Up and Away!

Ever since I saw the teaser trailer last year for Up, I have been counting down the days until I could finally see the latest Pixar film up there on the small screen.  And while nothing really was given away from that trailer, given the history of past Pixar movies, I still wanted to pay the ridiculously high price of a movie ticket to watch it.  After the (painstakingly) long wait, I joyfully sat down in the gross, darkened theater with the biggest smile on my face today.  I didn't care at all that there were going to be young children possibly screaming, crying, or carrying on, or that the theater wasn't brand new and comfy.  I just really needed to see this movie.

Up definitely delivered, and after reading so many positive reviews from the Cannes film festival, I didn't doubt it.  The emotional impact from the beginning sequence of events, in which we see the life of young Carl Fredricksen and his dreams (this part is actually my favorite.  I loved the procession of years set alongside the piano accompaniment.  I remember reading somewhere about how much it was like old silent films, and it really was!) , carries through the entire film. The story of a grumpy old man flying his house with balloons alone seemed interesting, but after seeing how and why this guy did it, you really begin to understand.  Even the addition of the annoying boy scout (who you do actually like) makes this story one of a kind.  

After the old man's wife passes away, his one mission in life is to save his house.  For some time, contractors and developers have been trying to level it.  After being sent to court, where it has been determined he will stay in a retirement community, he brilliantly comes up with the idea of helium balloons.  It seems like a flight of ease and comfort, him and his memories flying toward the one place he always dreamed of, until the knock on the door is heard.  After that, his journey with the young boy begins.  

I don't want to give any more plot away than that, considering I actually want people to go see it.  It's amazing, really, how one can get so swept up in an animated movie.  There's lots of humor too, which definitely makes the kids happy, as was evident in the small company of munchkins who watched in front of me.  That's one thing I've always loved about Pixar movies.  They have this ability to attract both children and adults, pleasing everyone.  In case you haven't seen it already, definitely go.  Plop down your money for this one, because it's probably one of the best computer animated films I've ever seen.  The wait was definitely worth it.

Seasonal Rant

I've taken time out of my incredibly busy schedule (please note the sarcasm there) to address an issue that I think people really need to hear about.  It's been one that has been in our lives for years, and it's about time we really start rallying against this insane phenomenon: season finales. I know you aren't going to understand at first, but here goes.  Why is it that every single show that happens to be broadcast leaves their most exciting, over the top, extremist situations until the very end?  I understand the need to get us viewers enticed for the next season, but come on now, do these writers really need to infuriate us? 

For instance, today I happened to finally watch the season finale of Ugly Betty.  I was really excited too, because instead of one measly hour long episode, there were two.  Two! When there's too, really, anything could happen.  Whatever you see in the first one is totally up in the air when it comes to the second one.  It leaves me sitting on the edge of my seat, biting my nails, and possibly grabbing at my hair until the end, and boy, that's where they get you.

Betty finally manages to grab an editor position (and really, I'm not giving anything away here.  I'm sure anyone can find this information out on other websites), loses it, and then gets another one, completely happy and carefree, but, then stupid ex-boyfriend Henry gets thrown into the mix.  I hate stupid ex-boyfriend Henry.  He always comes in to ruin things right when I'm happy just enjoying what she has already.  Like last year for instance, when she was really happy with Gio and he offered her a trip to Rome (honestly, what girl gives up a chance to go to Rome???), stupid ex-boyfriend Henry decides to come back!  And guess what happened??  She didn't choose either one of them! She did, however, manage to finally grow up and live on her own, though, but still, why did he have to come in and ruin things?

This year, Betty had this really cool boyfriend, Matt, who was really nice and did all this cool stuff for her.  It was going fine too!  Then, for this finale, they broke up!  Why?!  Please tell me why, ABC executives, writers, and producers! (Another major character's wife died, too) I hate this constant up and down emotional roller coaster ride that all these shows force you to go on.  It's not just Ugly Betty either, because I've heard other stories.

I used to religiously watch One Tree Hill, too, but then, after countless seasons repeating the same storyline down my throat, I gave up on it.  It was way too much of a hassle dealing with all the drama, the babies, the hookups, the breakups, so on and so forth.  I thought to myself, If I'm going to watch something this long, I really just need to enjoy every episode. I love shows where you can watch one episode and be very much entertained, like sitcoms.  That's the beauty of a sitcom, too.  They're funny and you don't have to know what happens every. single. moment of the show (yes, those extra periods were necessary).  Apparently, in the season finale, lots of tears are shed, and one of the main characters is possibly going to die (actually, she will die, because it has been reported that both Hilarie Burton and Chad Michael Murray are leaving the show, which I don't understand at all, because the show used to revolve completely around Chad Michael Murray's character).  Why does everyone die at the finale?! 

Grey's Anatomy had its fair share of disturbing shortcomings for its characters too.  Goodbye Izzie and George, both of whom are major components of the script (just so Katherine Heigl and T.R. Knight can get out of their contracts).

I know this sounds like a rant, and pretty much, it is.  It just infuriates me to no end how much stuff shows manage to pack in to one final hour of the season.  Does this much drama actually happen in real life?  No, no it doesn't.

Look how cute they are!  See, it's perfect!

But, oh, look, stupid ex-boyfriend Henry has to come back!  Don't be fooled by his geeky glasses and smile, he's actually evil!

 George: I think I'm going to die.

Izzie: You, too?

Expect something in the upcoming weeks about Up!  You have no idea how excited I am about that movie. 

Show Time

When riding down the main street of South Fallsburg, NY, one of the first things easily noticed is the old Rivoli theater, a building that seems run down, abandoned, and lonely.  The only way of telling that it’s still in business is the change of signs that occurs every two weeks or so, and even then, it doesn’t give much promise of anything spectacular.

            The rest of the town does not help, either, full of bad drivers, homeless walkers, and used car dealers.  However, when the night swings in, and the lights turn on, the Rivoli Theater comes alive. 

            When I was first dragged feet first to see a rendition of Fiddler on the Roof last year, I didn’t expect much.  The theater had looked gross from the outside and the people who shuffled along outside scared me.  However, when the lights dimmed, I was stunned from start to finish.

            The actors did splendid work, even though they were a small local group, and it was very obvious they took their passion to a professional level.  I especially loved the lead actor of the play, whom I mentioned last year after I had seen it.  I managed to see Dial M for Murder also, a few weeks afterwards, which also was really quite entertaining to watch. 

            Sure, a lot of the time, small parts are filled by first timers, but as the cliché goes: In theater there are no small parts, just small actors. A lot of the same actors are recycled through different productions, but seeing a familiar face is never a bad thing.

            The reason I bring this theater up had to do with my viewing of Arsenic and Old Lace, a play I had heard of, but wasn’t familiar with.  At first, I was skeptic of how well it would be played out.  The actresses who play the lead old ladies of the house spoke almost too quietly for the audience to hear, lines were forgotten, and parts of the set fell down.

            It eventually got going, though, and was definitely a production that both entertained me and made me laugh.  The man who played Jonathan, the crazy brother who hadn’t been around in 20 years stole almost every scene, with his twitchy facial expressions and his ability to go from sane to manic in an instant.  He played the part of the villain exceptionally well. 

            I’ve learned something from going to these plays.  You really can’t judge something by it’s façade, and even though that’s something that’s been drilled into kids’ heads ever since they were young, it’s something that needs to be experienced.  

Hello. Goodbye.

Another year has come and gone in the life of this UAlbany student, and it's making me feel crazy knowing that I only have one more year left.  Already, half of my college career is gone, and I've made amazing friends, experience insane random incidents, and seen things that I never will be able to again.  Friends are starting to leave (ahem, Danielle and Aaron), which means next year will be one heck of a ride, trying to make new friends, learning new material (this one being a biggie considering I'm taking six classes next semester and possibly getting an internship in the spring), and everything else that comes along with doing things for the first time without a set of training wheels.  

As for now, I know I haven't been great at updating this, mostly because of my bad habit of procrastinating for most of my classes.  I managed to pull out two eight page papers in two nights, both of which didn't require me to stay up until the sun rose.  I remember the feeling of about two tons of bricks being lifted from my shoulders after those were completed.  Of course I knew about a month ahead of time when those papers were due, but being the lazy college student that I am, I waited until the weekend before.  You've got to love those moments in life.  Where else can you fully appreciate  your work until you get it done at the last possible moment?

Also, I guess, I was actually out doing things for a change.  Believe me, it was a shocker.  The fact that I managed to do fun things outside of my room was a huge difference, but whatever, I'm a new person now, if you want to call it that.  I saw Dane Cook perform live on a stage.  I stumbled through an intense crowd of drunken college students all huddled in a giant fountain.  I smelled dozens of tulips and greasy food as I walked through Tulip Fest in Washington Park.  It was an amazing spring semester and I'm going to miss it.  

Goodbye Albany amazingness.  Hello dull, three month long summer.