I had my first VIP experience at the Varsity today. I love free rewards with points, because this was the best time to just go watch a movie and it turned out to be free! Yes!
I found the dry humor refreshing and I loved the expanded idea of love and family. Sometimes life just happens and can take you on these profound paths. And people really are the key to success. It gets me thinking of a conversation I had with a friend. Her idea and definition of success (which I completely agree with) is a life lived with love and people; and that if that’s all you have at the end of your life, then it was a life well lived. On the other hand, other people think success is being able to shine on the world stage and that if you aren’t worth anything publicly, then you wasted your life, space and resources.
But I think it was only when Kyle came into their lives that perhaps Mike realized that what he had was a successful life, despite his failing law practice. Not every person will be a person who will add to your success (as defined by surrounding yourself with love and people), because there will always be toxic individuals that take significantly more than they add, but I think I need to try and be more open to the Kyles in my life who just might reveal the hidden potential success. I think the more I remove myself from predefined assumptions and expectations, the more fulfilled I feel and successful I am. I hope I can keep it up.
by Ned Vizzini
I didn’t know that this was the first book that he wrote. I loved the quirky stories of his teen years and seeing perhaps the nostalgic look back on high school. I think we always kind of look back on who we were in the most positive light. Vizzini sees himself as staying true to himself and the friends he had. I kind of wonder if we all do that and we just choose to forget the times we faltered or betrayed ourselves.
But I’m glad that there are people like Vizzini out there writing about a more realistic portrayal of life and teen life. There are times when we all get down and need some help and sometimes the best lesson you can learn is that everyone at one point or another needs help.
I really enjoyed this movie. It kind of reminded me a lot of Ned Vizzini’s book Be More Chill, what with taking a pill that makes everything seem possible. I kind of wonder if his life ever felt like cheating. I guess you are only able to do what’s within your capacity. I guess you can only reach your potential. But I think at some point I might feel like a fraud.
It was interesting how often Linny came back to him. I wasn’t super surprised when she was there in the end. Guess she didn’t protest too much to being with a guy who maybe was no longer himself. And how he worked out all the bugs of the NXT so that he could still remain super on top of stuff without dying seemed a little under explained. But it was no big surprise that the other guy was on NXT, kind of saw that one coming a little earlier on. Do people ever really come out of nowhere without some kind of assistance? It’s like an average athlete all of a sudden breaking world records. I think it’s safe to question whether or not they’re on drugs.
by Annie Leonard
I liked the book in the sense that it explained a lot of back story about what happens with all the stuff we have today and how it’s all made. It’s pretty fascinating when you think of how outside your control most everything is. You can control whether or not you buy something, but in the end, you may or may not even know the truth about what’s in the product, who made it or how it was made. I think the level of toxins in our products is scary, but more so is the fact that most everything we have in our lives sooner or later will be trashed and that not too many people see anything wrong with it.
I just recently called to have our satellite TV service canceled and I was asking the guy on the other end of the phone when someone would be coming by to take down the satellite. His reply? Oh, that’s yours, we don’t want it back. What? They don’t want it back, it’s trash to them. It does me absolutely no good and I can’t even give it back. What a waste. Our society and culture sucks. First off, what am I to do with it and secondly, why can’t they just use it on the next guy who signs up with Bell?
So, in this whole Bell satellite TV thing, I really get what Leonard is talking about. What I couldn’t really stand or enjoy was her tone. I’m not sure why most environmentalists and activists have to take on this condescending tone, but I find it really quite a turn off. She was telling stories of her daughter (never mentioned the father) and how even she could recognize PVC. She told stories of her little community and her bike riding and her solar panels. Sure, I totally believe in leading by example, but bragging by example is annoying. I’m glad she’s out there in the world, but I have no interests in ever befriending or meeting the lady.
What a dark movie. But for some reason I thought she had a rougher life than what they portrayed in the film. And although I like the actress because she seems slightly less than perfect, I thought she was a bit weak.
It was good that Mu went with so she could explain a bit about what’s going on. Like the crazy lady and the gin drinking lady. Overall I thought it was good, but to be honest, I don’t see what all the hype around this story is.
Interesting all the remade fairy tales these days. I thought this one did a smidgen better than Beastly, but not by much. Toward the end of the movie, the snow looked like sand and started feeling like a set.
But overall it was kind of enjoyable and who would have seen the father as the big bad wolf? That was a twist I didn’t see coming. And I guess Catherine Hardwicke and Billy Burke must really get along, since he played the father in this one too.
by Emily Giffin
For whatever reason, I liked this book so much more than Something Borrowed. Perhaps because it wasn’t about someone supposedly perfect who had a bit of a fall from grace. I think there’s something more redeeming and interesting about someone trying to improve themselves than someone feeling justified in her wrongdoing. In Something Borrowed, Rachel kind of felt justified because she had been a doormat her whole life and she was sick of it. But in reality, if you’re a doormat, it’s really your fault for letting people treat you that way without ever saying anything about it. You can’t justify awful behavior based on how you’ve been treated.
I liked Darcy’s fall from grace and the true friendship she had with Ethan. Only a true friend will tell you your faults, because only through confrontation can you ever really become a better person. Rachel never tried to help Darcy become a better person, maybe she just felt good being treated badly so she could feel more saintly. Maybe, maybe not. But I liked how Darcy and Ethan’s relationship evolved and how they were able to find happiness by being open, honest and willing to change.
Wasn’t really as good as I thought it’d be. I mean, you can’t really expect that much, but I thought the acting was pretty weak. I’m glad it was a freebie from AMC, since I got a re-admit from a movie gone wrong previously. I just couldn’t really find that much lovable about either of the characters. The girl was idealistic good and the guy was stereotypical cool. But the two never really added up.
There were moments of potential depth, like the housekeeper whose children were still in Haiti and the brief moment of Beastly and the girl at the dance, but really that was about it. I liked Mary-Kate, but hated her shoes. Haha, that’s about all I have to say about that.
