50/50 Challenge - Movies 3, 4 and 5: '80s Still Rule

Three movies in one weekend, pretty impressive, huh? I saw Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy without knowing quite what to expect, but I always enjoy a "who is it?" premise to any movie. It's about a retired intelligence officer who is looking into who could be a mole. The first half of the movie was dreadfully slow and I dozed off for about five seconds. I counted to five in my head and thought, if I keep them closed any longer I will be full-on napping.

The movie didn't turn around until the last oh, 45 minutes and even then, I was still working out who was who and where were they from. Who was Tinker again? No one was actually named Spy? Can we start again and I promise not to nod off? It was an interesting premise, but definitely hard for me to keep straight with the flash backs and location changes and all the names. There's a book, my friend told me and I don't know if that would make things clearer or just more confusing. Oh and also, Tom Hardy - I dig you. I recognize you by your lips.

I also watched The Queen starring Helen Mirren for which she won the Oscar and while I thought the movie would be amazing, I dub it "eh, ok." The movie circles around the time immediately following Princess Diana's death which was of great fascination to me during that actual time and led into a full-on crush on Prince William for a few years following. My friend recommended the movie, but secretly I feel it is only because of all those Corgis, her dog of choice.

Those two movies, while fine films, do not match the third movie I watched which was Some Kind of Wonderful, a John Hughes film I somehow missed during the years. First, let me just say the '80s is one of my favorite decades for fashion. It's so eccentric and out there and awesome. Mary Stuart Masterson is my style hero with her cut off gloves, biker jacket and perfectly glossed lips. Anyone who has ever seen a John Hughes film doesn't have to guess the premise - girl loves boy who loves girl who doesn't love him.

It shocked me to see that Lea Thompson was considered a babe, even in the '80s. Also, was nostalgic seeing Candace Cameron as a youngster and definitely MSM with her attitude and angst and raw emotion was amazing. I freakin' love '80s movies. Keith telling Watts: "You look good wearing my future." Swoon. But, one of my favorite parts was at the party and the guy says, "I'm here to kick your ass, and you know it and everybody here knows it, and above all you deserve it." I want a shirt that says that. Can't mess with the classics and John Hughes definitely knew how to crank them out.

In regards to the book portion of the 50/50 Challenge, I'm still on the first book - "The Year of Living Biblically." When did I become such a slow reader?

Yoga No No

I told myself this year, I am going to try to make it to the gym at least three days a week, if not more. To do this, I realized that I would have to switch up my routine as to not get bored. I typically do kickboxing and zumba, but have recently added in yoga as well. And, when it gets nicer outside, I'll try more hikes and trail walks. But back to yoga. Sunday was my first class in a long time and so I got there early, picked a space away from suspicious looking people that looked like they could be heavy, weird breathers and was grateful when my friends showed up and set up shop next to me.

We were in the middle of a rotation or salutation or whatever they call it when you're speedily doing a semi-pushup and then up into a downward dog in a smooth, graceful manner, when in walked Mean Old Late Lady. She laid her mat out behind and to the left of me, right next to the mirror. My space was not in hers and vice versa just as yoga is intended to be.

More than half way through class I'm holding yet another graceful pose when I hear her tell me, "Move up!" At first, I thought she meant move up on my mat, which I thought she was giving me a helpful tip about foot placement in yoga, but no, Mean Old Late Lady wanted me to move my mat altogether.

One, we're in the middle of YOGA. You're supposed to be quiet. And zen and not bossy. Two, you were late! As in, let's squish my mat in where it doesn't fit late. Three, I'm not going to stop in the middle of class to move my mat because you hissed at me to move. She, in response to my non action, decided to shove my hoodie and flip-flops, which were laid directly beside my mat forward. I gave her a puzzled look and my friend gave me a look in the mirror to see if I was going to throw down. In yoga. With an old lady. Which, let's be honest, it crossed my mind. Keep your hands to yourself. You learn that in kindergarten.

But, I didn't say anything. I continued yoga'ing, practiced my breathing, cleared my head and felt great. When class was finished and I'm rolling up my mat, chatting with my friends, Mean Old Late Lady pointed at me with her wrinkly, bony, long finger and snarled, "Why didn't you move up?" To which I replied, "Maybe next time ask nicer." And then I nodded my head as in, "Understand what I'm saying?" which was I'm not moving my mat.

Should I have moved? Eh, maybe. But I hate rudeness. I hate rudeness for no reason. And, I definitely am not going to listen to it from some lady who was late and who doesn't have any manners. Old people should know better, they've been around longer! They don't get a free pass. A please. A smile. A whisper and polite request is how to get what you want. At least it is with me. Do better.

Namaste.

50/50 Challenge - Movie #2: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

For movie #2, I won free passes from San Diego Reader for a pre-screening, which wasn't technically true because the movie had been released in several theaters, not that that matters. One quick word about winning free stuff though: On average, I probably win something once every other month. Maybe more if I enter more contests. I'm saying this both to brag and to tell you that the old saying really is true - "You can't win, if you don't play...suckas!"

The movie, which is based off a book by Jonathan Safran Foer, looked to be a tearjerker. I didn't read the book, which is not typical for me as I am a big advocate for reading the book before watching the movie. However, it got less than stellar reviews from two of my friends who did take time to read it.

I was disappointed to find out that the trailer was the saddest part of the movie. While the film's story was indeed a sad one, the oddities had me frowning more out of WTFness than sadness. If you haven't seen the previews because you've been living under a rock, it's the story of a boy who loses his father, who was in the World Trade Center on 9/11. Oskar's dad, Tom Hanks, pre-tragedy sends his son on "expeditions" to search things such as the sixth New York City borough. After his death, Oskar finds a key that he believes must be to a secret that his dad has left for him.

Oskar: He is a precocious mind that makes you want to strangle him and hug him simultaneously. Incredibly smart, active mind, brave and dull all at once somehow.

I won't spoiler alert it as I semi-did in my blog about Jurassic Park III (which I'm sure the majority of people have seen), but I will say that the ending left me wondering another question that had nothing to do with the original story, but did have to do with that dang key!

The meat of the story is the journey Oskar takes and the photos and stories he puts together for his own records of where he's been. The intrigue lies within seeing a glimpse of lives you don't know behind closed doors, the lives you walk into unannounced, the lives that continue on even when a loved one has died. That was the heart of it for me.

And, seeing New York City. I love that place.

Movie #1: I Almost Watched Jurassic Park

I finally did it. I watched Jurassic Park. Or, so I thought I did. My first thoughts were: dinosaurs are kind of scary and wow, William H. Macy looks exactly the same. Then, I was Googling when Jurassic Park came out and I didn't see William H. Macy on the cast list. Then, I looked at the DVD box again aaand I watched Jurassic Park III. Fail.

So, it looks like the original Jurassic Park is still on my list of movies to watch. I liked the movie just fine. Wasn't great, wasn't bad. My favorite part was near the end when they show all the dinosaurs at once just hanging out on their island. Kind of surreal. I was a little thrown off when all of a sudden the Navy and Marines come in to save them and then it just ends. I mean, I guess how else were they to be rescued, but it seemed very "oh, hey, they just came out of nowhere."

Which Jurassic Park movie has the scene with the scary dinosaur in the kitchen? Is that the first one? Because I remember that scene from somewhere. Is that in one of the movies? Or, did I dream that? Dinosaur eyes are creepy, but their allure overall is similar to UFOs or ghosts to me. Their larger than life factor makes them fascinating. Jurassic Park III, your dinosaurs tricked me into thinking I was watching the original. So close. Next time, JP, next time.

Movie #1: Jurassic Park III

50/50 Club

My friend sent me an email asking to join her on the 50/50 Challenge of 2012, which is: watch 50 movies and read 50 books before 2013. The prize: your own personal accomplishment. This is totally up my pop culture, book nerd alley and I gladly accepted. Although, I did realize that I would essentially have to read a book a week, which who has that kind of time? But, if it were easy, everyone would do it.

Reading more is on my 2012 to-do list anyway, so this is a good reason to set a goal for myself and really have a focused concentration in broadening my horizons. Wow, I am such a geek.

But it starts today - first on deck is a movie. Choice: Jurassic Park. Yes, it's true I have never seen the movie and recently shocked some friends not to mention my boyfriend with this news. I thought they might disown me. As far as I know, no relationships have been severed over my startling announcement.

I thought blogging about my challenge might help me keep track and "create a visual" towards my goal. Ok, now I really sound like a nerd so I'll stop. If you have any book or movie suggestions though, please feel free to send them my way!