Review: The Rewrite

The Rewrite

I picked this one up rather randomly... Which I'm apt to do sometimes. Anywho, Hugh Grant idn't my fave actor, but I do enjoy him and some of his later pieces. Oddly, the older he's gotten the better he is in the movies... Plays a lot of insufferable asses, but he plays them well.

This story ended up being one that really sparked something in me, as I watched it I saw how well it fits for art in general, and for writing for me.

It spoke to that part of you that fears your a one trick pony, who did one amazing thing and nothing else. Not just your typical story of a guy finally finding the right woman, or a man regaining his own inner strength... It managed to teach the viewer as well, give them a small lesson on dreams, achieving them, what happens next and even after.

Oddly, more than a Rom/Com, I found it something I'd rewatch and most likely learn something new from the next time.

5 outta 5 stars

Kristy C

Book 1 of 2015 - Finished

Last night I finished the first book of my 2015 challenge.

>.>  yes, it took me almost a month to do, but I don't tend to sit down and read like I used too.

What was it?

Yep, The Hobbit.  ^^

Sure, I read it years ago, and I loved it. But rereading it, after the movies, was enjoyable. I saw every deviation, every change and every scene not in one, but in the other.

And ya know what? I still love the movies and I still love the book.  They're not the same, and I'm ok with that.

I cried at the end, laughed at scenes and once again wished I had my own Hobbit hole to have tea in.

'You are only quite a little fellow in a wide world after all.'

Kristy C

Thoughts that trigger...

Books or movie quotes...

When ever I think or see someone wink, my head goes too Field of Dreams and the young kid who winks at the pitcher and gets a ball to the head.  "Why'd ya do that?' 'He... He winked at me!' 'Don't wink at him kid.'

Its just one of the weird things that goes on in my mind.

Kristy C

What does FINE mean?

Freaked Out Insecure Neurotic and Emotional

The line comes from The Italian Job, a good movie in my opinion.

But if you think about it, when you say 'I'm fine' 90% of the time, you're not.  You are in fact one, if not all of those things.

You're freaked out over something going on in your life, most likely that you have little control over.  Sure, you can study for a test, but what if you run out of time or skip a page by mistake and miss something big.  There are elements you have to trust will happen.  And that's just something you have some control over.  Plenty of other things happen in our lives that we have no control over and its just a waiting game.

I've got 3 panels I'm speaking on at a Con this weekend.  One on Friday, two on Saturday.  While I'm thrilled to take this step [I HATE crowds and I HATE being the center of attention], I'm also freaking out because apart of me doesn't feel qualified to talk to people about being a writer.

On top of that, there's this award I'm up for.  Yes, I know I've got an imagination.  Trust me.  But to be up for an award as someone who's used that imagination for the betterment of the city? When I look at the others nominated, I feel pretty small and not worthy.

Insecure... So, not only are you freaking out but with that comes the doubts that you're just not good enough.  Interestingly, I covered those with Freaking Out pretty well.  I think these two tend to go hand in hand when we say 'I'm fine.'

Neurotic... This ones harder to explain.  I think the best part of the description of the word is 'unbalanced' and 'unstable'.  And in this sense, its showing that you're not able to cope with changes well.  Why is this bad?  In an uncontrollable situation, changes happen and they happen fast.  Which means when you're off kilter, they'll throw you into a tail spin and drag you down.

Last week my heart started acting weird and I had a lot of trouble sleeping.  My reaction, since I was stressed over other things, was to not figure out how to try and calm down, but keep freaking out, nap a lot and finally end up in the ER, scared that something bad had happened too me.  I was unbalanced and that first 'attack', knocked me for a loop.

Last we have, Emotional.  This is the last element and for good reason.  First two go hand in hand most of the time, freaking out brings out your insecurities.  You're then unbalanced and unprepared for changes to happen.  When those things take you to a breaking point, your emotions cut loose and you 'release' what should have been released when the person asked 'How are you?'

I'm not the best at sharing my emotions, but I try and do what I can.  Its important to let go and let out what's messing you up.  When I saw the nurse practitioner on Friday, her advice for helping was to exercise and get into counseling.  Interestingly enough, I've received two different replies to that last bit of advice.

1: Its a load of crap.  My idea of 'counseling' is a bottle of jack and my friends for a night.  Drink and get it all out in the open.  One costs hundreds of dollars, the other maybe $60.  Same result.

2: Good, it's helpful and sometimes you need to share things with someone who's not going to judge you.

The NP said she sees it like an oil change.  You perhaps go in weekly, biweekly or something for a while, but hopefully reach a place where you're only going in twice a year.  Kinda like an oil change.  And to me, that makes sense.  While yeah, the first one isn't a bad idea and I do enjoy a good vent to a friend, its not the same as those times you share with a stranger and get what you REALLY want to say, out in the open.

Heck, I've shared more here with the world than I have at times with people I care about.

Now, I'm not saying I've managed to get past being FINE.  I'm not.  I still reply that when I don't want to deal just yet.  And timing is important.  But so is sharing.  And sharing with someone who don't judge you, pass on what you said in 'confidence', or perhaps stop talking to you for what you say or any of those reasons why friends aren't always the best people to share with.

And there are plenty of people who fall into those categories.  Some people talk with pastors/priests, others with bartenders.  Strangers you share a table with at a coffee shop who seem willing to listen and not judge. Guidance counselors, advisors and many others fit into that category of someone you can talk too.  I've even used a blog I never shared and kept my name off of to rant and vent about things I didn't feel I had someone to talk too about.

I understand peoples dislike for counseling.  I've been there.  We all think its like Frasier and how you secretly want to have sex with your mother, and it all starts with your childhood.  But its not that.  Or rather, its not ALL that.  Sure, some are like that and some aren't.  If it doesn't work, find someone else.  You don't buy the first car you sit in, or marry the first person you date... Why stick with the first doctor you find?

^^  Thanks for listening.  I hope to have gotten closer to seeing someone by now [as this was written Sunday night.] and will keep you updated a bit on things.  Posts may be late this weekend, but I'm hoping to get a few preposts up this week.

Kristy C

Valentines Candy or Boxing Gloves...

So, there's this song from a really good movie called The Happiest Millionaire called Valentines Candy.  The young star of the movie, Cordelia [or Codry as she goes by] has just lost a date with a handsome young man, because her brothers were 'teaching' him how to keep up his guard should she punch him, and instead knocked him out.  So, he left.  Now, our young woman is faced with a problem.  Is she Valentines Candy or Boxing Gloves.

Now, I know all well and good that this story takes place in the early 1900's, and the time it shows means she should be in one world, but isn't.  But I can't help and make comments of 'yes.' whenever she asks if she's meant to be one or the other, because I've felt faced with that same issue for a years.

Even in this modern time, it feels as if you're supposed to fit into one of a few molds.  Girly girl or Tomboy.  You're not supposed to dress up for a tea party, then go play a d20 game after.  Making jewelry while watching Iron Man is a no-no.

A few years ago I was picking up some things at the dollar store and the lady behind me had two little girls with her.  One had a pretty princess jewelry pack, the other a plastic war axe.  I grinned and commented that I wanted both.  I mean, who says you can't have pretty jewelry on while you slay the dragon?  Sure a skirt might make movement a bit hard, but the right type could still be modest AND lovely.

But instead, we're still teaching our young people that you have to fit into some sort of mold.  You can't be diverse and eclectic.

My dad's got an amazing eye for color and enjoys watching decorating shows, design shows and the such with me.  He likes seeing what people can create.  He can't stand the drama, but the inventiveness and the chance to see what's out there intrigues him.  Its because of him that I'm a Klingon-Hobbit who loves listening to musicals, jazz, blues and understands what I do about music.  I think he's where I get my creative eye from.  Nothing against my mom mind you, but her gift was a love of research and dialogue with others, among the tea and other things.

So, when I hear this song it saddens me to think that young people are so stuffed into a box and a mold, when we're each so unique and different.

Below are the lyrics and a Spotify thingy for the song.  And I still recommend the movie to people, because despite those things its a cute film.

Kristy C

Oh, Miss Cordelia Drexel Biddle, I thought I knew you well!
But now, Miss Cordelia Drexel Biddle, I just can't tell.
Are you Valentine candy, or boxing gloves?
Lately you seem very strange... What in the world's coming over you?
Everything's starting to change.
Are you sonnets by Shelley, or rover boys? Once, any answer would do...
Why are you suddenly wondering, which kind of someone are you? I
s a boy meant to spar with, or gaze at a star with?
Should you kiss him, or blacken his eye?
Now if he buys you roses, a right to the nose is really not quite the proper reply...
You're so lost in the middle of in-between.
Is your destiny canvas, or crêpe de Chine?
Will you someday be someone that somebody loves?
Are you Valentine candy... or boxing gloves?

What Dreams May Come....

We all have dreams in our lives.  A few weeks ago I talked about my childhood dream of owning a bookstore, and how it changed into owning my own business and being an author.  So today, I'm going to talk about a few of my current dreams.  The big, and the small.

I'd love to have my jewelry business stable enough to support me.
I'd like to move out of my fathers house [I'm 32, but he's supporting me and I don't think he's upset.  I made mistakes in the past and am working on a tough road out.]

I'd love to have a simple place to live and work.
I'd love to lose some weight.
I'd really love to be in less pain.

I'd love to have one of my stories turned into a comic book or a graphic novel.
I'd also love to have one turned into a mini-series or a movie, but those are farther down the road.
I'd dream of having my jewelry walk the red carpet at a movie premier or an awards show.
I want my jewelry to be in a movie.  I want there to be a line at the end of the credits saying 'Jewelry provided by Vintage Fusion Jewels'.

And, I want to grow old with my friends and watch their kids grow up.  I want to be their aunt who buys them books and teaches them how to play black jack.  I want to be the person they run away from home too.

I don't think any one of these is more or less important than another, except that last one.  That's the one I don't think I could live without.

What are your dreams? Leave them in the comments, I truly want to know.

Kristy C

Review... Guardians of the Galaxy

I FINALLY got to see this movie.  Normally, I aim to go to the midnight showings of the Marvel films, but this time money was tight and seeing anything at a normal theater wasn't gonna happen.  [We have one locally owned, independent theater in town.  Used to be known the 'The Dollar theater.  They show movies for $5, and on Wednesday its only $2.50.  Either way, sometimes its worth the wait for the price.]

Anywho, adding to my annoyance was that most of the times I see the movie and all my friends haven't.  This time, everyone else saw it last month and I was still waiting around.  So they're making jokes, laughing and talking about how awesome it is, and I'm left pouting.  Talked about that a bit ago.

On to the review!!

LOVED IT!!  Now, I've loved all the Marvel movies.  Ok, not the first Hulk one, but after that I have actually liked all of these films.  The stories, the characters, the actors... All of it came together for me in a great way.  They opened my eyes to this world, and as such I've been more active in my weird research vibe of Marvel, along with watching cute cartoons of them.

Guardians is a group I didn't know a lot about.  Saw them once or twice in an Avengers cartoon, and perhaps once in Ultimate Spiderman, but otherwise.... Nothing.

Mostly, I knew who Groot was and thought he kicked ass.  'I am Groot!'

To some, I'm sure the story starts a little slow, but as a writer I get why.  Just as with Thor, we're not picking up an origin story on earth where we know what's going on.  The movie has to give background information to those of us who know nothing about the Marvel world, outside earth!

So the movie shows us a bit of information about each one of the characters, broadening our world.  Most of the story, and the group, is centered around Star-Lord [Peter Quinn].  He's the heart of the group and its leader.

He's flawed, not the smartest, strongest or the 'best', but he's got what all leaders need to have.  The ability to take command, do what's needed and realize when someone else might be better at doing something.

Kirk, Picard, Sisko, Sheridan, Reynolds, Rogers, O'Neill, Janway... And others come to mind as being the same type of character.  They have something inside them that makes you want to follow and trust, even when it looks like you're most likely gonna die.

Best example of this is in Star Trek 6.  Kirk asks Sulu to help him.  As they fly to the aide of his former captain, one of the crewmembers says that they'll fly the ship apart if they keep it up.  Sulu's response?  'Then fly her apart!'

His faith and trust in Kirk was so strong, that he was willing to defy anything to get to the mans side in a moment of need.

If you watch any of these shows, you'll see just how often a good leader knows how to bring out the best in everything they do.

Sorry for the detract, but I think its important to see that they had an important role for Chris Pratt, and he did what was needed.  A little more like Malcolm Reynolds, but then the others tended to be working for a government with strict guidelines to follow, while Mal and Quinn are working outside the government with a motley band of misfits at their side.

Honestly, there's so much I could say about the movie, but I don't want to give things away.  Sure, its been out for almost 2 months now and I'm more than sure you've seen all the posts, memes and reviews out there, but I don't want to be the one to spoils it for anyone.

5 out of 5 stars for me.

Kristy C

Review! Amazing Spiderman 2

Heard a lot of people say they didn't like the movie.  I'm guessing most of those are the super geeks that over analyze the stories for their authenticity or those who don't know anything about the actual story line.

I don't want to give it all away, but the scene at the end... Its the comics line.  Its how that happened.  Not the whole build up, but that one moment.

Personally, I think its a pretty good film.  I mean, its a comic book movie so what do you expect?

No... Its a Spiderman movie.  He's the heart of Marvel.  The young man whose whole future gets turned upside down in a matter of moments, and he has to make choices to do what's best for everyone, not just himself.

He's a kid, he makes mistakes, he learns, he grows up.  And that's why we love him.  Why I love him.

Did you know that the reason YA stories are so popular, is because we enjoy seeing someone whose identity isn't set in stone just yet.  Someone like Harry Potter, who has to grow up.  Someone like Katniss, that has her views of the world changed at every interval of the stories.

Adults in stories change, but its small and more an altering of a piece of their personality... But a teen/young adult could actually have an about face on everything.

Think about Wolverine for a moment... Logan, how much has he changed over the stories?  Movies or comics, think about it for a moment.  Is there a place where he's honestly anything but an onrie jerk that just happens to be working for the side of good?

Yeah, I've gotten off topic but that tends to happen when you're aware of more than just one element of a fandom and get into a thought process about it.

Andrew Garfield is amazing as Peter Parker.  He gets the jokes, the teasing, the whole element of Spiderman down pat.  And I love it.

4.5 out of 5 stars for me.  First one was better, but this is still good.

Kristy C

Review... Only Lovers Left Alive

You most likely haven't heard of this movie.  I only did while I was surfing Redbox for movies of interest.

Only Lovers Left Alive stars Tom Hiddleston and Tilda Swinton.

I'm new to the enjoyment of Tom's movies, outside of his being Loki.  This is in part because his fans are rabid twits who manage to ruin who he is, but also because I dislike the character of Loki so much.

But after some searching I stumbled upon a few scenes of him being something so much better and changed how I looked at him.  Now, he's one of my top English actors [Tom and Aidan Turner top the bill currently.]

Tilda's an actress I haven't watched too much of.  I think that's mostly because she tends to play weird parts in weird movies.  At least beyond the Narnia movie.

I'm writing this as I watch, so it'll be a little different and weird for a review, I'm sure.

Tom's character is kinda silly at times, a depressed, reclusive musician who buys lots of guitars and as he plays them, knows not just their name, but also their sex and history... In a way only a really good, reclusive and eccentric musician could.

You can tell this is a more indie film in its stranger styling, cinematography and music.  But I think that's how you can tell an actor's skill, in the weirder movies they make outside the hollywood norm.

Eve's [Tilda] fascination with books is something I adore.  I'd almost say that when you're that old, you're best at picking up an odd habit or addiction.  Beyond the whole, drinking blood thing.

Which, btw, I love how they show.  These are vampires that don't kill.  But they're still battling the struggle with it.  Blood attracts them like nothing else.  They see it and know its there.  And Adam [Tom] and Eve fight to look away and see it as no longer there.

Adam gives us a tour of Detroit that makes me want to visit.

The dialogue is surpurp.  While a little formal, it makes sense when you realize that you're dealing with being who are a couple hundred, or longer, years old.  It all makes the silliness of it great, and the seriousness of it stand out.  Best yet, it feels real.

Just the same, the film isn't afraid of silence, or movement to speak for the actors.

Any more about it, gives away the pieces of the story.

Warning, this isn't going to be for everyone.  Its plot and action are subtle and unless you're prepared for an art film, you may feel like you're wasting your time.

If you're looking for something to make you think a bit and take your mind off the world, this is a good 4 out of 5 stars film.

Kristy C

Review... Divergent, The Movie

Not gonna give away too much of the story, but I'd been wanting to see it for a while now.  I like teen flicks, sometimes.  Mortal Instruments is amazing.  Ok, not amazing.. But thoroughly enjoyable.

And no, I haven't gotten around to reading either of the books yet.  I hope to at some point, but not yet.

What did I think...

The names of the factions are kinda hard to follow at times.  Dauntless, got it.  Cando, easy.  The others?  Can't tell you beyond 'Peaceful, Selfless and Smarty-pants'  Sure, I could look them up but this is a review after having JUST watched it, and I'd rather not.

While I get some of it, and the story was sort of engaging, Tris has a Mary-Sue quality that's kinda annoying.  And the morals of everyone are brought into question.

Here's the sad catch, at least for me.

I might read it at some point, but I already know how it ends.  Wikipedia took care of that for me.  I don't do that with stories I give a damn about, only ones I'll never read/watch or something I see as 'meh, can't make it worse'.

As a stand alone film, it wasn't bad.  I enjoyed how she was able to get past some of her inner demons and to me, proved she was born to be Dauntless... Despite everything saying she was a Divergent and belonged in more than one.

Kinda like Harry Potter being Slytherin or Gryffindor, only without as many moments of seeing exactly how she could have been the other two.  At least in the movie.

Oh, and I won't share what the other two are.  They don't in the movie, only in the books I guess.

As to this whole 'plan' thing, it doesn't make sense to me.  How he heck could a person live as only one major 'virtue', if you will, for their whole life?  Even in Harry Potter, they showed that it was more than Brave, Smart, Sneaky and whatevers left.  Everyone had the capacity to be something else.

But here, once you chose it's an all or nothing world.

Perhaps that's where I have my problems.  I don't do well with all or nothing worlds.  I want to have a choice.  I'm 32, single and trying to start my own business.  Until about 50 years ago, I would have been seen as an old maid and long past my prime of ever finding a husband. My only real goal in life, was to get married and have kids.

One or the other.  No other options.

This brings to mind two other discussions, but I'll save them for another time.

If you're looking for a cute teen 'coming of age' movie, this is a good one and deserves say.. 3 outta 5 stars.

If you're looking to have long talks about what the story is about, read the books instead the movie would only be worth about 2 out of 5 stars.

Kristy C