

Similarly, if I fail all of my classes this coming semester, if I lose a dear friend, if I'm fired from my library job, if no one likes my blog (sure, that's not incredibly important, but still!), if I die in a car accident, will the world end? Of course not; life will go on its merry way along the path of time... at least until the Parousia (or the Zombie Apocalypse, take your pick). My point is, though it may seem that life is too hectic, too difficult, too MUCH, it will continue on. Sometimes we need to remind ourselves of this reality so that we may resist the urge to give into fear of what the future may hold. Endure, dear reader(s)! Life stops for no one, so hang on tight, be brave, and trust that "this too shall pass."

And So It Begins...

A life is a truly thought-provoking subject. I will resist the urge to list the endless supply of clichés used to describe a life (like a box of chocolates, full of surprises, etc.), but if you really pause and ponder the complexities of one's life, it's a bit overwhelming! We do our best to simplify it - one is born, lives for a while, and dies - but by simplifying a life, we do a great injustice to ourselves. If we limit living to the space in between being born and dying, we are ignorant of a greatness, a destiny.

I believe with all my heart that every life, simply by existing, affects other lives. Whether one is an unborn child, a CEO, a criminal, a blue collar worker, a refuge, a homeless person, a cloistered nun, or a student like myself, his life is valuable and powerful. Through this blogging experience, I would like to uncover the mysteries, the surprises, the struggles, and much more of life by documenting my own experiences. I hope that, while my own life is rather uneventful, it may inspire poignant posts that bring joy, humor, and encouragement to those who choose to read my blog.

Just as Professor Tolkien described so eloquently (see above picture), I have decided to begin an adventure but am lacking a companion. Would you care to join me, dear reader?