with you on my mind & my heart in your hands

Mon, 18 Feb 2008 04:32:57 GMT

P.S. I Love You, No Country For Old Men, Juno, Cloverfield, Sweeney Todd, The Invasion, Knocked Up, Donnie Darko, Mysterious Skin

P.S. I Love You

Three out of five stars, I'd say. I'm by no means an enthusiast of chick-flicks - in fact I do my best to avoid them at all costs. But this one, I did like more than most. It was witty, funny, terribly sad, and ALMOST unstereotypical. The plot of "woman loses perfect man, finds herself through his letters" was really creative. I felt that Hilary Swank did a really good job at her character, and I really felt for her. Unfortunately, the ending ruined all my previous thoughts. Not because it was a bad ending, but that it was too good, and it had a perfect, bittersweet ending waiting right there for it. The music, however, was amazing. I promptly went home and downloaded the soundtrack. I think most women will enjoy it for the unique sweetness of the plot, but for me it still fit the mold too much to be considered a good movie.

No Country For Old Men

I'm going to give this one four out of five stars. Again, not really my cup of tea. The movie is set in the south, where an escaped convict is going around mercilessly killing people with a cattle brander. One man witnesses this and in turn has to run from him, all across the country. I'm not the type to watch a bunch of old guys run around and shoot at each other, but I felt this movie was very unique. First off, there was absolutely no music, which really added to the suspense. It kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. Also, the killer was so insanely emotionless that he puts Hannibal Lector to shame. And his weapon? Ho shit. It's silent, shoots faster and harder than a gun, and looks like a huge fire extinguisher. The ending was something to be desired, as it just felt...abandoned, but I'm willing to overlook it. A very good thriller.

Juno

For me, this movie was a let-down. I'd say three out of five stars. I had high hopes going into this movie on account of the hype it had gathered, and the fact that I adore Michael Cera and anything he does. Unfortunately, he really wasn't in the movie that often. The story of Juno has so much potential - girl gets accidentally pregnant, tries to find perfect parents for the baby, yadda yadda. But really I just found myself annoyed. The "modern" lingo got forced and old really quickly, Juno's character lacked so much depth, and the music got pretty annoying as well. It was like everything was aiming to be trendy and become an instant classic, and completely overshot it. Juno herself became unbearable as she lacked any human emotion completely so that she could get away with a ton of one-liners. In the end, there were some very cute scenes, but overall I felt the movie didn't even almost live up to the hype.

Cloverfield

Now here is a movie I will rave about until the end of time. Four and a half out of five stars on this one. For most people it's either a movie you'll love or hate, and I personally loved it. The plot is full of spoilers, but overall it's a monster movie made in the form of a video camera being held by the characters. Some people were very bothered by the shaking camera, but I thought it added so much to the effect, and luckily I didn't get dizzy at all. Though some of the plotline was very cheesy, I'm willing to forget it in honour of the complete brilliance of the way the movie was made. Everything was entirely realistic, from the city of New York to the creatures to the camera movement. What made the movie so thrilling and scary wasn't the monster itself, but the feeling of being right there. I've never seen a movie so impressive on that level. It was almost like riding a rollercoaster. And, to point out another thing, there was hardly any blood, which really sets it apart from other movies in the genre. It relied on other elements to scare you, which I found brilliant.

Muh list.

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 19:58:50 GMT

Starting: January 1st, 2008
Ending: September 28th, 2010

Name: Melanie
Age (start to finish): 17-20
Location: Springdale, Arkansas (Though this will change in the timespan.)

1. Weigh 120 pounds. (Current weight - 125 pounds.)
2. Buy a gaming system with my own money.
3. Participate in NaNoWriMo and make it to the end, even if it's not long enough.
4. See the ocean on the east and west coasts. (0/2)
5. Leave the country.
6. Take pictures of 50 things that inspire me, no matter how random. (0/50)
7. Go camping for more than one night with friends.
8. Drink an entire alcoholic beverage.
9. Maintain at least a 3.25 GPA in college.
10. Fall in love with someone, and be loved in return. (Thanks Geoff, we'll see how this turns out.)
11. Watch 100 movies I've never seen before. (6/100) (P.S. I Love You, No Country For Old Men, Juno, Cloverfield, Sweeney Todd, The Invasion.)
12. Meet a celebrity.
13. Go vegetarian for a month.
14. Do yoga every day, half an hour, for a month.
15. Get something pierced.
16. Learn how to knit.
17. Get a car.
18. Get a job.
19. Start a bank account.
20. Learn Japanese.
21. Go skinnydipping.
22. Watch 10 sunrises and 10 sunsets. (2/20)
23.. Kiss in the rain and dance in the rain. (0/2)
24. Cosplay well at a convention
25. Go on a road trip alone.
26. Grow out my hair to my ribcage and let it be curly. (Current length - About halfway down my boobs.)
27. Go to a zoo.
28. Take a class in belly dancing.
29. Read one hundred books I've never read away from school. (Currently reading Anthem - Ayn Rand, It's Kind of A Funny Story - Ned Vizzini, and Lullaby - Chuck Palahniuk.)
30. Vote.
31. Ride a roller coaster that flips upside down.
32. Get a library card.
33. Make at least 3 close friends in college. (0/3)
34. Save 500$ and go shopping only for myself.
35. Buy all food at an Asian or Indian market for a month.
36. Go on a date with someone that isn't my type.
37. Get a massage.
38. See a therapist at least once.
39. Read all Chuck Palahniuk books. (Currently reading Lullaby.)
40. Become active in at least one club at school.
41. Fill an entire notebook with thoughts on paper.
~~42. Learn how to walk in high heels.~~
43. Learn to read music.
44. Reread all of my favourite books.
45. Buy a piece of clothing I like but wouldn't be caught dead in - and wear it.
46. Go dumpster diving.
47. Make a scrapbook and give it to someone.
48. Cook a full meal of recipes I've never tried for someone.
49. Go sledding.
50. Write snail-mail letters and send them to internet friends.
51. Paint a picture.
52. Go without makeup (in public) for seven days. (0/7)
53. Sing for anyone if they ask without making excuses or getting shy. (So far I've sang for my entire choir class and my entire theatre class, as well as Bobby, Chelsea, and Kyle.)
54. Go a week without internet.
55. Go a week without television.
56. DDR at the mall and beat someone.
~~57. Give at least one rediculously generous tip to someone who has served me well. (Waiter in P.F. Chang's - 10$)~~
58. Donate old clothing to someone who needs it.
59. Stay up for 24 hours.
60. Get out of the house every single day.
61. Make a pile of leaves and jump in them.
62. Bake a cake at least once a year. (1/3)
63. Play an entire videogame in a day.
64. Buy something from e-bay.
65. Go see at least three musicals. (0/3)
66. Go to at least three concerts. (1/3)
67. Have an oldschool girly slumber party.
~~68. Graduate high school.~~
69. Fly a kite.
70. Kiss a member of the same sex.
71. Go on a date, knowing there will be no relationship.
72. Go to an actual party.
73. Get a henna tattoo.
74. Learn everything I can about Islam.
75. Learn everything I can about Buddhism.
76. Learn everything I can about Christianity.
77. Ask a boy out.
78. Do something nice for my parents without having a special reason.
79. Set off fireworks on a non-holiday.
80. Learn to make sushi.
81. Have someone else take pictures of me for no special reason.
82. Leave 50 "You Are Beautiful" notes in random public places. (0/50)
83. Play at least 20 board games. (0/20)
84. Go thrift store shopping for a day and actually buy things.
85. Become flexible enough to do the splits. (ALMOST DONE IT OMFG THERE'S LIKE TWO INCHES BEFORE MY CROTCH MEETS THE FLOOR~)
86. Wear a kimono.
87. Give only baked goods as presents to everyone for a holiday.
88. Save 10-20 dollars from every paycheck I receive.
89. Solve a Rubik's cube without cheating.
90. Receive a manicure/pedicure.
91. Volunteer for something charity related that has nothing to do with school.
92. Colour every page in a colouring book.
93. Use a planner every day for at least a semester of school.
94. Make a list of 100 things I like about myself. Post it somewhere.
95. Carve my name or a message into something somewhere.
96. Buy lingerie and wear it at least once.
97. Take silly photos by myself in a photo booth.
98. Go on a picnic.
99. Refrain from shaving my legs for six months. (0/6)
100. Submit a voice post or postcard to PostSecret as often as I feel necessary - but at least once a year. (0/3)
101. Donate 2$ to charity for every goal that isn't reached.

101 in 1001 journal.

Sat, 15 Dec 2007 20:10:38 GMT

This journal will begin use on January 1st, 2008 and end use on September 28th, 2010.

I will complete 101 goals in 1001 days.

community -

jan1_2008

main journal -

__chinawhite