DO YOU WANT TO BUILD A SNOWMAN

I couldn't hold it back any longer. My obsession for Frozen must be made known. Now.

I honestly had very low expectations for this movie for the longest time. I saw the trailer for it with Olaf losing his nose and Sven eating it (for those of you who have not watched this yet, Olaf is a snowman, and hence he has a nose made of carrot, not flesh), and it just didn't look very appealing. I even dismissed the post I saw on Facebook with Idina Menzel singing a sample of one of the songs since I didn't know that she was actually voice acting a prominent role. The point is, I didn't pay attention to it until I started hearing the hype.

Oh my lord, the hype. It was everywhere. I was basically shamed into watching it because I'm not a free-thinking soul who can live without getting all of the mainstream references. I was calling a group of friends, and one of them kept saying (or singing), "Do you want to build a snowman?" I had no idea what he was referencing until I asked him, and at that point, I just said, alright enough, it's time to watch the damn thing.

So Frozen is about two sisters, Anna (Kristen Bell) and Elsa (Idina Menzel), who rule over Arendelle as estranged orphans. Elsa, the eldest, has the power to create ice (hence the title), and is so traumatized by a childhood accident that she blamed herself for, that she hid away from her sister and everyone else, only to find her power would grow out of her control. After the secret of her powers gets out, she escapes to the North Mountain and becomes a bad-ass bitch so she can create her own ice castle and finally be "free," leaving behind a kingdom in a "real howler in July." Anna goes after her with her new buddy Kristoff the ice deliverer to attempt to bring summer and her sister back to Arendelle.

Spoiler alert from now. Sorry. Guess you'll just have to watch the movie. >:)

May I just say: there was so much troll humor in this movie it killed me. The entire problem with this movie started when Grandpoppy tells Elsa that her powers are to be feared, failing to mention that the only way to control it is to be open about it and love, which doesn't really work out. You almost tricked us with your feigned wisdom, but you're just a troll. Stop with your trolling. Anyway, there wouldn't be a movie without that so I suppose I should be grateful. Also, when the troll priest dude says, "Do you, Anna, take Kristoff to be your trollfully wedded..." That KILLED me. So your favorite line was, "Some people are worth melting for?" Cool beans, but honestly, how can you beat being trollfully wed to someone you just met by actual trolls? My happiness derives from the fact that I often use the expression "trolololol," by the way.

THE MUSIC. There's a reason why the title of this post is in headlines. I have been listening to the soundtrack of this movie nonstop for the past few weeks, which is truly unhealthy, but I just can't stop listening! I had the same reaction of basically everyone else at first: "Wait, Kristen Bell can sing? Kristen Bell can sing really well? What?" It was obsession thereafter.

There were so many Broadway stars in this movie, it's no wonder they're comparing this to The Lion King. Speaking of which, my father likes to tell me I watched The Lion King at least forty times as a kid, so at least my tendency to obsess over musical movies is not a new thing. Fun fact: even Kristen Bell has been on Broadway. She played Becky Thatcher in "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" (there are clips on YouTube) and sang in the revival of "The Crucible" with wait... Liam Neeson? There are just fun facts everywhere. Thank goodness I have IMDb.

Idina. Freaking. Menzel. Ohmotherofbabyjesus. Her voice, in my opinion, has actually gotten stronger than when she was on Broadway, which is ridiculous and probably the result of computers and recording technology, but I was listening to the "Wicked" soundtrack and the Frozen soundtrack back to back, and it just sounds stronger in the most recent one. Menzel packs a powerful punch to all of her performances, but the song "Let It Go" was simply perfection. Sorry, Demi Lovato, you cannot sing the same song as Idina Menzel and expect me to like it more.

Confession: I actually do like Demi Lovato's version (it's an awesome song for working out), but still not as much as the movie version.

Oh gosh, look at the time. I've gone a full half hour without listening to "Let It Go." I thought there was something amiss. And with that, I leave you with the strongest recommendation I have ever given: See. Frozen. Now. Now. Now.

Stuck in Love (the movie, not real life)

There need to be more movies like this one out there. Now, I have to say I like this movie for very selfish reasons; usually I like a movie because it's believable, the characters are well-written and well-acted, and if there's a nice soundtrack, but this movie was special because of its Canadian title Writers. I'd like to think I'm an aspiring writer... when I'm not busy studying, eating, sleeping, or playing Candy Crush. Regardless, I just want all of these people to be in my life, flaws and all. Also, any story about writers inspires me to go write, hence this blog post's existence. Also, when I found this on YouTube (yes, it's on YouTube, so go watch it now; there are no excuses), I felt like an idiot because a few months ago, I had looked for it EVERYWHERE, and couldn't find it. The internet is an elusive creature.

Stuck in Love is a movie tracking the intertwining but very different stories of four different family members: William Borgens, a published writer (Greg Kinnear), Erica, the ex-wife who married a younger and rather more muscular man because she's played by Jennifer Connelly so she looks like she's 10 years younger than she actually is and it's totally fine, Samantha Borgens, a college-aged, soon-to-be published writer who's a bit promiscuous (Lily Collins), and Rusty Borgens, Sam's sweet and innocent baby brother (Nat Wolff).

From the very beginning, it's pretty clear that this family has some issues. Sam, who is a "realist" and hates the idea of love, makes it very clear that she does not communicate with her mother because she feels betrayed ever since her mother left her father for another man. This dynamic in and of itself creates tension within the whole family since everyone else still somehow stays in contact with her. The dad, William, is still clearly in love with his ex-wife to the point where he takes great pleasure in watching her fight with her new husband from their window, which is a bit creepy. The runt of the family, Rusty, is still going through that unfortunate high school phase of extreme bouts of awkwardness, and has that equally unfortunate but fitting hopelessly romantic outlook on life and girls. Basically, each member of the family receives some kind of advice to step out of their comfort zone and explore life a bit more, all in the context of lots of writing and lots of partying.

Yes, it's a feel-good, cheesy movie. Yes, I absolutely still love it. OH MY GOD I just realized the director of this movie, Josh Boone, also directed The Fault in Our Stars. How. Did. I. Not. Know. This. I just became doubly excited for TFiOS. Holy crap.

Honestly, one of the things that made this movie so much better was the cast. Had this movie had mediocre actors, I would 've been very upset. From the perspective of acting in general, I just love it when there are those perfectly natural looking scenes when there are so many people talking at once to no one or anyone and it's not just lines from one person to another. There's a scene like that in Super 8 where there are six kids sitting at a diner having a million conversations at once. I love it. It bumps movies up a notch in my opinion, and to quote my brother, it makes it "real." Yes, he watched it. Guys, take note; it's not a chick flick.

I wasn't a huge fan of Logan Lerman, but I guess it's only because I feel like it was Charlie from The Perks of Being a Wallflower playing the character Louis because honestly, can he play anything besides an awkward kid with family issues and a love for obscure books and music? I can't decide if I want him to go play some badass character or if I want him to just keep playing awkward guys for the sake of not finding out if he's bad at being a badass. Also, I didn't like his character in the movie in general. Louis was needed but not needed... his only hold on the plot was the fact that he is inexplicably in love with Samantha Borgens even though she is clearly not his type. Pretty much everything in this movie was believable, but Louis's existence seemed very forced. With a bit more back story, that could've become something I'd be ok with.

I was, however, a huge fan of the soundtrack of this movie. God damn. I'm listening to "Between the Bars" by Elliot Smith as I'm writing this and I may or may not have had a mini scavenger hunt for all of the music. It's definitely a genre of music that not everyone will enjoy... but it's pretty chill and more importantly, it perfectly portrays the swinging moods throughout the film. One might call it obscure. Hang on and let me go get my Ray-Bans.

So all in all, I absolutely definitely recommend this movie. Just gave it 9 stars on IMDb and heard my brother tell me to tell everyone else to watch this movie. The fact that he said that combined with the fact that I listened to my brother adds up to gowatchthismovienownownow. Like I said, it's on YouTube (for now). There are no excuses.

Speaking is a good thing.

So I'm doing some serious college-level procrastination here on a Sunday night because I feel like I'm still stuffed from the last three Thanksgiving meals I've eaten (three days in a row, not three years in a row). I should probably look over this political science presentation, but you know what? We all already know that China and North Korea have authoritarian governments. Hopefully. If you didn't know that, please refer to a New York Times near you. Or the internet. The internet is a wonderful creation.

While at college, I've learned a few things. First, that the college experience is like one big culture shock. Living with someone completely new and expecting to get along, making new friends quicker and becoming besties in months... It's expected of us but challenging nonetheless. The other thing I've learned is how some people live thinking that speaking up for yourself and for others is something that requires perfect timing and circumstance. I had never really experienced this kind of thing outside of cheesy American comedies and dramas, where I found it peculiar that a character would struggle so much over telling someone the truth, no matter how large or small the consequences. They'd always wait for the "right moment" or just make excuses until the truth came out in a horrible way that they hadn't anticipated, snowballing into the climax of the movie.

Don't get me wrong, I get when it's hard to say something when there's a lot at stake, but if you're just avoiding the subject for the sake of avoiding the subject, that's cowardice. I just read an article in the New York Times about my aunt and uncle who married five years ago, and they described their relationship as one that works because of communication. Everything is talked about. Some things may be argued over but at least they're out there.

In my own family, bluntness is a requirement. My dad grew up thinking debates were relaxed everyday discussions, while my mother thought the opposite, but regardless, debates are a regular thing. For some, this might make it seem like my household life is stressful or annoying, but I honestly miss it so much here at college where passive aggressiveness is the norm (I unfortunately do not exclude myself from such behavior) and there's no such thing as putting an issue out in the open to talk about. I've been in multiple situations where people have wanted to bring up an issue, but they don't because they're afraid of what comes next. There are times when things can end badly, but honestly, it's better to end something than to drag a horrible situation out. I have heard too many stories of how relationships (between friends, boyfriends, and girlfriends) ended because he said that she said that their neighbor's dog said that something happened when it didn't and then miscommunication after miscommunication ruins everything when it would have been so much easier to cut the crap and talk.

So people - most books and movies may create expectations about the awful shit that goes down when you actually talk directly at a person, but there are so many other books and movies that are about what happens when you don't speak. Like the book/movie Speak.

Got a problem with your friend? Talk with them about it. But more importantly, talk about solutions to that problem so it doesn't end terribly like in the movies. Got a problem with your enemy? Same thing. I'm going to cringe as I impart this little tip... Sometimes it's good to speak before you think. Too much, that is. Speak about your stress, don't stress about speaking, and all of a sudden your speaking will be stress-free.

I'll see if I come up with anything less ranty soon.

Just the Tip of the Apple

Here is how you know you are actually a country girl -- you're the first one to notice among your friends that in the city, you can't see stars at night. Spending a lot of time out on the family farm and at lake houses definitely made me more aware of how bright the stars can be, and it was certainly a shock to the system to look up into a clear sky and see one star... wait, just kidding, it was a plane. I literally relived that moment in Madagascar when Marty and Alex are looking at the sky, trying to find stars, and when they find one it's actually a helicopter.

So now that I've started out on a somber note, it's time to liven things up a little. Yes, I consider myself to be part country girl (I don't listen to country music), but living in the Big Apple is GREAT. People keep mentioning to me that college will pass by so quickly, but so far it feels like I've lived here for months. It's been almost three weeks. As completely cliche as it is, I have to say that there is no place I'd rather be right now. I've stopped chuckling to myself when I tell people I'm heading home when I mean my dorm because it's no longer a strange concept. Taking a step back and thinking about it in this context is a bit scary, but for the most part, I know I feel like I belong. Now cue the emotional collegiate orchestral music and montage of over-smiley faces...

I have been surprised by one thing, other than the fact that I really haven't been able to find time to blog (this doesn't count either since I really need to go back to doing homework): my Theology class. It's not Bible Studies, thank goodness. Yes, I'm going to a Jesuit university; no, not everyone here is religious. Literally all we do is talk, discussing how each person's life is changed by other people and their beliefs and ways of life. Being in that class reminds me of what my dad told me about his family when he was growing up -- all of the siblings would get into these arguments that would go on and get pretty intense, but at the end of the day, no one was upset, and everyone learned something new. I suppose I can't speak for fifty people, but I can personally say that that's how Theology class is for me.

I will probably be posting about that class a lot, because otherwise all I have to talk about is doing homework and eating way too much Ben & Jerry's ice cream. Oh, and getting Korean food in Koreatown. And wandering around in Manhattan. And passing by Fashion Week (not even interested in fashion?..). And planning on going to Hell's Kitchen Flea Market. Are you jealous yet?

College!

Hey guys, sorry I haven't posted anything in a lifetime, but it seems I've entered the world college. Whaaaaaat?

So what do I talk about? I feel like I'm not qualified to say anything because I'm a wee freshman still wondering where everything is. I found the bookstore and coffee so I should be set, right?

Orientation was crazy. Being a very independent, somewhat sheltered person, I like structure, but my first two days were just insane. No rest for the weary. At least I could actually tell who the freshmen were by our little lanyards and wide-eyed expressions. The best part by far though was the fact that every single person here that I've met is incredibly friendly. My fellow freshmen, the professors, the staff, and everyone else here is patient, helpful, and knowledgeable. Look at all this cheesy collegiate talk. At least I won't go into detail about the cockroaches...

First day of classes was today. I can't even wrap my brain around most of this stuff (i.e. literally everyone's name), so ironically classes gave me an opportunity to wrap my brain around something. German is not a teacher babbling in German for an hour, and Theology is not Bible Study. What is this, some kind of liberal school? Psh.

I can't think. It's definitely a good idea to blog when one can think. I'm going to sleep and I'll try again later.

Inspirational People

I think we all like to think that there are truly inspirational people out there; people who wholeheartedly care for others, who show unfailing kindness through both their words and their deeds. I was blessed to have known my grandmother, who was that inspirational figure for so many family members and friends. For all intents and purposes, she is a saint in my mind.

To give you some context, my grandmother was the mother of thirteen children, whom she raised and home schooled on a dairy farm. As if this doesn't already sound like an impossible task, she also managed to stay happy and healthy as she welcomed friends, husbands, wives, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren to her home throughout the rest of her life. I suppose I can even thank her for my very existence; it's because of her that my parents met. When I was little, my dad would tell me "Farm Stories," and my favorite was always when my dad and a few of his brothers would sneak off in the middle of reading something since their mother had nodded off, probably to go sit in the cherry tree and eat until they felt sick. It's simply so classic and American and I love it.

I don't know whether or not it makes me a terrible person to get my ideas about heaven from a TV show, but it does give the place a nice impression. In Buffy, there's an episode when she comes back from the dead and discusses what heaven was like. She recalls it being a place where she was completely content and at peace, and she knew that all of her friends and family were safe and loved. There are a lot of ideas about what heaven is like, but this is by far my favorite.

Rest in peace, Granny. You will always be my inspiration.

Much Ado About Joss Whedon

After hearing a few very good comments about it, I decided there was just no escaping it: I had to see Much Ado About Nothing. I had mixed feelings about it going in, since I'm a huge Joss Whedon fan, but I never really learned to appreciate Shakespeare... *ducks and covers as assorted rotten fruits and veggies fly in close proximity to my face*

Maybe I just have a thing for black and white modern films. I still love The Artist in all of its wonderful and lightly humorous beauty. Much Ado was similar to this, with its roller coaster of emotions and unexpected moments of hilarity.

Basically, the play is about two couples who go about admitting their love in two very different ways; while one couple is set to marry in a few days' time with only a few... minor... setbacks, the other pair profusely denies their love for one another, bickering and providing most of the comedic relief while avoiding the topic of love when they're clearly falling head over heels for each other (sometimes literally).

Being a Joss Whedon film, I have to comment on the actors first. If you've watched any of the other TV shows Joss Whedon has produced/directed/written (seriously, any), you'll notice right away that he basically took a couple actors from each of his shows and dumped them into this one. Once I got over the fact that Wes was finally going for Fred (Angel) and Topher actually grasped the concept of love (Dollhouse), it was easier, but it's still a little disorienting. Truth be told, I completely support Joss's casting since he really knows these actors. The characters did remind me of previous roles they've played, but only because they played those roles so damn well. Reaching out for new actors would've been tricky, especially on a budget of... well, so low I can't find it, since Joss Whedon apparently said, "Whatever you're thinking, it's less." Respect.

Many aspects of the film took a while adjusting to, but it's mostly because of the nature of the film itself. It's in black and white, it's in Shakespearean, it's freaking WES and FRED... But I assure you, I was able to eventually slip into a more relaxed viewing state, not trying to rearrange every sentence to make sense of it. It's like travelling to a foreign country and learning the language by just immersing yourself in the culture, only in about ten minutes. Or five if you actually read Shakespeare and don't cling to your Sparknotes. *somersaults into bomb shelter to avoid the fury of the gods of English literature*

The overall setting was very well done, especially considering it was apparently filmed at someone's house... This may sound easy, but for those professional-looking shots, it takes more than a camera and a house to film. They worked with this aspect very well. As for the setting in terms of story, Joss Whedon does a very nice job mingling time periods and cultural differences. Don't believe me? Watch five minutes of Firefly.

I actually have a gazillion other things to do right now. I swear I planned on a relaxing, stress-free summer, but I've finally proven that it's impossible for me. Point is, I'll talk about one more thing before going back to procrastinating. Which is probably why I'm stressed. No matter.

Unlike this blog, that movie had comedic timing and stunt work that was incredible, especially considering the time spent (twelve days to be exact). It goes to show how mind-blowingly awesome a group of actors is when they spit Shakespeare's lines like they came out of the womb talking like that (albeit there were a few monotone lines toward the beginning), and how the timing was perfect. I literally have nothing to equate it to. I always find some awkward spot in comedic timing in a movie, where someone stands with a blank stare on his face for a millisecond too long, but Much Ado had no time for that (terrible pun intended). There was such a familiarity in those awkward fumblings of Dogberry and Verges, as well as the over-the-top comedy of Beatrice and Benedick that gave me a newfound appreciation for Elizabethan comedy and a renewed appreciation for all things Joss Whedon. I even made the terrible decision last night of going back and watching one of the only Angel episodes where Fred and Wes are together... I won't name names, but I will say that if I watch this particular episode we'll call "A Schmole in the Schworld', my tear ducts will shrivel up and fall out of my eye sockets.

Wait, what? It was a terrible decision because I watched it at 3:00 in the morning, not because of the episode itself! Shame on you... It's never a terrible decision to watch anything by Joss Whedon.