Cupid

Of all of the statues that I came across in Sarasota, I was most intrigued by this stone gentleman. I forgot to catch his name (or the name of the person he was based off of). The rest the shopping plaza in which Andrew, Dan, and I frequented was crowded with smooth, stone renditions of Roman gods (cupid and venus pictured below).


Although I am thoroughly enamored by all that the stone gentleman represents, at the end of the day I would much rather look at the female statues. They really do portray beauty in a very pure and classic manner.



I ran into this copper toned family when I was making my way from 2nd street to 11th street. Sarasota is very easy to make your way from one place to the next because it is all based on a simple grid system. Within the next 10 years I how to somehow because as comfortable and content as the bronze man appears to be.

Last night I arrived in Rhode Island, where I will be spending a few days until I have to move into my dorm room. This semester I am going to be rooming with Lev again (which is great because a good roommate is hard to come by).

Movies I've seen recently in theaters:

(500) Days of Summer
-Sweet movie. Saw it again this afternoon. Interesting cinematic elements as well as a new twist on the romantic comedy.

Inglourious Basterds
- Everything that I wanted Valkerie to be. Oscar worthy acting from Christoph Waltz (the antagonist). Compelling, smart, and - at times - thought provoking. A little quiter than the trailer would lead you to beleive, although there is still plenty of violence, detatched limbs, and dead nazis. Good movie to see in theaters.

District 9
- One of the most interesting science fiction fiction movies I have seen in a while. Cool and intriguing, with some social commentary thrown in the mix (although it doesn't get preachy like Happy Feet does). Not a film to pass up by any means.

Up
- If you haven't seen this film already, go see it. It's not often that I cry during a film, especially during a childrens film (especially during the first 20 minutes of a film). Possibly my favorite Pixar film thus far.

Speak easy,
Neil

Savage Hollywood

I just got back from the movie The Hangover. Since I am usually kind of low on money and don’t have my own vehicle, it has been quite a while since I have gone to the theater to see a movie. Overall I was completely satisfied with the film. The actors seemed to put a lot into the characters (specifically Zach Galifianakis and Ed Helms) and I was completely engaged and laughing from the opening sequence. Apart from being a comedy, The Hangover also kind of a mystery in which three friends try to piece together the previous night (a bachelor party in Vegas) in order to find their missing friend (the groom). It’s certainly not for everyone (Rated R, and for very good reasons).

The other day I was compelled to pick up Lolita. At the tail end of winter break I had started the book but once I got to school I had little time to do any sort of recreational reading. Hopefully I’ll have some time to read a few books this summer before I start school again and have to read a handful of novels that I could care less about.

Here is a list of the next five books I plan on reading this summer in no particular order. If you have read them, let me know how you liked them.

1. Naked Lunch by William S. Burroughs

2. Wasted by Marya Hornbacher

3. Hollywood by Charles Bukowski

4. The Savage Detectives by Roberto Bolano

5. Cat’s Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut

Earlier today I came across this movie review by Siskel and Ebert. It is for the 1994 film North which was produced by Rob Reiner. Ebert felt very strongly about the film when it came out, which was apparent when he said "I hated this movie. Hated hated hated hated hated this movie. Hated it. Hated every simpering stupid vacant audience-insulting moment of it. Hated the sensibility that thought anyone would like it. Hated the implied insult to the audience by its belief that anyone would be entertained by it." You'd think with a cast including Bruce Willis, Alan Arkan, Dan Aykroyd, Elijah Wood, and Kathy Bates that one would end up with something watchable. I personally think that such a colossal mistake is the product of industry burocracy.

Speak easy,

Neil

Finished

My rooms so empty that it echos. Lev left earlier today and I'll be heading home within the next 24 hours. It feels really strange to live by myself, even if it is just for one evening. Living in an apartment by myself is never something I want to experience. There would be no one to come home to. I never really understood why people that live alone own a lot of cats until this now. My finals are all done with and all I want to do is sleep.

Note: A duck's quack doesn't echo, I saw it on Mythbusters.

I'm pretty psyched to see The Brothers Bloom when it comes out on May 29th. You can watch the first 7 minutes of the film on its website. It has the same writer/director as the 2005 film Brick, which I thoroughly enjoyed.



Speak easy,
Neil

Double For Babies

Jim, Julie, Victoria and I went down to the duck pond this evening to feed the ducks some old bagels. The baby ducks were specifically noteworthy. The mother duck was doing an excellent job being a mother duck. Animals have a healthy fear of humans, which I think is a pretty good thing. You never really know who you can trust and that goes double when babies are involved. There were some other ducks who let us pet them and hand feed them. They didn't seem too bright.

This film looks pretty good...



Speak easy,
Neil

More Dinosaurs

For anyone that is just a little bit curious, the film Fast and Furious (the one that came out in theaters last week) is not a remake of the film The Fast and The Furious, but a sequel. When they start messing with movie titles, there arises a slew of chronological confusion. Lev saw this movie recently and said that it takes place after 2 Fast 2 Furious, but before The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift. He also stated that these films have ruined underground racing the same way that Tony Hawk has ruined skateboarding.


Quick Qomments:

- Great job for when I get out of college: International Courier.
- Amazing warm beverage: Hot chocolate with whip cream and a shot of espresso.
- Neil Young and Charles Manson were good friends.
- There should be more dinosaurs.

Speak easy,
Neil

Not Tom

Why? Why would they make this? Arguably the only actor that can pull off the Ace Ventura character is Jim Carrey. Also, fat and loud does not always equate to funny.

There is a website that I heard about last week that is composed of a long series of riddles. After getting about four steps into the site, I decided to give up. It is kind of nerve racking, but if you enjoy riddles or being confused to the point of numbness, I would recommend This Is Not Tom.

Back to homework or youtube, whichever holds my interest longer.

Speak easy,
Neil

cold air and silver screens

Yesterday I had my last final and now I'm done with work until February. Mental work that is. I will need to work over winter break if I ever want to see London, Paris, or Rome.

It is truly amazing that the winter air in Massachusetts can smell like the winter air half way across the world. When it comes down to it, people and places aren't as different as people may think. Sure, there are different languages, different governments and different currency, but that doesn't change the fact that people are people. They enjoy watching stupid movies, dancing like nobodies watching, and eating cake. Even the hungriest child in the poorest of nations probably has a dirty joke that he would love to tell you.

My friend Sarah recommended that I post some explanations for the terrible movies that I saw in theaters. She said it would make for a good punishment of sorts for not updating the blog yesterday.

1. She's The Man

What was I thinking?: I was at the mall with a friend of mine and we had a few hours to kill. For some reason we had our minds set on seeing a movie and the only two options were She's The Man and Failure To Launch (starring the ever so talented Matthew McConaughey and Sarah Jessica Parker). The deciding factor rested solely on the fact that She's The Man was based on Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.

Verdict: Felt like an ABC Family prime time, single camera comedy (which would probably be entitled Soccer Daze). Predictable, clichéd, and boring.

What I wish I was watching: 10 Things I Hate About You.

2. Scary Movie 3

What was I thinking?: I bought the ticket thinking that I could easily sneak in to Matrix Revolutions. The theater decided to have a police officer stand guard at the door so that no underage kids could sneak in.

Verdict: By far the worst comedy I have ever seen. The couple awkwardly making out in the seat next to me didn't help with the overall experience.

What I wish I was watching: Ghostbusters

3. The Skeleton Key

What was I thinking?: I did not want to see this movie. The reason wasn't because I was worried about the quality of the film, but because I am a not a fan of the horror genre. It was not my choice. I was with a group of friends and one of them, who I didn't know very well, insisted that everyone needed to see this movie. Apparently it had the greatest twist ending in the history of cinema.

Verdict: Boring and (towards the end) laughable. I am just sorry that Peter Sarsgaard had to drag his career through this movie. The ending was alright I suppose but not at all worth sitting through the entire movie for.

What I wish I was watching: The Others

4. Spice World

What was I thinking?: I was an 11 year old boy at the time and I went with a friend of the family. For some reason I thought going to Spice World was entirely acceptable. I liked Baby Spice because she was not nearly as intimidating as the rest.

Verdict: No comment.

What I wish I was watching: This Is Spinal Tap

5. Hairspray

What was I thinking?: The critics seemed to like it. I was going on a date after I got off of work. The other movie I could have gone to for the allotted time was Rush Hour 3 (if memory serves). I tend to hate musicals but I thought this one might be different.

Verdict: Annoying and idiotic. The only redeeming qualities I could find in this film were Christopher Walkin and John Travolta (in drag). If the entire film were based around these two characters I think I wouldn't have fallen asleep half way through. (Note: only film I've ever actually fallen asleep during)

What I wish I was watching: The Producers

6. Wild Wild West

What was I thinking?: This was playing as a double feature, alongside the South Park movie, at the air force base cinema. I was 13 at the time and would have gone to see a child birth if it meant I could sink my teeth into more South Park.

Verdict: Better than watching childbirth but not nearly as rewarding. Completely nonsensical and ridiculous and the only film (to my knowledge) that Will Smith regrets doing.

What I wish I was watching: South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut

7. Evan Almighty

What was I thinking?: I was going to the Wellfleet drive-in on a double date.

Verdict: Illogical. Ridiculous. Pointless. How do you suck all of the funny out of Steve Carell? Why does the flood only last five minutes? How does Morgan Freeman (God) inevitably have nothing poignant to say?

What I wish I was watching: The Office

I thank those who have too much time on their hands.

Speak easy,
Neil

Now that's a lot of grandpa.

I have this strange desire to make a television program for children. What I have in mind is sort of a combination between Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood, Bill Nye The Science Guy, The Science of Sleep and The Kids In The Hall. There are a few reasons I want to do this. First, I don't think that a lot of kids shows really respect their audience. Of course, I know that children are not incredibly smart but programs these days, such as Dora the Explorer, make it seem like the children are not only brain dead, but also uninterested in learning anything of importance. Another reason is because people of all ages watch daytime programming aimed at preschoolers. There are parents watching with their kids, teenagers home sick from school, and the unemployed who have more than enough time on their hands. If there is a program that is really entertaining for older audiences, it is bound to do fairly well. Plus there there is plenty of money in syndication and DVD sales for this kind of thing.


One segment for the show that I am thinking about doing is called "That's Probably As Old As My Grandpa."

Person 1: Pyramids are really old. I wonder how old they are.
Person 2: They're probably as old as my grandpa!
Host: Actually pyramids were built in 1300 B.C. which makes them just about 3,300 years old. If the average grandpa is about 70 years old, that would make the pyramids about as old as 47 grandpas.
Person 1: Wow!
Person 2: (matter of factly) Now that's a lot of grandpa.

Lev reminded me that I did miss one more blog than I thought, which means that I will reveal something embarrassing. The following is a list of movies that I am fairly embarrassed about seeing in theaters. Often you will find yourself in front of a Tinseltown fueled monstrosity if you are with a group of friends, on a date, or forced to waste an allotted amount of time at a shopping plaza until your ride shows up.

1. She's The Man
2. Scary Movie 3
3. The Skeleton Key
4. Spice World
5. Hairspray
6. Wild Wild West
7. Evan Almighty

Speak easy,
Neil