Let's Try This Again? Moving to a New Spot!

I feel like I've only disappointed myself by not posting as much as would have liked to...

So I decided to go to another blog for now: http://samdissects.wordpress.com

I think I never posted as much as I would've liked to because I didn't have any direction, and I put this ridiculously high expectation to post lengthy posts.

So what's new in my life since January 2014?

I have a few career experiences under my belt, I am a Junior in college, still single, and a little nervous for some of the classes I've got this upcoming semester. Just trying to expand my horizons one day at a time.

I'll try to post a hodgepodge of things together on the new blog. I won't make any guarantees again as far as post frequency goes, but I'll try posting once a week. I also don't plan on having long, analytical posts, wanna save some of that energy for my accounting class this semester lol. 

As far as this blog goes, I'm pretty much leaving it as is. I don't have any plans to make any major updates to the theme or add any cool widgets, mostly because they seem to go defunct after a while. Wordpress seems to be a little more innovative and more practical to use, assuming I use it for the long run. I might do a little housekeeping on the appearance but that's about it, I won't really be migrating posts to my new spot.

Reading some of my old posts, I realize how... crazy I was. As in holy shit, I got really pissed off by a Pixar movie because it didn't portray men in a fair light, I literally compared a movie trailer to communist propaganda, and ranted about Instagram. I'm fascinated at how much I spoke my mind. At the same time, I think I let things get to me a little more than they should have. But hey, I was young, I was a little oblivious, I was doing my thing. I only wish I stuck to the trail and kept posting.

I hope you find my upcoming posts to be more modest, inquisitive, and insightful.

Here it is again: http://samdissects.wordpress.com

- SGR

Song of the Week

Trying to get back into the mood of posting on my blog on a weekly basis, so here we go.

This is from the movie Synecdoche, New York. It's not a movie made for everyone because of its somber and bleak tone, but one ray of light comes at the closing credits when this song starts to play. It's just a simple song that puts me into perspective when I think of myself in the big big world we live in today. Enjoy!

Click here for more info about the album/artist

Thanks for reading and hope you have a great week!
Sam

Top 15 Movies of 2013!

Alright, I'm totally late to the party here, but I finished watching a few of the movies over 2013 and decided to put some of my favorites in a list. It was so hard to sort these movies out and determine which one was better, this was a pretty good year in movies! There still are a couple of movies that are award-worthy that I haven't watched. So forgive me and without further ado, here's my top 15 movies list for 2013!

With every movie on my list, I give a brief explanation and my 'score' for it.

15. Ernest et Célestine

This is a French-Belgian animated film (I saw the original French dub) about two animals that form an unlikely relationship with each other. I'm a fan for the hand drawn animated movies as it's not common in America anymore. The message is obvious from the start and a little repetitive but it still achieves that feeling of warmth when it's over. The English dubbed version is set to come out sometime in a few months.  PG, 1 hr. 20 min (8.5/10)

14. The Place Beyond the Pines

This is an interesting drama about a man trying to make ends meet through breaking the law, but there's certainly more to it. It also has a few different stories that eventually come together as one. This movie does a great job in showing how little it takes to make an impact on a life, even if it is not your own. It also shows how some actions can often come back to haunt us in the future. I was immensely invested in the characters and felt a wide range of emotions for them. The plot lines toward the end didn't have as much emotional grip on me as it did when it started, but it's still a good movie. R, 2 hr. 20 min (8.5/10)

13. Prisoners

This movie did a great job in making me feel the despair of having a child kidnapped, even though I'm not a father. What also stands out to me was how unconventional this movie felt compared to other movies of this genre, because there aren't any cliched or predictable moments in the movie, and that had me on the edge of my seat for most of the time. Jake Gyllenhaal's performance as the detective was strangely addictive to watch and I found myself more invested in him that in any other character in the movie. The cinematography of the movie was also great because the bleak colors in every shot really set the appropriate tone for the whole movie. Some parts of the movie do feel a little dull and I was puzzled at the relevance of some of the symbolism, even on my second viewing. Still, a good movie with great performances that will have you on the edge of your seat till the very end. R, 2 hr. 33 min (8.5/10)

12. Mud

A well done adventure-drama movie about two boys who go on an adventure with an odd person they meet on a remote island. Great performances by Tye Sheridan and Matthew McConaughey, who everyone seems to be praising these days for making one of the greatest comebacks in his acting career. There's not a lot of your typical blockbuster in this one, just a well-told story. PG-13, 2 hr. 10 min (8.75/10) 

  11. The Wolf of Wall Street

The ambitious dark comedy/drama/crime film about a prominent investment banker named Jordan Belfort and his rise and fall by Scorsese is indeed epic in proportion. DiCaprio plays the character so well and gives one of the best performances I've seen this year and in his overall career. Jonah Hill also gives it his all and delivers another Oscar nominated performance as his sidekick. It is filled with excessive nudity, profanity (broke the record for most uses of the F word in a non-documentary), and drug use that can get repetitive at times, but it all comes together to make the viewer feel engrossed in the life of Belfort. Very entertaining and interesting to discuss with others afterward. R, 2 hr. 59 min (8.9/10)

10. Nebraska

This movie is about a man in Montana who believes he's won a prize and goes with his son to claim it in, you guessed it, Nebraska. While I can't say this will interest everyone, I can say that it was an interesting character study and a surprising (dark) comedy to me. It is a little dull in the middle, but there's great character development between the father and son and that made this an interesting watch. It's also one of those movies that just does everything fairly flawlessly. R, 1 hr. 45 min (9/10)

 9. The Hunt

It's amazing what one little lie can do to a man's reputation. Denmark's Oscar-nominated movie has great acting by Mads Mikkelsen (Hannibal!), an interesting story, and a strange way of having the viewer relate to what the character is going through and empathize with him. It's also a bit of a mystery so you'll be hooked till the very last shot. R, 1 hr. 55 min (9/10)

8. Saving Mr. Banks

I was shocked when I found out that this movie has as many Oscar nominations as Jackass: Bad Grandpa. This movie was about the process of adapting the now famous Mary Poppins movie from its book. Emma Thompson, Tom Hanks give amazing performances as P.L. Travers and Walt Disney, respectively. This movie avoids being too whimsical and cliched and as a result, has many heartfelt and warm moments through its character development. You don't have to watch the original Mary Poppins movie to understand this one, but it is a plus to have a basic idea of the original plot. PG-13, 2 hr. 5 min (9/10)

7. Rush

A movie with well-paced action, interesting characters, good drama, and story is a hard find these days. Rush is a story about a rivalry that existed between two race car drivers in the 1970s. What I really like about this movie is that it isn't filled with cliches and and it really delivers in showing us the realistic emotional experience that both these racers go through. On top of that, it's exciting, suspenseful, and fun to watch! A well-rounded movie that really delivers its premise. R, 2 hr. 3 min (9/10)

6. Captain Phillips

Yet another great performance from Hanks that goes fairly unnoticed during the awards season. Captain Phillips was had me at the edge of my seat throughout because it was so realistic, gritty, and intense. Great acting, story, and suspense! PG-13, 2 hr. 14 min
(9/10)

5. 12 Years a Slave

Unlike many of the other movies on the list,  this movie isn't meant to be watched for entertainment purposes. It's essentially the black man's Schindler's List as far as the biting realism is concerned. Great performances by Ejiofor and Nyong'o, although some of the long takes in the movie are more effective than others, and the ending isn't on par with the rest of the movie. While it is a little difficult to watch, 12 Years a Slave is essential to view in order for us learn an important lesson from the past. R, 2 hr. 14 min (9/10)

 4. American Hustle 

 

  

If this movie had any plot holes or cliches, I wouldn't know because I was so engaged by all the actors' performances the entire time. An interesting plot, spectacular performances, and an interesting running gag throughout the movie made American Hustle another one of the most fun movies I watched the entire year. R, 2 hr. 18 min (9/10)

 3. Her 

 

A beautifully shot movie about an beautiful romantic relationship between man and an operating system (essentially his computer). This movie awed me with the wonder of being alive right now and having the ability to do things that we take for granted everyday. I was  in a daze after watching this movie and I had to stop and compose myself  because I was so mesmerized the entire time. The voice acting by Scarlett Johansson and Phoenix's acting was crucial to make this relationship feel real to the viewer, and I felt it every single minute I was in that world. The music is great, the futuristic production design, and bright shots are gems to look out for while watching this movie. Simply amazing. R, 2 hr. 6 min (9.25/10)

 2. Inside Llewyn Davis 

 

Is it possible to despise someone and still root for their success? I found myself asking that very question while watching this movie. What I love about this movie is that you can really feel what the character is enduring through in his life. In a way, it depicts the struggles that nearly every musician has to go through before they make big, if that ever happens at all. I'm not a fan of folk music, but the soundtrack to this movie was so brilliant that it has been stuck in my head within the first few minutes of the movie. The songs Llewyn plays is literally the soundtrack of his life, and we really feel the despair and heartbreak that he has to endure while trying to make it. 

A lot of people have also noted that the movie has no universal theme or applicable meaning (especially based on its ambiguous ending). I found it to be an interesting character study and a realistic portrayal of the life of a musician. It shows that life can be a struggle for some, even though they have good talents and intentions. R, 1 hr. 45 min (9.25/10)

 1. Gravity

 

Gravity wasn't a movie, it was an experience. It is truly one of the greatest visual masterpieces ever made in the history of film. I literally couldn't work my way through a bag of popcorn when I first watched this movie because I was captivated by the sheer beauty of its visual effects. Alfonso Cuaron's last movie, Children of Men, was one of the few Sci-fi movies that had a lot of heart in it, and Gravity is no different. Sandra Bullock's character is really a testament of the spirit of determination and courage when things get rough. It may a little dull at parts for some, but I found myself surprised at how much I felt for the character throughout the entire movie. Watch it on a big screen! PG-13, 1 hr. 31 min (9.5/10).

Some movies close to making my list:

Side Effects

Frozen

The Wolverine

Iron Man 3

Pacific Rim

The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug

The World's End

Here's a few movies I didn't get the chance to watch this year that I've heard are good:

Dallas Buyers Club

Blue Jasmine

Short Term 12

Philomena

All is Lost

The Conjuring

Thor: The Dark World

The Way Way Back

Lee Daniels' The Butler

Fruitvale Station

So what do you think? Got a top 10/15 list yourself? Post your thoughts in the comments below. 

As always, Thanks for reading!

A Resolution

Why hello there!

It's the first day of a new year, so I figured I needed to bring some life back to my blog yet again. 2013 had its ups and downs, but I'm honestly left feeling a little overwhelmed when I think of it all. I just feel like I lost a grip on things such as friends, school, family, and so on. In 2013, I also felt very lethargic and unenthusiastic, I aspired to be successful and work hard in everything that I do but in reality I feel like I haven't made any progresses or strides in advancing myself through life.

I don't know anymore.

I think I've lost my way.

Well here's to a better 2014; a 2014 where I put all of the troubles behind me and work to become a better friend, brother, student, and overall person, a 2014 where I'm fit, focused, and ready to face what the world has in store for me.

I hope you find inspiration and strive to get on top of things in 2014 as well, no matter what you do in life.

So one of my goals for 2014 is to continue writing my blog and update it weekly (or often). I know I've tried to do this before and failed, but hey, another shot couldn't hurt, right?

Thanks for reading and I wish you a Happy New Year!

Sam 

Click here to follow me on Twitter.

I'm Still Here, I Guess

Hello again,

Unlike last time, I'm not going to make any promises. By that, I mean I won't promise you that I'll write a blog everyday or put up a song of the week like I used to last year. That doesn't mean that I won't resort to going back to my old habits, but I just don't know what direction I plan on taking this blog in. 

I've had millions of thoughts running around in my head and out of this sea of thoughts sprung forth the idea that I should post in my blog again.

So, here I am. 

The last time I posted was in October 2012, here is what's going on with me these days:

1. I'm a senior in high school now, planning on graduating high school in less than a week.
2. I got my license on January 2013! I have deeply enjoyed having the opportunity to drive to and forth from school every day since. 
3. I made myself a commitment to be committed to fulfilling my schoolwork to the best of my abilities. Well, that never came to pass and I've been lazily going through my academic school year putting minimal effort into everything that I do. As a result my grades have been, well, what they would be if you put minimal effort into everything. I suppose I should be content with what I do have.
4. I got into the top 10% for my class. Which, by the time I figured it out, was well past the deadline for getting into the school I wanted.
5. To emphasize the last point, I didn't get into this school or this school and I feel...shallow.
6. On a more positive note, I got a new computer. Shout out Dell XPS and HP Printers, lol. No love, however, to Microsoft's Windows 8 (ugh), but it is tolerable...and aesthetically pleasing.
7. I have this new passion love for movies. Especially the abstract and artsy sorts, but I still watch other kinds of movies.
8. I need to find some new music.
9. I'm starting to read Reveries of a Solitary Walker by Rousseau. I've only finished the Introduction. So far, I'm not sure what to make of it. But then again, I haven't started reading the book.
10. I can't believe I'm saying this again, but my dad's in India. I certainly don't feel as emotionally attached to that now as I did last summer.

It's been interesting these days and I certainly hope to, through this blog, be able to express all of my thoughts and feelings about all the things that are going on. Even though I'm not content with the ups and downs and where I am right now in life, I guess I just be glad that at the end of the day,

I'm still here.

And in a way, that's what matters.

Follow me on Twitter by clicking here 

Thanks for reading

P.S. This blog is getting revamped a little, again. Some of the widgets don't seem to be working right now.

I'm Getting Ready

Just a few minutes after this post, life is about to get a little more overwhelming for me. It's not just "schoolwork" lately, but greater expectations, requirements, desires, college applications, deadlines, wants, needs, and so forth. So before I embark on this quest, I must take this moment to size up what is before me, take a big breath, absorb it all in, and GO! 

So for the past few days, everything's has been fine. Not smooth sailing fine, but more "the calm before a storm" fine. Life has been throwing a few mostly curve balls directly at my face, but I've been swinging a good amount of them out of my way. However, it feels as if it's only a matter of time before the storm surges in and life becomes overwhelming. 

One thing that I have been doing lately is listen to more music, and it just so happened when I was tumbling through the interwebs did I find a brand new artist. Okay, maybe he's not that new, but he has been around for only a little while (say, a year or so) and his music is just reaching the hearts and minds of many men. His name happens to be Michael Kiwanuka, and he recently released a brand new album. A lot of people have recommended his music such as Nicole Kidman, John Mayer, and even BBC. Listening to his music has to have been one of the greatest moments of my life. I can't put a finger on what it is exactly, it's just so smooth and much needed in such a time of despair (for me, that is). I fell in love with the song "I'm Getting Ready", for reasons that I just can't seem to put in words. I think you will enjoy it, and I hope you pass it on to others.

Anyways, check out the song below, and below that is more information about him. Remember to share with others if you enjoyed it!

So that's my life lately. I think it's time to get ready for the unexpected.

Thanks for reading,

Click here to find out more about this soulful artist.

Acknowledging History is Hypocrisy

I found this video online when I was watching a few news videos of Iran's potential nuclear capability. It's a time lapse map of every single nuclear explosion throughout a span of 50+ years. It's one of the most amazing yet terrifying things that I've ever seen in my life. Since the video is nearly 15 minutes long (and possibly mundane), you may not be interested in watching the whole thing, but I would personally recommend watching at least the last two minutes of the video, starting from the 12:00 marker. I'm not trying to make a political statement by posting this, rather just to show how countries around the world are using nuclear weapons without consideration of its effects on people and the environment. 

It's funny how half of the world is throwing sanctions on Iran for their nuclear program but they fail to see who have been the repeat offenders throughout history. Like I said, I'm not blaming anyone in particular for this problem, but it's just something that people seem to disregard these days. For some of us, acknowledging history is hypocrisy.

Thanks for reading,

Sam R.

It's Been A While...

Yes, I'm well aware that it's been a long time since I've posted, but lately the only thing that I've been doing is schoolwork. You see, it's senior year at high school and I've gotta put a lot of effort towards getting into a good college which requires high grades as well as a high rank within the class. In order to do so, I've decided to place myself into more rigorous classes instead of just chilling my last school year (which by the way is not a bad thing to do). Anyways, that's nearly everything that's been going on in my life recently. 

Well, also this one kid that me and my friend always talk about. He's a great guy and getting to know him is quite interesting, but I always feel like I am judged under his eyes. Yes it's the human nature to judge others, but I feel as if he does it in an especially provocative and nearly a rude manner. I don't know, it's still a theory, but I don't think I am wrong. So yeah, that's my life these days. I'll try my best to post a little more on here but things obviously get in the way. 

Thanks for reading,
Sam R.

Song of the Week

I still haven't seen the Batman movie, but there is one thing that has fascinated me about it so far...the soundtrack. Usually, I put up a song that has written lyrics, a chorus, bridge, and so on. However, the soundtrack captivated my attention in such a way that I would not forgive myself if I didn't share it with those who read my blog.

I don't know what it is about the soundtrack, but it's just simply fascinating. The Dark Knight Rises had big expectations to fill for many moviegoers, especially after its Marvel rival released what many claim is its greatest movie so far, The Avengers. Without even watching the movie, I am impressed with Hans Zimmer's work on the soundtrack. Every single note for the song was carefully and keenly picked to fit the soundtrack of the movie. It is simply perfect for the movie, as it captures the darkness of Batman and those in Gotham City while displaying the magnificence and splendor that accompanies a superhero/action movie. 

After listening to a few pieces, it's made me look forward to watching the final part of Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy. Yes, I have high expectations, but I'm really looking forward to see how the soundtrack and the raw film itself comes together to make one of the greatest works of film in the 21st century. 

Title: Rise

Artist: Hans Zimmer

Album: The Dark Knight Rises [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]

Year: 2012

So have you seen the movie? Comment below and let me know what you think of the film and the soundtrack. I look forward to your responses.

More information about the song and the album can be found here.

More information about the artist can be found here.

Thanks for reading,

Guess Who's Back?

So the Florida trip is officially over, I am back in Texas! Yeehaw!

Anyways, I'll try to post a few pictures that I took during the trip there and maybe blog about some other things that happened while I was down in Florida. 

So until the next post, I've got some unpacking and catching up to do. More blog posts will come in the next few days. Be sure to check out my Twitter on the right (if you're on the desktop version) and follow me on twitter!

Thanks for reading,

Moar Updates

That's right, it's another post that is not officially a blog post. I'm just putting this up here just to notify all my readers of many of the upcoming 'changes' to the blog.

1. I will still tinker around with the appearance of this blog - I was looking for a dark theme online, but so far I haven't gotten exactly what I've wanted. As you can tell, I've ironically ended up with the stark opposite. So yeah, be sure to check out some of the gadgets on the side. Share the blog with your friends, take the poll, or even translate it to a different language! I will also be tinkering around in the field of gadgets as well.

2. Less personal stuff - As it says, I'm gonna try and limit the amount of personal information that I put on my blog. Not like addresses, emails, and whatnot, but the things of my personality, how I react to certain things, and whatnot. Why, you may ask? That would be because of...personal reasons ;)

3. Expect slow posting for the next two weeks - Well, I've packed up my bags and I'm headed to Florida for a short vacation! Actually, the first thing that I've gotta to while I'm there is go to a conference, so the vacation aspect of it is actually not that big. Anyways, the point I was trying to make was that I won't be near many computers or laptop (I don't use the mobile app cause it simply sucks!) for a lot of time, which essentially results in less blog posts. I'll try to post some pictures and small thoughts while I'm there, but I probably won't get around to posting many blog posts at my usual rate (1-2 days). One thing that I'll still be on a little more frequently is Twitter, so if you follow my Twitter account, it's all good.

Anyways, these are just some small things that all of you, my readers, should expect for a while. If you enjoy reading my blog, don't forget to share with your friends!

Thanks for reading,

Song of the Week

Green Day is not one of the best bands in the world, this I will admit. However, they had a time when they had a lot of mainstream popularity, especially amongst college students. During that time, they made what most would call 'their best music'. According to the lead singer, the album American Idiot was the album that the worked the hardest on. As a result, it became a very popular record and the effort paid off for the entire band. Green Day is one of the modern bands, that in my opinion, set the bar for rock music.

The song that I chose today is one of my favorite from when they used to be popular. You probably know the entire song word for word, and you might as well sing along.

This is just the video of the song. The music video has a bit of a plot line behind and as a result, it is a few minutes longer than the song. Scroll below this video if you would like to view.

Music Video

So what do you think of the song? Do you have another favorite Green Day song? Let us all know in the comments section below!

Thanks for reading,

A Moment of Ecstasy (Part 2)

This is the second and final part. Be sure to check out the first one here.

I suppose it's fair to say that all good things must come to an end. Good thoughts, good feelings; it is inevitable that all of these good 'things' must lay down to rest. That's how we humans are, as we have to endlessly toil day and night only to have brief moments of pleasure. 

Moving on, my dad came back from India last Wednesday, I was ecstatic when I finally saw him again. All of us went to the airport and waited for what seemed to be forever to meet him again. Thinking back on it now, I guess I didn't exuberantly display my affection for him at first sight, yet I still felt glad to see him. We all were a little shocked when we first saw him, he got thinner when he came back from India, and the plane ride back took quite a toll on him. Following the car ride home, it was time to unpack. Everyone in our house (and by everyone I mean my mom and sisters) were excited to unpack in order to see their brand new saris and other Indian clothes. Along with some of the things that we unpacked, we also brought along many snacks from India. And as these things were being unpacked, I realized that there was essentially nothing that my dad had got for me. My dad got me a lousy shirt from India, along with two formal dress pants that seemed a little too big. He also got me laddu, which is an Indian sweet shaped like a yellow ball. Not only was the shirt 'lame', but the laddu was very dry and tasted bland as a result. I found it to be hard to hide my jealousy when everyone else in the family was acting as if it was Christmas. For a moment, i felt as if I was the kid who got the worst presents from his parents ever. I went to my room and played it off, saying that I had other things to do. It seems as if every excitment that I had, from the AP exam scores to my dad returning, seemed to diminish in that very moment. Right then, that moment of ecstasy was offically over. 

So now I suppose it's fair to say that I'm back to normal. It was nice feeling as if nothing in the world could ever stop me, but now it's fair to say that it's all gone. Maybe it was selfish of me to act that way on that night. After all, I shouldn't have expected anything special in particular from him, but I figured getting crappy stuff might just be worse than getting no stuff at all. Or is it supposed to be the other way around? I don't know, but at that moment back then, something in me was simply let down. It's not that I became depressed, but I became grounded again, I returned to what many people define as 'normal'. 

So I guess that was the end of it.

Thanks for reading,

Song of the Week

Day by day, I feel like I'm becoming a bigger fan of listening music from an older age. Not to say that today's music is lacking in quality (although that could be said of what's played on the radio these days), but the origins of much of today's music comes from the century before. In many ways, these artists helped shape music for what it is today. I suppose you could say that this song is one of many that are the roots for what is known today as rock-n-roll and the blues. 

By the way, this song was also featured on the soundtrack for Pulp Fiction, a very popular movie in the 90s. Pulp Fiction has been credited as one of the greatest movies of all time in film-making history.

Title: You Never Can Tell

  Artist: Chuck Berry

Album: St. Louis to Liverpool

Year: 1964

 

Movie Review: Ted (2012)

An R-rated movie about a Teddy Bear?!?

Synopsis:

John Bennett is a grown man who must deal with the cherished teddy bear who came to live as the result of a childhood wish... and has refused to leave his side ever since.

Rated R, 106 minutes

I was one of many people who was excited to hear that Seth McFarlane, creator of the popular TV show Family Guy, would be coming out with his first movie. Coincidentally, a few months ago, I had even taken a survey that asked me which promotional poster would be better for the movie. So, I knew about this movie months before they had even started to advertise it.

Anyways, we decided to go a week after it was released to avoid any large crowds. Unfortunately, we went to see this movie on the  Fourth of July, which resulted in a packed theater. We were forced to find seats in the near front, which in any other circumstance, would have been uncomfortable. However, since this movie wasn't fast-paced or heavy in action, it was easy to get accustomed to.

Moving on to the 'review' part of this movie, I went with three other people who had different comical tastes. However, each and every one of us had a moment where we were bursting out in laughter, myself more than the others. Ted could be considered diverse in the different types of jokes presented in the movie, of course some being more offensive than others. Almost everyone in the theater were consistently laughing at many of the jokes in the movie, although I should say that there weren't that many 'hilarious' moments. If you enjoy watching Family Guy, the humor in Ted is a perfect fit for you. For the rest who may not appreciate or don't watch McFarlane's work on television, you may not have great guffaws, but even then the movie will still be consistently funny. The humor in the movie is also, for the most part, not very cheesy, which was a big plus for me. To sum up the humor in this movie, there is a diverse lineup of jokes and punchlines, yet it does not disappoint expectations.

Let's move on to other parts of the movie. I found Mark Wahlberg as an odd choice for the protagonist of the movie. It's a little odd watching him trying to act like a young pot-smoker along with his teddy bear, or getting romantic with a Mila Kunis much younger than him. Nevertheless, he still acted very well in the movie, based on what he was given. As for Mila Kunis and Seth McFarlane (the voice of Ted) they also did a good job in making their roles as realistic and effective as possible. The visuals in the movie were also good, there were many nice shots of Boston here and there. However, the highlight of the visual aspect of the film was the teddy bear. The way Ted moved, talked, and interacted to its surroundings was very realistically portrayed and well done. In the visual department, the movie does an excellent job of bringing a teddy bear to life.

If you watch Family Guy, you may know how often the soundtrack is filled with many different jazz pieces. Ted is no different. It's quite obvious that McFarlane loves, if not obsessed with, the jazz genre, and the addition of little jazz bits in the movie is a nice change from the soundtracks of other comedy films. Other aspects of the film such as the direction and editing, were also done pretty well, but nothing worth writing home about. 

For his first time as a director and a writer, Seth McFarlane does a pretty good job here. The story was good, the jokes were funny, and the acting was solid. The only few 'criticisms' of the movie that I have since it is well deserving of the R-rating, some of the humor can be offensive to many people. The concept of a foul-mouthed, pot-smoking, teddy bear can be seen as unamusing and not entertaining to some. Since Ted essentially becomes the life of the movie, scenes without him are often mundane and forgettable. Even with that being said, the movie worth watching if you want to have a few laughs (potentially a more 'vulgar' form of humor), or if you enjoy Seth McFarlane's work. This is a very promising start for what could be a very long career for Mr. McFarlane on the big screen.

8/10

It is worth watching again.

Thanks for reading, I would like to hear what you think about this film. 

Oh and since you made it this far, here's the red band trailer:

A Moment of Ecstasy (Part 1)

So it was on Tuesday when it came in the mail. No, not anthrax, just a small envelope with a report, of none other than my AP exam scores.

AP exams were the highlight of my studies in my junior year of high school. The purpose of an AP (Advanced Placement) class is to prepare you for college and even be able provide college credit while in high school. So as you can imagine, there are many students who choose to take an AP class and eventually the exam. Taking the exam is not required, but without it, the class only helps your GPA, and there wouldn't be any payoff for college.

At the beginning of the school year, I was overwhelmed by the amount of AP classes I had to take. As mentioned, they were more rigorous and fast-paced than any of the 'regular' classes in high school. So with five AP classes on my plate, it was the year that I decided to pay attention in the AP classes and pay loose attention to the rest. An AP exam was like a long-term investment, everything you learned and worked hard for the entire came down to a matter of a three hour exam. If you passed it, of course it was all worth it, but if you didn't pass it, well, it was just an investment that didn't have a good return. Another thing about the AP exams was the money, most schools require the student to pay a decent amount for the exam, while they are subsidized by the state to cover a small part of it. Our school paid around $30, but we had to chip in for the rest, and when you're taking five exams, it adds up to quite a large sum. Some of the AP classes I had taken this year were US history, European history, Psychology, Spanish, and Language and Composition (English). US history was probably the most rigorous course of them all, the teacher took it much more seriously than the rest of the other AP topics, we always expected homework, quizzes, and the occasional test. Many students were in for a surprise when they took the course, not many expected to deal with so much work along with the work from all the other classes.

If you don't know how these exams are scored, here's a brief explanation:

5  Extremely well qualified*
4   Well qualified*
3   Qualified*
2   Possibly qualified*
1   No recommendation**

*Qualified to receive college credit or advanced placement
**No recommendation to receive college credit or advanced placement

So, as you can imagine, my heart stopped for a moment when I saw the letter in the mail. The hour of judgment has finally arrived...via mail. Essentially everything that I had worked for the entire school year was finally here in a small letter. After that moment of shock, I pondered what would happen if I didn't get the scores I wanted. I was aiming for a 4 or 5 in every subject, except Spanish, because I don't plan on taking any type of a language major. Besides, in order to be able to pass the Spanish exam requires fluent speaking and comprehension of the language, and I was nowhere near that level. Yet nevertheless, I aimed for a 2 in Spanish, because that would mean that I knew something after all these years of studying the Spanish language in high school. Another thought that came to my mind was what college would I go to, that is if my scores weren't good enough. Now believe me, I'm wasn't planning on going to Harvard (to put it another way, they probably wouldn't accept me!), but I didn't want to settle for a lousy community college. Most schools accept a 4 or 5 in order to receive college credit, but what if I only had a 3, even worse, what if I didn't pass? These were some of the things that raced through my mind as I took the mail back home. I didn't even want to tell my parents what my scores were, I anticipated the abysmal scores that I would eventually have to confess to the rest of the family members. Of course, if I had gotten good scores, that would be the only thing that I would tell them for days if not weeks.

I dropped the rest of the mail at a nearby table and I went to the office room, my mother was there but she was occupied watching a video on the computer. I figured she wouldn't have noticed me opening the mail, and perhaps I could make a getaway if the scores weren't good enough.  Slowly, unknown as to what may be in the letter, I opened the mail. I glanced within  it and took out the only sheet of paper that was there...

And There it was.

I didn't even have the moment to hide myself in anticipation from the scores, they looked at me straight in the eye. Suddenly, there was nowhere to hide, it was time to face the music.

Two 5's, two 4's, and a 2. Suddenly the only thing I could do was leap in joy, it had been worth it! The endless nights of work, the studying for tests, the projects, all of it had paid off! That moment was exhilarating, any feeling of anticipation and dread that remained had gone away. At that moment, none of the troubles that I had to deal with everyday  mattered. It was a moment in life that I cherished, I knew that there would be many nights where I would reminisce this exact moment, and how it may have potentially changed the entire course of where my life would be headed. Suddenly, I felt like  a hero that could accomplish anything in life, be whatever I wanted to be, do whatever I wanted to do, and as long as I put in the effort towards it, I would get there. This moment liberated a rush of adrealin within me, and as a result, I felt as if I were Superman.

So after the emotional arousal, I called up my sister and I told her the good news, and then my other sister, then my mom, then a few of my friends, then a few of my other friends.  It became harder to hold it all in, so I was walking around my house, thinking of what was and could be. After settling down for a while, I realized that my dad was coming back home from India tommorrow! Yes, this too would be another moment of happiness. My dad had gone to India for more than a month, and I was tired of being the one who had to deal with my mom and her mood swings. I realized the big role that he played in our family every day of our lives. For this reason, our whole family missed him when he wasn't around. Besides, he too must know about the AP scores! It seemed as if everything in my life was turning around at the perfect time.

I felt then that nothing in the world could stop me, nothing at all.

Thanks for reading,

This is part one of two, the next post will be here in a few days.

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