Movie Love

This past weekend was a little crazy, and it felt never-ending. But Monday brought a new week and so far, I am as happy as can be.

It feels like Christmas. I'm working to get stuff done before break. Man do I need one! I think we all do.

Besides Christmas, this is one of my favorite times of the year for another reason: movies! And most of the best ones! The only downside is that Johnstown hardly ever gets any of the limited releases. But that won't stop me. As of now, I'm driving an hour away with some friends on Thursday to see Black Swan. I'll drive all Oscar season if I have to. There's a buttload of films I want to see.


I'm almost done with my final college application - LMU. I've been working on the film essay. I have to write about the elements of the most powerful stories and storytellers. The essay has actually been giving me a hard time.

When I was searching for inspiration the other day, I stumbled across a dude who makes a movie montage at the end of each year. They were really cool. Of course, I'm a sucker for those montages at the ends of movies that give you little heart goosebumps (see Annie Hall, Slumdog Millionaire, 500 Days of Summer, and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix).

Anyways, the Cinema 2010 montage was uploaded today. Make some popcorn and enjoy!

Also, only four days until Christmas! I can't believe it!

I Want to Dance

I just had the urge to dance. Like fun dancing. Goofy, awkward, flinging arms everywhere dancing. And I want to laugh.

Last night, Ryan and I watched The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Unfortunately, I was disappointed. I read about the movie online. It received good reviews and everyone was talking about how much they liked it. Despite it's 2.5 hour running time, I was assured that it was thrilling.

I have to disagree. Ryan and I were bored. While the girl who plays Lisbeth (the girl with the dragon tattoo) was cool, it was hard to stay interested. I realize that converting a story from book form to movie form is really difficult. So, I don't usually try to compare the two. I hate it when people label a Harry Potter film as awful because it left out a half of a page of the book. I don't even care if the movie has plot changes. At the end of the day, the film has to stand on its own as a good piece of art.

But the changes made to the film version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo were weird and awkward. Unlike the book, I thought the movie was flat. It never got more thrilling or climaxed.

And finally, it pushed the whole feminist thing way too much. The book dealt with the issue of female abuse in a cool way that befitted the story. On the other hand, the movie included an extended rape scene (that was awkward to watch with Ryan) and numerous murder pictures. When the long movie should have been ending, Lisbeth had a long conversation with her mom about the abuse she suffered from her father. I think this is a plot development from the second novel. It didn't need to be in the first movie. Last, an important character from the book wad dead in the movie. Why. Here's the exact line: "Anita had a successful career before tragically dying of breast cancer." Why not? Let's throw breast cancer awareness in there too. The line sounded ridiculous even is Swedish.

Sorry for complaining. I know you don't care. The experience wasn't totally awful.The film's un-American sex scenes sparked interesting conversation between Ryan and me. And in the scene where Lisbeth removes her shirt to reveal armpit hair, Ryan did a double take. I forgot Swedish girls rolled like that. Hot.

Before going to bed, we watched a little bit of the documentary This Film is Not Yet Rated for a good laugh.



As I worked on stuff today, I've been listening to Conditions by the Temper Trap. It's really good. Why haven't I bought that album yet?


11 days until Christmas!

I know it's not a Christmas song, but here's Love Lost by the Temper Trap.

Hi There.

I am a man now. So suck it. Just kidding. I shouldn't talk like that on here.

As an adult, I have discovered two things:
1. I am officially addicted to coffee.
2. I miss blogging.

Lately, other commitments have been sucking my life away. But tomorrow, that changes. I promise. I have things I want to talk about.

Tonight I am up late working on homework and finalizing a college essay. If you ever feel down in the dumps. Stay up late and work on stuff with the aid of an iPod, coffee, and frozen yogurt.

See you tomorrow! Until then... watch this. I'm so excited!

Entering the Cocoon

I can't wait to curl up in my blankets and go to sleep. As I do, I will be entering a cocoon. Tomorrow when I wake up, I will legally be considered an adult. I will be eighteen.

Will I suddenly become a man? Will my friends and family recognize me?
In reality, I will eat some Oreo Blizzard cake from DQ (yum) at some point and life will go on as usual. I've been so busy with college applications and such lately that I haven't had time to reflect on this adulthood thing. By the way, a few minutes ago I officially began editing the short film - I pieced two clips together. Whoot! Whoot!

Turning eighteen isn't really a big deal. I'm not in to dirty movies. However, it has served as a gentle reminder that high school is going to end. Which is weird but cool. The rest of my life is going to start in a year, and I need to get ready. My mom will no longer be available to tie my ties for me! (Don't worry - I'm learning.)

Anyway, I should get some sleep, but first...

I like fall. One of my favorite things about my birthday season is the movies! Besides Toy Story 3, Inception, and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, the summer films kind of sucked. Autumn seems like it is going to come to the cinematic rescue!

So really quickly, here's Chad's fall movie preview:

1. Never Let Me Go
September 15th


During my sophomore year, I read an online interview with my girlfriend Keira Knightley. She talked about a movie she was working on based on an awesome book - Never Let Me Go. I borrowed the book from my teacher and read it in a week. I thought it was beautiful. Plus, Keira and Carey Mulligan are involved in the movie: heaven. It will probably be depressing... I'm excited.

2. 127 Hours
November 5th

I mentioned earlier that I have a love obsession with Danny Boyle (28 Days Later, Slumdog Millionaire). So naturally, I have to check out his new movie. I just saw the teaser trailer yesterday. It's based on a true story and stars James Franco as a dude who gets stuck in a Utah canyon. Looks cool.

3.The Social Network
October 1st

Alright, I've been hearing buzz about this movie for forever. Apparently the script is really good. And David Fincher is brilliant. Plus, I think Jesse Eisenberg is funny (Alaina thinks he is cute... eww). The Social Network has already been called a classic and generation defining. Ever since I read The Great Gatsby, I have been waiting to watch a moody film. This is it.

4. Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows (Part One)
November 19th

I'm a big fan of the crew that made the last two Potter films. From the looks of things, they outdid themselves on the finale. I could pee myself just thinking about it. Nothing else needs to be said. (Except that Emma Watson will be wearing a red dress)

5. Tron Legacy
December 17th

I don't really know much about this one. But I've been reading about it for the past two years... seriously. Tron was an eighties movie with Jeff Bridges (I never saw it). It sort of started the whole CGI animation thing that led to Pixar and everything else. It's a certified nerd classic. The new one has Jeff Bridges too and is apparently going to be awesome. I'll have to rent the original and then go see this one with my boys.

Alright... it's late! I need sleep for my big day. This is minor Chad signing off for the last time. Night!

A Pressing Matter

So... after my adventure to WixPix, my weekend turned out to be much busier than I expected - complete with the grand opening of a new building at my school, a meteor shower, a trip to no where Pennsylvania, and a flaming car. I also ran into some dead ends on my short film and had a few college freak outs with my parents.

I want to talk about all of this, but for once in my life I am tired of filmmaking and college. In fact, if someone were to approach me at this particular moment and mention those two words, I would probably hurl my blueberry yogurt at them.

Right now, I want to talk about a much more pressing matter...

The Homosexual Tension between Edward and Jacob in Eclipse.

Normally, I completely boycott all things Twilight, but we had the chance to go to the Westwood theater on Friday at film camp. The theater was really cool, and Carol Anne tells me that a bunch of premieres were held there back in the day.

Eclipse was the only thing playing and surprisingly most of the film students who went were guys. We were really desperate to get off campus.

Eclipse played out as expected. I soon realized that girls like Twilight because it's basically soft porn. Seriously. Jacob was always shirtless - for no reason. Bella was cool but behaved like a whore. She made out with Jacob. Then Edward. Then Jacob again in a neverending cycle. And she tried to get in Edward's pants.

I found all of the violence and sexual stuff to be disturbing since many ten-old-girls are into the series. Girls like my little sister. I quickly called my mom to make sure my sister did not go see Eclipse, but it was too late. Dun. Dun. Dun.

Anyway, the most interesting part of Eclipse was the tent scene. Apparently Twilight fans were anticipating this scene because I found a whole blog devoted to it. The basic jist is that the famous trio are on top of a mountain during a snow storm. Bella is freezing and needs warmed up. Edward can't keep her warm because he's a vampire.

This gives Jacob the chance to say the line, "Let's face it, I'm hotter than you." So, werewolf boy crawls into a sleeping bag with a shivering Kristen Stewart and proceeds to think dirty thoughts that Edward can read.

God, I would hate to know what Stephanie Meyer is like in person.

And what was most disturbing was the fact that every guy in the theater turned to look at each other. We all felt it. The homosexual tension. It was awkward and weird. I can't explain it, but it was like both Jacob and Edward were thinking about ditching Bella, and running away with each other.

Still, not all things were awful. I have to admit... the movie was pretty sexy. At a couple steamy moments, we all squirmed in our seats. Afterwards, everyone admitted how much Eclipse made them miss their significant others back home, myself included.

Plus, Eclipse had really good music. Like this song...

And then there was...

THE TRAILER FOR HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS.

The trailer was greeted with a standing ovation. Being a Harry Potter fan since I read The Chamber of Secrets in second grade, I cannot wait!