New Moon Review

SPOILERS!!! If you haven't seen the movie, and don't want to know anything about it, turn back now. You have had FAIR warning!!

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First a little back story!

A few months back, I read the entire Twilight series(all 4 books) in less than a week. I resisted reading them for a while. I am not a huge vampire fan, or one that likes to read love stories. I just didn't see how they could hold my interest. I had watched Twilight with my friend, Val, right after it came out on DVD, and it was an okay movie, but not one I was extremely impressed with, which made me even less interested in reading the books. After much prodding from my friends, and sister, I decided I would give it a try. Little did I know that once I started reading them, I wouldn't put them down.

Since I watched Twilight BEFORE I read the books, I thought I would rent the movie, and watch it again. Thinking now that I read the book and understood the story better, I would probably appreciate the movie a lot more.

I am VERY critical about movies that come from books that I have read. Watching that movie again after I read the book made me dislike it EVEN more. First they moved WAY too quick into the love between Bella and Edward...how is it that in one scene, Bella doesn't even know Edward, and thinks he is disgusted by her, to being in love with him in the next?? REALLY?? Did that director NOT read the story. They completely missed the story behind the love, and tried to just jump into it. Secondly, they added parts in there that were not in the movie..not even CLOSE...I cannot stand that. Yes I know you need to change things a bit, but don't rewrite a story that is FINE the way it is. It seemed like the director tried to focus too much on Laurent, James and Victoria, when Twilight is more about the forbidden love building between Edward and Bella. So to say I was disappointed in that movie is quite the understatement!!

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Now on to New Moon...

I have been watching the previews, and listening to all the hype about New Moon. From what I had seen and heard, it appeared it was going to be a good movie, and I really wanted to go see it. I told hubby how badly I wanted to see it, so he decided that he would take me out on a date last night to go watch it. He even set up the babysitter!! **GASP**

So we get to the movies last night about 30-45 min before it started, after getting drink and popcorn, get into the theater about 20 min before the movie starts, and the only seats left are in the very front row. Now as a kid, I ALWAYS wanted to sit up front, but now, I really don't enjoy having to look up the entire movie, and having to turn my head from side to side to watch the thing either!! Oh well, what can you do? I should have know better, it was opening day!!

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Okay, now for my thoughts on the movie, first my negatives...

• Too Quick
  I thought that they moved rather quickly into the birthday party and the Cullen's leaving, but scanning back through the book, there wasn't much at the beginning of the book to really put into a movie..so that part is understandable.
  
  
• Kristen Stewart
  Kristen Stewart's acting gets under my skin. There are a few things that I have noticed about her that REALLY bug me. She stutters a lot. Every time she speaks she looks like she is in pain. Before she talks, whether acting or in an interview she does this thing before she talks. It starts with her jutting her chin out, then she will tuck her chin to her chest and looks down almost the entire time she is talking. She makes this popping/smacking sound with her lips before she talks, and she says "UM" a lot. I know it is really minor..and I don't claim to be an actor and would probably make a HUGE fool of myself if put before a camera, but she is a professional! Someone should really point these things out to her and help her to fix these things!! So watching her throughout the movie is almost painful for me..but I can overlook her for the most part.
  
  
• Cheesy
  There were a few cheesy parts in the film, like when it shows Alice's vision of Bella becoming a Vampire, but the books really play off of your emotions, and I am sure it is hard to show these emotions without appearing cheesy.
  
  
• Romeo Oh Romeo
  The Romeo/Juliet movie scene. In the book this scene takes place on Bella's couch. It is a very personal/touching conversation between Edward and Bella. In the movie this scene is in school, they are watching the movie in class, and this conversation takes place just a few feet away from their classmates. It really took away from how deep this conversation really was.
  
  
• Too much knowledge
  My BIGGEST complaint. The Volturi fight scene. All the previews hyped up this scene more than ANY other in the movie, and rightfully so. This is the climax of the book. With as much footage as they put out there, it gave the impression that there was going to be so much more to it, and I was thinking that this scene was going to be ABSOLUTELY AWESOME!! When it came time for this scene, I was on pins and needles, couldn't WAIT to see what else they were going to do, what other awesome special effects they were going to use. What a let down it was when I realized that they had put pretty much the entire fight scene in the previews. I understand that they wanted to promote the movie, and really wanted to grab peoples attention. Thing is, they didn't need to. This movie already had a HUGE fan base, and they could have shown one or two SMALL clips of the fight sequence and it would have been enough to make everyone want to see more!
  
  
• Not Long Enough
  Last but not least..and this is one of the same complaints I have from Twilight. With the amount of content in each book, these need to be 3 hour movies to truly get all the big points of the book into a movie. I have sat through many 3 hour movies, and these are definitely ones that I would be more than willing to sit through!!
  

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So those are my complaints about the movie. Now for my positives!!

• Amazing
  This movie was AMAZING!! That right there should say it all!! Yes I had a big list of negatives above, but most were minor little details, that were understandable given the magnitude of special effects and emotions that they had to get into this movie!!
  
  
• Sparkles
  So the movie starts, first thing I notice, Edwards sparkles are MUCH better and far less cheesy than the last film!!
  
  
• True To Story
  The director really stayed true to the story this time around. This is BIGGEST plus about this movie..this alone FAR outweighs any negative I have above!! Yeah there were a few things out of order, and some scene's happened in the wrong place, but he still stayed true to Stephanie Meyer's idea's. Chris Weitz didn't try to add his own idea's in like the last director did. He deserves major kudos for that!! These books are perfect they way they are written and he recognizes that!!
  
  
• Werewolves
  The werewolves were outstanding!! The special effects were pretty much flawless, from phasing to the way they moved, to capturing Jacob's eyes in his wolf. AMAZING!! (Am I overusing that word yet?? HMMM??)
  
  
• Movement
  The way the Vampires move, when moving in their super speed, in this film was far better than they did the last film. In Twilight, their super speed movement was choppy, and it almost seemed like they had just put the movie on fast forward. This time it was a more seamless movement, and with the tracers of their body it made it seem much more realistic..as realistic as super fast vampires can get!! ;)
  
  
• Special Effects
  Overall the special effects made the movie! I cannot say enough how much I really enjoyed this movie, and when you are dealing with fantasy and the super natural, the special effects are what make the movie!!
  
  
• HAWTNESS
  Okay, Okay, I know some of them are minors, but that doesn't mean I can't appreciate the hard work they put into their bodies, I mean they are putting them up on the big screen to look at!! YUMMY!!
  
  
• Shut Up
  Bella telling Edward to shut up!! I LOVED it!! :D
  
  
• AWESOMENESS
  Did I mention the movie was AWESOME??
  

I could go on and on in detail about each thing I loved about the movie, but it would take me all night long!! Feel free to add what you liked or didn't like in the comments, or feel free to dispute me on what I think!! These are just my personal opinions, so of course you may feel differently then I did.

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Rocket Man!!

I really don't think this photo needs much explanation on what it is!

Things my children do to each other when I am not looking!!

I do have to commend my oldest son on great use of his imagination, but probably not the best canvas to use!! Took Dad over 30 minutes to scrub it off, and had a crying boy with a red back.

I got a good laugh out of it, and hope you all do too!!

Writers Workshop!

So it has been a while since I have been able to do one of these. So I thought I'd do it today. Head on over to Mama Kat's page if you would like to do one yourself!

I chose this topic, while a heart wrenching topic, it is very appropriate for Veteran's day.

The prompt is: I picked up the phone and I could not believe what I was hearing...

It was early in the morning of June 25th, 2008, I was still sleeping. I was living with my sister at the time because my husband was deployed. I figured it was him, because everyone knows not to call me early in the morning. I grabbed my phone and it was my friend Jessica. Why in the world is she calling me this early is all I could think. I almost didn't answer it, but she rarely called, and to call that early..she must need something, or it must be important. Recalling from my memory the best I can, this is how the conversation went.

Me: Hello
Jessica: Chris is dead
Me: (mind you I'm still half asleep) WHAT? WHO? What are you talking about?
Jessica: Chris, Carrie's husband, he's dead.
Me: Jessica, this is one sick joke..it's not even funny.
Jessica: I'm serious, he got killed in Afghanistan this morning.
Me: I know he was in Afghanistan, but I just talked to Carrie on MySpace last night, we were talking about my new haircut, she was fine..and didn't mention anything about Chris.
Jessica: They came to her door at like 5 this morning. I'm serious, I don't know what to do for her.
Me: I'm leaving as soon as I can. I will be there tomorrow. I need to get off of here and call her.

I called Carrie immediately. It was true. Being married to a Marine, I have known guys that have been killed before, but they were only acquaintances. Never had one of my good friends lost their husband, or even had a husband injured. These are people that we invited over to our house for our kids parties, we went to their house for their sons party, and tupperware parties! They came over for Christmas parties and Thanksgiving, and just to have a party period! Chris was always right there with my husband getting drunk and being the life of the party! Chris was that guy, no matter what was going on, he could always bring a smile to your face. I was in shock!

I was in New Mexico living with my sister at the time. Carrie was living at Camp Pendleton. I told her I was coming out. I didn't know what to say, and nothing I did say could make it better, but I needed to be there for her. I felt so helpless being so far away, and not being able to just give her a hug and tell her I loved her. She told me I didn't have to, and I know I didn't, but I know she would do the same if roles were reversed. I spent the rest of that day packing my bags and letting all my family know what was going on. My husband called later that evening, he had seen where I had posted about Chris's death on my MySpace, and he was in just as much shock. I thought he might not want me to drive the 14+ hours by myself with 3 kids to go see her, but he encouraged me.

The next morning I woke up at 3am and headed out. I made it to her house by 7 that evening. All I could do was hug her and tell her I loved her. It is heart wrenching to see someone hurting so bad, and not being able to help.

Carrie is an AMAZINGLY strong woman. She held it together better then I could have ever imagined, and continues to hold it together today! I am so proud to call her my friend. She is a great mother, and wonderful friend. She has her bad days of course, but she trudges on and continues to live her life, which I am positive, Chris wants her to do! I love her and admire her!

Just remember on Veterans day and EVERY day: Freedom is not free! Never forgot those who gave all so you can have the freedom to do what you do each day!

Here are a few pictures of Chris I took off of Carrie's profile

Chris


Carrie and Chris Ball 06


All of us at my house for our "dirty" Santa Party


Michael at his Dad's grave


Carrie and Michael at Chris's grave

FINALLY!!!

WE HAVE INTERNET!!

So at the beginning of the week, I received my college winter course schedule. In order to fit my kids' schedules, I am going to have to take some online classes. So this put me in a panic. I have to get internet before I even THINK about signing up for these classes. So I began a torrid of phone calls! I had called Verizon last month, and they still had no updated our phone lines, but I thought I'd give it another shot and see before I committed to the $60 more a month, plus a two year commitment, on our cell phone bill. I gave the lady my situation, and gave my apologies for bothering her, but if she could PLEASE check if our lines had been updated, and if not, could she please put in a request on my behalf! To my SHOCK, she said they just updated our lines last week. Our EXACT address wasn't showing in their system, but this is a brand new house on a brand new street..so she would send a tech out to check it out. Well yesterday the tech showed up..and 4 hours of him messing with the lines, I HAVE INTERNET!! I'm so excited..although this has put me far behind in my cleaning I needed to accomplish today!!

So on a different note. Tomorrow is our Marine Corps Ball. This year, it just doesn't excite me that much. The days is going to be SUPER hectic..and I am impressed not impressed with this commands ability INABILITY to properly plan things out. The day will be filled with training for both Marines and spouses. I am not complaining about the training. The training makes perfect sense. With everyone being a recruiter all over the state of Washington and Idaho, it would make sense to do the training when they have everyone gathered at the same place. What I AM complaining about is how they have the day planned out. I have to be there at 8 am..mind you it is an hour and a half drive for me..so of course hubby will go with me. I will spend from 8-10:30 in family readiness training, then I will meet the command, whom all i met in July, but I'm sure there are a few spouses that haven't. After the meet and greet, awards will be given to Marines and spouses from 11-12. Then from 12-2 is the Marines training. This right here is what gets me. My husband will be sitting around twirling his thumbs from 8-10:30 while I am in training, and then I will be sitting around twirling my thumbs from 12-2 while he is in training. They have different people training the spouses from who is training the Marines..so tell me why they couldn't do it at the same time? Probably because it is TOO logical to do it that way!! After my husband finishes with his training, we will have to head back the hour and a half to our house, get ready, drive the hour and a half back and make it by 5:30 at the latest. So this gives me 30 min to shower, dress, make-up and hair for a FORMAL...REALLY?? UGH, if I had somewhere to change and shower there, I would just take it all with me!!

Ok, that is my tid bit of complaining..

Kids are doing great in school. They seemed to have adjusted to the move quite well. If my financial aid ever kicks in, I will be starting school in Jan. I go on November 18th and sign up for my classes. I'm excited and nervous all in one. I know once I get started, it'll all be easy, but I have been out of school for almost 10 years now. It is a bit intimidating to start over again! But I am OH SO ready!
I'm ready to start working. I have a LONG road ahead of me to do what I want to do, which is become a midwife, but I just keep reminding myself, BABY steps!!

Ok..so it's going to take me a little bit to get back in the groove of the net!! I will try to get pictures of my house and post them soon. I miss doing Not Me Monday's..so I am going to try to do those next week!

Now off to do some house work that I have been neglecting today, since I have spent all day trying to catch up on 2 months with no net!!