Wes Anderson is back and this time he is doing animation? Yes sounds odd but Mr. Anderson is an odd man. Even though this is animation, Wes Anderson's new film, Fantastic Mr. Fox, maintains that Wes Anderson flair and style. Slick, colorful and off-beat this film look likes its going to be a fun ride.
I love this trailer! I'm not the biggest fan of Coen Brothers' films, but this trailer is so amazingly unique using sounds from various scenes and making a rhythmic mash-up. I give props to the editor of this trailer for creating such a unique fresh style of trailer editing. It makes me very intrigued for this film, it looks hilarious and refreshing. Can't wait to hear more from this film.
"The Rabbi is busy."
"He doesn't look busy!"
"He's thinking..."
LMAO.
Ever since I got a new camera (Sony Cybershot W290), I wanted to take the opportunity to use it to take some artistic photographs. So I got this list from Marielle's blog (which she got it from her friend, Kristin's blog) of 100 things to take photos of. Each photo must somehow show or convey the thing/concept that is stated. This list has quite a couple of abstract ones so it is going to be challenge, but I'm determined to get all of them and within a year. This is going to be fun! Wish me luck! =)
Here's the list:
1. Introduction
2. Love
3. Light
4. Dark
5. Seeking Solace
6. Break Away
7. Heaven
8. Innocence
9. Drive
10. Breathe Again
11. Memory
12. Insanity
13. Misfortune
14. Smile
15. Silence
16. Questioning
17. Blood
18. Rainbow
19. Gray
20. Fortitude
21. Vacation
22. Mother Nature
23. Cat
24. No Time
25. Trouble Lurking
26. Tears
27. Foreign
28. Sorrow
29. Happiness
30. Under the Rain
31. Flowers
32. Night
33. Expectations
34. Stars
35. Hold My Hand
36. Precious Treasure
37. Eyes
38. Abandoned
39. Dreams
40. Rated
41. Teamwork
42. Standing Still
43. Dying
44. Two Roads
45. Illusion
46. Family
47. Creation
48. Childhood
49. Stripes
50. Breaking the Rules
51. Sport
52. Deep in Thought
53. Keeping a Secret
54. Tower
55. Waiting
56. Danger Ahead
57. Sacrifice
58. Kick in the Head
59. No Way Out
60. Rejection
61. Fairy Tale
62. Magic
63. Do Not Disturb
64. Multitasking
65. Horror
66. Traps
67. Playing the Melody
68. Hero
69. Annoyance
70. 67%
71. Obsession
72. Mischief Managed
73. I Can't
74. Are You Challenging Me?
75. Mirror
76. Broken Pieces
77. Test
78. Drink
79. Starvation
80. Words
81. Pen and Paper
82. Can You Hear Me?
83. Heal
84. Out Cold
85. Spiral
86. Seeing Red
87. Food
88. Pain
89. Through the Fire
90. Triangle
91. Drowning
92. All That I Have
93. Give Up
94. Last Hope
95. Advertisement
96. In the Storm
97. Safety First
98. Puzzle
99. Solitude
100. Relaxation
Here is a list of films that I have seen a minimum of 5 times, that I seem never to get bored or tired of. These are the few films that manage to keep me entertained even after many repeated viewings and even get better every time I see it. These films are thought provoking, emotional, and simply awe-inspiring. Every time I watch them I gather some new meaning, theme, reference or connotation. These are the films I aspire to make when I become a film director:
(List is in no particular order)
Requiem for a Dream
Number of viewings: 8
I never get tired of this film, it’s one of Darren Aronofsky’s masterpieces filled with style and a powerful message. It also has a memorable soundtrack.
American Beauty
Number of viewings: 6
This film is simply amazing! An extremely powerful movie filled with so many layers of meaning and symbolism. Kevin Spacey at his finest!
Matrix
Number of viewings: 10+ (I honestly lost count)
The best science-fiction film I’ve ever seen. This is another film with an extremely complex and intricate set of layers of symbolism, connotations, and references. This film is not simply understood in one viewing. I only started to understand the plot in around the 3rd viewing! Every time I see this film I figure out something new.
The Mummy (1999 version)
Number of viewings: 10+ (Honestly lost count with this one too)
Alright, this not quite a “thought provoking” film, but this film is simply an awesomely fun ride! It brings a smile to my face every time I see it.
Pulp Fiction
Number of viewings: 7 times
Violence, style, and Samuel L. Jackson yelling scripture, what more can you ask for? One of the best films ever made in my opinion.
The Fountain
Number of viewings: 5
Beauty captured on film. From the sound, to the story, to the cinematography to the actor’s performances this film is simply beautiful. Darren Aronofsky’s other masterpiece. A simply enigmatic film trespassing the standards of Hollywood storytelling. Deep, metaphorical, and heart-felt, every single scene is a beautiful work of art. This film is magical and epic with a very complex structure and many ways of interpreting it’s story. Many viewings are definitely needed for this one.
The Aviator
Number of viewings: 6
Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese at their finest. What an amazing film! One of the best biopics I have seen. DiCaprio’s performance is amazing and one of the best I’ve ever seen. Can’t believe this movie didn’t win any Oscars!
What happens when you get members from Vampire Weekend and from Ra Ra Riot and add some synths, Daft Punk style? You end up getting Discovery, a recent collaboration between Rostam Batmanglij, keyboardist and producer of Vampire Weekend, and Wes Miles, singer of Ra Ra Riot. This is a match made in heaven, it’s my two favorite indie bands, collaborating together creating an electro-pop Daft-Punk-esque sound meanwhile maintaining that Vampire Weekend flair. Loving this album and hope to hear more from them soon.
Recently I was watching a film that made a couple of references to another film, Dead Poets Society, which I unfortunately have forgotten about because I haven't seen the film in ages. Well anyways the film, Dead Poets Society, is one of the most influential movies I have seen and a personal favorite. It has one of my favorites quotes ever spoken on film. Said by the character, John Keating played by Robin Williams, it was one of the first times I heard the amazing phrase Carpe Diem which is latin for "Seize the Day". It's a life changing film, a life changing performance, a life changing line. Without further a due, here are the beautiful words spoken by Robin Williams:
"They're not that different from you, are they? Same haircuts. Full of hormones, just like you. Invincible, just like you feel. The world is their oyster. They believe they're destined for great things, just like many of you. Their eyes are full of hope, just like you. Did they wait until it was too late to make from their lives even one iota of what they were capable? Because, you see gentlemen, these boys are now fertilizing daffodils. But if you listen real close, you can hear them whisper their legacy to you. Go on, lean in. Listen, you hear it? Carpe — hear it? — Carpe, carpe diem, seize the day boys, make your lives extraordinary." -Dead Poets Society
I sat down one day and wondered to myself, what makes me feel happy? What things do I do that brighten my day? After pondering this I decided to write this list to express the things that make me feel happy. I follow these simple 7 steps on a daily basis and they brighten my day every time. Hopefully this will do the same for you. Enjoy!
1. Smile more often
People don’t realize the power of a simple smile. A smile can lighten any mood or any situation no matter how bad. When you walk down the street, you should smile. When you see your friend, you should smile. When life seems gloomy try giving someone you know a smile, I assure you they will smile back and the fact that they smile back will make you feel warm and happy inside. A smile is a beautiful thing, regardless of the face or the situation. Smiling is contagious and once you smile someone is bound to smile around you. Even smiling when you’re by yourself can make you happier. So go out there and smile! =)
2. Think Positive
People vastly underestimate the power of positive thinking. When you start thinking of things you DO WANT rather than things you DON’T WANT, you will start attracting those positive experiences into your life. Think of that brand new car you want rather than the debt you have or buying it will entail. Think of the person you want to be with rather than constantly think of the loneliness you feel. Constantly think positive, be an optimist because in life it’s not worth it thinking negatively. Start seeing the positive things of life, preoccupy your mind with only things you want to happen, and once you do good things will start happening.
3. Take things slowly
If you live life too fast you will miss out on the good things in life. Instead of living in a rush; a rush to finish school, a rush to finish the work day, a rush to get to work, a rush to eat your food, a rush to fall in love, a rush to grow, a rush to make money, SLOW DOWN! Simply taking things slow will help you to appreciate all the fine things in life. Start eating slowly and enjoy the awesome amount of unique flavors by taking one deliberate bite at a time. Walk slowly, start enjoying all the beautiful scenery that’s around you, appreciate all the friendly faces you see walking by. Talk slowly, calmly gather your thoughts and then speak freely, rationally and coherently. When talking to another person, let the person speak, don’t be in a rush to interrupt, simply listen to everything someone has to say, then when that person is done you should speak your mind. Love slowly; don’t rush into a relationship too hastily. Get to know a potential partner, learn who they are, listen to them, talk to them. A healthy relationship has to have a strong hearty foundation and it’s best to build that slowly and deliberately with lots of care and love. When reading a book, read it slowly. Reflect upon the words you are reading. Take in all the detail that is given to you; slowly paint an image of the story into you head, that way the book will be more thoroughly enjoyed. When working, do your job slowly. Pay attention to the smallest detail, no matter how painstaking, by the end of the ordeal you will end up doing a much better job and feeling good that you just did so. Learn slowly. No one becomes a master at something overnight. Take your time to learn something, whether it’s learning a new mathematical function, learning history, learning how to use a new device, learning how to play an instrument, learning how play a sport or learning how to dance. Whatever you are learning, take your time, learn it calmly, slowly and deliberately, at the end you will become amazing at it. Taking things slow, living life slow will help you appreciate all the small things in life that we miss when we are in a rush. Take life step by step and life will become a much happier place.
4. Listen to music that bring happy memories and evoke positive feelings
Fact is nowadays the majority of people listen to music on a daily basis. When listening to some music try to put music that evokes positive feelings and that might bring back happy memories from the past. We all have those songs that just pick us up, lighten our moods, and make us forget about our problems. Usually these songs are the ones with positive lyrics and upbeat rhythms. So next time you listen to music put one of those up-beat songs, close your eyes and let those happy thoughts overcome you. A beautiful piece of music has the uncanny ability to block everything bad that has happened to you and just simply make you feel happy.
5. Surround yourself with happy people
A lot of us have that one friend that is always depressed, that is always complaining about life, and always talking about their problems. Instead of surrounding yourself with those kinds of people it’s better to be with people that are positive and happy. The company you keep really determines what kind of person you are and determines your current mindset. It’s better to surround yourself with people who enjoy spending their time with you by talking about uplifting topics, who take part in activities that make you feel happy and alive, people who simply make you smile by their very sight. Of course sometimes you have a friend that is feeling sad or angry and by no means I insinuate you should avoid them completely. Best thing to do is to smile (See Step 1), lighten the mood and try to help out that person by lifting up their spirits. Don’t reinforce negative behaviors by agreeing or sympathizing with someone’s complaints or grievances, instead challenge those complaints and grievances and try to make them happier, suggest to them something they can do to lift their spirits. It’s not only necessary to surround yourself with people that are happy but it is also necessary to make sure that the people you surround yourself with stay happy.
6. Love yourself
You, yes I mean YOU, are the greatest thing ever created in the universe. We are all wonderful creatures capable of achieving the greatest things in life. Sometimes you have to look at yourself in the mirror and tell yourself “I love me”. Sounds vain or narcissistic? On the contrary, you must first love yourself before you begin to love others. Start loving your body; everything in your body should be loved. Love the way you look, no matter how fat or skinny you are you should love the way you look because you are a beautiful person inside and out. The happiest people are not always the best looking, the best in shape, or the most intelligent people; they are the people who have a high respect for themselves. Being at war with yourself by feeling down by the way you look and the way you act will never allow you to be happy. To be happy you must love everything about you, have such a high respect for yourself that you won’t allow any ridiculous self-conscious feelings affect you in a negative way. Love yourself then you can start loving others.
7. Love life
Love is the greatest power in the universe. Love conquers all. When you start loving everything you do, from the smallest task to the biggest endeavor. You must love everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, you do in life. You have to love your body, love your house, love your family, love your friends, love your significant other, love the food on your table, love the bed you sleep in, love the good health you have, love the city you live in, love the music you listen to, love your job, love the things you learn everyday, love a person’s smile, just simply and irrevocably love life! There nothing else to it, just start loving everything that’s around you, change the focus from the things you hate and change to the things you love. Constantly list the things you are most grateful for. Look around with appreciation for everything that surrounds you. Life is a beautiful thing and one should realize that very fact. There are simply so many things to love in life that by the time one starts putting their focus on the things they love and fill their heart with love they will forget everything they hate. Love is an amazing thing that all our hearts should be filled with. So go out there and LOVE life! <3
Yet another mix made by me. Filled with smooth rhythms, soft-spoken lyrics, and slow tempo beats, this mix titled Slow and Steady is the playlist I listen to every time I need to relax and calm my nerves. Life sometimes moves too fast and when it does we just need to relax and take things slowly and deliberately. We all have the undying desire to have things right now, but life just does not work that way, we go step by step getting a little by little as we go along. We all eventually get what we want out of life, but if we go too fast we might miss out on the small, but beautiful, things in life.
"Slow down and enjoy life. It's not only the scenery you miss by going too fast - you also miss the sense of where you are going and why." -Eddie Cantor
"The trees that are slow to grow, bear the best fruit." -Moliere
Made a new mix titled Vintage Dreams, composed of songs that have an old and vintage feel to it. I love music with a vintage sound because it takes me back to a time where things were much simpler. Where life is simply lived by following your heart, gratifying your desires, and freely speaking your mind. But of course, in reality, life is extremely complicated filled with challenges and difficulties on every corner. Sometimes I feel that in order to cope with the complexities of life, instead of trying to control all these various complexities it's better to just live life simply.
"And instead of saying all of your goodbyes - let them know
You realize that life goes fast
It's hard to make the good things last
You realize the sun doesn't go down
It's just an illusion caused by the world spinning round" Do You Realize? - The Flaming Lips
