resistence is futile

Every end-of-the-year the impulse that must be overcome, but never is, is to produce "Best of ___" lists. This year, I perused the MSN Entertainment staff's "Best Films of 2008" list and hadn't heard of three-fourths of the films. While it is true that I spent the summer with Shakespeare and was unaware of Summer blockbusters, for the most part, and I have spent the majority of the Fall grading papers and trying to keep my head above water, I don't feel like I could possibly be that out of touch. Of course, every awards season I am made aware that I have spent my movie-viewing time mostly NOT seeing the award-winning films, at least I have heard of them. Not so this year. However, I was pleased to see on the list two films that I would put on my "list," as well. So, to underscore my new New Year's resolution to indulge myself in anything I want and not give up anything for the new year, I will also succumb to list-making and will publish some lists of my own.

Best Films I Saw in 2008:

• In Bruges (not that I'm recommending to my loved ones this violent and profanity-laden pic, but I thought the dark humor and un-PC-ness was hilarious and refreshing and that the acting was superb)
• Wall-E (beautiful and breathtaking and inspiring that a film could say so much without many words)
• Iron Man (I felt this was a perfectly executed action/comic book film with humor and a real theme and a beautiful, beautiful leading man!)
• The Dark Knight (I'm not as gaga over this as many people, but I thoroughly enjoyed it, and thought the acting was excellent - not just Heath Ledger, who I thought was great, but not BETTER THAN Christian Bale or Aaron Eckert or Gary Oldman)
• The Incredible Hulk (I think it is a shame that no one is talking about this movie - I felt that of the bland offerings of films this year, that the comic book films were a cut above, as far as acting and storyline, and I applaud them!)

Enough of that... now, for best books I read this year:

• Fighting Ruben Wolfe - I love Markus Zusak and think more people should appreciate his beautiful writing craftsmanship. He deserved the awards he received for The Book Thief, but I like this one better and also recommend Getting the Girl.
• Suite Scarlett - My sister discovered for me a lovely new YA author, Maureen Johnson, and I have been thoroughly enjoying her books!
• Yes Man - Yes, the Jim Carrey movie is made from this, but from what I've seen of the trailers - and the fact that it is Jim Carrey and no longer an obscure-British-television-producer-guy - the movie cannot possibly do the hilarity that is this book justice!
• While the first few books in the series are older than this year, I discovered the Odd Thomas series by Dean Koontz and really, really love it!
• And while I'm talking about an author, rather than single books, I love the mysteries written by my friend, Virginia Smith, and highly recommend them!
• Faeries of Dreamdark - Laini Taylor has a lovely writing style and a refreshingly new and creative world she has created.
• Will in the World - I really, really enjoyed this biography/history/critical analysis of Shakespeare's life and times.
  

Well, I'm sure there are a few more, but really, the sad thing is, I've spent the year reading books that I was underwhelmed by (other than my books for my Shakespeare class!). Sigh.

And, one more list, my best moments of 2008:

Working backwards from now to the beginning of the year:

• My superb birthday party.
• Seeing a double rainbow in Ireland.
• Pretty much being in Paris.
• Seeing Hamlet at the Royal Shakespeare Company with David Tennant and Patrick Stewart.
• Living in Oxford for the summer.
• Receiving the KSL "Teacher Feature" award.
• Being with my family - especially being with Paul and Dash!