Friday, November 22, 2013

It's Midnight Somewhere...

Definitely went to the premiere of Catching Fire last night. With my sister and brother.

And guess what? I didn't even have to stay up until 3am! 8 o'clock premiere, baby! And let me tell you, I'm never going back. You not only get to go to bed at a decent hour, but also see the movie before the other "die-hard" fans do at midnight! As we passed the line in the theater leaving around 10:30, I said again how glad I was we did 8pm.

*caution: there may be spoilers ahead*

So how was the movie? Long. Don't get me wrong, I wanted it to be long. I was sorry when it was over. But I definitely felt the length. There was a slow buildup to the Quarter Quell, and as in the first movie, you could really feel Katniss's desperation as she entered the arena. This was intensified as Katniss watched Cinna be attacked as she ascended to the arena, unable to do anything but scream and pound on the glass.

I can't emphasize this enough: Jennifer Lawrence is stunning. She is so perfect for conveying Katniss's fear, rage, defiance, and stubbornness. There was more of a love triangle than in the first movie, but I didn't really mind that. I felt it stayed true to the book. There was a moment where you could see Gale excited about rebellion, definitely foreshadowing for Mockingjay.

I am such a sucker for Peeta. He is strong in ways Katniss is not. She needs him so she doesn't fall apart. And he is so patient with her. Josh Hutcherson's eyes get me so bad. Him trying to comfort her as the jabberjays cried out in their loved ones' voices gave me goosebumps.

I almost cried once, and that was when Katniss spun and her wedding gown turned into a mockingjay. Then Peeta dropped the "baby bomb," the tributes held hands, and the Capitol citizens were in outrage. Other scenes of rebellion during the Victory Tour not only gave the audience a taste of the Capitol's persecution but of people's courage and boldness. In the final two movies we will see how Katniss reacts to being the symbol of the rebellion.

So, the other tributes. Mags was so cute. Johanna so sassy and dangerous. Finnick shone, with that gorgeous smile and heart-wrenching moments. Beetee and Wiress were easy to love at first glance. Can't wait to see more of Annie.

Haymitch, Effie, Caesar. They're the best. Effie's tears as Peeta and Katniss were once again off to the Games were very touching. Her outfits were also completely fabulous.

The scenes in the arena were so much more terrifying than the last movie. Higher stakes, more dangerous competitors, the scariest-looking monkeys I've ever seen, and of course...TICK TOCK. Through it all, Katniss struggles to remember who the real enemy is.

My adrenaline was coursing, each moment was more intense, and the finale was breathtaking. At the end of it all, I felt as though I had come through an emotional marathon. This was a movie not only true to the book, but to the original movie. Francis Lawrence carried on the story so well.

Can't wait to see it again. But I'm gonna need some time!

Friday, November 15, 2013

More Than Just a "Comment"

Why.

Why, why, why, why.

Why?

Why do I read the comments?

It's not like I'm ever going to be pleasantly surprised.

I must just like to torture myself.

I'm reading an article, watching a video clip, looking at a blog. My head says NO but my rebellious finger scrolls down the page anyway to view the comment section.

Horrifying insults. Disrespectful words. Vile language that few would have the guts to say to anyone's face.

The internet is typically a pretty cool place. Information. Shared ideas, words, creativity. Easily accessible. You can say what you want to say. Everyone has an audience.

But. People are so quick to type out a scathing opinion. So eager to engage in a pointless argument. So ready to gang up on someone with a different point of view.

We all know bullying is wrong. Parents, teach your children to be nice! Be polite! Use your manners! The golden rule!

But I'm not reading comments by children. I'm reading comments by adults.

People who write those comments: Is it brave, what you do? Is it sticking up for yourself? Is it helping someone understand?

It's teaching someone a lesson. It's belittling someone's point of view. It's stepping on someone's feelings.

It's setting yourself up above someone else. By pushing that someone down. That's bullying. It's always been around, but now it's different. It's online. It's fast, it's easy, it's widespread, it's anonymous. Mocking, biting sarcasm that not everyone is strong enough to withstand.

People are killing themselves after being torn down online. Kids are growing up typing, hammering out their blunt feelings on issues because they are learning that they are valuable and important only at the expense of others who are not as coolsmartfunfashionablesexy as them.

This should not be okay. THIS SHOULD NOT BE OKAY.

Source