Slumdog Millionaire

Yes, yes, I know- this movie came out months ago. I had heard great things about it and have been wanting to watch it for a long time, but I kept putting it off until my sister came home (I had promised her we would watch it together, and by the time she arrived my homework load would be less obnoxious). I went into the film with high expectations- something I hate to do but can't help. You know when you go into something expecting greatness, and you always come out disappointed because it couldn't live up to your inflated expectations? I worried that this would happen with Slumdog Millionaire, because I have been in desperate need of a movie to lift my spirits.

You know what? I came out loving it. My expectations were fulfilled. The movie, a story of a poor, uneducated contestant on the Indian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, is as incredible a film as I have ever seen. Throughout the movie, he is accused of cheating for continually knowing the answers to increasingly difficult questions on the show. Yet you discover that it was his life (destiny, as the movie puts it) that had given him all of the answers. He has lived them.

You learn of his heartbreaking childhood, a lost love, and a struggle between brothers. You find yourself urging on the poverty-stricken children, praying for their safety, and begging characters to do....well, whatever they are supposed to do to make the story come out right ("No, don't leave!" "Turn around! Turn around!" "Run! Run! No, that way! Other way!"; you get the picture). The story greets you, envelopes you, and before you know it, it has captured your heart. For anyone who disagrees with that statement, I would be interested to hear why you were not entranced.

The film is based on Vikas Swarup's novel Q&A, if any of you are interested in checking that out. I think I'll have to put it on my summer reading list.

If I haven't done so already, I do apologize that this review is done in such delay to the movie. I suppose this is sort of like a 'last call' to all of you out there who have not seen it yet. If you think this is just another movie that can be set aside, please reconsider. Seeing this film may not change the course of your life, but it can touch your heart, giving you faith that even in the worst of situations, people can persevere.

Go rent it.

"Angels on the Moon" by Thriving Ivory

Ameriquest commercials

Gotta love 'em. Here are a few:

And you thought you'd seen them all.

I find this infomercial offensive for multiple reasons:

1. We're zooming in on boobs. Half of the video is closeups of women's breasts. And they're moving very unnaturally in a way I don't want to describe. Watch the video if you want to see it. People don't just constantly stare at the female bust (unless they're absolute perverts). So when it's the only thing to look at, I feel uncomfortable. Especially as a girl.
2. Why is this on tv? Yes, I understand they're not doing the commercial tastelessly. In fact, they're probably doing the best job possible with such a topic. But still. its awkward. Who gave this ad the ok to be on daytime television? And it looks so shallow (of course there are times when most women want bigger boobs; but the product seems directed towards insecure women unable to just be happy with themselves).
3. Do you really think it will actually work? Although the movement is impressive, do you really think you will go up in bra size? Or even be able to keep it that way if you do? I don't know. I admire the commercial's effort to change without going under the knife, but once again, it seems to be preying on the desperate.
   

Moral of the story: This thing is stupid. Just be happy with yourself.

If you really want to, though, if you call RIGHT NOW you could get it for $9.99 plus shipping and handling. What a deal!

For all of the "I'm Gonna Beat You's" of the world

A small note of advice: Telling me that you're going to beat me is not a good way to start a friendship. Or keep one.

Now I must clarify, there are many times when I say "I'm going to kick your butt," "I'm going to beat you at [insert selected item]," and other such phrases when it's FRIENDLY. Likewise, there are people that tell me the same thing and I don't mind. It's a joke, and whoever wins doesn't really matter. If I beat you at checkers, I would hope that no ones feelings would get hurt. If someone scores higher than me on a test, I won't go crouch in a corner and suck my thumb.

But when it's over something of real rank and constant competition (like a chair in band, a place in show choir, a place on a varsity sports team, a job), it's not funny. "I'm going to beat you someday," is said with an undertone of menace and jealousy. And really, what am I supposed to say? "Oh, no, my dear friend. You suck and will never surpass my awesome talents"? "Yes, you will beat me someday and I am so looking forward to the opportunity to hand over my place of honor so that you can feel a little bit better about yourself"? It's annoying. It's stupid.

So don't tell people you are going to beat them. Trying to psych them out isn't nice. Beat them with your talents. Show them, and quit being an ass. What grade are we in, people. Really?

Ok that was very rant-like. Happy note time; it's the Xylopholks!

"Pony (It's OK)" by Erin McCarley

I got it when it was a freebie off of iTunes. It wouldn't be on here if I didn't like it, now would it?

Pull Through, Little Man

The boy got rejected, cut him some slack.

Because my last post was so long....

I'll make it up to you! Not saying that last one was boring, oh no. But your brain and eyes may be exhausted from such dedicated reading of my blog. So here's a song that recently found and I like I got from my sister, but El Cabrito happened to have it on his iPod too (though he doesn't know how it got there). What are the odds of it being in two places? I took it as a sign to share it with you guys. Here's Franz Ferdinand's 'Take Me Out.'

"Spaceman" by the Killers

Well, his outfit's a little weird, but that doesn't stop me from liking this song.

Visiting the Cousins

This weekend my family drove up to Minnesota to visit my cousins (mom's side). I absolutely love going there. They live out of the way, sort of in the country. I swear we drove past more farmland trying to get to their house than we pass in Iowa. And when we get there, our cell phones are in roam, neighbors are a good hundred feet away from one another, and town is about a fifteen minute drive away. The partial isolation is kind of nice.

I know it's not said as much these days, but I really do love my family. Sure, here and there we had a temper tantrum from the four-year-old and some insensitive comments from the eighth-grader, but who said families are perfect? Besides, I'm pretty sure the eighth-grader was more juiced up on his newly-acquired testosterone than anything else. Being with them, I can see their growth and learn new things (I didn't know Polish sausage was venison, or that vacuum salesmen could be so relentless).

What did we do? Aside from a day of shopping (in which I got some wardrobe updates, like these shoes), we spent a lot of time around the house. We played Frisbee in their cornfield (with this kind. It goes so far! We had to climb over the wire fence on the property line to go fetch it once, and another time had to climb a tree), swung dangerously on their tire swing, and were introduced to their four outdoor cats (Mittens and Lilly being my favorites). I would go on, but I suppose you know the typical family stuff: sitting and talking, etc. The last thing of note was play chess and watch "Get Smart", a movie that I had forgotten how much I enjoyed. My favorite clip is posted below.

All things must end, and it's nice to be back home. Visiting family is great, but we would probably be under each others' skin had we stayed longer. Our trip was short and sweet. The perfect kind.

Can YOU rap in Hebrew?

Me neither, but these guys can! It is a combination group: Subliminal (Kobi Shimoni) & The Shadow (HaTzhal). Their album (right), The Light and The Shadow, frequently covers Israeli-Arab conflicts (so says this site, because I can't translate their lyrics myself). The song is called Tikva (Hope).

Subliminal & The Shadow - Tikva (Hope) [Eng & Heb. Subtitled].

Pan's Labyrinth (El Laberinto del Fauno)

If you have not seen this movie, you need to.

"Joggers and Dead Bodies Theory"

Don't jog in the morning. Trust her.

"How To Survive Valentine's Day Alone"

Too late for advice but here it is anyway...

Presto: A Pixar Short

Validation

A small movie called Marry Me

An Austrialian short film. Watch until the very end- after the credits. It's cute.