Blue Valentine

This may be shocking, but I actually watched a movie by myself in a movie theater. Decided to leave work a little early in order to make it to the 4:30 showing of Blue Valentine through the treacherous snowy roads. This would be the first theatrical movie I've seen since living in Colorado. I chose to watch Blue Valentine because the description seemed like a movie that I would enjoy, despite the silly trailer.

To be blunt, Blue Valentine is a brutally honest movie that doesn't sugarcoat anything it portrays. I could tell that the old couple sitting behind me were startled at certain lines in the movie. If you're looking for some laughs, action, or to have fun, then you probably shouldn't watch it. Sure, there are times when the movie elicits a chuckle or two (from me at least), but overall Blue Valentine is the kind of movie that leaves you reeling and thinking introspectively. At first, I wasn't sure what to think at the end of the movie, when the credits started rolling much earlier than I expected - it was like I had a "that's the end of the movie already?!" moment. However, I realized that the entire movie is a portrayal of life in today's world, both the glorious highs and the ugly lows, and it could be anybody who experiences the events in the movie in their own life.

The acting was solid, and seemed very much like real life. The interweaving between present and past in the plot also keeps the viewers on their toes. Free help-yourself-to-popcorn-and-drinks at Landmark Theaters was also nice, even though I didn't have any drinks and only half a bag of popcorn, which turned out to be a good thing because I really had to pee near the end of the movie.

Overall, I give Blue Valentine two thumbs up, but I know that my taste in movies can be strange sometimes. I wouldn't recommend watching Blue Valentine as a Valentine's Day activity though.

Before Sunrise/Before Sunset

Ever since classwork has finished (since Tuesday 5/18!), I've been watching movies more frequently than I usually do. Those who know me well know that I (usually) watch so few movies during an entire year that I can count them all on my fingers. Maybe on fingers of one hand.

Among the movies that I watched (and convinced some friends to reluctantly watch with me) were Before Sunrise and Before Sunset. I first heard of the two movies shortly after the latter was released (on NPR en route to 6 AM swim practice before school one day, and again in AP English class). Now, to lots of people the movies are rather boring and cliche, but personally I really liked both of them, and after these recent viewings I like them even more (last time I watched them was maybe 3-4 years ago).

Now, what do I like about these movies, you might ask? The premise is pretty cliche I must admit, but these movies revolve around dialog and conversation between two people (literally), which I think is the interesting part and what makes Before Sunrise and Before Sunset unique. The topics that the conversation hits are interesting, with viewpoints that I can relate to personally, especially the cynicism that was explored deeper in Before Sunset.

Makeshift Movie Theaters

After living in the 'trols room with the right nut and the seabass for 12 days, final exams and final projects have officially ended for the Fall 2008 semester (and grades are being rolled out as I type). Occassionally there was a study break that involved a movie on the big screen in a classroom somewhere in the Engineering Quad. Personally, I have not seen a movie in all of the rooms discussed here, but here is a brief review from personal experiences and word-of-mouth of the available options in case you seek a similar study break:

• OLIN 155 - This is by far the best option. This lecture hall has a very large screen, a projector that doesn't flake out on you, and comfortable seats. The only drawback (and this is a significant drawback) is that the room is locked after 9:30 PM. Also, at the time of this writing, there is some construction (renovation) work in Olin Hall, so it can be rather noisy at times.
• THURSTON 205 - This room is a very good one. It's not a big lecture hall. The equipment (projector, seats, etc.) are all in good working condition. Nothing spectacular, but it works.
• OLIN 255 - This lecture hall has insane stadium seating. Insane meaning that this room alone looks like it takes up 2 floors due to the steep incline of the stadium seating. The equipment is in good working condition, but if I remember correctly some of the lights stay on in this room.
  
• UPSON B17 - The home-away-from-home for mechanical engineers like us. The projector turns off after 40 minutes of inactivity, which gets very annoying.
• KIMBALL B11 - Pretty much the same story as Upson B17. The projector goes off every once in a while, forcing you to get up and turn it back on.
• PHILLIPS 203/219 - The projectors here work well, but the drawback it that not all of the lights go off. Either that or we haven't figured out how to kill all the lights.
• PHILLIPS 101 - First you must find your way from the back of the room up to the front podium in the dark in order to turn on the lights in the room. After that you realize that the audio cable is frayed, so this room is no good for watching a movie on the big screen (unless it's a silent movie).