People Who Do Things

This past weekend, Cass and I were one of those people, you know, people who do things! How strange for us!

On Friday, I went out with some of the ladies from work. We ate at Pizza Factory (Ranch Chicken Pizza . . . yum!), hung out at Walgreens (yup, we're that cool), and saw Breaking Dawn. I have only seen seen Twilight and New Moon, but I've read the books, so I wasn't lost. I actually really enjoyed myself. The cheesy one-liners, the new part, Taylor Lautner, etc. I had a great time. 

The Elder's Quorum had an activity on Saturday up at the shooting range, and they invited the wives to come along too. Cass and I had never been shooting before, and it was pretty fun! We even hit a clay pigeon or two!

Showing off his manly skills

Me with the other girls.

My awesome bruise. I started holding it the right way, but then it would slide down my arm I guess. It looks awesome. It's all nice and purple today!

The City of Ember: The Movie

Based on the novel The City of Ember, this movie does a fairly good job of portraying the story. I definitely liked it less than the book, and I'm not really sure if I liked it at all. It was an okay portrayal, and I'm still a fan of the storyline, but if I was the director, I would have done things much differently. They added unnecessary things, smoothed over some things very quickly, and the "instructions" where all very different. I really enjoyed the book and wanted to enjoy the movie, but they weren't able to give it the correct background and set up that it needed, nor the exciting execution of the novel.

If you do want to see this movie, I would recommend seeing it before reading the book. But that might be confusing so I don't know. I'm just all sorts of up in the air with this movie. Maybe someday I'll reread the book and rewatch the movie. Then my opinion will change. But for now, mediocre.

Mao's Last Dancer

 

Since it was my birthday yesterday, Cass decided we could splurge and redbox a movie. We chose Mao's Last Dancer, figuring as it was about China and Dance, it would appeal to both of us. And it did! I really enjoyed the movie. The dancing was beautiful, and at the end we realized it was based on a true story, so that's really cool! It isn't action-packed or overly emotional, but I thought it was a nice little international indie (is it indie? What is indie?) flick. It's about this boy, Li, who is taken out of his school and away from his family to go to Beijing to serve Chairman Mao by learning to be a beautiful ballerina. Li is good; he is flexible and graceful and has the emotional connection to the dance. Yet the teachers are not overly fond of Li and he is constantly being called 'pig head.' So he works harder. He sneaks out of the dorms at night to practice. And when an American company comes to Beijing, they love Li.  They choose him to come study with them, an exchange student of sorts, for the summer. And Li realizes that he loves the freedom of America much better than the strict regime of communist China. Watch the movie to see where Li ends up! (Oh I sound cheesy!)

Over all, I give it a thumbs up! (mostly for the beautiful dancing. *loves*) So watch!

Date Night: 17 Miracles

So we're officially an old married couple. For "date night" we caught a matinee of 17 Miracles to be followed by dinner at (of course) Wingers. 

17 Miracles tells the story of the Martin-Willies, mainly from the perspective of Levi Savage. I enjoyed this movie from a religious point of view, but it was lacking from a "Hollywood" point of view.  One of the 'miracles' I didn't find too miraculous (*spoiler* -- the one of the girls and the snakes) and another I didn't quite buy (*spoiler* -- the one where the pie or whatever appears).  However, I was touched by many of the others and by the hardships of many of the characters. I wish they had broadened the story more, into miracles of all the saints as opposed to multiple similar miracles of the Martin-Willies, and I felt that there was too much of a focus on the love story of Sarah Franks and George Padley for a movie based on miracles. Overall, however, I did enjoy this movie, and it nearly brought me to tears. I feel that it definitely fulfilled the purpose it set out to. 

Return to Oz

 When I was a child I was simultaneously enthralled and frightened by Return to Oz.  The thought of a witch/princess taking my head for her own scared me half to death. But at the same time, it was a pretty thrilling adventure.  And the inspiration for The Lava Game at my house.  But I the actually storyline isn't too memorable in my head.  So when Jordyn suggested watching Return to Oz at almost ten tonight, I agreed. And even though she fell asleep within the first few minutes, I decided to continue watching after I put her to bed. 

The witch still scares me. Actually, the staff at the mental institution does as well.  It's kind of a creepy movie! The character of the witch reminds me a lot of The White Witch from Narnia, actually, what with her turning people into stone and the way she talks to Dorothy is similar to the way The White Witch talks to Edmund. This witch, however, is solely a princess and is subject to the Gnome King. 

Return to Oz introduces an entirely new cast of characters, such as Belinda the Hen, Jack Pumpkin Head, and Tik Tok.  They are not as lovable as Tin Man, Cowardly Lion, or the Scarecrow, but she still calls them "the best friends anyone could have." It really is beneficial to think of it as a movie version of the book as opposed to a sequel to the movie.  The movie is actually much clearer with knowledge of the novel.  Solely having seen The Wizard of Oz  is not enough, and gives you much different expectations.  The quality is very different, and the feel is not nearly as magical. It is much more focused on saving Oz than her journey home. Even when Dorothy saves the Scarecrow, he looks worse than the original.  It is very much a low-budget Disney film from the 80s. And the whole concept of Princess Ozma is not made clear until the very end, and I'm not sure I even really understand the purpose of the character in this film.

Return to Oz is a fun watch for me, as a memory into my childhood of a movie I feared, but it is certainly not the greatest film out there. I'm not quite sure why I was fascinated with it as a child, but Jordyn seems to love it, so perhaps it's just a kid thing.  So if you see it at the library or it's on tv, give it a try.  Otherwise. . . .