BYU International Cinema, Fall 2012

This semester I had a goal to see one International Cinema film a week-- but to also approach it in a way that wouldn't stress me out. So I did miss a couple weeks, but I'm not too worried about it. Here are the films that I saw:

Bliss (Turkish, 2007)
The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain (English, 1995)
Princess Mononoke (Japanese, 1997)
The Blue Eyes of Yonta (Portuguese & Kriolu, 1992)
Paris, Je T'aime (French, English, Spanish, Mandarin, & Arabic, 2006)
The First Grader (English & Kikuyu, 2010)
Never Cry Wolf (English, 1983)
Certified Copy (French & English, 2010)
Summer Interlude (Swedish, 1951)
I Have Found It (Tamil & English, 2000)
Christmas Story (Finnish, 2007)

My favorites? Bliss (I saw it twice that week) & Paris Je T'aime (note: the version they showed at BYU was edited a bit for content). I also appreciated Princess Mononoke (anime) and I Have Found It (Bollywood) for their individual styles.

Julia Stone covers The National's "Bloodbuzz Ohio," and it is wonderful.

A Very Tim Burton October

This month I had a goal to watch as many Tim Burton movies as I could. Truth be told, Halloween kind of snuck up on me (did this month go by fast for anyone else?), and I would have loved to get a couple more in, but oh well. I enjoyed it.

1. Dark Shadows (2012)
2. Sweeney Todd (2007)
3. Corpse Bride (2005)
4. Alice in Wonderland (2010)
5. Beetle Juice (1988) 
6. Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985)
7. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
8. Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
9. Frankenweenie (1984)
10. Edward Scissorhands (1990)

Honorable Mentions: (Not Tim Burton, but Halloween-esque)
- Coraline (2009)
- It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)

Note: All of the movies were fantastic, except Dark Shadows. I expected more. So if you're deciding whether or not to spend that $1.20 to Redbox it for a date night, I wouldn't. It just wasn't worth it.

from my brother:

"She has the exact same reaction you do, when it comes to hot males." - my brother. Thanks bro. (Sorry Mom!)

Top 3+ Meaningful Films (In My Opinion!)

1. Everything Is Illuminated (2005). Beautiful film. It kills me everytime, in the best way. The language is a bit rough in the beginning, mostly subtitled, so you've been warned. And the subject matter is pretty deep. Basically, teenagers and adults will benefit from it, but younger audiences should probably steer clear.

2. Bliss (2007). Oh my goodness. This film. I had to see it twice in a week just to grasp it. This film explores cross-cultural gender roles and customs, the idea of purity, and tackles tough subject matters such as rape, suicide, murder, and post traumatic stress disorder. But it ends so, so beautifully. I'm always worried about that with stories like this, but it nailed it. Life seems to much more vibrant having seen this film.

3. The Fountain (2006). I love this film. It's a bit harder to follow because there are three different story lines woven together. But have patience. It will beat you up, break your heart, but give you so much hope. I love it. Just trust me.

If you are short on time or don't want to commit to a full length right now, I'll always recommend The Butterfly Circus (2009). Short, but oh so sweet and meaningful. And perfectly appropriate for all audiences. And you can watch it on youtube. It will make your soul feel alive.

Someday

This movie is a big reason why I want to adopt children someday. Specifically around the 1:40 mark. Even if I can biologically have children someday, if I can be a foster or adoptive parent, that would be incredible. Imagine the good that can come from that.

I saw the Odd Life of Timothy Green today and it again reaffirmed that. Love and be loved. That's the way to do it.

"Wasn't your sister like going to massage school for a while?" "You know, I thought she'd always do something in politics."

Gotye - Easy Way Out

The Butterfly Circus

Do you have 20 minutes to spare? If so, watch this short movie. It will soothe your heart and make you feel whole again. So beautiful. Favorite part? Around minute 12.

Happy Monday, friends!

Why I Actually Am Ok With "New Moon"

When I saw this fantastic comparison, and shouted a hearty "amen!" to Hermoine:

I'd love to be Hermoine, strong and fearless, always pressing on. But reality check: sometimes we can't be. Because we are human, sometimes the only thing to do is to "curl up in the fetal position, went numb for months then jump off a cliff." To me, "New Moon" is a decent book/film not because of the acting (Kristin Stewart) or the thrilling plot line (ehh...), but because the character of Bella Swan personifies depression perfectly.

(Side note: I never went through the "darn careless teenager with no grasp on mortality" phase. I think that came as I entered adulthood, and as I've experienced recurring phases of depression.)

Sometimes the greatest desire is to just hide away in a cave (or, you know, Mexico):

Or, you know, snuggle with the nearest male (bonus if he is a smoking babe):

And... just one more to emphasize the "babe" aspect of Jacob:

New Moon isn't supposed to be about raw moral strength, it's about the process of coping, and of finding that strength.

New Moon isn't supposed to be about good acting... ok, just kidding. That could have helped.

And one more:

Ha! Ok. And that's my opinion as to why New Moon isn't a terrible movie. There is quite a bit of truth about the human condition in it. And shirtless Jacob is just a plus.

Loney, Dear: The City, The Airport

I have great taste in music.

Thinking about: artistic portrayal of heartbreak.

"You're waiting for a train, a train that will take you far away. You know where you hope this train will take you, but you can't be sure. But it doesn't matter - because we'll be together."

"All these years, all these memories, there was you. You pull me through time."

Good Things: Do Fun Stuff

Ryan Marshall of Pacing the Panic Room has created this sweet project to help raise funds and awareness for Smith Magenis Syndrome (SMS), a disease that his son was diagnosed with last year. Not much is known about it, but with the help of this project, hopefully progress will be made.

More info below:

She's Got The Magic: Pacing The Panic Room

This woman has got an awesome sense of humor. Her husband documented her pregnancy weekly on his really great blog, then made this stop action movie of it a year later. So fun! I love it! Enjoy!


Magic- A Belly Grows from The Panic Room Videos on Vimeo.
 

Magazine Love

ReadyMade Magazine
Currently available for $6.99/year for 6 issues.

Whole Living
(formerly Body + Soul)
Currently available for $10/year for 10 issues.

And to read online...

Yoga Journal

Sprawl II

Sometimes I wonder if the world's so small

That we can never get away from the sprawl-

Living in the sprawl,

Dead shopping malls rise like 

mountains beyond mountains

And there's no end in sight.

I need the darkness, 

someone please cut the lights.

bow ties are cool.

I love Something's Hiding in Here's 

new project, entitled FORAGE.

Because bow ties are cool, as is the Doctor:

Update: You can buy these bow ties here until they sell out!

steel train cover: bullet

"But all that I've known is to

Run, run, run, from a devil in disguise

Like a bullet, a bullet, a bullet into the night..."

I am obsessed with this cover by Scarlett Johansson.
I have listened to it over and over again all week!
I loooovvvveeee it! I am swooooning over it!

Rebecca

I love this photograph by Julian Broad, found in Vanity Fair.
I love it's portrayal of one of my favorite classic movies, Rebecca.

I also happen to love Laurence Olivier and 1940's fashion.
Such a good movie!

harhar