Movie Reviews 2013

The Great Gatsby

There is a lot of controversy over this film right now, and to be honest, I can see and respect both sides. I really enjoyed the movie. That being said, it is extremely flashy, stylized and exaggerated, which is one of the factors that turned many audience members away. One of the common complaints is that the film isn't an accurate portrayal of the story as it took place in the 1920's. That's true- this movie is very modernized. However, I found it extremely compelling from a cinemagraphic point of view. Especially since The Great Gatsby has been adapted into a film before, I appreciated the attempt at telling the same story in a very different, more romanticized way. I think the heightened drama of it reflects themes that were portrayed of the book, and perhaps people just aren't seeing that. The movie is a work of art in and of itself, and you have to watch it with an open mind in order to appreciate it. Sure, it's unusual to hear modern music thumping through the speakers as flappers perform, but that's the beauty of it! Anyone can recreate something to fit a factual mold. I respect the ambition of the film- and I thought that is was relatively successful in reinterpreting of the past in a way that people today could enjoy. That being said, I think the beginning of the movie was the weakest. I admit was not instantly hooked. In fact, I was doubtful at first. However, somewhere in the middle was a turning and I found myself completely immersed. DiCaprio and Maguire both gave amazing performances. 

Monsters University

I have to say, this is one of my least favorite PIXAR movies. That being said, it was by no means a horrible film. It's definitely worth a watch- just probably not worth spending the money to see it in theaters. I thoroughly enjoyed the humor poking at the lives of college students. It definitely strives to engage a wide audience, but falls short in comparison to other PIXAR films. 



Star Trek: Into Darkness

This movie was an unexpected gem. I enjoyed the first film, but didn't think the sequel would amount to much. I was proven wrong. First off, the cast is impeccable! Every character is portrayed perfectly which makes the story easy to engage with, even if you aren't familiar with Star Trek. That being said, the movie is nothing more than an action flick if you haven't seen the first one. It's a very emotion-driven storyline, so it is important to be connected to the characters beforehand. Benedict Cumberbatch gave an excellent and intriguing performance as the villain. However it's always Spock's storyline that grabs me. Overall there was a great balance of action, subtle humor and intense emotion. Definitely worth your time and money. I saw it twice and enjoyed it even more the second time around.

Words to Live By

"You're braver than you believe

stronger than you seem

and smarter than you think"

-Christopher Robin

Time and Tide

Somewhere along the perimeter of a continent, where

water caresses the land, two worlds collide. The beach

extends beyond sight, unbounded and free, showcasing

a familiar range of rocky slopes, lush grasses, and sandy

dunes descending into an unknown world. Waves

explode upon contact with the sand, creeping up the

shore, swiping souvenirs from the land. A rhythm

is set by the continuous tide as it pounds the Earth,

erasing all evidence of life.

The sharp cries of children and the

squawking of gulls resonate in the air, though

nothing so prominent as the steady pulse of the sea

from the inside of a shell. A breathtaking landscape

of soft sea foam lingering along the edges of the open

ocean, a world where God’s creatures swim free, where

dorsal fins peek through the surface of the water and

then vanish, where white sails dance across a giant

blue canvas.

Reality builds momentum over time, only to come

toppling down, like the sea upon the shore, sometimes

in a series of gentle ripples, sometimes in a single blow,

a devastating tsunami. A sea of love holds fragile dreams

that break with every crashing wave, leaving shards of

glass within the soft sediment as remains. In time, the

pain recedes, recycled in an endless current of emotion.

The sandy coastline stretches onward eternally,

undisturbed but for an occasional shell, piece of

driftwood, dismembered bit of seaweed. The sky is

coated with patchy clouds, a monotonous haze,

purple and gray, heavy with moisture, teasing the

Earth with small increments, thin streams of sunlight,

disappearing as quickly as they came.

The tears of humanity accumulate into an ocean of

bitter saltwater, and the heart pulses on in rhythm with

the tide. There is comfort to be found in the warm

grains of sand beneath anxious toes, and the salty air,

nature’s morphine, absorbs the unbearable pains of

life. The world continues turning slowly and as

the tide rolls in, icy water enveloping its prey with a

startling chill, humanity must move on else be

consumed by the sea, forever underwater. 

Crystal Richardson (2010)

Doctor What?

          Over the course of the past six months or so, I've become rather infatuated with the renowned British television series known as Doctor Who. The show is gradually gaining popularity here in America, but the majority of the population has still never even heard of it- and they don't know what they're missing! When I tell someone that I watch Doctor Who, the first question out of their mouth is always "what is it about?" and that, my friends, is an impossible question to answer.
          Doctor Who is one of those unique phenomena that cannot be adequately explained without sounding like a lunatic; instead, it must be experienced. But how do you convince someone to get in on the experience without first providing some context? Well, that's what I am trying to figure out. 
          For starters, Doctor Who is no ordinary TV series. In fact, the show is celebrating it's 50th anniversary this November. Yes, I'm serious- it's been running for quite awhile. But how does that work? How could a show last that long and maintain the favor of an ever-evolving audience? Well, that's where the genius of it really comes into play! The premise of the show, boiled down to the simplest and most degrading level, is about time travel, which means that no storyline or character is too far out of bounds. That being said, the show caters to a massive audience of all genders, ages and cultures. I truly believe there's something in it for everyone.
          Doctor Who is often introduced as a science-fiction show, which only just begins to scratch the surface of its essence, and probably turns away many perspective viewers with the mention of the genre alone. It's is so much more than that. Sure, it's a "sci-fi" series, but it's also history and comedy and life and death and love and loss and friendship and everything in-between. If the aliens don't grab you, the storyline might. If the special effects aren't your cup of tea, you'll still find yourself picking up bits of British culture and slang, and if nothing else, the witty dialogue will make your day. I could go on and on about how fantastic the it is, but the truth is, there is really only ONE reason that anybody watches it, and that reason is the main character: the Doctor. 
          The Doctor is a thousand year-old alien man known as a Time Lord. He has two hearts and travels through time and space in a machine called the TARDIS which stands for Time And Relative Dimension In Space. His home planet was destroyed in the great Time War, and as the last of his race, he ventures through space doing everything he can to make the universe a better place.
          The Doctor may be an alien, but he is also everything that we strive to be as human beings. What makes the show so rich is the emotional investment of the audience in this supreme caricature. The Doctor is as close to perfection as any living being could possibly be. His wit will put a ridiculous smile on your face, his awkwardness will have you giggling in understanding, his optimism will inspire you and his cleverness will blow your mind, but at the end of the day, his selflessness will break your heart. And that's what I love about the show. It's a roller coaster of emotion that will pain and delight you simultaneously- a lot like life. 
          I should probably address the fact that there have been eleven different actors to portray the Doctor over the past fifty years. That might sound a bit weird, but it's worked seamlessly into the storyline. As a Time Lord, the Doctor is almost immortal. When he's dying, he "regenerates" and takes on a new form, which is when a new actor steps into the role and brings his own quirky personality to the existing character. The Doctors are often referred to by the number of their incarnation, the eleventh being the current. Whether they are willing to admit it or not, everybody has a favorite Doctor. Mine is the tenth. That being said, most people don't watch the show from it's beginning because that would take an eternity. The series was revamped in 2005 with the ninth Doctor, and that's typically where people jump in.
          The phenomenon that is Doctor Who is truly all-encompassing. With fifty years of complex history, it's nearly impossible to summarize it without writing a novel. Rather than rambling on and on, I will leave you with some video clips that will hopefully further spark your interest.

Doctor Who?

Time Crash (The Doctor Bumps into an Earlier Version of Himself)

What IS Doctor Who?

Emotions

Emotions are powerful and complicated things. Everyone has them, but everyone experiences them differently. As far as expression goes though, I'm pretty well known for being a "non-emotional" person. But what does that mean, exactly? I'm not a robot; I have feelings like any other human being, I just deal with them in a noticeably different way than most. I've often wondered why, and after years of thought, I have it pinned down to a few different things.

First, I am an extreme introvert. I live completely within myself. That may be due largely to my dissatisfaction with reality. Or maybe I'm genuinely shy. Either way, even the people closest to me will never know half of who I really am, because my thoughts and feelings dwell so deep inside of me and I rarely share them. I'm very comfortable in my own skin, so I deal with things by myself.

Second, I am the opposite of a procrastinator. What does that have to do with emotion? I anticipate things. I don't live in the present, I live in the future. I dream, I predict; I like to be one step ahead of the game, always knowing what's coming, expecting the unexpected. Because I anticipate things, I deal with them emotionally in advance. I'm sure that sounds ridiculous, but it works really well for me. If I know something is going to happen, I create the event in my head and deal with the emotions ahead of time. Then I can handle the situation when I'm faced with it because I've already had time to process it. I guess what it dwells down to is that I like to have complete control over myself at all times. Or as Oscar Wilde once said, “I don't want to be at the mercy of my emotions. I want to use them, to enjoy them, and to dominate them".

Third, I am a perfectionist to the highest degree of the word. I expect myself to be able to handle anything and everything that gets thrown at me. I know it isn't humanly possible, but it's what I strive for. I tend to see emotional expression as weakness. If I can't handle my own emotions, I certainly can't and won't expect other people to be burdened by them. I consider emotion a personal responsibility. Handling your emotions is like brushing your teeth- if you make it a habit to take care of yourself, you'll get through life easier.

I think it's this combination of characteristics that makes me the way I am emotionally. And while people may comment on my sentimentality (or lack thereof), I think it's important to remember to stay true to yourself. Emotions may connect all of humanity on one level, but they are a highly individualized phenomena on the other. We cannot begin to understand each other if we first don't understand ourselves.

The Case of the Vanishing Rectangle, and Other Design-Related Mysteries

(this was inspired by an issue brought up in my Design Culture class)

First, a definition. Planned obsolescence or built-in obsolescence in industrial design is a policy of planning or designing a product with a limited useful life, so it will become obsolete, unfashionable or no longer functional after a certain period of time (Wikipedia).

Now, read this article regarding Apple designs. It's good I swear! http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/28/disruptions-you-know-you-cant-live-without-apples-latest-glass-rectangle/

And finally, a word of my own...

Built-in obsolescence is nothing but an annoyance from the consumer’s point of view. Most people aren’t made of money, so the notion of investing your funds in an item with a “limited useful life” seems absurd. Design should facilitate our lives, not cause problems. How annoying is it to have to replace the batteries in your calculator in the middle of a homework assignment, or better yet, how annoying is it that you can't replace the battery in your iPod when it dies? Very. But did you ever stop to think that those items were designed to manipulate you? Built in obsolescence is not a new phenomenon, so we’ve sort of become accustomed to things like changing batteries, or replacing an item completely because you are unable to change its battery. In modern times it's even more annoying when we know the technology exists to avoid such problems, and yet it isn’t always implemented. Why? Economics.

From a commercial point of view, I can understand why built-in obsolescence exists. It’s a cushion, or a near guarantee that businesses will continue to prosper despite the fast-paced changes occurring in the world. Apple is the prime example. They seem to put out new products in the blink of an eye, but with only very slight adjustments to either the software or physical design. Lots of people find this wrong, but I think the fault is in the consumers just as much as the producers. Sure, it could be said that Apple is taking advantage of its audience by constantly tempting them with new products, but the bigger issue in my opinion is that PEOPLE ACTUALLY FALL FOR IT! Why on Earth would you buy the new iPod nano, when your “old” version from 6-months ago still functions absolutely fine? What companies like Apple are really doing is altering our very culture, making people far more materialistically conscious than they need to be. It’s creating a social hierarchy based on who has the most up-to-date technology. That is not to say that everyone falls into the Apple trap. Actually, I know many people, including myself, who avoid it quite actively. In my life, I have owned a single iPod. I’ve had it for five years, and I have no desire to upgrade it. I am well aware, however, that the irreplaceable battery will soon die, and I will be left with a decision: do I invest in a new iPod, do I buy another brand of mp3 player, or do I live without? Whatever I chose, I find myself engaged in the unavoidable battle of built-in obsolescence.

And then there's the issue of increasing commonality. As built-in obsolescence becomes more uniformly immersed in our society, technology all starts to look the same. Why the obsession with electronic “rectangles”??? Why not circles or pyramids? I'm kidding of course. But it seems to me that the manufacturers are dictating society and I can’t help but wonder, when will we draw the line? Will people ever crave variation in design again, or has the function of an electronic object completely overridden its physical essence? That's not to say that people don't care about the looks of a product, because THEY DO. But has technology cut back on the carbs or what, because it's withering away to nothing! What will happen when we reach the limit for how thin a Macbook Air can physically be? Will things start getting bigger again? Will we find a way to eradicate the physical design completely and download the software directly into our brains? Sounds like a science fiction novel, but maybe it's not so far off. At this point in time, it's hard to reckon where electronic design is headed in the future.

The Present is a Gift

There are people who live in the past, people who live exclusively in the present, and people still, who live in a constant state of striving for an optimal future. I'd consider myself a combination of the first and last, which goes completely against the age old theory of living in the moment. 
People who are capable of living just for the here and now are blessed, but perhaps they are missing out on some of the finer points of life. Letting go of the past is just an excuse for trying to forget your mistakes, or erasing painful memories. But those memories make us who we are. Without those prior experiences, we would not be the same people we are today. And while living in the past is physically impossible, some people will drive themselves insane trying to solve or correct their histories. But life isn't always a puzzle to be solved, sometimes it's just about learning to accept and deal with the things that have happened and using those experiences to guide yourself. The past is very important to me. I spend a lot of time reflecting and remembering the good and bad times I've had, and those memories help me determine who or what has made my life great, and what I wish to exclude or include in my life from that point on. What is it they say we accomplish from studying history? We learn from our mistakes, and build towards a better future. And speaking of the future, there's absolutely nothing wrong with planning ahead, setting goals for yourself, or dreaming big- just realize that "tomorrow" is always undefined. It's okay to strive for something you want as long as you already have everything you need. I'm a dreamer. There's no squelching that. I like to imagine what grand and phenomenal possibilities the future can offer. But that doesn't mean I'm unsatisfied with the present- it just means I have confidence in myself and who I have the potential to become if I'm given the opportunity.
So living in the moment is really just a lifestyle choice. Those people may seem happy and carefree, but it's only because they don't acknowledge the past or let the future burden them. In my opinion, life has more depth when you learn to balance all three time zones. The present is empty without a past and a future surrounding it.