So, I don’t like when a movie comes out based on a book, and they just have to reprint the book to have a movie-poster version of the cover.  For example…

Also…

It’s not the reprint’s existence that annoys me, because I know some people enjoy having actors/actresses’ faces staring at them from the front of their books and destroying any other inner notions of what those characters might look and/or act like, thus destroying one of the most amazing things about books (that you’re forced to use your imagination to create the visual world of the story).

No.  That’s fine.  What bugs me is that when they reprint the book, you can NO LONGER FIND ANY COPIES of the original paperback cover, which was, in all likelihood, a way cooler cover.  I mean, not always I guess.  But usually.

Also, I am completely aware that if I looked hard enough, I could probably find the original book cover somewhere.  If nothing else, it would be online.  But I’m lazy, and I wish the stupid new cover didn’t exist.  So yeah, it is the reprint’s existence that bugs me.  I retract that earlier statement.

Also, also,  I know I posted something yesterday about movies and books, and now this, so I guess I should make something clear: I don’t HATE movies based on books, they’re just different, but I definitely don’t automatically think they’re horrid.  In fact, I must say, in the case of It’s Kind of a Funny Story, I think I actually liked the movie better.

But anyway, I found a bunch of graffiti pictures on my computer that I had saved from way back then.  And in honor of such a fantastic memory, I thought I’d post some of them graffitis my friends and I drew for each other.  They’re pretty amazing.  (Some more amazing than others, but that is beside the point.)

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Things friends drew for me (the generally more amazing ones):

This was back when I was just a tad obsessed with Adam Brody.  (Did you like how I said “back when,” as if implying that I am no longer overly obsessed with Adam Brody?  Which I’m totally not.  And I definitely don’t rewatch all four seasons of The O.C. at least once a year, either.)

Ha.  It’s a rolly polly.  Man, we were clever.

I must say, that’s a fair amount of computer-mouse-artistry.  Greg had skillz.

Cuz I teach math.  Hehe.  Well, back then I didn’t teach math yet, but I was a math major, so.  Yeah.  Hey also, I just noticed that someone on the bottom left corner appears to have fainted and/or died from all the gaseous mathematics.  Math is hardcore, yall.

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Things I drew for friends (less amazing comparatively, but still pretty amazing considering I’m not much of a drawer draw-er artist, plus I was using a computer mouse):

This was drawn for my brother, who plays drums in a band called Oh No Oh My, who had just come out with an EP entitled “Between the Devil and the Sea”.  The album title was appropriately depicted thusly.

Pretty sure this picture is emulating not just Demetri Martin in general, but a specific Demetri Martin show.  Oh man, the endless Demetri Martin jokes that spewed out of mouth during this period of my life….

I have no clue what the story was behind THIS one, but … I’m loving the Rihanna poster.  Haha.

Solid graffiti skills.  My friend worked at an ice rink.  You can totally tell what’s what it is, right?  RIGHT?!?

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In conclusion, I miss Facebook Graffiti.  For reals.  That was kinda awesome.

Anywho, so, the thing is, I’m not often very productive in the sense of creating cool and interesting things myself.  But my last blog (the linking of the video) made me realize that I could be excellent and VERY productive in the sense of pointing to cool things that already exist courtesy of other people.  And if nothing else, I can look back next year and remember all the things I thought were cool, and be happy that I thought they were cool.  I can be cool by association.

So, here’s something I think is cool.

This book:

The thing is, internet, that when I see that a movie is coming out, which is based on a book, I don’t immediately think, “I want to see that movie!”  I think, “I want to read that book!”  Such is the case with Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.

And what I have found concerning this book is as follows: though I have not yet seen the movie, I can almost guarantee that I will be disappointed.  Not because the movie’s gonna be horrible, it’s just gonna be different.  Movies based on books never quite get it right in my mind.  I think that the minute a story hits the big screen, it ceases to be the same story it was in the book.  It may have the same characters, and the same general plot-line, but it’s NOT the same.  Because the world of a book is so much more than events, or dialogue.  The author’s writing style is a big part of it, but it’s even more than that.  When you read a book, you don’t just know that character on a superficial level.  You know their thoughts, their ideas, their insecurities, their feelings.  You’re literally INSIDE. THEIR. HEAD.  You are them.

I could tell from within the first 50 pages of this book that I was going to love it.  I love Oskar; I think he’s hilarious and awesome.  Also, I love novels for an adult audience, written from the point of view of a kid.  I specify that because I love kids’ and YA books too, but this is different.  When it’s written for an adult audience, the kids’ thoughts/words/actions have to be somewhat simplistic (cuz it’s a kid), but at the same time, written in a more sophisticated way, for the adults reading it.  It’s complicated, and books that pull it off make me happy.  But I digress.

I love this book because what’s happening is tragic, but because you’re inside this kid’s head, thinking his thoughts and being him, you don’t quite get the full impact of the tragedy.  You’re thinking about what he’s thinking about, and you see the sadness out there on the outer level of the story.  And it stings sometimes.  But, at any given moment, you’re more concerned about if Mom’s gonna catch you in your lies about being sick so you can stay home from school and investigate the mysterious key from the blue vase in Dad’s closet.

So, you see, this is why books are amazing.  Books are capable of making you feel like a kid when you’re not a kid.  Movies can’t really do that, at least not in the same way.

So there you have it: a thing that I think is cool.  Yay cool things!

The End.

“Mr. Green, Mr. Green, is this gonna be on the test?”
“Yeah, about the test.  The test will measure whether you are an informed, engaged, and productive citizen of the world.  And it will take place in schools, and bars, and hospitals, and dorm rooms, and in places of worship.  You will be tested on first dates, in job interviews, while watching football, and while scrolling through your twitter feed.  
The test will judge your ability to think about things other than celebrity marriages, whether you’ll be easily persuaded by empty political rhetoric, and whether you’ll be able to place your life and your community in a broader context.  
The test will last your entire life, and it will be comprised of the millions of decisions that, when taken together, make your life yours.  And everything – everything – will be on it.
I know, right?  So pay attention.”

I want just that clip of the video to be shown to every single student in my school.  Or maybe just the ones who ask, “Why do we have to learn this?” or “When am I ever going to use this in my life?”

And I know, I teach Algebra 2, and conic sections aren’t quite as likely to come up in conversation as history or literature.  But I am still a firm believer that everything you learn shapes who you are, no matter what it is.  The knowledge you gain, as well as the skills you develop whilst gaining that knowledge, is the stuff that determines how you function in society.  If you function in society.

All I know is, if my whole life is a test, I want to learn as much as I can.

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Yes, I was just thinking I needed to update my wardrobe….

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The caption’s a little blurred, so … “Responding to our readers’ many requests – handsome fashion for men.”  I have no words.

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Ohhh … risque!

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So there ya go.  (If you have any requests, let me know!  I’ve got the patterns!  Ha.)

So here we are.

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Movies I Love, Part 3: Be Kind Rewind

The Premise: Two guys living in a nondescript small town attempt to save an old video store (that only sells VHS tapes) after the insanier of the two somehow demagnitizes all of the movies.  They begin to remake them, using an old video camera and hilariously low-budget special effects, and become wildly successful.

Why I Like It: Two words – Ran. Dom.  I love stories that are unique, even if they’re completely ridiculous and unrealistic, which this movie definitely is.

Besides the random, I love the idea of holding on to the simpler things sometimes because they’re meaningful, instead of always skipping ahead to the next, bigger, better thing.  I love choosing to live in the moment, and have joy in the small things, even if life is gonna get really sucky when the moment’s over.  I love friends and family who help you with your insane ideas and just laugh and have fun with it, because why not?

And mostly, I love the idea that truth isn’t always true.  Being there for someone and choosing to have their back, even if they’re wrong, means more than always being right.

Line That Makes Me Laugh: While remaking The Lion King, “Listen to me. I need you to say the line. I need you to say, ‘I will piss on the bones of your ancestors.’”

Line That Makes Me Melt: “The past belongs to us, and we can change it.”

Anyway.  It’s December 25th.  It’s Christmas.  It’s been a good year, I think.  Busy and lonely and exhausting and predictable.  But good.  I know I’m blessed, so I’m thankful.  And all that jazz.

This post isn’t really about anything other than to prove to myself that I am, in fact, still alive.  More to come later, perhaps?  I love lots of things to show, I’m sure.

Happy Christmas, all, and to all a good night.  (Every time I think of that particular phrase, I want to add, “When I wake up, I’m getting a CAT scan!” from The Santa Claus – Tim Allen has ruined me.)

BUT ANYWAY.  Enough about HP.  I’m moving on.  To the next logical book series that is soon to become a movie series: The Hunger Games!!  My book club is currently reading the books, and we just finished the first one.  I’ve read them before, but it’s an excellent time for a reread.  It gets my mind off HP a bit.

But yeah, I figured I’d post some thoughts as I read through them.  Just cuz.  If you haven’t read them yet, you should.  Also, this first set of thoughts is written AFTER I read the book, not during, so my rememery is not so great.  But here goes.

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Erin’s Thoughts Reading The Hunger Games:

1. Everybody comments on the fact that HG is written in first person, but I honestly never noticed it.  Not the first time I read it, and not the 2nd time either.  When other people bring it up, I’m like, “Oh yeah, I guess it is,” but it’s not really a big deal factor to me.  I guess I’ve read enough fanfic and/or YA written in first person for that not to bother me.

2. People have weird names in the future.  I was talking to some peeps about the name “Peeta” and I commented that I always thought of it as “Peter” said with a British accent.  Yup.  Changed your world, didn’t I?  Yuppp.

3. I will admit, when Gale first showed up on the scene, I thought he and Katniss would be a thing.  A romantic thing, you know.  But when Katniss went off to the Games, the thought left my mind.  And then the more you know Peeta, the more obvious it is that Peeta and Katniss got something goin’ on.  There was/is a major Peeta vs. Gale debate.  So, first and foremost, I must say that I’m Team Peeta, if I have to be Team Anything.

But secondly … okay, when I first heard of this, I was like, “Okay obviously it’s Peeta.  90% of the books are written about Peeta & Katniss’ relationship!!  How would it not be Peeta?!?”  But then I realized that the debate was not necessarily about the books’ plot, but about the characters themselves, if they truly existed – who should Katniss have gone for?  I’m still Team Peeta either way, but I can understand why some would be Team Gale.  They did grow up together, after all.

4. That was a long #3.  I’m intensely curious about how this movie’s gonna work.  After reading Hunger Games for a 2nd time, I’ve realized again how violent and graphic this book is.  It’s gonna be interesting to see how that translates to screen.  I am a little worried how the movie can stay true to the book if they have to cut back on the death scenes, cuz as gruesome as they are, some of them are pretty crucial to the plot.

5. I can’t wait to see a few things:

- the Capitol: the people’s dyed skin, the Capitol accent, the city itself.  In my mind it’s just super shiny.  Kind of like Emerald City, but maybe less green.

-the Cornucopia scene: the rest of the arena will be pretty boring looking, I think, but that area where the Games start should be interesting.  In my mind it looks a certain way.  They best have gotten their set from my head.

-The Rue death scene.  This is one of the violent scenes that I think is essential.  And it kind of has to be gruesome, cuz it’s the paradox of a sweet, loyal, trusting girl like Rue being brutally murdered.  It’s what makes the Games so awful, plus Rue kind of represents the innocence of Prim, and the reason Katniss is even in the arena in the first place.  That scene has to be really good.
-Peeta camouflaging himself in the mud by the stream.  Haha.  Ohhhhh Peeta.  When all else fails, paint yourself into the scenery.  If they cut that scene, or make it less hilarious, I will punch some moviemakers in the throat.

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That’s all I got for now.  When I read Catching Fire, I’ll make notes as I go so I’m not trying to remember back through things I thought.  Make sense?  No?  Oh well, I don’t care.

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Erin’s Thoughts Watching Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

1. The apparating thing confuses me.  In the last movie, when Fred and George were apparating places, they just popped in and out.  But in this movie and Deathly Hallows, they do a kind of swirly thing when they apparate.  Maybe when you’re experiencing it, it’s kind of swirly, but to other people, it’s just a pop?  Or maybe they realized too late that swirly is cooler than popping.  Or maybe I’m just overthinking it.

2. Okay, I absolutely love this scene in the Weasley house, with them all wondering about where Harry is.  It’s adorable, and I’ve always loved that house.  I’m a fan of the cozy.  Plus the dialogue cracks me up.

Ginny: You haven’t seen him, have you?  Apparently he’s wondering about the house.
Hermione: Really?  / Harry: Really!

3. Luna being awesome again -

Harry: Have you ever fixed a nose before?
Luna: No, but I’ve done several toes.  And how different are they, really?

4. I love this little bit with Ron and Harry fighting over the newer textbook.  We rarely see them acting all goofy like this with each other, at least not in the later movies. There’s always so much drama.  Scenes like this remind me that they really are best friends.

This bit also makes me wonder what would have happened if Ron had gotten the old book instead of Harry.  How that might have changed the outcome.  I feel like Ron would have given in to Hermione and turned the book back in.  I definitely don’t think he’d have tried that sectumsempra spell.

5. Little Tom is actually kind of cute.

He’s clearly got issues, but I have to wonder how much of his fate was “nurture” and how much was “nature”.  This portrayal of him makes me think about it too much.  Maybe I’m just too optimistic.  I don’t think anybody’s naturally evil.

Not that I think it was anybody’s fault he turned out how he did, but you have to wonder what he would have been like if he’d had a solid family who loved him growing up.  But then, Harry had a crap childhood too.  I guess that’s the point.  As Dumbledore said in book 2, it’s not your abilities, it’s your choices, that make you who you are.

6. Oh my gosh, best conversation ever!

Ron: So what is it he sees in her?
Harry: I don’t know.  She’s smart, funny, attractive.
Ron: Attractive?
Harry: You know, she’s got nice skin.
Ron: Skin?  You’re saying Dean’s dating my sister because of her skin?
Harry: No, I mean, I’m just … I’m just saying it could be a contributing factor.
Ron: Hermione’s got nice skin, wouldn’t you say?  As skin goes, I mean.
Harry: I’ve never really thought about it.  But, I suppose, yeah.  Very nice.

7. I have no comments on the matter, but here’s a lovely image of Ron playing Quidditch.  It just needed to go on here.  (And I’ll just try to ignore what happens afterward with Lavender.  Ugh.)

And actually, on that topic, I have to get on my little soap box here for a minute.  Not for long, cuz I do realize that Harry Potter’s not about teen romance.  So real quick: there is not a stinkin’ love triangle!!  The books and movies have made it obvious from the beginning that it’s always been Ron and Hermione, and that Harry and Hermione see each other as siblings.  As evidenced in this awesome scene when Hermione keeps Harry from getting too cocky about his chosen-one-ness.

8. Rupert Grint is a freaking GENIUS!  The love potion scene is probably the best Ron scene in the entire series.  (Well, hopefully with the exception of DH part 2.)

“These girls.  They’re gonna kill me.”

9. And again, the music is beautiful.  The Harry/Ginny scene in the Room of Requirement.  Gah.  I could listen to this music all day long.

10. Yessss!  Okay, this is my favorite Harry line in the entire movie.  I love seeing Harry on Felix Felicis.  He acts drunk in a way – or just uninhibited.  Unworried.  Cheerful.  It’s hilarious and awesome.

And then, he also says the most tear-jerking things to Slughorn.  “Be brave, professor.  Be brave like my mother.  Otherwise, you disgrace her.  Otherwise, she died for nothing.”  OH MY GOSH I’M CRYING NOW.  Thanks, Harry.

11. I still don’t get why Voldemort made horcruxes out of such significant objects, or why he “hid” them in such significant places.  Seems like he just made it really easy for people to find.  In the words of AVPM-Ron, “If I had a horcrux, … I would blast it into space with a monkey who knew nothing about horcruxes.” 

12. Draco.  Ohhh Draco.  I feel so horrible for him.  In the first few movies, he’s a complete ass, but he has so much life in him.  And in this movie, he’s … empty and trapped.  It’s so horribly sad.

“Don’t you understand?  I have to do this.  I have to kill you… or he’s gonna kill me.”
I’M CRYING AGAIN!!  Gah.

13. Speaking of crying – Harry crying over Dumbledore’s body, and everybody lighting their wands to the sky – that does it to me too.  Damn, this is really freakin’ sad.

14. Harry, Ron, and Hermione.  Best friends, there for each other forever.  I’m so jealous of that kind of friendship.

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I’m getting really sad again about the end of Harry Potter.  And I know, it’s never really over.  As JK Rowling herself said, at the London premiere last week, “The stories we love best do live in us forever.  So whether you come back by page or by the big screen, Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home.”

Ah geez.

Dumbledore Quote of the Movie:

“You’re unfailingly kind – a trait people never fail to undervalue, I’m afraid.”

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Erin’s Thoughts Watching Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

1. All I can think right now is, “Oh thank goodness, Harry cut his hair” and then “Hopefully Ron cut his too!”  Well, I know he did now of course, but this is what I thought the first time I saw it.

2. AWESOME FLYING SCENE THROUGH LONDON!  Who cares if it’s totally unrealistic (and stupid) of them to be flying that low to the ground where everybody, including both muggles and death eaters, could see them.  It’s pretty!

3. Oh my gosh, the soundtrack.  Is so.  Amazing.  This bit of music when Harry and Mr. Weasley are going to the Ministry (the muggle way) is amazing.  I think it’s also the same music that plays later during a “sneaking into the Room of Requirement for a DA meeting.”

4. LUNA!  Oh geez, I love her.  I think she’s amazing, and Evanna is perfect.  “You’re just as sane as I am.”  Ha.  Oh man.  Classic.

5. Angsty Harry syndrome.  Unlike the last movie, Ron’s doing his part as the loyal best friend, standing up for Harry against doubters, and Harry’s too busy being a 15-year-old whiny-butt to notice.  Kid has a serious hero complex.  Daniel was saying that in an interview – that he didn’t like Harry and his “It’s all about me”/”I have to to do it all by myself” attitude.

6. “It is the view of the ministry that a theoretical knowledge will be sufficient to get you through your examinations, which after all, is what school is all about.”

A couple years ago, I was at a training for school (I’m a teacher) where they used the clip of Umbridge saying that.  The training was about including students in the learning, doing hands-on stuff instead of just lecturing, etc.  It was a dig at teaching to the test, and the over-focus on TAKS testing in Texas. Okay, I’m doing with teacher-talk.  Sorry.

7. Squeal!

Hermione: I’ll do the introduction.  That’s all
Ron: Hermione.  You’re honestly the most wonderful person I’ve ever met.  If I’m ever rude to you again-
Hermione: I’ll know you’ve gone back to normal.

Okay, so there’s lots of Ron Hermione background flirtage in this movie.  Harry’s busy being all angsty, so Ron and Hermione have lots of time to shoot each other sexy looks behind Harry’s back.  It’s pretty amazing.  See below.

Hermione: Do you ever stop eating? / Ron: Wha-I’m hungry!

8. Haha, Hagrid.  Always stating the obvious in the most humorous way.

Hermione: Giants?!  You found them?
Hagrid: Well, they’re not that hard to find, to be perfectly honest.  They’re big, see.

9. I think I love Fred and George.  I would love to have this as older brothers.  They’re fun and goofy and completely insane, but so loyal and not people you’d want to have against you.  As Umbridge found out.

10. Okay, coolest line ever, Harry -

Umbridge: Do something!  Tell them I mean no harm!
Harry: I’m sorry, professor.  I must not tell lies.

BAM!  That’s right, he went there.  Nice job, Harry.  Smooth.

11. More Ron/Hermione cuteness. I’m sorry, but I love Ron and Hermione.  For reals.

Hermione: How’d you get away?
Ron: Puking Pastilles.  It wasn’t pretty.  Told them I was hungry and wanted some sweets.  Course, they told me to bugger off and ate the lot themselves.

Hermione: That was clever, Ron! / Ron: It’s been known to happen.

12. NEVILLE!!!  “How’s mom and dad?” “Better now they’re about to avenged!”  You tell her, Neville.  You beat that bitch.  Damn, doesn’t happen for 2 more years (and by Molly, not Neville – oh well).

13. When is Hermione gonna learn?!?  When Harry hears voices, there are voices.  It’s weird, yes, but he’s Harry Freakin’ Potter.  His life is kinda weird.

14. As corny as it is, Harry’s “love” montage at the end always makes me cry.

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Ahhh.  Only 2 left, and then it’ll be time for Deathly Hallows Part 2!!!  I’m so excited!!

Dumbledore Quote of the Movie:

“It isn’t how you are alike.  It’s how you are not.”

(It occurs to me that come Deathly Hallows Part 1, there won’t be any Dumbledore quotes.  I guess I can use what he says in his will?  I don’t know, we’ll see.)