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Up is a film enjoyable for children and adults. The previews lead one to believe that this will be a simple, humor-driven; however, the film is so much more than this. Up is a sentimental story of love, loss, and friendship. The characters are lovable and with some dimension to their personalities all through the tale.

The beginning of the film presents viewers with a poignant love story of Carl, a balloon vendor, and his wife “Scout.” In time the film shifts focus to Carl’s desire to carry through with his promise to his wife when they were children and sets off on an action-filled adventure, with an accidental child companion.

This film offers great 3-D effects, substance, and unpredictability throughout. This is one children’s film everyone should see, whether you have children or not. After seeing Pixar’s latest film, you will understand why Up made history when it became the first animated movie ever to open the prestigious Cannes Film Festival.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is one of the best and hardest films you will ever watch. The film is based on the novel by John Boyne, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. This is the story of a young boy who finds friendship in the most unlikely and prohibited place.

Bruno, an eight-year-old German boy, and Schmuel, an eight-year-old Jewish child become friends through an electric fence that divides them. After observing cruelty perpetrated against Jews he considers kind and good people, he begins to question the Nazi dogma. The film portrays Bruno’s loss of innocence in such a way that you too feel the confusion, pain, and horror as it happens within his young life. Through the eyes of a child we observe so much that you cannot in other Holocaust films.

The film would be scarcely as good or as harrowing if other than Asa Butterfield and Jack Scanlon had been chosen for the roles of Bruno and Schmuel, respectively. These two played their roles brilliantly. Because of their incredible work and the extraordinary story, it is impossible not to become attached to Bruno and Schmuel by the end of the film. The excruciating climax of the film because of this and all it represents will very likely leave you struck speechless long after the credits roll.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is extremely effective in its portrayal, on a micro level, of this disturbing and atrocious genocide. While there are many films out there that focus on the Holocaust, this one is markedly different. Viewers will be left to consider humanity’s potential for hatred, denial [even in the direst of times], and still too love. See this film and you will not regret it.

• Chiggers! The outdoors apparently holds a grudge against me.  Each time I spend time outdoors something reacts to my body – one time poison sumac, which turned into a staph infection; another time poison ivy; that same weekend infection in both of my feet; last time swollen ankles; and now, chigger bites.  I have well over 90 chigger bites on feet, legs, and back.  My body is unbearably itchy right now and only time will cure it, alas.

• Driving… I cannot retain numbers or numeric facts, which according to my doctor is common with ADHD patients and this makes passing the permit exam impossible.  Thus, I am desperately searching for friends who will practice driving with me sans permit right now.  The lack of options and restricted independence have become just too much and I have to find my way out of this situation.  I intend to save funds to purchase a vehicle once I get a license, or during the process too of practicing for the driver’s test.

• Job Insanity. My job continues to be ridiculously busy, with ten-hour straight days becoming more and more common (today I worked 10 ½ hours straight).  In spite of my productivity there is a never ending source of work to be done.  The drama continues on too, which leads to increased frustration and growing negativity within.  It is exhausting.

• Meds. I was put on an ADHD med called Straterra a couple of months back, which stopped being effective rather quickly.  The doctor prescribed a different ADHD med that is a part of the Adderall family of drugs.  It has done incredibly for me, leaving me 100% more productive and focused.  I am so much more efficient at work.  The meds work for about 12 hours a day when in my system.  I only wish the effect of the meds last 15 hours instead so after work, in personal time, I could be less distracted and more focused as well. (Heh).

• Plans Changed. I have decided against purchasing a home right now, for many reasons.  I have considered the implications, the permanence, the limited options (within my price range), and certain things that ought be a higher priority first.  The stress of the buying process too has become more than I had anticipated.  I intend to rent another apartment, elsewhere, for a year instead and see where life takes me from here.

Image via Wikipedia

Last night I watched 12 Angry Men.  Filmed in 1957, 12 Angry Men is the story of a jury asked to decide the fate of an 18 year old, but more concerned about getting on with their day.  The film stars Henry Fonda, playing the one juror who seeks the truth.

12 Angry Men is ultimately a judgment upon the legal system, noticeable from one of the very first scene as the judge shows absolute apathy during his speech to the jury.  The majority of the scenes take place in just one room, the jury room.  Twelve men discuss, shout, and bicker amongst themselves as they determine if the defendant is guilty and confront their own prejudices and selfish ambitions.

If there is going to be a film shown in a law class this should be the one.  The film is masterful at portraying the value of and the dangers within the jury system.  The impact human nature has upon verdicts is illustrated fantastically in 12 Angry Men.  Henry Fonda serves the film well as both character and conscience.

There is no doubt why 12 Angry Men is listed on both AFI’s 100 Most Heart-Pounding Movies list and AFI’s 100 Most Inspiring Movies list.  This is truly a classic and a must-see.

cirque final RGB letter size, originally uploaded by midnitesunltd.

A naughty and stimulating event entitled “Cirque du Erotica 2” took place at the Casaloma ballroom on Iowa at Cherokee Street this past Saturday evening. The event featured the Furious Vixen band (including the stunning Teya), “The Red Hot Dancers” (a gorgeous burlesque troupe), pole dancers and fire spinners, and a belly dancer too. Intense sensuality and incredible talent coursed through the space.

The crowd was a wide range of ages and lifestyles, all enraptured with the decadence. The Casaloma was filled with people. Some dressed in costumes, some in street clothes, and some in clubbing outfits. One friend of mine dressed as a candy girl (instead of a cigarette girl), one acquaintance dressed as a ringleader, and one dressed as a strong man.

Unfortunately cameras were strictly prohibited. Perhaps another of the Cirque du Erotica 2 events I will have that Canon Rebel I’ve had my eye on and will shoot the event as a part of it. I have already told this year’s stage manager that I would like to volunteer next year for it.

If you have the chance to attend next year, do. Leave the kids at home (and your purse and camera) and come out for a great time!

This past Saturday the Cherokee Open House event took place. For those unfamiliar, Cherokee Street is home to numerous authentic Mexican restaurants, various art spaces, a few indie printing presses, and unique shops.

In the past four years I have witnessed the growth of the Cherokee Street community and development of the surrounding neighborhoods. This past Saturday everyone had opportunity to see just how fantastic Cherokee Street is and how far it has come.

Some photographs along Cherokee Street and within its fine businesses…

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David, originally uploaded by Jay8085.

This evening I watched the documentary “Private Dicks: Men Exposed.” The documentary interviews men of all ages and races and sexual persuasions about their penises. It was very interesting to me, who does not after all have a penis of my own.

Evidently men have performance anxiety quite a lot and size concerns are common. Men interviewed were quite open about masturbation: they do it copiously. The taboos surrounding the penis were discussed somewhat. Familial openness about sexuality, or lack thereof, was very impacting to those interviewed, more so than I suppose I had considered previously.

It was interesting to see the difference age made to men’s view of sexuality. The penis seems to have become less of the main event and more an instrument to pleasure with a partner, sex becomes more about love with another than a mark on the bedpost to men as they get older.

If you want to understand men a little more, or at least their relationship with the penis, do view this documentary. It is available on Netflix as a “Watch Instantly” option currently.

I found a fantastic online invite site that I want to share.  It is called Pingg.  The invite designs are eye-catching and distinctive.  Designs are available free and for a small cost (“premium” designs).  The free designs are fantastic, though, so I am not sure I see reason to spend money on a “premium” design myself.

The site offers delivery and reminder options via SMS, e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, and web.

For more formal parties or for those guests without online access, you can design an invitation via Pingg and then order paper invites – printed, stamped, and mailed by Pingg for just $1.25 plus postage/an invite.

For more information on this great service (that easily beats out Evite as an online invitation site), go to their website.

Coraline y La Puerta Secreta Poster, originally uploaded by Cine Fanatico.

This weekend I saw Coraline in 3-D. Coraline is a phenomenal film directed by Henry Selick and based upon a book by Neil Gaiman. Voice actors include Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French, and Teri Hatcher. They Might Be Giants contributed to the original music.

The story follows a little girl named Coraline who discovers an alternate reality where her mother and father are very different (and she thinks better). She learns through her adventure to appreciate what she already has instead of wishing for something else and taking for granted the blessings in her own life.

It is a well-told story with fantastic characters, incredible imagery, and wonderful excitement. This is a film that would be fun for a child of eight just as it is a great story for an adult. I encourage you to see this on the big screen.

[The film is definitely worth seeing as a 3-D film. If you are in the St. Louis area, it is viewable 3-D in Fenton].

12/365, originally uploaded by gina.banina.

When Mockingbird (written by Charles Shields) came to bookstores I immediately picked a copy up. As a huge fan of To Kill A Mockingbird I was very curious about the infamous Harper Lee –what her own childhood had been like, what she had done since TKMB, why she never wrote another novel, and so forth.

Mockingbird did not disappoint. Charles Shield offers up a well-documented portrayal of Harper Lee’s life, including extensive accounting of her childhood (which is surprisingly similar to that of Scout and Jem in TKMB), her family, her school years and professional development. In addition to his coverage of all of that, the author provides a glimpse into Harper Lee’s friendship with Truman Capote and the adventure she shared with him in putting together In Cold Blood.

For those who enjoy delving into a good biography or for those who have innate curiosity about the authors who write the fantastic books we read as well as for those who write and want to be inspired by another author’s story I highly suggest picking up Mockingbird. It is interesting from cover to cover and leaves the reader sure she (or he) has a better grasp on who Harper Lee is and even why she chooses to hide from the public eye.