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!