Ordinary People

 “Ordinary People” is a deep film with significant nuances but not much entertainment. The protagonist is Conrad (Timothy Hutton), a sad sad teenager suffering from low self-esteem, fear and guilt of his older brother’s sudden death. Conrad’s feelings and relationships are complicated- especially the one he has with his mother, which he feels has died along with his older brother. In my opinion, his mother is a scary cookie. She puts on a cheerful façade and serves breakfast to Conrad, but when he says he’s not hungry out of clear emptiness, she nonchalantly dumps his French toast down the sink. She is obviously so selfish that she doesn’t care about anyone. I hate how the movie shows her being nice and polite to Conrad when all I really wanted her to do was strip off and show her true colors.

Conrad visits a psychiatrist who is a HUGE disappointment. I just watched Goodwill Hunting yesterday, and with the enthusiasm, energy and skill Roger Williams uses to deliver his lines as Will’s psychologist, this movie’s shrink definitely falls short. “I’m your friend Conrad,” he says in a monotone drab, and the kid has to act as though he has a life changing experience… HOW LAME.

“Ordinary People” won four Oscars and does not qualify as a bad film. There were many elements to it that were impressive. Timothy Hutton was amazing as Conrad and there were touching scenes: my favorite one is the ending, when Conrad’s dad who was always shy and reluctant in expressing his love, finally shows it. 

In the Land of Women

“In the land of women” is one of those slow chick flicks that either touches you, or makes you bored.  Although this film was interesting to me in places, overall, it just wasn’t worth my time. Carter (Adam Brody) is supposed to be a porn writer, which I find absolutely ridiculous. He’s sensitive, romantic and a good listener- if he is all these things- why can’t he be a romance novelist, why does he have to write about something so physically dimensional like porn? His “Randy” the teddy bear story is based off of his own circumstances, but it doesn’t seem like it would fall in the porn category anytime soon. Anyways, Carter lives with his demented and might I say funny grandmother, who is on the verge of death. The conversations between him and his grandmother are the best part of the film. They are funny and charming. This relationship is probably the only real one in the movie- not the ones with Kirsten Stewart and Meg Ryan. Those are just too complicated and SAD to bear.

If I were you, I would skip this movie altogether since it doesn’t seem to go in any real direction. Carter, who’s practically the most important character in the film, does not seem to change or feel better in anyway (about his breakup- the context for the story)- and that is what the audience would want to see the most.

The First Daughter

“The First Daughter” is one of the most mundane movies I’ve ever seen. It bases its entire plot on a formula that’s been used in better movies:

 Girl meets cute with a guy, and wants freedom, blah blah blah. Give me a break!! If you want the same boring thing all over again, then you should watch this film. 

Vampire Knight

Vampire Knight is the biggest joke ever. The characters are stereotyped, the plot is repetitive, and the ONLY signs of action are dialogue. For anime, that’s terrible. Should you watch it? No, no no….

Well, what is it about? It’s about an academy that caters to day students and night students (the vamps). Now, to give the show some credit, the vamps are hot, but the characters are as dry as slab. And they don’t do ANYTHING but talk, talk, and talk, Anyways, the dean of the academy chooses his adopted daughter Yuuki Cross, who’s basically the size of a munchkin, to whip the night students in line. She’s not strong, which makes it necessary for her to be constantly protected by another adopted academy student (a vampire in the making).  Does this fellow love her? Yup. Is he a big fat jerk with a chip on his soldier? You bet. But there are of course complications coming in the form of Kaname, the beautiful and desirable head student of the night class, who of course, treats Yuuki like she’s a princess. It’s almost incredible to me how many characters in anime are introduced as demi-gods. For instance, every girl has the hots for Kaname. He’s worshipped like an angel. Also, consider Sasuke from Naruto. I don’t think many students can relate to someone who’s constantly bowed down to (or that gorgeous), especially when it’s OVERDONE. Well. That’s okay, cuz I’m DONE with this show! 

Gray's Anatomy

Gray’s Anatomy is a slow and unfolding series. Its characters are very passionate doctors… and seem realistic. Doctor Bailey reminds me of my grandmother, and Cristina seems like a typical Monta Vista Student pursuing surgery. That itself makes them admirable, and besides: they’re shown half the time doing surgeries on (mostly sympathetic) people. Therefore, I refuse to say that any of the characters are entirely selfish or dumb (I would like to be a doctor myself some day- although not a surgeon, since it seems so stressful).  Sometimes I wish I could study as hard as some of these people on TV, ANYWAYS… what makes this show so special, is that it’s not played out like a fantasy… it’s not unusual and gloomy like House (don’t get me wrong, I like the show!), or slapstick like Scrubs, it’s more real… the characters on many levels are not relatable to high school students like me, but I can relate to regret and competition (above all since I go to an Asian school). SO…. Should you watch Gray’s Anatomy? I wouldn’t say it’s a must-see. But with the little charm it has, it manages to be somewhat entertaining. 

Gossip Girl

NOTE: I wrote this last semester... 

I am now feeling surprisingly guilty- I just took the SAT IIs, feel as though I’ve failed, and have now wasted the last three hours watching gossip girl to remove my woe. Now, what I feel is even more frustration.

Anyways a review for Gossip Girl:

Gossip Girl is something I did not expect I would find so entertaining. It had all the symptoms of a no-brain- all waste program; the kids do drugs, smoke, sleep around and have humungous egos. But if there is one thing it has taught me- when it gets nicer, some entertainment value is lost. In season 1, this show was tagged “mind-blowingly inappropriate” by one reviewer and another argued that it was “Bad For You.” But is it really that bad? Well it depends on what kind of person you are and how carried away you get with what you see on television. Although Gossip Girl has quite a few ugly characters, I do not think that its intent is to pass on any life messages. The whole lifestyle is a fantasy. And as a viewer and consumer, you have to understand that. You can be the most innocent person in the world, but enjoy watching gossip girl for some entertainment. It’s not quality, but it’s something to escape to. We enjoy it because we see characters on screen make stupid mistakes and criticize them. We enjoy it because three-fourths of whatever we see, we do not wish to implement ourselves. We enjoy it because it is not reality. Period.

That’s why I enjoyed Season 1 above all others: it was naughty, but it had a lot more wit. They should have stopped it at Season 2 when Chuck and Blair got together, why carry on to Season 3? Seriously... 

Bleach

I was obsessed with this show for about a month after watching it for the first time last December. It's easy to get hooked on to something so glamorous and entertaining. Bleach is anime. And anime always seems silly at first, but once you get hooked on, you get hooked on. Bleach is based off of "shonen manga," which means that it particularly has to do with fighting and becoming stronger. I'd like to say that although there is quite a bit of fighting, there's also a good balance of comedy and character building. I enjoy the enthusiasm and personality traits of all the characters- and what sets them apart.

Bleach centers around a fifteen year old boy named Ichigo Kurasaki who, like a lot of other asian protagonists has an intense drive to protect his friends and family. He has the "caring" syndrome and would go out of his way to save even the most annoying person he knows. Kurasaki is drawn in a semi-attractive way with orange hair and a dense, determined expression. Most of the characters in bleach have an interesting, attractive flavor to their physical appearance.

Kurasaki can see ghosts, and because of this strange ability, he soon encounters soul-eating demons known as "hollows." In order to balance the number of souls on earth, and in "soul society," "soul-reapers" destroy hollows. Rukia Kuchiki, a soul reaper, befriends Kurasaki and lends him her powers. By becoming a "substitute soul reaper," Kurasaki begins his journey as a warrior of stabilizing the peace and sanity of his town's souls, and protecting his soul-reaper friends. Kurasaki also has three human friends with supernatural abilities.

At first being a show focused solely on Ichigo and his town, Bleach soon extends to cover the dextrous and skilled guards of soul society and the powers that their captains' wield. Ichigo himself has to become more and more powerful to do the task of protecting his friends and all he cares about. He soon faces villains that get hotter and eviler.

Bleach's battles are entertaining, and the romantic possibilities are infinite - although the show doesn't pursue romance very seriously. The thirst for what happens next is huge and sometimes, the willpower of the main characters is inspiring.

I recommend it for those with lots of free time and willpower- to not get addicted.