Zoolander: Stupidity Brings us Knowledge

Okay so I know Zoolander is a movie many people would call dumb. In fact its characters are the epitome of dumb. The movie is about a male super model who is in the decline of his career. He doesn't win model of the year for the first time. His friends die in a "freak orange mocha frappicino gasoline fight." And a reporter for Time magazine puts out a story about how dumb he is. So he retires only to realize the real world doesn't want him. Then he is sought out by a evil fashion designer to kill the Malaysian Prime Minister, who has put a stop to cheap labor for the fashion industry.

With a cast including Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, and Will Ferrell the jokes, one liners and awkward scenes cause viewers to laugh throughout the whole movie.

But besides the laughs their are themes and messages littered throughout the film.

Derek (Ben Stiller) has to learn how to not be superficial, and while its a process. He does do it by the end.

There are lessons about love and friendship taught to us by Hansel (Owen Wilson) that to be honest I didn't see coming at the beginning of the movie.

We can make fun of something like fashion and still get the seriousness of issues like cheap and children's labor. The wrongness of this often goes by our eyes blindly. But a Hollywood comedy sheds some light on these issues. At least making us aware that they're out there.

In the end of this movie you can honestly walk away as an informed individual on a world issue and learn some life lessons while being able to laugh. Making for an awesome wat to spend a couple of hours.

The Office: Good Ol' Fashioned Television

So I love the show The Office more than most of the tv shows I tend to watch. The dynamic of the characters is vast and the plot lines are great. Some hate it, most love it, but all can agree it is a prominent force in American television.

Personally I don't have a favorite character. I love them all. From Pam to Jan for the women and from Michael to Toby on the mens side. No character couldn't have a whole show based on their perspective. That's due to great writing and character development on the creators and writers part in the show.

The Office holds so much more than just witty and satirical comedy. It possesses in nearly every episode a lesson to be learned.

Maybe thats why I am so addicted to the show.

I love when media makes me think introspectively, and the show can do just that if you let it.

When Michael dates Jan, there is a lesson to be learned there. Up until the most recent episode when half of the office decides to invest in Ryan's company, and are going to be screwed over. There always seems to be a moral to be learned, even if you have to dig a little for it.

I know I talked about the characters like you knew who they were, which to people unfamiliar with the show is unfair. But honestly boohoo, because its your own fault you haven't watched it already. Unless your from overseas, which then I am sorry, and you should check it out on a tv streaming site, legally of course.

I can honestly say this show has altered my outlook on some aspects in life including love, friendship and honesty. So what could it do for you if you let it in.

Fall in love with The Office, I promise you wont be sorry.

John Butler Trio-Ocean: Masterpiece

Play it and enjoy!

So I normally do movies but this was just to hard to pass up. John Butler Trio is a band that is slowly gaining fame in the world. The main musician, Butler, is a guitarist with amazing talent and a voice to match.

I had seen some of his other work on youtube.com. Mostly a song called Peaches & Cream. But I stumbled upon this while talking to a co-worker who told me about this guitar solo while we talked about amazing face melting music we loved.

I checked it out. My jaw literally dropped at the two minute mark. At the four minute mark I was close to going into shock. My mind was blown. I was near tears to be completely honest. I witnessed a masterpiece.

This is purely a guitar song. No other instruments. No vocals. Just an acoustic guitar and a man with God given talent.

For five minutes I was somewhere else. I was in a world all to my self. Listening to this song. It was powerful, calm, moving, thought provoking, and so many other feelings all at once.

I heard the song for the first time at around 9:00 yesterday night and now it is one in the morning and I have listened to the song 20 times already. And I have only been at my computer for like forty five minutes of that four hour span.

Here's my thoughts on the song. We all have talents in different aspects of life. Some can sing, some can play an instrument, some can play a sport, some can act, some can cook, some can persuade, some can defend, some can write, some can speak, etc. I could go on and on with a list like that.

But many of us dont tap fully into our talent. And even if we do rarely do we share it with the world.

I feel like we should all share our gifts with the world because that is the reason we were given them.

Imagine if William Shakespeare never wrote a line down on paper.

Imagine if Michael Jordan didn't play basketball.

Imagine if Abraham Lincoln was never President.

Imagine if John Butler didn't play this solo.

The world would be lacking. Anyone of us can be the next important piece to the world. So let's let our talent shine through and carry us to places we never dreamed of.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I: I Swear This is the Last One

So yes I waited in line in the freezing cold to see this movie at midnight, well 12:01 technically. It was well worth the wait.

The final movie was so amazing. So well made. Only a few deviations from the book. A master piece was made. Epicness was created.

Now we're all going to have to wait till this summer to see it's conclusion.

I was so into the film I didn't even realize the 2:30 hours it was. In fact I was near shocked when it ended at a point I knew was half way through the book. I was so swept up I forgot it was going to finish only half of the story.

I realized one theme I really wanted to point out in this film; Friendship.

I have noticed this in all of the other books and movies, but in the finale it really shines through. Harry's bond with Ron and Hermione is stronger than ever. The trio are on a mission to take down Voldemort, and that intensifies their friendship in ways both negative and positive, but it definitely strengthens it.

Dobby returns to the film in two short stints. He is most likely Harry's truest friend, outside of Ron and Hermione, and there for him til the end. He dies for Harry Potter. The biggest test of friendship and he owns up to it.

Harry is outcast, downtrodden, hunted, oppressed in nearly every way possible. But the one thing he has going for him is his loyal and true friends.

I hope I am as lucky as Harry in my life to have friends like that if I am ever hunted by a deadly powerful wizard, because I will definitely need them.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I: Social Suicide for Society

Oh Harry Potter. This was the beginning and continuation of my child hood. I remember reading the first books when I was young and in elementary school, then finishing the series when I was in high school. There are few things in this world that can traverse a gap of time so long and so diverse as far as emotions and growing up. Good ol' Harry, Ron, Hermione, and the rest of the wizarding world were able to.

I will never forget staying up late and reading the books and emerging into a reality that seems so achievable. A society so unreal but yet so real at the same time. I was at Hogwarts with them as they roamed the corridors. On a broomstick with Harry playing quidditch. Wondering what Dumbledore would do next with his infinite wisdom and power as the greatest wizard of all time. This is when books reach their ultimate potential. When they make you escape and bring you into it's pages.

The movies so far, barring the 4th one, have all been made according the story line for the most part. As close as can be with the interchange from page to lines of a script. And now the mass hysteria will begin again on Friday morning at 12:01.

The first 2:30 hours of the final books installment will make it to the big screen across the world. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows:Part I is finally here with the second part set to come in 2011. We finally get Harry back.

I have my tickets for the midnight showing.

Here's my take on it all.

There are few things in the world that can unify and excite nearly all of it. Whatever your beliefs on the books from a religious perspective, one thing you must own up to is that the books and movies can span the culture gap in any given situation. Millions have read the books, and now millions will watch the movies in less than 72 hours.

We are lucky that it is Harry Potter that does this in my generation. In my grandparents generation it was war that unified the thinking of people in separate countries. In my parents it was the hippie movement(war, drugs, and music.) I'll take Harry Potter as a talking point over those other topics any day.

So thank you J.K. Rowling for giving me and the rest of the world Harry Potter, we needed it.

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince: In Honor of the 7th Installment

I have been on a Harry Potter binge lately. I have been watching the first six films in order to be reacquainted with the films one more time before I go and watch the seventh film. Well the seventh film part one, because they are being split up into two parts, praise the Lord.

I love the Harry Potter franchise. Thats what it is its a franchise, much like the New England Patriots of the early 2000's it's becoming a dynasty. I am super pumped for the movie. Yes, I am even going at midnight.

In the sixth movie we follow up on the Order of the Phoenix's creation and the world of wizarding in turmoil because of Voldemort. I am a staunch believer of people watching movies and enjoying them for them selves so I will stop here. But in order to right about what I took from this film I have to ruin the ending. I sincerely apologize if you live under a rock and haven't read or seen the ending of the sixth Harry Potter and I am blowing your mind here. Dumbledore dies.

This got me thinking. What happens when the people we rely on so much leave us. Dumbledore leaves Harry to fight Voldemort for himself. It almost seems cruel to do this in the books. But you know what I have realized. It's not cruel its being real. People live people die and rarely do we have any control in this matter.

What will happen when my Dad dies. He is a man I rely on so much in so many ways. So if he were to leave this world today I would have no idea what I would actually do.

What would happen if my Mom or my step-Mom died. I'd lose the two women who have given so much to me I can never be thankful enough. Again devastation would persist.

What would happen if my Grandpa or Grandma died. Again I rely on them so heavily. They are always there for me when I need them in any way. Devastation would set in for sure, even though they are old and I know it is going to be inevitable.

In the book and movie Harry immediately trudges on when Dumbledore, the closest thing to a father he ever has, dies.

This is what the human spirit does. It triumphs over all the pain and suffering. It wins over the grief and forces you to eventually move on, but never forget.

The closest person I have ever had die on me was my great great Aunt Blanche. She was 102, only 19 days shy of being 103. She was the nicest little old lady you would ever meet who truly cared about all of her family and friends. When I lost her wisdom and advice I lost a link to the past and a outlook on the future.

When we lose those we care for we can only push on and remember what they have taught us abou the right ways to live our lives. Harry does this in the books and in the film. Will we?

P.S. I Love You: Can We Love Someone That Much

First of all no, I am not a chick. Yes I do enjoy the occasional "chick flick" but I swear I don't watch them too often. Well maybe I do. Whatever.

There are so many places to start with P.S. I Love You. The story line is great. Gerard Butler and Hillary Swank do exceptional in their roles. The supporting casts helps make the movie. The soundtrack is amazing. I could go on but I wanna get to my point.

If you haven't seen the movie the basic storyline is that Butler's character, Gerry, is married to Swank's character, Holly. Gerry is from Ireland and the two live in New York. The two are the picture of a married couple. They fight, but they make up. But one thing is clear from the get go, they really love each other. Gerry passes away, and the film is about a series of letters he wrote for Holly to read and follow through on after he dies.

This is my point. Gerry really loves her. He goes through the amazing trouble of going through the process of writing the letters and making sure his widow becomes a better person and doesn't dwell on his death.

He loved her enough to leave his homeland and marry her. He loved her when she treated him poorly.

His love for her is so immense it surpasses his death.

My only hope is that I can emulate this great love for someone. I have been in and out of love before and it has its highs and lows in both cases. So I know its unrealistic to think there is this type of movie love out there.

But I honestly hope it is. I hope it exists and I hope I can find it.

Because if I can I know I will truly be happy no matter what happens. I could live, I could die. But one thing is for sure is I want to go out like Gerry.

Garden State: Who Balances You Out?

The movie Garden State starring Zach Braff and Natalie Portman definitely falls into the realm of odd films. It is one which at times can be hard to follow. Especially if you miss the beginning like a friend who ended up watching it with me found out.

I'll be honest I did buy this film only because I saw it had one of my favorite actors and one of my favorite actresses. Braff and Portman play their roles brilliantly. A pill overdosed man who cant feel anything and wants to be an actor. And a zany female who is a flowery person and a compulsive liar.

These two meet at a "brain" doctors office and are able to find love in a matter of days. Because they balanced each other out.

Now this got me really thinking.

Who do we all have in our lives who balance us out?

Don't think I don't need some one to balance me out, I'm fine. Because I will never for one second believe we don't all have some crazy in us. Were all messed up in our own ways. That's what makes us unique.

The film uses extremes to portray this. They get the point across though.

So who is out there waiting to be balanced by us, and to balance us out? Is there anyone specific?

I know these are a lot of questions but I pose them because simply I don't know the answer. I know what I want the answer to be. I want it to be yes there is that one person. I'm not necessarily saying it has to be a soulmate. But even a friend who can reign in the crazy for you and you do the same for them.

Again I wont lie, preferably I want it to be a female companion. Just because I feel like that would work out better because you would be around them more most likely.

So I sincerely hope we all find that person out there. Some one to reign in the crazy that's in all of us. Because without that special person, we all will end up in a state of mundanity. And that is no way to live.

Whitman or Brown: A Choice of Which We All Should Frown

Meg Whitman the billionaire who has spent over two billion of her own dollars on her campaign so far is one candidate. Jerry Brown, who has already a tried and failed as California's Governor, is in the other.

Whitman was found to have employed a illegal immigrant as her maid for a period of time. And her husband knew, so we can all assume she knew too. She is supposedly against illegal immigration. This is what Jerry Brown wants us to know.

Brown went on CNN after his last term as Governor. He said he didn't have any type of plan going into his time in office and admitted he told voters what they wanted to hear so they'd vote for him. This is what Meg Whitman wants us to know.

I know I normally do my posts on movies and the topics or ideas that spur from them. But today on election day it just felt fitting I talk about this. All the commercials both have tried to fill my brain with have combined to be longer than any movie I can ever watch.

This is what I learned, essentially only now because I am of voting age. This is going to be firm. And might even get me in trouble for my class. But I have to go for it because I realized also, this is my blog.

All of this is bullshit. All of the ads, bullshit. All of the back and forth slandering of each other, bullshit.

Neither of them wants to really help California. This is all for the glory of themselves. They are both slimy. Yeah most politicians are. But why do political commercials for the most part be a near libelous bashing of the opposition, and then what whatever reason the candidate is better. It makes so many people lose faith, or lose patience, or lose interest in politics.

Yeah sure the candidates might want to do this, or change that. But in their limited time actually in office. Yes they are there for four years. No that is not time to do more than really get the ball rolling. Yes the next person who takes their place just is going to probably stop that ball.

So why waste the money on a state that is in near gajillion like numbers of debt?

In fact why didn't Meg Whitman put two billion dollars into the state. I would have voted for her then.

Why didn't Brown come out and clearly say he had a plan to decrease the debt.

That would be good campaigning. That would actually cause all of us who have lost faith, or patience, or interest to go and vote.

I am a 19 year old Journalism major at a small university in California. Sure I am not a huge fan of politics already. Yeah sure, this is because these commercials literally make me sick at times. Yes this is because they are bullshit.

I am not a Mark Zuckerburg. I am not an Albert Einstein. I am not a Steve Jobs. I am not a genius by any means. I am a 19 year old Journalism major at a small university in California.

What is sad is if I can figure it out. Why can't the people who are running our State, even our Country, figure out that maybe all the dirtiness in politics is what actually kills it?

Maybe I just went on a tangent on a topic I am mad about lately. Maybe I'm right on point.

You tell me.