Happiness: ****
Sometimes I find it hard to grade movies like this. Like The Squid and The Whale. I mean, granted, they are very different but, they are both sort of artsy movies that show us a glimpse into the fucked up lives of other people. There is lots of come in this movie. I was a little shocked. And grossed out. But that scene on the couch with Dylan Baker and his kid, where he answers all the questions. Fucking wow. He blew my mind. Totally solid performance by everyone in the film but, that scene was so raw and emotional. (are you (Charlie, Jesse, and Rhys)going to make really bad jokes about that last sentence? )
anywho I want to see Ratatouille in the worst way. Pixar+Brad Bird=Goddamnfantasticnessously happy Jess but, I have to figure out how to pay the rent before I can go galumphing off to the movies.
Next up from Netflix: The Last Kiss. Weeds Season 2 is living at the Top of my Q until it releases!
Ps2 News:
Finished Playing: Indigo Prophesy (6 hours) This was my first none racing/Guitar Hero Game to beat since Donkey Kong Country 3.
Now Playing: Psychonauts and I am totally in love!
June 29, 2007
June 18, 2007
Reviews
JuneBug: ****
This was a wonderfully delicate movie. I don't know that any movie has captured the feeling of 'southerness' quite like this. Tiny towns where everyone goes to church and kids drop out of school to get married and the land is still soaked with the blood from wars of hundreds of years ago. Where things are slower and quieter. It's one of those movies where 'nothing happens'. I was blown away by the fullness of the characters. By how much these people told me about themselves by their gestures. By the things they didn't say. See it.
Knocked Up: *****
Look, I am a 15 year old boy. I mean... I have the mentalilty of a 15 year old boy. Video games, green, metal... come on. Mr. Apatow manages to appeal to both the 15 year old boy in me and the 25 year old girl. This movie was gross and funny and stupid and awesome and full of heart. I didn't feel the length at all...and coming in over 2 hours for a 'romantic comedy' is usually not a good thing. He is the only person I would let convince me that this much time could be devoted to something falling into this genre and, that is mostly because he doesn't make 'romantic comedies' as we know them. Or he sees the change in youth (by youth I mean us 20 somethings with no direction) and reflects it back at us.
Pirates 3: ****
I was really confused for most of this movie. No idea who was back-stabbing who. I hadn't seen the 2nd one since it was in theatres. I would have appriciated a 2 minute recap of some kind. After about 10 minutes of the movie, 10 minutes where I sat trying to figure out what the fuck was goin on, I remembered that it was Pirates 3 and that I should just turn my brain off and enjoy. This worked well. Totally enjoyable. I was sad that Calypso just 'became the storm'. I didn't really feel like her 'presence' as a part of the battle was as strong as it could have been. I don't know how they could have helped this matter. Luckily we didn't see her face in the shape of clouds .... unless it was done better than faces/smiles/eyes are normally portrayed. I am really gald I stayed through the credits. What if you didn't? I mean... the whole series is wrapped up in those 2 minutes. So many people left without seeing 'the end'. Was that smart of Disney? I guess people should have known by now that there would be something after the credits...
Ocean's 13: I may have said 3 before but I think I am gonna go with **
Total let down. No suprise. No fun. Not interesting. Totally bored. It wasn't bad per say... It might have been better had it been....
The Marine: ***
No one freak out. 3 stars is a lot for a movie made by the WWF, right. This movie was fucking rickdezilus. HUGE explosions, car chases, awful acting, chessy love story, bad dialogue, stupid bad guys, lame jokes, and a happy ending. B movie beauty. Get all messed up and gather the boys and laugh and cheer.
I'm still all....
This was a wonderfully delicate movie. I don't know that any movie has captured the feeling of 'southerness' quite like this. Tiny towns where everyone goes to church and kids drop out of school to get married and the land is still soaked with the blood from wars of hundreds of years ago. Where things are slower and quieter. It's one of those movies where 'nothing happens'. I was blown away by the fullness of the characters. By how much these people told me about themselves by their gestures. By the things they didn't say. See it.
Knocked Up: *****
Look, I am a 15 year old boy. I mean... I have the mentalilty of a 15 year old boy. Video games, green, metal... come on. Mr. Apatow manages to appeal to both the 15 year old boy in me and the 25 year old girl. This movie was gross and funny and stupid and awesome and full of heart. I didn't feel the length at all...and coming in over 2 hours for a 'romantic comedy' is usually not a good thing. He is the only person I would let convince me that this much time could be devoted to something falling into this genre and, that is mostly because he doesn't make 'romantic comedies' as we know them. Or he sees the change in youth (by youth I mean us 20 somethings with no direction) and reflects it back at us.
Pirates 3: ****
I was really confused for most of this movie. No idea who was back-stabbing who. I hadn't seen the 2nd one since it was in theatres. I would have appriciated a 2 minute recap of some kind. After about 10 minutes of the movie, 10 minutes where I sat trying to figure out what the fuck was goin on, I remembered that it was Pirates 3 and that I should just turn my brain off and enjoy. This worked well. Totally enjoyable. I was sad that Calypso just 'became the storm'. I didn't really feel like her 'presence' as a part of the battle was as strong as it could have been. I don't know how they could have helped this matter. Luckily we didn't see her face in the shape of clouds .... unless it was done better than faces/smiles/eyes are normally portrayed. I am really gald I stayed through the credits. What if you didn't? I mean... the whole series is wrapped up in those 2 minutes. So many people left without seeing 'the end'. Was that smart of Disney? I guess people should have known by now that there would be something after the credits...
Ocean's 13: I may have said 3 before but I think I am gonna go with **
Total let down. No suprise. No fun. Not interesting. Totally bored. It wasn't bad per say... It might have been better had it been....
The Marine: ***
No one freak out. 3 stars is a lot for a movie made by the WWF, right. This movie was fucking rickdezilus. HUGE explosions, car chases, awful acting, chessy love story, bad dialogue, stupid bad guys, lame jokes, and a happy ending. B movie beauty. Get all messed up and gather the boys and laugh and cheer.
I'm still all....
May 31, 2007
Mild Ramblings
Well guys... I haven't been to see a movie since Spiderman. Sorry... I will try to see both Pirates and Knocked up before next friday when I will see Ocean's 13 with Ian... or maybe Saturday.. Anyway, we will see it, I am sure. Oh yeah, Ian is coming to visit me NEXT WEEK! I am dancing for joy! I am leaping and folicing and w00t w00ting!
Been splitting the time between the Shakes and Temp agency. There is a vague distant hope that The Shakes will want me permanently... sometime in the future... I don't want to think about it and get too excited only to be crushed. Can't take it right now.
Still no word from Drew. Has this ever happened to any of you guys? You're seeing someone... for a little while... not long.... and then they just decide never to call you again? Because it FUCKING SUCKS. The man has Kavalier and Clay... ok..... I stole that book from David over 2 years ago! It went to Europe with me (actually with Jesse). I underlined in it. It has leaves in it from the Japanese garden oustside Vinarska and most importantly... it was David's book and he loved it soo much that he lent it to me for about a year.... and I didn't read it... and then Finally I did and I just fell in love. I want it back. I didn't do anything to this guy and he just decides to not speak to me. I don't give a shit about that. fuck him.... I just want my book! GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!
In other news: Moving Erin and Mike this week.... ohgodhelpus!
Been splitting the time between the Shakes and Temp agency. There is a vague distant hope that The Shakes will want me permanently... sometime in the future... I don't want to think about it and get too excited only to be crushed. Can't take it right now.
Still no word from Drew. Has this ever happened to any of you guys? You're seeing someone... for a little while... not long.... and then they just decide never to call you again? Because it FUCKING SUCKS. The man has Kavalier and Clay... ok..... I stole that book from David over 2 years ago! It went to Europe with me (actually with Jesse). I underlined in it. It has leaves in it from the Japanese garden oustside Vinarska and most importantly... it was David's book and he loved it soo much that he lent it to me for about a year.... and I didn't read it... and then Finally I did and I just fell in love. I want it back. I didn't do anything to this guy and he just decides to not speak to me. I don't give a shit about that. fuck him.... I just want my book! GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!
In other news: Moving Erin and Mike this week.... ohgodhelpus!
May 15, 2007
Jess to make voyage home!
I will return to the South for 1 week only! August 11th - 19th. I'm not gonna have a car... or any money probably... but... if you are around.. I probably will want to hang out with you!
May 14, 2007
Shake It!
I love The Shakes. I can not say enough. Who cares if I'm working 12 or 13 hours! Seriously... It fucking rocks.
This song:
Nada Surf: 80 Windows
It's all over me... normally I would post the lyrics but, seems maybe too sad of a song to post...
I am reading American Gods again. I bought it for myself because Drew dissapeared and still has, in his posession, treasured books of mine, which I may never see again. I don't want to think about it... anyway I needed something to cheer me.
This song:
Nada Surf: 80 Windows
It's all over me... normally I would post the lyrics but, seems maybe too sad of a song to post...
I am reading American Gods again. I bought it for myself because Drew dissapeared and still has, in his posession, treasured books of mine, which I may never see again. I don't want to think about it... anyway I needed something to cheer me.
May 10, 2007
Fuck me.
So here I am on my way from one job to the other. From the South Loop area to Navy Pier... Just walking along and a woman has a goddamn heart attack. I have never seen anyone have a heart attack. I have never been more scared in my life. I couldn't do anything. I mean no one around could do anything but call 911 on their cell phones. I was so shaken. I mean... I am still really shaken. I had to leave. I mean there were tons of people around and I just didn't want to stand there gawking. She was still breathing and stuff... anyway....talk about feeling helpless. It's a goddamn theme for me these days..................
I am exhausted and more than anything else in the entire world I want someone to be in my bed when I get home. Not anyone, mind you... but someone who wants to be there... and there just isn't anyone to do that for me right now. I am seriously wiped already and I still have 10 days of this maddness. Pray to all the gods you believe in... 'cause I am gonna need some serious Universe lovin to make it ....
I am exhausted and more than anything else in the entire world I want someone to be in my bed when I get home. Not anyone, mind you... but someone who wants to be there... and there just isn't anyone to do that for me right now. I am seriously wiped already and I still have 10 days of this maddness. Pray to all the gods you believe in... 'cause I am gonna need some serious Universe lovin to make it ....
May 7, 2007
Well.....
Spider-Man 3: *** (out of 5)
I know that no one is holding their breath for my review of this movie. The reviews for a movie like this don't matter. Did Spiderman make like 150 mil this weekend? Right, people are going regardless, which is good of them because if people were listening, this movie would definetly not have done so well. I love Spiderman. I mean, I think I am in love with the idea of comics because of Spiderman. This final chapter of the supposed trilogy was not the beautiful and cohesively woven tapestry or its predecesor. It was too much. With so many villians, I didn't feel like I could concentrate, or better yet, I didn't feel as if I was given something to concentrate on. Neither Venom nor the Sandman felt like full characters to me. I didn't feel like I learned something and I didn't feel like Peter learned something either. Venom is like, my all time favorite villian maybe ever. That face scares THE SHIT out of me. No joke. Serious nightmares.... but with only about 10 minutes of Venom in the whole fucking movie.... I just felt like I didn't even have time to be scared! Also: Not enough fighting and I feel as if the fighting wasn't as carefully shot; by that I mean that it wasn't slow enough. Show me a frame that looks like a pannel from a comic! Isn't that part of why Spiderman 2 works? (I said 'part' because we all know that movie is working on tons of levels) All the fighting was shot 'on the move' which isn't bad because we are supposed to be able to get lost in it and be excited and whatnot but, like I said, it was unfocused. I did love Hipster/Emo (Ian called him 'My Chemical Romance Peter') Peter Parker. That shit was hilarious. Bruce Campbell= always awesome. Believe it or not, I also liked (*struggling with the truth of this*) James Franco or Franko or whatever. When he wasn't being all 'Your friend The Bug' and was just being a nice guy with no real memory: well he was pretty fucking likeable! The Bottom line: This was good but not great. I hope it doesn't become the trend for what will definetly be the biggest summer movie season of all time.
I know that no one is holding their breath for my review of this movie. The reviews for a movie like this don't matter. Did Spiderman make like 150 mil this weekend? Right, people are going regardless, which is good of them because if people were listening, this movie would definetly not have done so well. I love Spiderman. I mean, I think I am in love with the idea of comics because of Spiderman. This final chapter of the supposed trilogy was not the beautiful and cohesively woven tapestry or its predecesor. It was too much. With so many villians, I didn't feel like I could concentrate, or better yet, I didn't feel as if I was given something to concentrate on. Neither Venom nor the Sandman felt like full characters to me. I didn't feel like I learned something and I didn't feel like Peter learned something either. Venom is like, my all time favorite villian maybe ever. That face scares THE SHIT out of me. No joke. Serious nightmares.... but with only about 10 minutes of Venom in the whole fucking movie.... I just felt like I didn't even have time to be scared! Also: Not enough fighting and I feel as if the fighting wasn't as carefully shot; by that I mean that it wasn't slow enough. Show me a frame that looks like a pannel from a comic! Isn't that part of why Spiderman 2 works? (I said 'part' because we all know that movie is working on tons of levels) All the fighting was shot 'on the move' which isn't bad because we are supposed to be able to get lost in it and be excited and whatnot but, like I said, it was unfocused. I did love Hipster/Emo (Ian called him 'My Chemical Romance Peter') Peter Parker. That shit was hilarious. Bruce Campbell= always awesome. Believe it or not, I also liked (*struggling with the truth of this*) James Franco or Franko or whatever. When he wasn't being all 'Your friend The Bug' and was just being a nice guy with no real memory: well he was pretty fucking likeable! The Bottom line: This was good but not great. I hope it doesn't become the trend for what will definetly be the biggest summer movie season of all time.
May 4, 2007
*low growl*
I just don't fucking get it. I just don't. I don't fucking understand at all. Maybe... no.... well maybe..... no that's no good either. I just don't fucking get it. Here is a picture that I didn't draw but, it's kinda perfect.
May 3, 2007
Jess' Metal Adventure
Part One: The Journey
I rushed home yesterday after a tedious and boring day at work. I probably scooted out a little earlier than I should have (about 10 minutes) but, thankfully, someone I hardly know covered for me. Big ups to Geri! Anyway I get home, strip, put on a black tank top, load my pockets with concert tickets, phone, and cigarettes, Smoke a BIG ol' bowl and head back out. Now, one of my absolute favorite things is to be stoned in during the rush hour commute. I don't ever get to do this because usually I am participating in the commute... but on rare occasion I have run home to smoke and then run back out again to do whatever in the city. Anyway, being stoned and not in a hurry allows me the ability to observe the Chicagoan in the 'Rush Zone'. This is the little place that people go in their heads on their way to or from work. Everyone is in their own world. It is as if we are all traveling with tiny bubbles around us. No one talks to each other, or looks at each other. People listen to their music and bobb their heads or tap their fingers and feet, people do the crossword, or read a book or look over work papers. Here we all are in this tiny tiny space, all smuched in together, and the only thing that everyone wants is to be home (At night anyway... mornings are obviously different but that is a post for another time...). Everyone wants to be home 10 minutes ago and so people get in their little zones until their stop arrives. Ususally, as I said earlier, I am also in this place. I put my tunes on, I pull out the crossword, and I fucking jam and fill in squares but, when I am stoned, and not in a hurry... I get to WATCH THIS! It is amazing to watch all these people shut out all the rest of the people! No one pays attention to ANYONE, which gives me the freedom to casually observe anyone I want to. I like to try and guess the kind of music people are listening to but the way they stand or sit or tap body parts.... I like to watch the person reading the good part of the book get all lost inside their reading and make funny faces of shock, or of saddness, or of glee at what they are reading. The wonder of it is, of course, increased by the drugs. I arrive at the venue happy, stoned, and a little nervous. I felt like Metal and I were about to 'do it' for the first time.
Part Two: The Concert
I got to the House of Blues and gave my ticket, got my braclet, and headed up the stairs. Devil Driver was playing. I am guessing they had just started because I ended up seeing about 45 minutes of their set. I hadn't listened to much but the crowd was diggin' it. I find a place just outside the pit where I can see really well and I watch. The music was.... well it was fast and fragile. I felt like it was in danger of falling apart at any minute or, at times, it was just 'metal by numbers' to quote a friend. They ended up playing some new stuff from a heretofor unreleased album and it was fucking raw. It was fucking dirty and hard and I liked it! During one of these songs a dude was crowd surfing and he was seemingly much more expierenced than anyone else had been thus far because he just threw both of his hands in the air, horns up, and proceeded to play air drums flawlessly along with the music for a good 20 seconds. He was the fucking man!
They finish and we stand around waiting... atleast I am waiting. I listen to the amazing number of metalheads around me discuss their favorite bands, sounds, whatever.... and finally Unearth comes on. Now.... this is my band. I don't give a fuck what you think. These are like, my boys, you know? (See earlier post) The crowd boos. And this is a metal crowd, right... so this is some fucking serious booing. Anyway they play some good shit, all shit that I really like... and then they take a break to talk to the crowd for a minute and (no fucking joke) People start Chanting "YOU'RE NOT METAL...YOU'RE NOT METAL...YOU'RE NOT METAL" so loud that I can't even hear what this guy is trying to say to people. I was floored. really. I guess it was this: the headliners are some serious Death Metal. Unearth is New American Metal (which comes straight from Swedish Melodic Death Metal) but they are NOT DEATH METAL. Not at all. Anyway fuck those people.... 'cause I rocked my fuckin' face off. Horns in the Air, Head-bouncing, air-guitaring, chest-drumming... I was fuckin' there to rock! After the set... I waited around for Dimmu to play but, not being a big fan of straight up death metal, and not knowing anything by these guys, I just couldn't hear it. It was noise. Death metal... well I think it just isn't for me. That's cool. Whatever. I left and was home in time for Lost.
Part Three: Wherein I Ramble About Some Shit
Well this was my first metal show and Ian was right. I don't know that I am going to be able to go see a non-metal show ever again. I don't really mean that but, it's just a way for me to say that this shit was fucking awesome. I didn't feel out of place, or scared, or silly. I felt home. Even if these muther-fuckers were not all about Unearth... and even though they were assholes, they were still metal. It was the first time I had seen so many other metal fans gathered together in person. The crowd was a sea of bald, goateed, tattooed, pierced dudes. It was like my own person porn movie! I swear to GOD! It was so fucking hot. I definetly feel more metal in the future baby... more live metal obviously. Overall, it was great. It would have been way more awesome had the crowd been into it with me. It would have been way more awesome if it hadn't cost me $70. It would have been awesome if I had found someone to sell/give my extra ticket to BUT, I did it. I did it by myself. I went to my first metal show ever.... and I went all by myself. What's more Metal than that, I ask you?
p.s. I just looked at my 'score' on my 1up page and had to screenshot that bitch...
I rushed home yesterday after a tedious and boring day at work. I probably scooted out a little earlier than I should have (about 10 minutes) but, thankfully, someone I hardly know covered for me. Big ups to Geri! Anyway I get home, strip, put on a black tank top, load my pockets with concert tickets, phone, and cigarettes, Smoke a BIG ol' bowl and head back out. Now, one of my absolute favorite things is to be stoned in during the rush hour commute. I don't ever get to do this because usually I am participating in the commute... but on rare occasion I have run home to smoke and then run back out again to do whatever in the city. Anyway, being stoned and not in a hurry allows me the ability to observe the Chicagoan in the 'Rush Zone'. This is the little place that people go in their heads on their way to or from work. Everyone is in their own world. It is as if we are all traveling with tiny bubbles around us. No one talks to each other, or looks at each other. People listen to their music and bobb their heads or tap their fingers and feet, people do the crossword, or read a book or look over work papers. Here we all are in this tiny tiny space, all smuched in together, and the only thing that everyone wants is to be home (At night anyway... mornings are obviously different but that is a post for another time...). Everyone wants to be home 10 minutes ago and so people get in their little zones until their stop arrives. Ususally, as I said earlier, I am also in this place. I put my tunes on, I pull out the crossword, and I fucking jam and fill in squares but, when I am stoned, and not in a hurry... I get to WATCH THIS! It is amazing to watch all these people shut out all the rest of the people! No one pays attention to ANYONE, which gives me the freedom to casually observe anyone I want to. I like to try and guess the kind of music people are listening to but the way they stand or sit or tap body parts.... I like to watch the person reading the good part of the book get all lost inside their reading and make funny faces of shock, or of saddness, or of glee at what they are reading. The wonder of it is, of course, increased by the drugs. I arrive at the venue happy, stoned, and a little nervous. I felt like Metal and I were about to 'do it' for the first time.
Part Two: The Concert
I got to the House of Blues and gave my ticket, got my braclet, and headed up the stairs. Devil Driver was playing. I am guessing they had just started because I ended up seeing about 45 minutes of their set. I hadn't listened to much but the crowd was diggin' it. I find a place just outside the pit where I can see really well and I watch. The music was.... well it was fast and fragile. I felt like it was in danger of falling apart at any minute or, at times, it was just 'metal by numbers' to quote a friend. They ended up playing some new stuff from a heretofor unreleased album and it was fucking raw. It was fucking dirty and hard and I liked it! During one of these songs a dude was crowd surfing and he was seemingly much more expierenced than anyone else had been thus far because he just threw both of his hands in the air, horns up, and proceeded to play air drums flawlessly along with the music for a good 20 seconds. He was the fucking man!
They finish and we stand around waiting... atleast I am waiting. I listen to the amazing number of metalheads around me discuss their favorite bands, sounds, whatever.... and finally Unearth comes on. Now.... this is my band. I don't give a fuck what you think. These are like, my boys, you know? (See earlier post) The crowd boos. And this is a metal crowd, right... so this is some fucking serious booing. Anyway they play some good shit, all shit that I really like... and then they take a break to talk to the crowd for a minute and (no fucking joke) People start Chanting "YOU'RE NOT METAL...YOU'RE NOT METAL...YOU'RE NOT METAL" so loud that I can't even hear what this guy is trying to say to people. I was floored. really. I guess it was this: the headliners are some serious Death Metal. Unearth is New American Metal (which comes straight from Swedish Melodic Death Metal) but they are NOT DEATH METAL. Not at all. Anyway fuck those people.... 'cause I rocked my fuckin' face off. Horns in the Air, Head-bouncing, air-guitaring, chest-drumming... I was fuckin' there to rock! After the set... I waited around for Dimmu to play but, not being a big fan of straight up death metal, and not knowing anything by these guys, I just couldn't hear it. It was noise. Death metal... well I think it just isn't for me. That's cool. Whatever. I left and was home in time for Lost.
Part Three: Wherein I Ramble About Some Shit
Well this was my first metal show and Ian was right. I don't know that I am going to be able to go see a non-metal show ever again. I don't really mean that but, it's just a way for me to say that this shit was fucking awesome. I didn't feel out of place, or scared, or silly. I felt home. Even if these muther-fuckers were not all about Unearth... and even though they were assholes, they were still metal. It was the first time I had seen so many other metal fans gathered together in person. The crowd was a sea of bald, goateed, tattooed, pierced dudes. It was like my own person porn movie! I swear to GOD! It was so fucking hot. I definetly feel more metal in the future baby... more live metal obviously. Overall, it was great. It would have been way more awesome had the crowd been into it with me. It would have been way more awesome if it hadn't cost me $70. It would have been awesome if I had found someone to sell/give my extra ticket to BUT, I did it. I did it by myself. I went to my first metal show ever.... and I went all by myself. What's more Metal than that, I ask you?
p.s. I just looked at my 'score' on my 1up page and had to screenshot that bitch...
April 30, 2007
Jess' First Metal Show...
Here I am with these tickets to Unearth and seemingly no one to go with me. Anyone in Chicago at all remotely interested in this should email me.... lilyiris at gmail dot com
It's Wedneday. Starts at 5:45 but I planned on getting there about 6:30....
It's Wedneday. Starts at 5:45 but I planned on getting there about 6:30....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)