Where to begin...It's been a while since I've updated! Not a whole lot has been going on. Still no job (other than the contract position), about to move back to Marina on the 26th, and that's about it.
However, last week was the release of the VERY last Harry Potter movie -- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2. It was an excellent movie (A+) and kept true to the tone of the book, even though things were changed and removed. It was a satisfying end to an era and it was a great last midnight line-up! Funny thing that happened during that week proved that life can be very serendipitous. A friend from the Aquarium contacted me saying that a Monterey County Herald writer was looking for big Harry Potter fans and to contact him for if I was interested in being interviewed. So I did and he called me the next day. We chatted. I told him about going to Edinburgh, Scotland for the final book release, working at the Leaky Cauldron, and other things. He wanted a photo of me and I didn't have my books, but it ended up coming out (when I sent him some personal photos) that I have a robe (dress robes to be exact that mom made me). So he asked if I'd come down to do a photo shoot. I did! Brought some random books I had (my books were actually in Santa Barbara at the time) and they took photos and the article went live on the 15th! It was a fun experience and totally random. Who'd of thunk?! :) The writer was very nice and it's a good article too. Article and photos here: http://www.montereyherald.com/ci_18482909 (have to create a free account to see it)
About to move back to Marina. Got an apartment that allows pets and everything. Move back on Tuesday the 26th, which should be "fun" and interesting. Haven't started to pack that much, but it'll start soon (our boxes arrived -- bought used boxes to make life easier). My computer desk sold via craigslist and it's being picked up tomorrow for $75. We were going to list it for $50 and then list it for free, so $75 ain't bad (we paid $120 or $140 for it via craigslist)! I love that desk (it's perfect for what I need and want) and wish I could take it, but it's just TOO heavy and I don't want to bother moving it. So I'll get a new desk some other time.
At any rate, on to movies! I'm really far behind, but I also haven't seen that much till this week too.
Green Lantern - It was okay. Ryan Reynolds was okay as Hal. I expected it to be better, I think, for it having Ryan Reynolds and the hype behind it. It wasn't a horrible movie, but it just lacked in something. I'd see a sequel (and there should be a sequel), but it's not my favorite. For a first movie, you can hope that they have a better sequel, but at the rate sequels go, I'm not holding my breath. I know, generally, the reviews weren't that great (it's kind of a "par" movie). I'd see it if you like comic book characters, but other than that...You're not missing much or wait till it's on DVD. Grade: B-/C+
Transformers: Dark of the Moon - Talk about your LOOOONG movie and feeling every inch of it. What a movie...The special effects and the beginning of the movie make up for the never ending action scene that happens in the latter 2/3 of the movie, but it is seriously the longest action scene I think I have ever seen. Since most of the movie is action, the actors end up mostly yelling at each other too. The thing I do enjoy about this movie is that the "human fighters" are more prominent in this movie than the others. They seem to get more camera time as each movie goes on. The new chick (who replaced Megan Fox) is okay. She gets a lot of lines, weirdly. She's not horrible, but she's definitely there for the sex appeal and she's sometimes a little too "motherly". She wasn't a horrible actress, though, but the end she does have some really odd scenes that you just kind of want to slap her for. Like I said, first 1/3 (maybe even 1/4) of the movie is far better than the rest since it's all action. I did enjoy Leonard Nimoy (Spock in Star Trek) who voices one of the new Transformers and Patrick Dempsey is in it (which was interesting). I do really like the special effects, though. Those transformers are just amazing in terms of CG and I tend to like them more than the humans. :P Grade: B/B-
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 - What an excellent film. It keeps the essence of the book, while changing/removing/adding things. There's one quibble I have with it, which is at the very end, but the rest of it I pretty much enjoyed. You can always complain about things that are adapted (and I've gotten into some nitty-gritty things), but, overall, it's a good film. It's a good finish to the movies and I'm glad. Go out with a bang and it certainly did. I recommend everyone to see this because it's great. You laugh, you cry, you kind of sit on the edge of your seat, etc. There are touching moments too. It's a good film and think they broke the two films up from the one book appropriately. The last film is a little more running around and action orientated, but it has its moments to let you breath for a minute or two also. And, to boot, it's been getting fantastic reviews from fans and critics (and critics won't be so sentimental). Grade: A+
Lincoln Lawyer (Matthew McConaughey, Ryan Phillippe) (DVD) - Better than I thought it would be. It's an interesting movie that makes you somewhat question what our justice system is. It's not as good as Law Abiding Citizen, which really does throw how our justice system works back into your face, but Lincoln Lawyer is an interesting question of morals and innocence. Basically, the main character, Mick Haller (McConaughey), is a shady lawyer who takes jobs with, well, shady people who typically would be seen (or are) guilty for their crimes. He's a good lawyer, though, and typically gets their sentences lowered or completely dropped. However, he takes on this client (Phillippe) who puts his whole "ethics" (if you will) to question and he has to figure out how to get out of the situation without putting himself or his family in harms way (what the movie revolves around is this case). It's not as mind twisty as you think, but it has an interesting thing at the end. Haller is an interesting character because he deals with shady people who we, normally, wouldn't agree with, but they somehow also like him somewhat likeable too. It's like you don't quite like him and you don't quite hate him either. It's an interesting balancing act and it played out pretty well. Grade: B
Adjustment Bureau (Matt Damon, Emily Blunt) (DVD) - Not as bad as I thought it would be. This was one I wanted to see in theaters, but Chris didn't want to see it. It's a definite movie rental so I'm glad I didn't see it in theaters. It's okay. The chasing actually doesn't happen to the end of the movie, which is nice because it would have gotten old really fast. The movie is mostly about "fate" and "chance". And the "Chairman" maps out our entire lives so the Adjustment Bureau goes around to do "adjustments" to make sure we stay on track. They have an ability to pass through doors to get from one place to another quickly. It's an interesting question of "fate" and "freewill", but the end premise is about determination and, in ways, love. The end of the movie ends kind of abruptly and quickly so it's a little awkward. You go through this chase scene and it just kind of "finishes" and it's kind of like "what?" With that said, the movie was interesting. It plays more like a drama in most of the film (till the end). It's okay if you're bored or interested, but I don't think I'd readily recommend this (it kind of drags in the middle a little). Grade: C
Captain America (Chris Evans, Hugo Weaving) - SO much better than Thor! Kind of a sad romance story at the the end, but it's a nice story arch compared to Thor and Chris Evans plays a good Captain America. It's interesting to see a Marvel character within a real time period also (or any time period, I suppose). Captain America was created in 1941 for the purpose of being patriotic (hence the American costume and shield) and he fought against the Axis Powers. His "super power" is essentially being super human by a serum also. So, the comic resonates that time period pretty well. At any rate, it was a good movie and they do a clip at the very end (as all the Marvel movies have had) and they also do a little trailer-thing for The Avengers movie coming out next summer too. The trailer got me REALLY excited for The Avengers movie next summer. It looks good and since they've introduced so many of the SHIELD operatives now, you feel more invested in it. Plus, they have a good cast too. Moving on...Chris Evans plays a likable Captain America and the reason he was picked for Captain America (or at least the initial and only test subject) was because of who he was inside -- a genuinely good, down to earth guy. Hugo Weaving's character (the enemy of Captain America -- lead of the Hydras) was a bad guy and took a portion of the unfinished serum that Captain America has and so he became more bad. So, anyway, nice arch, nice tie in for The Avengers and Captain America 2 and 3 (Chris Evans has already signed on). It has a complete story that is more along the lines of building up Iron Man than plopping you into the middle of Thor's story (granted, Thor, has a longer and more complicated history than the others). Grade: B/B+
Next movie is Cowboys & Aliens, which I can't wait for. Not because I'm super excited to see the movie, but because I can FINALLY stop seeing the trailer! I swear, I kid you not, that every movie I have seen in theater has had Cowboys & Aliens before it since January. It has been MONTHS of seeing the trailer. I'm tired of it! So, anyway, going to see it next week and hopefully I can finally put to rest Cowboys & Aliens! :P After that is the Change-Up (Jason Bateman, Ryan Reynolds) and maybe Crazy, Stupid, Love (Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling). After those is Conan the Barbarian. Chris wants to see it since he's played the MMORPG and has read all the books -- makes sense. At some point, would like to see Horrible Bosses, but it might end up being a movie rental. Missed Bad Teacher and Cars 2 also so...maybe movie rentals. Might be able to wiggle in Cars 2 when we move back, but with others more pressing to see (that we both want to see), Cars 2 might be a movie rental (first Pixar in years I haven't seen in theaters!). We'll see!
Time to go nap and then start packing...Ugh.
