I'm BACK!

Man is it just me, or does it seems like I haven't been on this in ages! It's been so long, I forgot my password!

I hope you've got some time, because I've gotten the latest on not just movies, but books, TV shows, and a promise-for each and everyone of my viewers!

I'll go ahead and start with movies-which is what this blog is all about.

Since I last posted, I have seen three and half movies. I know, pathetic, but don't worry I plan to make it up to you later.

The first two movies I saw with Fidel. We had a little movie night at his house. It was quite fun.

The first movie we watched was Faster with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Billy Bob Thornton. Honestly, I'm not quite sure I understood the point of the movie. it was just kill, kill, kill, kill, kill. Oh yea, and kill some more. I'm a big fan of action and suspense, but this movie just didn't have it for me. It was pretty predictable, and didn't have all that much suspense to it. You knew what The Rock's character was going to do, and he did it. Me and Fidel got to the point where we just started predicting what was going to happen next. He got the ending right, I didn't...

So overall I would give the movie two and a half stars. I didn't like it, but I didn't not like it either, if you know what I mean.

After watching that movie, we decided to go for the more comedic side of things. We chose Life As We Know It, Starring Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel.

It was a cute movie overall, but a little predictable. The two unlikely characters of Holly Berenson (Heigl) and Eric Messer (Duhamel) must raise the orphan child of their two best friends. The two contrasting personalities added humor to the screen, as did the many challenges the couple faced learning how to raise a baby, and get along. The whole movie is the two characters trying to work out their problems-baby or otherwise.

Some notable minor characters include the baby, played by the Clagett triplets, who look like the baby from Good Luck Charlie, but are not, and a neighbor, played by Melissa McCarthy. Recognize that name? It's because she was the ever-famous Sookie St. James on Gilmore Girls (one of my all-time favorite TV Shows).

I give this cute little movie three and a half stars (Man I'm really liking those half-stars today).

About a month ago, a movie came out to DVD and BluRay that I have been waiting to come out for quite some time. I can guarantee that if this movie had come out on a day other than a school day, I would have been at Best Buy ready to buy it at midnight.

Burlesque is one of my most, absolute, no-doubt-about-it, all-time favorite movies. How does it compete with When Harry Met Sally? I would still say Sally has Christina beat, but Miss Aguilera can win a karaoke contest any day.

The day I went and saw this at the movie theater, I went home and bought the entire album.
(If you haven't guessed yet, Burlesque is a musical, and a powerful one at that).

Burlesque has some of my favorite people in it. Cam Cigandet (or evil James for you Twihards) plays the super sexy bartender, Jack, who rooms with Cristina Aguilera's character Ali. Dianna Agron plays Jack's girlfriend, and even though she still has just a small cameo, I love her (Quinn is by far my favorite character on Glee). Stanley Tucci, from The Devil Wears Prada, plays Tess's (Cher) gay assistant.

Everytime I watch this movie I get chills from Ali's powerful voice, especially during Bound To You. P.S. best time for a bathroom break is during Tess's solo called, Haven't Seen the Last of Me.

No doubt about it, this movie gets five stars, I strongly suggesting watching it right now.

Earlier I mentioned a half movie. That is because, often times, people have compared Burlesque to Moulin Rouge! and Chicago. I had both of them on Netflix, so I started watching Moulin Rouge! I didn't get very far, because I had to go pick my sister up from something, and when I got home, my dad had turned the movie off, and turned on March Madness. So much for not caring about the brackets this year, dad...

Nevertheless, I hope I will be able to find time to finish it soon and I will let you know my opinion as soon as I have done so.

Now, into the world of books.

About 6 months ago, I was watching an interview with Nicholas Sparks. The reporter asked him how many books he reads a year, and his answer was about 200. My jaw dropped.

My first thought was, "I wonder how many books I read a year." As of today, I have read (or reread) 32 books since November the 20th, a little over 4 months. Pretty impressive right? Especially when you calculate school, homework, volleyball, movie-watching and blogging into the picture.

Much like I did with my earlier post about movies, I would like to share these books with you, and tell you how I would rate them, and nothing more. If you would like a review of anyone of these books, just tell me and I'll be glad to post it.

Also, please remember, I read (or reread) all of these in the past four months, I have read MUCH more than this, since many people were confused and thought I had only seen 50 movies in my entire life...

Here is how I will do this:
Book Title; Author; Rating.

Accomplice; Eireann Corrigan; 3 stars
Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone; J.K. Rowling; 5 stars
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets; J.K. Rowling; 5 stars
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban; J.K. Rowling; 6 stars
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire; J.K. Rowling; 5 stars
Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix; J.K. Rowling; 5 stars
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince; J.K. Rowling; 5 stars
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows; J.K. Rowling; 6 stars
A Little Bit Wicked; Kristen Chenoweth; 3 stars
Marked; P.C. and Kristen Cast; 4 stars
Betrayed; P.C. and Kristen Cast; 4 stars
Chosen; P.C. and Kristen Cast; 4 stars
Untamed; P.C. and Kristen Cast; 4 stars
Hunted; P.C. and Kristen Cast; 4 stars
Tempted; P.C. and Kristen Cast; 4 stars
Burned; P.C. and Kirsten Cast; 3 & 1/2 stars
Awakened; P.C. and Kristen Cast; 3 & 1/2 stars
The Fledging Handbook; Kristen Cast; 2 stars
Falling in Love With English Boys; Melissa Jenson; 4 stars
A Bend in the Road; Nicholas Sparks; 4 stars
The Secret of the Old Clock; Carolyn Keene; 4 stars
The Hidden Staircase; Carolyn Keene; 4 stars
I Am Number Four; Pittacus Lore; 5 stars
The Bungalow Mystery; Carolyn Keene; 4 stars
The Mystery at Lilac Inn; Carolyn Keene; 4 stars
Secret of Shadow Ranch; Carolyn Keene; 4 stars
The Secret of Red Gate Farm; Carolyn Keene; 4 stars
The Clue in the Diary; Carolyn Keene; 4 stars
The Whispering Statue; Carolyn Keene; 4 stars
The Clue in the Old Album; Carolyn Keene; 4 stars
Girls in Trucks; Katie Crouch; 2 &1/2 stars
The Cheating Culture; David Callahan; 1 star

So those are the 32 books!

My current read is A-MAZE-ING!!!!!!!!!
I cannot wait to tell you about it, but I want to keep it a surprise. Plus I have a little something extra to go with the review once I finish!

Lastly, before I go, my promise to you is that I blog more often! That way, we both have something to do! You read, I blog, the world stays happy!

Until Next time!

Long Time No See

Man it seems like it's been forever since I got on here. Not only have I been really busy, but I haven't seen that many movies lately.

I did finally see Inception. I'm not going to the post a full review for this one, because I'm almost positive I was the last person in the entire universe to see that, but I would love if you proved me wrong.

I thought the general concept was BEYOND belief. What crazy GT kid thought up something as complex as Inception.

Although I thought the concept was cool, even two weeks after I saw it, my head still hurts. It was sooooooo confusing! I'm not quite sure I understand what all the hoopla concerning what this movie was all about.

Not only that, but the ending!!!!!!! (SPOILER ALERT) So was it a dream the whole time or no? Or, was everything real until Cobb got stuck in limbo with his crazy wife and then dreamed he came home?

You see there are endless possibilities...

Now, even though I haven't been watching many movies... I've been in a bit of a How I Met Your Mother craze. I could watch that show 24/7 if you let me. The only show better than that is Friends, but in a way, the two shows have similar plots. A couple of weekends a go decided I wanted to start watching HIMYM from season one again. I finished it in two days (:

If you are ever looking for something to watch on TV, How I Met Your Mother is a safe bet, and it is almost always on.

My last endeavor while I was not watching movies was reading books(although I did start some old silent movie from "the book" but fell asleep) is/was reading books. I've done a lot more reading lately. I read a couple of Nancy Drews, probably because we are writing mysteries in creative writing, and I just started I Am Number Four.

THAT. BOOK. IS. AMAZING.

I'm not done yet but I will definitely(most likely) finish it after TAKS tomorrow.

In other news, Sadie's is this weekend!

My group has decided not to go to the dance, but instead chill and watch movies! My favorite thing!!!

I'll let you know what we watch as soon as I can.

I won't he able to write as much for the next month because the Rodeo is in town!!! We have season tickets and I CANNOT wait! I will definitely fill you in on how everything goes.

Thanks for your patience, waiting for me to post again, and I hope you keep coming back!

Until next time...

Something to Wrap Your Mind Around

So I just got back from this AMAZING movie.

My mom says it's Die Hard meets the Bourne Trilogy. I just thought it was down-right awesome.

Fandango said it was a so-so movie, but that didn't stop half of the city of Katy to go see Unknown tonight at 6:30. The theater was absolutely packed (I had to sit next to a stranger :P), but i have a very good feeling everyone left more than impressed.

I hate to admit that I have yet to see Die Hard or the Bourne movies, but if it's anything like Unknown, I will be watching them very soon.

With Liam Neeson starring as Dr. Martin Harris and Diane Kruger supporting him as taxi driver Gina, Unknown did a great job keeping the audience on their feet.

After being in a car accident, Dr. Harris finds out that someone has taken his identity, claiming he is the true Dr. Martin Harris. The movie follows Liam Neeson and Diane Kruger as they try to find out why someone has stolen Dr. Martin's identity.

January Jones stars as Elizabeth Harris, Dr. Harris's wife, and portrays the character almost flawlessly, dropping very subtle hints throughout the movie, see if you can pick them up.

I don't want to give too much of the movie away, so I'll just stop there and let you figure out the rest on your own.

The whole movie, my mom and I whispered back and forth, wondering who did what, and what would happen next. Unknown had many suspenseful moments that had both my mom and I shaking, yelling at the characters.

As crazy as all this may seem, we weren't the only people acting like this. Almost everyone at the theater was seen at one point and time leaning over to their date (did you know 6:30 is the perfect time to go to the movies on a date if you're over the age of 50? I swear my mom and I were the youngest people in the theater) and whisper their own assumptions.

If there's one thing I can tell you about this movie, it's that I CANNOT wait until this comes out on DVD/BluRay. I may even go see it again before it leaves theaters. We tried to convince my dad to come, but he wasn't up to it, but I'll tell you he would've loved it.

Guy or girl, young or old, this movie was great and I think anybody (over the age of 14 really) will love this movie filled with suspense and action. This totally unpredictable movie definitely earned the full 4 and 1/2 stars I'm giving it. (Haha FULL 4 and a HALF, that's kinda funny)

And speaking of unpredictable, I just finished reading a GREAT book. I will admit, it took me much longer than I had hoped, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

A Bend in the Road, by Nicholas Sparks, contains everything you would expect in a typical Nicholas Sparks book. Love, Romance, Love, Romance, Sadness, More Love, More Sadness (get my point?)

However, A Bend in the Road has one quality not often seen in one of Mr. Sparks's books, a twist. And you'll never find out what it is unless you read this book, surrounding the mystery of Missy Ryan's death, and the love life of her widow Miles Ryan.

I probably cried the least in this book, of the Nicholas Sparks books that I have read so far that is.

Next movies to see at the theater(or that I hope to see)
-Gnomeo and Juliet; yes it does look a bit childish, but sometimes we all gotta let our inner child shine.
-The Adjustment Bureau; has a little bit of an Unknown edge to it from the commercials. Plus I LOVE Emily Blunt and Matt Damon.
-I Am Number Four; not only does it stars a drop-dead gorgeous British actor, but my favorite person from Glee, Diana Agron. It's also based on a book, which I plan on reading (If Haley ever remembers to bring it to practice, haha) before I go see the movie.

What movies coming out do you plan on seeing?

Votes for Women

Did I make you wait long enough, or should I make you wait longer?
I guess I might as well tell you now....

Well... since I have nothing better to do. (:

Forthose of you who went to Rosas's extra credit I hope you enjoyed the movie, because I surely did. Those of you who did not/could not, missed a very empowering movie.

Iron Jawed Angels, set in the early 1900s, based on a true story, focuses around the lives of a group of women fighting for the Women's Suffrage movement.

This movie empowered me as a woman, and shows all the guys out there what women really have to go through to recieve the same rights as them.

This movie would have been nothing without a cast full of strong, powerful women, including Hilary Swank, who plays the leader Alice Paul, Frances O'Connor, playing Lucy Burns (Alice's right hand [wo]man), Brooke Smith, Laura Fraser, Vera Farmiga, Molly Parker, and Julia Ormond.

These wonderful actresses portrayed the struggles of Women's Suffrage so well on the screen; it almost made me wish I had been there rallying with them on the President's doorstep.

Even Patrick Dempsey played his part in Women's Suffrage, although I didn't feel he fit nearly as well in the era as the women did.

I think this movie is able to appeal to our generation not only because of the strong message it sends, but also because the filming technique and music played throughout were very modern. So, even though you are transported into 1918, there are still traces of the 2000s in this film.

For those who haven't seen this movie, I strongly suggest it. Not only is it entertaining, but you get a little history lesson as well. As I said before, I really liked it, but I didn't quite "love it" so I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

Suspense

I saw a great movie today! And I only wish I could tell you all about it!
For those of you debating Rosas's extra credit, go tomorrow!

The movie was great and I would give it 4 out of 5 stars!
It didn't make it into the book, but it had a very powerful effect on me.

If you can take the suspense, I'll post my review tomorrow after-school to stay true to the secrecy Mrs. Rosas has bound us in.

Once again, thanks to everyone who's been reading!
You guys are the extra push I need not to give up on my dream to write, and without you guys this would be another one of my "projects" started but never finished. Thanks! And more to come tomorrow, I promise!

Better Together

Is everybody having a great Valentine's so far?
I know I am.

I must admit, my day didn't start off so good. I almost got hit going to school by some moron who didn't know how to use a four-way stop, which seems to happen to me a lot. I was pretty mad because it always seems no one at our school knows how to drive, but then I noticed that the car parked in a teacher space! I can't believe that! Teachers are suppossed to set examples!

School was a gag-fest as it usually is on Valentine's. I think I saw more giant teddy bears and balloons than students. Since when is our school a stuffed zoo?

But my day seemed to go up from there. In physics we had a "lab". We had to find the half-life M&M's by shaking a container full of M&M's then eating all the one's with an M face it! It was delicious!

Then in 5th period I asked my friend Fidel to Sadie's! Once I learn how to add a picture I will. Basically, I took a cross-country sh=hirt and wrote "I would run Across the country for you to go to Sadie's with me". I was super nervous, but being great guy he is, he said yes! WOOHOO! So now I have a date to Sadie's! Man I could never be a guy because I would never be able to ask anyone on a date...

Well I would love to write more, but I am about to go on a date with my dearest friend Megan (no homo). We have decided to embrace our single dating status and have a little fun on Valentine's this year. I'm going over to her house to eat Steak and Lobster (YUM!) and watch a movie!

I'll let you guess what moive, it shouldn't be to hard.


That's right, When Harry Met Sally, again! (:
I'm tellin' you that movie NEVER gets old.

My love song of the day, Better Together by Jack Johnson, I think I've listened to it at least 100 times today.
"Like a shoebox of photographs with sepia-toned loving
Love is the answer at least for most of the questions in my heart, like
Why are we here? And where do we go? And how come it's so hard?
It's not always easy and sometimes life can be deceiving
I'll tell you one thing, it's so much better when we're together"

Love is in the Air

Happy Valentine's day everyone!
Or as I like to call it, Single's Awareness Day!

Yet I must admit, as the hopeless romantic I am, Valentine's Day is one of the best holidays of the year. It gives us another excuse to say I Love You to those dearest to our hearts, maybe even someone we wouldn't say it to on a normal basis.

For those of you who have no plans, here's some suggestions. You and your loved one (or bowl of ice cream for those who don't have one) gather in front of the TV and pop in a good 'ol romantic movie. It doesn't have to be super sappy, but just something to get love in the air.

Don't know what to watch? Well who better than to ask than me?!

Here's some of my favorite romances and why they're a great pick for Valentine's Day.

Of course, as if the title doesn't give it away, there's Valentine's Day. This movie has everyone's favorite actors and actresses (I hate that everybody is refered to as an actor these days, regardless of gender). It's funny and has a great, even if predictable, storyline.

My strongest recommendation is to watch When Harry Met Sally. I wasn't joking before when I said that movie makes my top 5. I don't want a Romeo, I want a Harry. This movie is so good, and probably the best romantic comedy of ALL time. I even watched it this morning, and I think it gets better every time I watch it.

If I can't get a Harry, I would want Charlie from Letters to Juliet. I would kill to have someone scale the side of a tower to kiss me. This movie connects to all generations, and touches everyones heart. Plus there are tons of hot Italian and British guys in this movie, and what's better than a sexy accent?

On the more sporty side of romance, Kirsten Dunst stars in the tennis flick Wimbledon. I haven't seen this movie in a while, but it's another great that I could watch over and over without getting sick of it.

Want to get on your guy's good side? Watch Spiderman, another Kirsten Dunst great. Yea, I know, it's not exactly a romance, but it has its romantic moments. The kiss between Peter Parker/Spidey and Mary Jane even made Yahoo!'s top five kissing scenes!

Now this next movie definitely isn't romantic, but it's gaurenteed for a good cuddle. My Soul To Take, Wes Craven's new movie, just came out. I saw this in the theaters and I LOVED it. My mom and friend Megan didn't however. I will be blunt, it is EXTREMELY cheesy. We're talking the original Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween, Friday the 13th kinda cheesy. It's no Paranormal Activity, but it has a lot of blood and guts and even a couple of scary pop-out moments. Even if it doesn't scare you, you can always pretend to be scared to get your guy to cuddle with you.

If you're looking for a more classic approach, Casablanca is a good one. Harry and Sally even watch it together in When Harry Met Sally and debate over the final scene and whether Ingrid Bergman's character, Ilsa, made the right decision. I don't think she did, but what do you think?

Another one of my top 5 movies is The Phantom of the Opera. I think this is one of the greatest love stories ever. It may come across as a girly movie because of all the singing, but I have known a number of guys to enjoy it. One of my favorite songs from the movie is "All I Ask of You". I will find a way to play it at my wedding, it is one of the most romantic songs ever. If you ever get a chance to see it on broadway go!!!!!! I saw it last summer and it took my breath away.

My last suggestion of the night, although there are THOUSANDS I could suggest, would be The Proposal. Betty White is a movie/Tv LEGEND and she is quite a character in this movie. I think I saw this in the theaters at least twice because I loved it so much. For those of you who haven't seen this, I am almost positive it would make it into "the book", but sadly the book was published in 2007.

I would love to hear what you watched for Valentine's Day!
And thanks to everyone who has been reading, it makes it more enjoyable for me to keep writing!
Happy Valentine's Day everyone!