Really, now.

I'm an obsessive music lover. When I find a song that I like, I listen to it. I listen to it again and again and again. For me, it never gets old. For other people... well, they usually just leave the room.

But today, I've outdone myself.

I went to see War Horse the other day with my sister, mom and a couple of friends. I won't even try to tell you how great it was (that might take all day). It was pretty simple for me: horses + English people + rolling green fields where said horses can run for a gloriously long time + a backdrop of one of the deadliest and most tragic wars in history + a phenomenal musical score (which I will mention again) = a pretty awesome movie. It was heartfelt, yet at the same time not at all the syrupy mess most horse films degenerate into about five minutes after the opening credits. It had a lot of suffering and tragedy woven into its plot line, yet at the same time, no matter how many battles you saw or how many characters died, you always knew in the back of your mind that everything was going to be okay in the end. It was a blend of real life and child-like faith in what seems impossible, and I think everyone involved in the making of the film pulled it off brilliantly.

I mentioned in my last post that I was expecting the score by John Williams to be good. Well, it wasn't. It was spectacular. So spectacular, in fact, that I've been haunting the War Horse official website for the last 15-odd hours, refreshing the page so that I can hear a three minute long snippet of the music.

That's pretty disturbing even for me.

With that, my friends, I'm off to Grooveshark to deliver some well-earned respite to my family, who by now probably have the theme for War Horse seared onto their very brains.

Day{s} After

         Christmas Break is almost over. So's the year, for that matter. I hope everyone had as great a time as I did. Now, it's time to get back to business: I have lots of homework to finish, work and school starts back up in less than a week, and, pretty soon, life goes back to normal. Sometimes I wish I could just live in a perpetual Christmas break--bask in the light of our decorated tree all year round, listen to bubbly Christmas songs until my ears bleed, sleep in until ten every morning and then spend the entire day doing nothing but reading the deliciously wonderful books thoughtful friends and family members have dumped upon me in a cascade of ribbon and wrapping paper. It would be nice, in some ways. But, then again, in the two weeks I've had all to myself, what have I done besides the aforementioned activities? Not too much. No writing, no drawing, not a whole lot of reading. Those are things I can only seem to accomplish when life gets crazy; when I need an escape from the whirlwind of activities around me. When I'm left to my own devices with too much time on my hands, the only thing I do is sleep. Way to be a good steward of your time, me.

                                                     

That said, I really did enjoy Christmas this year. I felt that our day was balanced--tentatively, but rightly so--between family, food, gifts and a quiet, inward recognition of the Gift we have recieved. I was able to give away the gifts I'd bought for friends and family, and, I must say, I was really spoiled this year. My mom picked up the last book in the Auralia's Colors series--that was the one gift I was not expecting! I devoured it in two days and am still reeling from the confusing but satisfying conclusion to one of my favorite fantasy series. And--well, instead of me rambling on about all gifts my wonderful family & friends threw at me this year, why don't you just deduce from the picture?

       Ahaha. Yes. Believe it or not, I surprised myself and was actually thrilled about recieving Matthew Henry's commentary on the Bible. It's something I've been wanting for a while, though not something I think I'd ever buy for myself. All in all, I think the bag was my favorite gift. It's just... awesome. Although it doesn't hold as many books as I thought it would. Meh. Nuance.

      As if I hadn't already recieved enough, there's ONE last Christmas gift I have to tell you about (even though it's technically from me to me and I haven't given it to myself yet). Tomorrow, my mom and I are taking my sister and a few friends to see War Horse for her birthday.

     YEAH. How cool is that? Even though I have to pay my way, I'm pretty excited. I don't know whether or not I'd be more excited to see the play....

....where the actors actually ride on life-size puppets.

       Meh. I think the movie score by John Williams (yes, THAT John Williams) will make up for any absence of puppets.

      Lastly, I'm sure you noticed that I've resorted to editing my blog template once again! Let me know what you think--I believe it needs a splash of color to really look good.

     Wishing you and yours a happy New Year,



Getting in the Mood



Frank called me one day and said, 'I have an idea for a movie, why don't you come over and I'll tell you?'

So I went over and we sat down and he said, 'This picture starts in heaven'. That shook me.


Read more: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/j/james_stewart.html#ixzz1gwdjUVhr

It's that time of year again. Time to raid our DVD shelf, searching for just about every Jimmy Stewart movie we own before we plop down on the couch for a veritable marathon of black, white and really tall. All of this joy, of course, can only lead up to one epic film. It's so amazing that my family is only allowed to behold it once every year, sometime around Christmas (preferably Christmas Eve). You must know of it. It's the recorded wonder of that one period in history when Frank Capra and Jimmy Stewart made a perfect film (except for that one scene where the wreath is hopping off and on Jimmy's arm).

Yes, people, it's time for It's a Wonderful Life. This is my absolute favorite Jimmy Stewart movie, and almost my favorite movie. In the world. And I've seen my fair share of movies. Good ones, too. But this one's different. It's Christmas for me, not to mention a wonderful story.

It was amazing that a play that seems dated in this world... A man whose best friend is a six-foot white rabbit... But it caught on, especially with young people - they surprised me most of all.

Read more: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/j/james_stewart.html#ixzz1gweuK36g

I've been watching this movie around Christmastime for just about my entire life. My dad loves Jimmy Stewart movies, and this is his favorite film ever made (right up along with To Kill a Mockingbird). I love the storyline, the characters, the amazing actors who brought them to life, the black and whiteness of it all, the shine in people's eyes, Zuzu's hair (and her name for that matter!) and that lovely house that leaks. It's all wonderful, and it only comes once a year.

We don't have too many Christmas traditions. In fact, in recent years we've cut back on Christmas presents, Christmas music, Christmas cookies and Christmas decorations. We try to be careful, because Christmas the way we want to celebrate it is for Jesus, not for the pretty lights, yummy food, amazing movies or wonderful music. Watching It's a Wonderful Life, however, is a tradition we plan to keep, and I certainly want to carry on in my life for as long as I have a DVD player.

Well, I think one of the main things that you have to think about when acting in the movies is to try not to make the acting show.

Read more: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/j/james_stewart.html#ixzz1gwgAnBlt

I love Christmas, both for all the stuff that doesn't truly matter (lights, food, music, movies, etc.) and for all the things that do (the birth of Christ, our salvation). It's hard to balance out the two, especially when the world is so focused on glorifying material things. That's why I like It's a Wonderful Life so much. It's a story about how material things don't really matter. It shows how one man, fictional though he be, finds out that everything he and his family ever wanted was right in front of them. I love the story. And I think nobody could have done a better job as the lead character than good old Jimmy Stewart. And so tonight, as I put on Harvey and begin my Christmas Countdown, I thought I'd remind you all to think about your own traditions at this time of year. I bet they're great--keep them! But also remember that Christmas means more than traditions can ever show.

More Christmas posts will be coming--don't worry about that! Meanwhile, go find yourself a Jimmy Stewart movie and be happy.

Blessings,