Makers of a potential 3rd Dark Knight, hear my cry...

So, I just got back from the film Terminator Salvation and I have to say that it lived up to my extremely un-lofty expectations: it was exciting, loud, had great special effects, actors chewing the scenery, and terminators. What else are you looking for? But Paul, who loves these films almost as much as the Alien franchise was extremely disappointed. I tried to make him feel better by saying that, with the exception of movies that were filmed as an all-in-one such as Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings, film franchises should always stop after the first sequel. My cases in point: Empire Strikes Back rules. The Return of the Jedi has ewoks and a yodeling Chewbacca. Spiderman 2 has an insecure hero and Doc Ock. Spiderman 3 has a hip-thrusting Peter Parker. The Matrix should have stopped after the first one. Ditto Pirates of the Caribbean. I can't even begin to discuss the pile of manure that is X-men 3 after two very respectable efforts. The third Bourne movie is fine, but I think the first two are better. Paul tried to find exceptions to my rule. Unfortunately, the Harry Potter film franchise actually GOT BETTER by the 3rd, but since it sucked for the first two, that doesn't count (and it still continues to bring on the suckage)! So, now I must rest my case with my rule on "the curse of the third film." I'm just praying that any aspirants to making a third Dark Knight film will feel my pain and reconsider.

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!