January 2011
What I Watched Today
Genocide
Why This Movie?: It won the 1981 Best Documentary Oscar
Netflix Thinks I Will Think: 6/10
Review: The Holocaust is one of the most horrifyingly momentous events in human history. I assume that’s why documentary film makers seem so compelled to use it as a topic. This one is not very good. It lays out in a very straightforward manner the major events of the Holocaust and the...
What I Watched Today
Genocide
Why This Movie?: It won the 1981 Best Documentary Oscar
Netflix Thinks I Will Think: 6/10
Review: The Holocaust is one of the most horrifyingly momentous events in human history. I assume that’s why documentary film makers seem so compelled to use it as a topic. This one is not very good. It lays out in a very straightforward manner the major events of the Holocaust and the...
Y is for Year In Review
2010 was a pretty volatile year for me. I went through a bad breakup, wallowed a bit in my own self-pity, eventually managed to get something resembling back on my feet, graduated from law school, moved back to Michigan, resumed a dalliance with a former summer fling, slept with my first foreigner, took the bar, passed the bar, looked for a job, almost got one, and am still looking for a job. So a...
December 2010
What I Watched Today
True Grit (2010)
Why This Movie?: I saw the original earlier this year and really liked it.
Netflix Thinks I Will Think: 7/10
Acting: Top notch. Steinfeld plays a much more dour Mattie Ross than Kim Darcy did in the original, but in her oversized hat and jacket, she’s very much a young girl playing tough and incredibly sympathetic and likable. Jeff Bridges takes the only role that John...
What I Watched Today
True Grit (2010)
Why This Movie?: I saw the original earlier this year and really liked it.
Netflix Thinks I Will Think: 7/10
Acting: Top notch. Steinfeld plays a much more dour Mattie Ross than Kim Darcy did in the original, but in her oversized hat and jacket, she’s very much a young girl playing tough and incredibly sympathetic and likable. Jeff Bridges takes the only role that John...
The website for "Space Jam" is still up. →
inothernews:
thegreg:
It’s like getting in a time machine…
“Cool links and hijinx! Click above to find out more about our sponsors and the various hip sites that make the WB Online the jammin’ place that it is.”
Oh, 1996-era Internet.
Oh, wow. Haha. Hahahahahahahahaha.
What I Watched Today
The Planet of the Apes
Why This Movie?: “Take your stinking paws off me, you damn dirty ape!”
Netflix Thinks I Will Think: 5/10
Acting: The star of the show is Charlton Heston and he’s okay, but over the top in a way that kind of cheapens the movie…had he been more subtle, a more serious tone could have been possible. Almost no one else’s acting is of note...
What I Watched Today
The Planet of the Apes
Why This Movie?: “Take your stinking paws off me, you damn dirty ape!”
Netflix Thinks I Will Think: 5/10
Acting: The star of the show is Charlton Heston and he’s okay, but over the top in a way that kind of cheapens the movie…had he been more subtle, a more serious tone could have been possible. Almost no one else’s acting is of note...
That awkward moment when you don't know if a car...
birminghamdrunk:
-spacekase:
alwaysinadaze:
hannahrefugio:
I’m usually like
lmfaooo
LIFE.
i LOLed.
Hahahahaha
iamlittlei:
There is something extraordinarily comforting and homey to me about retrieving pop and/or beer from the garage during the holidays. It’s such a quintessentially MI thing.
Even more quintessentially MI: getting an ice cold VERNOR’S from the garage
What I Watched Today
The Painted Veil
Why This Movie?: I honestly can’t remember. I think I was intrigued by the trailer.
Netflix Thinks I Will Think: 6/10
Acting: Naomi Watts and Edward Norton, as a mismatched British husband and wife, have the vast majority of the screentime, and luckily they are both very good in their roles. Watts’ Kitty, a careless socialite who slowly grows up and becomes a...
What I Watched Today
The Painted Veil
Why This Movie?: I honestly can’t remember. I think I was intrigued by the trailer.
Netflix Thinks I Will Think: 6/10
Acting: Naomi Watts and Edward Norton, as a mismatched British husband and wife, have the vast majority of the screentime, and luckily they are both very good in their roles. Watts’ Kitty, a careless socialite who slowly grows up and becomes a...
Reviewing the college bowl schedule...
kickyandfun:
…and I find it pretty obnoxious that there are three Big Ten—SEC games happening at the same time on New Year’s Day.
WORD
Watchinothernews:
thegreg:
thedailywhat:
Time-Lapse Thing of the Day: Belmar, New Jersey, got slammed with 32 inches of snow courtesy of Snowpocalyspe 2010.
Garden Stater Michael Black braved the elements to put together a time-lapse video of what 32 inches of snow in a single sitting might look like.
[gawkertv.]
I live here.
This is excellent. Though I’m just waiting for someone from...
What I Watched Today
Almost Famous
Why This Movie?: Recommended to me highly by NYC, one of my senior year roommates
Netflix Thinks I Will Think: 8/10
Acting: Pitch-perfect casting all around. Patrick Fugit’s William, a very young aspiring music journalist at the center of the story, acts amazingly with his eyes as he watches everything around him and projects a maturity beyond his character’s 15...
What I Watched Today
Almost Famous
Why This Movie?: Recommended to me highly by NYC, one of my senior year roommates
Netflix Thinks I Will Think: 8/10
Acting: Pitch-perfect casting all around. Patrick Fugit’s William, a very young aspiring music journalist at the center of the story, acts amazingly with his eyes as he watches everything around him and projects a maturity beyond his character’s 15...
What I Watched Today
Why This Movie?: The pair from one of my favorite movies Y Tu Mama Tambien, Diego Luna and Gael Garcia Bernal, reunited!
Netflix Thinks I Will Think: 6/10
Acting: Luna and Bernal, longtime friends, have the “love each other even though they don’t always like each other” vibe that makes them very believable as brothers. Anyone who has a sibling knows that they occasionally...
What I Watched Today
Why This Movie?: The pair from one of my favorite movies Y Tu Mama Tambien, Diego Luna and Gael Garcia Bernal, reunited!
Netflix Thinks I Will Think: 6/10
Acting: Luna and Bernal, longtime friends, have the “love each other even though they don’t always like each other” vibe that makes them very believable as brothers. Anyone who has a sibling knows that they occasionally...
What I Watched Today
Why This Movie?: Marilyn Monroe
Netflix Thinks I Will Think: 6/10
Acting: This is actually the strength of the movie. Cary Grant and Ginger Rodgers have the chemistry of a long-married couple, sweet and bemused with each other. Marilyn is very funny as the secretary to Grant’s boss (her Gentlemen Prefer Blondes co-star Charles Coburn) hired for her looks rather than her skills, playing...
What I Watched Today
Why This Movie?: Marilyn Monroe
Netflix Thinks I Will Think: 6/10
Acting: This is actually the strength of the movie. Cary Grant and Ginger Rodgers have the chemistry of a long-married couple, sweet and bemused with each other. Marilyn is very funny as the secretary to Grant’s boss (her Gentlemen Prefer Blondes co-star Charles Coburn) hired for her looks rather than her skills, playing...
“It’s Christmas, for goodness sake! Think about the Baby Jesus, up in that tower,...”
– Karen Walker (via jilianlea)
P is for Pity Party
Since forever ago, my family has celebrated Christmas on Christmas Eve because Little Sister always goes to spend actual Christmas with her dad. And I feel like a total asshole for feeling sorry for myself on Christmas when I really have it pretty damn awesome, but it really really blows not being able to afford to buy anybody presents because I can’t find a job even though I have sent out...
What I Watched Today
Why This Movie?: It won the 1970 Best Foreign Film Oscar
What Netflix Thinks I Will Think: 7/10
Acting: This movie is plot-driven rather than character-driven almost to the exclusion of the latter, so the actors aren’t really given many opportunities to shine. Yves Montand, as the political leader whose assassination sparks the investigation that rocks the country’s political power...
What I Watched Today
Why This Movie?: It won the 1970 Best Foreign Film Oscar
What Netflix Thinks I Will Think: 7/10
Acting: This movie is plot-driven rather than character-driven almost to the exclusion of the latter, so the actors aren’t really given many opportunities to shine. Yves Montand, as the political leader whose assassination sparks the investigation that rocks the country’s political power...
bastards-of-young:
coveredincoma:
...
What I Watched Today
Why This Movie?: It’s a classic of world cinema
Netflix Thinks I Will Think: 7/10
This movie is too complex to be broken down into simple acting and writing/directing categories, so I’ll just try to sum up what I thought of it as a whole. Max von Syndow stars as a medieval knight returning to Sweden after ten years fighting in the crusades. When Death comes for him, the knight...
What I Watched Today
Why This Movie?: It’s a classic of world cinema
Netflix Thinks I Will Think: 7/10
This movie is too complex to be broken down into simple acting and writing/directing categories, so I’ll just try to sum up what I thought of it as a whole. Max von Syndow stars as a medieval knight returning to Sweden after ten years fighting in the crusades. When Death comes for him, the knight...
Say 'I do' in maize and blue | detnews.com | The... →
cablesandfables:
LOUD NOISES
Doctors at Catholic hospital in Arizona perform... →
Music Fires Up Emotions in the Brain (Psych... →
psychotherapy:
In a new study using brain imaging, researchers have identified how key aspects of musical performance cause emotion-related brain activity.
Edward Large, Ph.D., the study’s principal investigator, and Heather Chapin, Ph.D., the lead author, believe that their study pinpoints how musical performances charge up the brain’s emotional centers, and said that their technique will lead...
Watchmrhoax:
”MY PREROGATIVE” (ALTERNATE VERSION) - BRITNEY SPEARS
What I Watched Today
Why This Movie?: I’ve seen the remake, so I wanted to see the original
Netflix Thinks I Will Think: 6/10
Acting: This movie was my introduction to young Michael Caine…I’d never before seen him in anything he’d done before he had white hair. The film does not have much in the way of character development, but Caine’s charisma keeps his character interesting despite...
What I Watched Today
Why This Movie?: I’ve seen the remake, so I wanted to see the original
Netflix Thinks I Will Think: 6/10
Acting: This movie was my introduction to young Michael Caine…I’d never before seen him in anything he’d done before he had white hair. The film does not have much in the way of character development, but Caine’s charisma keeps his character interesting despite...
“Conservatives understand Halloween, liberals only understand Christmas. If you...”
– Tom Robbins, Skinny Legs and All (via apsies)
What I Watched Today
Why This Movie?: About a million people told me it was hilarious, I like stoner humor
Netflix Thinks I Will Think: 7/10
Acting: Comedic acting is generally taken less seriously than dramatic acting, but it’s just a different skill set. There are talented dramatic actors who can’t do comedy (Nicole Kidman comes to mind), just as there are comedy actors who aren’t talented at...
What I Watched Today
Why This Movie?: About a million people told me it was hilarious, I like stoner humor
Netflix Thinks I Will Think: 7/10
Acting: Comedic acting is generally taken less seriously than dramatic acting, but it’s just a different skill set. There are talented dramatic actors who can’t do comedy (Nicole Kidman comes to mind), just as there are comedy actors who aren’t talented at...
What I Watched Today
Why This Movie?: It’s the very successful sequel to a very successful movie and had decent critical reviews
Netflix Thinks I Will Think: 7/10
Acting: Basically the same from the original…Stewart and McKellen are heads and shoulders above the rest of the cast, Jackman brings good energy, Berry is easily the worst. Famke Janssen does more with her role this time around, as does...
What I Watched Today
Why This Movie?: It’s the very successful sequel to a very successful movie and had decent critical reviews
Netflix Thinks I Will Think: 7/10
Acting: Basically the same from the original…Stewart and McKellen are heads and shoulders above the rest of the cast, Jackman brings good energy, Berry is easily the worst. Famke Janssen does more with her role this time around, as does...
5 Typical Acts of Politeness That are Inefficient... →
I understand the function of politeness and social conventions: how they make people feel at ease, how they provide a familiar, comfortable context for interactions in which all is not known. I like politeness and social conventions for this, but I think that some are inefficient and should be banned. Here are five.