Indiana Jones and you know the rest...

There are a lot of things I am not meant to be, movie critic is one of them. As soon as the words FAN GIRL cloud my ability to distinguish right from left, all my understanding of the film industry goes to the dogs.Yes, I've seen a movie that had a surprising carelessness in editing and shallow traits on characters that should be pivotal. It is by no means closure to a series that set the standards of adventure and captured the imagination of audience and aspiring filmmakers for years to come. I could dwell on the pet peeves and get all nerdy about it, but this is INDIANA FRIGGING JONES and if I have to choose a side, I rather be a geek this time. Gimme the hat, Gimme the whip, Gimme John William's Raider's March an I'll be 8 years old again. I'll sit, too excited for popcorn and look adoringly into the eyes of the man that survived the wrath of God.

Knowing this, and trying to be as partial as possible I decided not to get to this venture alone. I had the pleasure of taking in the motley crew

• The divine Mrs. Michelle who is a fan, but not a rabid fan girl.


• My mom who will tear up at any crumb of spiritual insight


• My aunt who is the action barometer (there are never enough bullets or explosions to impress her)


• The wonderful Mr. Izzy, who is catching up with all things an 80's child of the free world had at his finger tips just now (damn you Fidel)


• And the great Ken Ken who for some reason or another had watched all of the Indiana Jones' Lego adventures and non of the films- go ask her.

These were the people who will keep it real for me, if I were to hyperventilate at any given moment.

IT DIDN'T WORK. That's why it took me so long to write this one... there were good things, there where bad things, but the FUN of seeing Indy once again won't let me think straight. So I'll just do a little of what I liked, what I didn't and what made me raise an eyebrow and say WTF just for a couple of seconds.

What I loved:

• Thank you Steven Spielberg for keeping the integrity of the piece. This installment was not meant to be a revamping of the series, nor was a trip down memory lane meant to turn us all in movie emos- shit it was not even meant to convert people to the Gospel of Indy. This was one last awesome fun ride for the fans. It was like catching up with a long lost friend- he might be older, his life might have lead him into another direction, geography and lifestyle might have taken you as apart as you could go and yet, once you are done with that shaky (or should I say EXPLOSIVE) hello, you'll find your self right at home. However because of time passed as it is meant to, and the audience has grown along with the character, there are things that ask for resolution that are happily accepted . We come to terms with half a smile that the rugged hero of our youth was also a man with a severe Peter Pan complex of sorts. Twenty years ago, it would have given me shivers thinking of Indiana Jones getting all his mess straightened, but now I kind of agree that it is time to.

What I hated:

• Besides the obvious nerdy pacing and editing stuff that I should mention- leave that to the people who actually make a living out of this, the only thing I truly regretted was how Cate Blanchett was wasted. By rule of thumb, Indy villains must be ruthless, scary bastards. Blanchett's character was no more than a caricature of a Soviet element. She got the robotic behavior product of Communist upbringing, but she never got to really show the cold, calculating, fierce intelligence and willingness for country that kept the US in the edge of their nuclear bunkers during the height of the cold war. Leave the comic relief to the sidekicks, keep my villains neat and clean, so their demise will be equally proportionate to their deeds.

WTF?

• I said I love you Mr. Spielberg, but let Lucas handle the aliens. You should know in your heart that there is a reason why there was no CLOSE ENCOUNTERS II. Why, Why , Why... did they have to challenge the X files is a question that will haunt me...

All in all, it is not perfect, but then, nobody promised me it will be better than RAIDERS, heck nothing is. What is important is that I am content just now, HOURS after watching it. What I found really, really cool is that while I was there I couldn't help to grin ear to ear and jump and laugh out loud and go arrrrrghhhhh that is disgusting! once in a while, and grind my teeth and cheer for the man in the Fedora.

As far as my movie crew

• Michelle thought it was acceptable and within cannon


• Mom laughed more than she cried, which is good, I think


• Auntie got her bullets and explosions galore


• Izzy had a deep discussion about the advantages of owning a FRIGIDAIRE in the event of a nuclear catastrophe


• and Ken Ken reminded me why Indy is Indy... now she wants to be an archaeologist and thinks that Senior Citizens Rock - for some reason she didn't get all hyped up for LaBeouf, which means that Ford's job was done.

The quote:

Spalko: "Any last words Dr. Jones?"

Jones: "I Like Ike"

Things to do in Tampa when you are dead

or Unemployed which is basically the same...

Kill me people, but I just let go of the proverbial bird in hand to chase the flying one, so I'm waiting for a promising corporate job that will take me straight to Ireland in 2009.



Anyhoo... in the meantime I keep

• Watching movies, catching Summer Blockbusters (INDY... I'm so there this weekend) ans getting reacquainted with classics (I'm watching NIGHT OF THE LEPUS as I type and there is nothing better than giant blood thristy rabbits to make me understand that drugs are BAD-what where they thinking/smoking?)Janet Leigh can never go wrong, can she?



• I'm getting to spend time with my family and have pictures to prove it. Unfortunately the quality of the pictures is not the best since I always forget my damn camera and end up shooting away on my cell phone... one of the many reasons I'll never make it as a photographer. It is not their fault that they end up in Facebook looking like the cover for DUH Magazine, it's all mine.


• I hang around MSN at all the wrong times, like 6:30 AM or the stroke of midnight


• Sometimes I feel like I'm going insane and then I happily remind myself that it is not a case of self discovery, but self awareness... I've always been crazy, it is just that when I'm occupied I tend to forget about it

So if you don't see me or hear me...if I am not interrupting your cyber life with pop up windows or spamming your email or dialing your phone... if I don't show up on your doorstep not quite sure what I was meaning to do there, excuse me. And love me, because as soon as I go back to work and forget I'm crazy, you'll get a load of my so called sanity.

The quote

"Attention, Attention there is a herd of killer rabbits coming your way,and we desperately need your help roll up your windows, turn on your lights and follow the police car"- shit I should have written that, but it's from the classic I told ya I am watching.

Prince Caspian:The good, the bad, the bit of theology that drive people mad

Ahoy peoples of the internet, it is Summer, gas prices are ridiculously high, a recession is on the horizon as they say and it is soggy and hot as ever in the beautiful state of Florida, which means that for a while, this will be the movie blog...

Saw a late night screening of Prince Caspian yesterday, and boy I'm glad I didn't wait for the DVD release. Don't worry the following has no spoilers of the major kind. This is a big movie, and as it usually happens with installments the second tends to let loose a lot of plot that at the moment swamps the mind and makes little sense, so I will not get all deep for fear of drowning. Instead I'll just go over what the child, the adult and the weekend theologian in me got out of it, straight and sweet.

I'm sorry but the seven year old in me wants to go first and who am I to deny the one that holds the popcorn?

• Sweeeeeeeeeet Narnia, the gryphons and centaurs are back and this time they get more screen time... yikes, they even get lines!!! I want a gryphon, I want one, I want one!!!!




• Is that Puss in Boots? no! It's a sword master mouse! The people who created Shrek bring you, once again a bit of comic relief via small, furry and cute.




• To be honest- and remember I am seven years old, I was kind of freaked by the White Witch and her minions this time around. It made me remember The Never Ending Story...




• Did I mention there is sort of a sweet but slow bear that will say things when you least expect them? Retarded bears.... Yiiiipppppeeeeeeeee!!!!

The adult in me chuckled at a couple of things

• Narnia will never be as effective as Lord of The Rings, no matter how much they match in allegory and content. I must admit I do miss the violence, although this installment is darker, much more than I expected, the consequence does not translate to the screen as well as in the book. There is something about the absence of blood on a big battle sequence that gains PG ratings at the expense of suspense of disbelief. My bloodlust aside, the movie does target a certain audience and it still does a wonderful job teaching kids about perseverance, courage and plain faith, so I'll shut my mouth and believe that a teenager could survive a mano a mano with a mean, conniving and plain brute with nothing more than a scratch.




• What is it with Caspain, he is behaving like Harry Potter... damn, the movie has his name on it and he is doing squat. Allow me to explain: to all of you nerds, who very much like myself use you kids and nieces to follow the adventures of Mr. Potter, it is inevitable for us as adults to notice that at all given points, especially in the beginning, Harry ends up as the hero and no one notices Hermione and Ron sweating it off in the back ground. Same with Caspian, he doesn't do much and what he does is not too promising, but somehow, there is a certain lion with a certain design who works in a certain incomprehensible way we'll need to wait to find out.




• I know this third entry makes it more than a couple of details, but I'll just have to say it because it made me laugh out loud... what is it with the bad guys on this movie? It seems they crossed into Narnia from Spain some time in the 16th Century, some of them behave like Antonio Banderas- you know, I'm too sexy for this armor- the king is a pain as he was conceived as a bad imitation of King Leonidas stuffed on paella...

Now the very brief theology. Suck it in people. It is there whether you want it or not. Narnia is after all a film adaptation of a book that comes straight off a guy who used to be an atheist, converted and held no responsibility towards Queen, Country or Political Correctness. One thing that I loved about this movie is how easily it places a bit of puzzling and annoying manifestation of the Godhood for all to enjoy: God is God and He will be whether or not you believe in Him or not. For those of you who think me crazy, the best expression of infinite being and God's sense of humor is in Exodus when Moses asks his name and he plain responds "I am who I am"- priceless.

He owes nothing to none, especially explanations. He did His bit you know, he came and died and rose again and that is enough or are all of us really pretending that He will do it twice?

There is not a lot of Aslan in this movie and it has nothing to do with the King Lion at all, the reason why Aslan does not physically interfere is because in their confusion, pride or blinding hurt, Narnians believed he had abandon them. They didnt catch on the design of things, that once the sacrifice was made it was their turn to prove their worth before he who gave his life for them. They forgot that there is a responsibility involved in their deliverance. It slipped them that God is Love and will answer when His children call- and sometimes He will deliver like the US ARMY- you know, it is guaranteed no man will be left behind, but in order to bring it, you'll need to leave a little bit of blood, sweat and tears in the process.

The quote:

"Things don't happen the same way twice"- Aslan

My Chemical Romance - or Old but Happy

I'm so 80's is not even funny. Once in a while Ms. Lightshadow brings forth something that will push me through the threshold of the 21st century and compel me to listen... however this one comes from a different source altogether.
Kudos to Kendra for finding this on her own and spreading the cheer. Now I know how Lestat felt about his lovely Claudia. I feel old for not unearthing this on my own, yet so frigging proud, rock on you magnificent niece of mine- err- don't get any ideas about throwing auntie in the swamp, ok... :p

Mind the State of My Union Address

It's been a while since I wrote anything that truly mattered. I don't owe it to important sort of stuff, hence the very fitting title of this blog... However, there is something liberating about struggling to put words together when it really counts.

I am at a point in my life in which I do not wish to be. I am not depressed, I can deal with depression easily. The fact is that I am worried, and a little scared.

The truth is I am a control freak at heart. I never found this to be a point of contention in my personality, to anyone who has a bit of understanding of the wheels that make my family turn, it might even count to my advantage. (Some times it's fun to play wrangler to a bunch of wild Mustangs.) However, there is an aspect of life a person like me cannot face on her own terms, and that is related to health, or lack of thereof.

When I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis I was pissed at first. It all lasted about a week while I got over the words "chronic" and "illness". After that it was a matter of finding out what it was and how to take care of it in such a way that it would seem it never happened. Those who know me know I got my way.

However it has not been the same for my sister, and it is driving me crazy. I see her as her immune system goes haywire, having flare ups, muscle spasms, joint pain and stiffness as her physician changes and adjusts medications and it is tearing me apart.

Those who know me be assured that my faith and resolution is not faltering and neither is Lysania's, I've always trusted God before anything else and I am not questioning. I am simply trying to put stuff on paper as I usually do when things get tough for me, when I am at my wit's end and words fail me... this is in fact my prayer.

Let it there be a resolution and grant me the patience if it not a prompt one...

Ah, there is a quote, there always must be a quote and for the many times I didn't say more than a simple "there you go again, silly little sissy", I'll leave you with this:

"Bless you, my darling, and remember you are always in the heart - oh tucked so close there is no chance of escape - of your sister. " ~Katherine Mansfield

FANGIRL ATTACK!!! IRON MAN...NO SPOILERS

I could sit down and write a very organized review of what I honestly think is one of the best superhero movies... in fact, number 2 on my list. When it comes to superheroes, the more baggage, the better, that is why Batman rules and "Bat Begins" is holding on tight to it's crowning glory.

However, there is emotional baggage and then there is the Sunday edition of Behind the Music and Tony Stark is too much of a badass to be a good guy. This should have been titled Super Hero: Trial and Error.

By the way, this is filed under fangirl attack, so let me account for it:

One of the best things about growing up in the 80's is that I am well aware there used to be life before Brad Pitt. There he was in all his glory,incredibly talented and yes beautiful to watch. This guy made dangerous look likeable and vulnerable sexy, his name was, excuse me... IS Robert Downey Jr. and he frigging rocks.

With that out of the way, let me start. The fun thing about this movie is that it is the "anti" of it's kind. So I'll go there, to the things you will not find, and then I'll let you go and see it yourself.

You will not find the usual "Messianic Awareness".It happens to all superheroes, from happy go lucky Spiderman to brooding Bats', there is a long period of introspectivenes "the dark night of the soul element" it is usually triggered by the loss of a loved one and drives the would be hero to the point of madness before he puts on the tights and joins the crusade, completely embracing his mission-self sacrifice, if you will- out of love for humanity. In the case of Tony Stark, there is darkness alright,and it lingers. No matter how good he gets at what he does, it is never redeeming enough.There is a certain perverse joy, the man is having too much fun being who he is to completely turn into someone else.

You will not find Damsels in Distress-props to Gwyneth Paltrow for delivering a wonderful supporting character that happens to be female. Yes of course there is a degree of romance, but by God she is not swooning. If there is something Pepper Potts knows is that this is not a reliable guy, so her romantic expectations are a little more, errr... pragmatic. In a world were women are constantly making the wrong decisions, getting in trouble and then becoming a pain in the ass for the guy that has to recue them, she is a breath of fresh air.

There is no butler or secret accomplice that helps the guy put it all together. I guess being an MIT graduate at 17 will allow a man to stand on his own and put together his own gadgets (Although there is a computer with a British accent and the cutest mechanical arm/ fire extinguisher you will ever see- :p)

Bad guys without purpose. In fact the measure of a great villain in a superhero movie is that his plans and intentions make sense in the real world and Obadiah Stane makes sense as hell. There is no secret plan to take over the world, after all who would like to rule humanity when given the chance to deliver the weapons that will facilitate it's demise? Demand and supply, people are always in a rush to blow up one and other and wherever there is a grudge, someone will be willing to pay well to settle the score. Motive? Greed, simple and pure and that is brilliant.

Add to that dialogue with sense and wit and an ensemble mostly composed of guys and gals who have won Oscars or have been close to do so and it is not your run of the mill supes movie...LOVED IT

The quote...

"They say the best weapon is the one you never have to fire. I prefer the weapon you only need to fire once" - Tony Stark at the National Republican Convention- nah- moments before trying out a brand new toy...