Recent happenings

Well, in addition to "V for Vendetta", I also watched "Last Kiss". Blockbuster Online has allowed me to watch a lot of movies lately, though I haven't actually sat down with a calculator to decide if it's worth the eighteen and a half each month I pay for the service. Their shipping seems to take a bit longer than is normal, and DVD's get lost in the mail easily, I'm finding.

It wasn't as great as I anticipated (speaking of the movie :) ). After seeing Zach Braff & Natalie Portman in "Garden State" (btw, just bought the soundtrack on eBay - still waiting for it to arrive in the mail), I expected something bigger & better - many reviews said it did meet those expectations.

It's about a guy who, living with his girlfriend, and expecting their first baby, gets a bit scared of his future with her. He wonders what it would be like to know everything will be the same from this point on, and when he meets a flirty young thing at a friend's wedding, he decides to stray from the familiar path.
He decides to see if he can do better with things new & exciting.
His 3 friends, all buddies from preschool on up, go through life-changing situations as well. The normal day to day routine of their lives gets shaken up, and they realize they are not the same persons as they were 5 or 10 years ago.

There's quite of bit of gratuitous language, umm, "exposure", and sexual scenes, which to tell you the truth, made me a bit uncomfortable even though I watched it by myself! :P

The characters aren't fleshed out too clearly, but perhaps that was intentional. It's still clear who they are, and what they are going through, and it's easy to identify with their moral dilemmas, fears, and desires.

At times, the guys are painted in the typical Hollywood light, but overall, this film seems to show reality. The girls make some bad decisions, too, and both genders learn from mistakes, and follow their hearts & end up doing the right thing(s).

So, Garden State is still a better movie, in my opinion, but Last Kiss has value, too.


Now I'm off to eat the salmon I finished baking :) I've had it in the freezer/refrigerator for a while now, and decided to eat it before it turned on me!
After work today, I purchased some herbs & spices I didn't have in my larder, and looked up some guidelines on the web. It smells good, at least, so I'll let you know how one of my first gourmet attempts ends up!

listening to...

Twinkies' radio.blog

thank you, PJ :D :D :D

V for Vendetta

I finished watching this the other day (with my busy-with-work-&-pets schedule and my illogical sleeping patterns, it often takes me 3-4 tries to completely watch a movie. My DVD player does not remember where I left off, but fortunately, I can remember within a minute or two where the counter was).

It is one of the better movies I have seen. EVER.

From trailers, it seemed to have a sci-fi feel, but only because it was set in the future - about 25 years from now, I think.

It focused on the problem a civilization faces when they hand power over to the government. It only takes one person to change that.

I was initially attrracted to this movie because it starred Natalie Portman (I've been admiring her acting (yes, only that) for years - to the rest of you, she probably needs no introduction) and also Hugo Weaving, who played Elrond in LOTR.

The story moved along nicely, didn't (to my observations) contain much gratuitous violence (though it was a bit bloody in spots), contained many notable morals-of-the-story, and painted the characters in a fairly detailed manner. Oh, and everyone has a British accent :)

V, a character singled out for medical experiments due to his views/lifestyle/ethnicity (not really made clear in the movie) has laid out plans to avenge himself and restore England to her former glory & democracy. He is a well-read, intelligent person, though (understandably) has a lot of anger to those who imprisoned & abused him. He wears a Guy Fawkes mask throughout the film, linking himself with the historical hero of the people.

Evey accidentally falls in with V when he rescues her from some Fingermen (police-like oafs who take advantage of their position & badge *sounds familiar*). She comes to his aid, and becomes labelled as an accomplice. V hides her away for her protection, and teaches her how to unleash her inner power & become what she was meant to be.

I appreciated the fact that there wasn't any sexual-nature stuff, really. Most films these days throw it in just to attract attention, and it rarely fits in with the story. The language was rough at times, but not pervasive.
It was rated "R", but is more of a mature nature than the dirty pervert connotations that rating usually suggests.

In watching the movie, I found myself identifying with both lead characters.
With V, as someone who has had a lot of unpleasant stuff forced on him, and has decided to punish/get even with his oppressors - someone who is really deep & multi-faceted, but is consumed with his perceived duty.
With Evey, who as a result of traumatic events in her life has shut down and is trying to live life as shallowly and unassumingly as possible so as to avoid being hurt/taken advantage of. She meets someone who challenges her perceptions & inactivity, and decides to learn from what she's been handed in life, and carry on nonetheless.

To our action and inaction, there are consequences. We need to realize that we are on earth, in our circumstances, for a reason. We have a purpose. We need to commune with the Author and follow His plan, His leading.
I wish it was clear to me. I do too much guessing - I know that. I know I need to do more Bible-reading, and also catch up on all the Christian books I've been given. Perhaps the upcoming cut in hours worked will allow that. Maybe I just need to buckle down & DO IT! :)