100 Things My Generation Loves (For Some Reason)

  To be fair, I am not intentionally knocking any particular thing on this list. There are actually quite a few things on here I am fond of. Just thought that an outline of current popular culture would be interesting.

1.  Phones
2.  iPhones
3.  Texting
4.  Instagram
5.  Snapchat
6.  Facebook 
7.  Twitter
8.  Vines
9.  Youtube
10.  Overexposed selfies: 
    
11.  Candy Crush Saga 
12.  Infinity scarves
13.  Starbucks
14.  Apple 
15.  Tumblr
16.  Steampunk
17.  Comic-con
18.  Fandoms
19.  Fangirl-ing
20.  Gay rights
21.  Feminism 
22.  My Little Pony
23.  Ugg Boots
24.  Frozen 
25.  Disney movies
26.  Baking stuff
27.  DIY projects
28.  Remembering the 90's
29.  Hashtags
30.  Eating
31.  Talking about how much you stay at home and eat
32.  Video games
33.  These kind of shirts: 
    
34.  Unicorns
35.  Waffles
36.  Bacon
37.  Cupcakes
38.  Harry Potter
39.  Doctor Who
40.  Vintage stuff 
41.  Coffee 
42.  Detoxing
43.  Hipster fonts: 
    
44.  Twerking (shudder) 
45.  Liking something nobody else likes and then claiming you don't want attention 
46.  Memes
47.  Quotes
48.  Zombies
49.  Gritty TV shows
50.  Wearing flowers in your hair
51.  Pumpkin-flavored anything
52.  White people trying to be rappers
53.  Big-name colleges
54.  Those stupid "Keep Calm" posters: 
    
    
    
    Somebody. Fucking. Kill me! 
    
    
    
    
    55. Snarky Internet commentary
    56. Correcting grammar 
    57. Indie music
    58. Makeup
    59. Workouts
    60. Wearing your pants low
    61. Infinity symbols
    62. Feather tattoos
    63. "Live, Laugh, Love" 
    64. Music videos
    65. Music festivals
    66. Rap 
    67. Techo 
    68. Haters
    69. Japanese culture
    70. Anime
    71. Fanfiction
    72. The phrase: "Mind. BLOWN."
    73. Maxi skirts
    74. Mason jars
    75. "Shabby Chic"
    76. Short-shorts
    77. Anything galaxy-printed
    78. Ear gauges 
    79. Printed dresses
    80. Leather boots
    81. SWAG
    82. Leggings
    83. Owls
    84. Cats
    85. Baby animals
    86. Organic stuff
    87. Hippie culture 
    88. Fan art
    89. Cosplay
    90. Superheroes
    91. "Faith In Humanity Restored" 
    92. Thin bracelets with one charm on it: 
    
    93. Complaining about stuff
    94. Rainbows
    95. Up-and-coming bands
    96. TOMS and Vans sneakers 
    97. Tacos
    98. Pastel colors
    99. Mermaids
    100. And finally: going on the Internet to appear deep and intellectual when in reality you are just like everyone else! 
    (That was my personal ironic statement of the day). 

Respect Visual Effects Artists

  This video, created by myself a few days ago, highlights the importance of visual effects in movies and why we should appreciate the people responsible for them. 

Commentary: What's With The Marriage Hate?

  Many people are beginning to believe that marriage is slowly becoming obsolete. While encouraged throughout most of human history, changing factors in the mid-twentieth century led to an increase in cohabiting couples, unmarried parents, and single people choosing to live alone, along with more women choosing careers over marriage and children. However, the divorce rate and cost of weddings skyrocketed in the process.

  Now, before I dig any deeper, let me say that I have nothing against women preferring to stay unmarried, or delaying marriage for a while, in favor of pursuing a career. In fact, more power to you; if you feel that you can go ahead and support yourself without any emotional consequences whatsoever, then by all means do it. But my point is that our culture has seemingly reached a point where marriage isn't really promoted or even consciously encouraged anymore. If a girl today says, "I can't wait to get married," she is likely to be met with a bunch of raised eyebrows and rolled eyes. People will wonder why she is choosing to become "dependent" when she could instead dedicate the rest of her life to a career. Which begs the question: does choosing to spend the rest of your life with somebody necessarily make you "weak"?

  I understand that traditionally, marriage was based on commitment and building ties between families, not upon actual love. (In some countries, it still remains this way). So it's ironic that despite how it's 2014, we still tend to portray marriage in this sense. If a woman chooses to get married and have children, then her dreams are dead; her life is apparently over, and she has become a weak female, right? Whereas when a man gets married, he proves that he is committed and ready to build a strong family. Why does this stigma exist? Why is it that if a woman remains alone and career-focused, she is a "strong, independent woman", but if a man chooses to remain unmarried, he's an "immature manchild with committment issues"?

  Kind of a damned-if-you-do and damned-if-you-don't kind of thing when it comes to both sexes.

  When I read Cinderella Ate My Daughter (awesome book by the way), I remember how the author was bemoaning the girly-girl culture, saying how it was anti-feminist to only have girls focus on being princesses who will one day be rescued by a prince and have a fancy wedding. But why is this such a terrible thing? Why is it that feminists promote the idea that abortion, prostitution, and stripping are "empowering", but marriage is a horrible, terrible thing that should be avoided? 

  I mean, for goodness sake, I could name at least ten things worse than getting married. Murder, war, poverty, malaria, AIDS, Fifty Shades Of Grey....the list goes on. People even go so far as to try and prevent their daughters from playing with princesses, as if it will somehow shape them into submissive females. I am sorry, but we should really focus on letting kids be kids. For instance, when you were five years old (speaking to the girls here), did you want to dress up as a princess, or as Gloria Steinem? 

  Maybe the whole material aspect of weddings is what we are trying to avoid. The cost and extravagance of weddings has increased exponentially, spawning shows like Bridezillas which showcase women as spoiled brats who only care about how they will look on their wedding day, not on the actual marriage itself. I certainly understand wanting to avoid this; nobody wants to be materialistic or been seen as a phony person (unless they have no shame, of course). But there isn't a rulebook that states you absolutely have to have a giant fancy wedding! Whatever happened to ignoring the haters and not always follow the crowd? It's not the actual wedding itself we should be against, but rather the type that is pushed by the capitalist industries all over the Western world. 

  Just because a girl says she wants to get married doesn't mean that she immediately gives up on her dreams. In fact, getting married and raising a family can actually open many more doors than you would expect. When we jump on girls by demanding that they focus on a career instead of what they may want to focus on a bit more (for example, marriage and kids), then we are restricting their ability to become who they want. And that is certainly very anti-feminist indeed. 

"The Universe In A Nutshell" Book Review

  Growing up, I was never a science person. Heck, it took a long time before I even became remotely interested in basic math. But since deciding that my current book project would be based on a lot of physics/scientific fact, I decided to do a bit of meandering around the science section of the library. What I found was a combination of interesting and entirely overwhelming.

  The Universe In A Nutshell is written by none other than the brilliant Stephen Hawking, who has tackled some of the biggest scientific problems of our time. Though I read his book A Brief History Of Time prior to this, what made this book a bit more enjoyable was the fact that visuals were heavily incorporated, versus the other book, which had no types of visuals whatsoever, save for the occassional black ink diagram. Don't get me wrong, I understand a lot of times pictures can actually take away from the reading experience because it doesn't allow you to use your imagination, but in these types of books, pictures are most definitely helpful. This book was like stepping into a museum; everywhere you look, an innovative and mind-boggling fact or theory is popping out at you. What is nice is that while the pictures are dynamic, they don't steal the show; rather, they offer a good amount of support for the theories explained in the book. Hawking goes over Einstein's theories pertaining to relativity, and also explores deeper, more complex questions such as the possibilities of time-travel and the intriguing aspects of black holes. (For example, black holes are incredibly dense at their center, and it forms an infinite gravitational pull called a "singularity", which is so strong and condensed it could tear a fabric in space-time!) 

  Even if you aren't too much of a math or science person, I recommend this book. While overwhelming at times, the basic fundamentals are all present, and it all makes for a pleasant and really engaging learning experience. 

  Overall rating: 8/10

Current Playlist

1. "Bagnale (feat. Abdallah Ag Oumbadougou)" by Amadou & Mariam  
2. "Blue Jeans" by Lana Del Rey 
3. "Black" by Pearl Jam 
4. "Synchronicity II" by The Police 
5. "Tree Of Life" by Audiomachine 
6. "Bad Girl (feat. Marilyn Manson)" by Avril Lavigne 
7. "Heart-Shaped Glasses" by Marilyn Manson 
8. "Comfortably Numb" by Pink Floyd 
9. "Owner Of A Lonely Heart" by Yes
10. "Only Time" by Enya 

30 Alternative Things To Do This Summer

1. Lock yourself in your room all day and only listen to classical music. 
2. Paint on whatever surface you can: canvas, paper bags, fabric, people.  
3. Visit Woodstock and celebrate their anniversary.  
4. Go on a road trip with only $10 in your pocket.  
5. Spend an entire week only wearing thrift store clothes. 
6. Plan a trip to India. Start saving for it.  
7. Learn a new language. 
8. Start your memoir.  
9. Dye your hair blue.  
10. Meditate for hours. 
11. Try a new type of body oil or incense.  
12. Grow a small garden.  
13. Talk a walk all night with your partner. When the sun rises, stop in a cafe for breakfast. 
14. Read a book that has been lying around your house gathering dust.
15. Rearrange your house. 
16. Go for a walk. Whatever you find (as long as it isn't alive), make a brooch or necklace out of it. 
17. Dance. Doesn't matter if there's music. 
18. Write small poems and stick them in public areas for people to find. 
19. Visit a street festival. 
20. Paint each of your nails a different color. 
21. Find 5 new music artists. 
22. Go to a thrift store and use paint, scissors, and whatever else to redo your finds.  
23. Pick a country (not the U.S) and find 3 films to watch that originated in that country. 
24. Yarnbomb a tree. Or two.  
25. Stay up all night and sleep in for most of the day.  
26. Learn to play a new instrument.  
27. Park your car far away from civilization and watch the stars. 
28. Find a random stack of vinyls at a vintage store and play them.  
29. Find ten fancy outdated words in the dictionary and start using them. 
30. Eat only one type of food all day (chocolate, dairy, fruit, etc.)

The Definitive Top 100 Movies List

Just so you can see them in order:

1.     Gone With The Wind
2.     Pan’s Labyrinth
3.     Persepolis
4.     Let Me In
5.     Spirited Away
6.     A Clockwork Orange
7.     Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage
8.     The Matrix
9.     Sucker Punch
10.  The Shining
11.  It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
12.  Black Swan
13. Forrest Gump
14.  The Harry Potter Films
15.  The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
16.  The Secret Of Kells
17.  Jurassic Park
18.  My Big, Fat, Greek Wedding
19.  Winter’s Bone
20.  Coraline
21.  The Descent
22.  Remember Me
23.  Ed Wood
24.  The Cabin In The Woods
25.  Edward Scissorhands
26.  Sleepy Hollow
27.  The School Of Rock
28. The Godfather Part II
29.  Sweeney Todd
30.  I Love You, Man
31.  Mulan
32. Howl’s Moving Castle
33.  Public Enemies
34.  Orphan
35.  The Nightmare Before Christmas
36.  Evil Dead (2010)
37.  The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
38. The Help
39. Steel Magnolias
40. The Lord of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring
41.  Corpse Bride
42.  The Book Thief
43.  Monty Python and The Holy Grail
44.  Goodfellas
45. Blue Is The Warmest Color
46.  The Blair Witch Project
47. Sinister
48.  Chocolat
49.  Life Is Beautiful
50.  The Hunger Games
51.  Man of Tai Chi
52. A Town Called Panic
53.  Funny Face
54.  Poltergeist
55.  Chicken Run
56.  The Goonies
57.  Breakfast At Tiffany’s
58.  Beaches
59. Star Wars, Episode 4: A New Hope
60.  The Prince of Egypt
61.  The Simpson’s Movie
62.  The Iron Lady
63.  Lincoln
64.  Fantasia 2000
65. Blackfish
66.  Napoleon Dynamite
67.  Star Wars, Episode 3: Revenge Of The Sith
68. Panic Room
69. Taken
70.  Kung-Fu Panda
71.  Spiderman 2
72.  The Way, Way Back
73.  Scream
74. The Emperor’s New Groove
75.  Beauty and the Beast
76.  Shrek 2
77.  Les Misèrables
78.  9
79.  Shrek
80. Airplane!
81. Knowing
82.  Rango
83.  A League Of Their Own
84.  Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End
85.  Dirty Girl
86. Tarzan
87.  Carrie
88.  Hugo
89.  The Brass Teapot
90.  A Christmas Story
91.  Parenthood
92.  Ferris Beuller’s Day Off
93. Atlantis: The Lost Empire
94.  Tommy Boy
95. Dr. Suess’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas
96. Auntie Mame
97. Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure
98. Twilight
99. 47 Ronin
100.  Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest

Top 100 Movies, #10-1

10. The Shining

This is hands-down one of the greatest horror films ever made. The cinematography is outstanding, the acting is superb, the chilling elements are on point; everything is there. What makes this movie stand out is definitely the direction by Stanley Kubrick and the amazing performance by Jack Nicholson as Jack Torrance. An absolute joy to watch for any horror fan, this movie will have you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. 

9. Sucker Punch

Hate me yet? Well, out of all the films on this list people are going to criticize me for, this is definitely the one that shall probably receive the heaviest criticism. When this movie came out, people tore it to shreds. They claimed it was hypocritical, nonsensical, and an absolute mess. But...was it, really? I personally really enjoy this film. I liked the all-female cast, I love the visuals, and the cinematography all works well. The biggest complaint people have is the subliminally sexist undertone, but if you actually sit through the movie, you realize that that's the point. I feel that this movie was just a little too weird for people at the time it came out. For now, however, I will continue to watch this for a long time.

8. The Matrix

I did not expect to like this movie at all, but like a lot of other movies I have seen, this one eventually grew on me. I had been hearing about this movie forever, from parodies to cultural references to memes. And when I finally watched it, the entire thing blew me away. It was so amazingly original, from the camera movements to the story to the themes. So refreshing to have an action franchise for the thinking man. Intriguing, exciting, and thought-provoking, this film will go down as one of the most significant films of all time.

7. Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage

I feel a tad bit guilty for putting this one so far down the list, but I'm sticking with it. Let me just say that having Rush as the main topic isn't the only reason I love this movie. I liked the pacing and the editing out of anything, really. With the way the film is presented, it feels less like a documentary and more like a regular Hollywood film, which was a new and interesting approach that I hadn't seen before. Entertaining, funny, and heartfelt, this movie only brought me closer to the band (or should I say, "closer to the heart") and introduced me to an even broader range of classic rock.

6. A Clockwork Orange

I was originally going to put this film at the top of the list, but decided to change my mind. For years I had been hearing about this film, how it was weird and off-the-wall and simply legendary in its avant-garde presentation, and that any respectable non-conformist should watch it. So I did watch it, and let me just say that pretty much anything you've heard about this film is true. Is it weird? "Weird" probably isn't even the word! Is it disturbing? Absolutely, but it's also marvelously entertaining and quirky. Like a lot of movies I have reviewed so far, this film is not for everyone. But let me tell you, you haven't experienced true cinematic art until you have seen this film. 

5. Spirited Away

It's rare when a person says that a movie actually changed their life. But for me, this one was definitely the biggest game-changer I ever experienced with cinema. I watched this film for the first time when I was about six years old (around the time it came out), and I experienced a whole range of feelings. Up until that point, I was only watching Disney films, so I had no idea at all that movies could be like this. It was dark, it was complicated, it was sweet, it was mystical, it was pretty much a little bit of everything, which made it so mind-blowing. This movie told me that a different movie world existed beyond the quintessential fairy tales, and inspired many of the things that made me who I am. As a film that is very close to my heart, this movie will stay with me for a very long time. 

4. Let Me In

This film takes the cake as my favorite vampire flick and one of my all-time favorite horror films. I love how sincere the entire film is through its delivery, acting, and pacing. The combination of the harsh winter and the nearly-silent tone of the film is perfect for the uneasy yet peaceful atmosphere. And to top it off, we have two very superbly mature performances from our two leads; they alone could carry the entire film. Overall a sophisticated and darkly seductive piece of cinema. 

3. Persepolis

I remember seeing a screenshot of this movie a few years back, and how that one image alone was enough to make me check out the book, and then the film itself. The thing that drew me in was the animation. I hadn't seen this type of animation style before, unless you count the short "Rhapsody In Blue" bit from Fantasia 2000. And let me just say that the animation is truly what sets this film apart. It is simply an absolute marvel. I love how the shots fade into each other, and the usage of silouettes, shadows, and slow-motion creates the illusion of a painting in motion, much like The Secret Of Kells. And the story is so brilliantly presented, so honest and raw, that you can't help but fall in love.  

2. Pan's Labyrinth

I waited for years to see this movie, but was always a little off-put by the way it seemed like it was going to be a bit too unnerving. And to its credit, there are certainly a few scenes that will make you uneasy. But that is the beauty of it. This film was so remarkably engaging and such a joy to watch that I was hoping it wasn't going to end. But even when it did, the ending was pleasantly satisfying. I love how rich the storytelling is here; the tale of the lost princess is presented in a darker, grittier, yet more relatable and intriguing way. All in all, this movie is an absolute masterpiece. 

1. Gone With The Wind

What other movie would I put at the top of this list? I think you would be hard-pressed to have anyone argue that this isn't the greatest film to ever come out of Hollywood. Literally everything you love about movies or would ever want to see in a movie is presented here: the characters are memorable, the cinematography is outstanding, the acting is great, the costumes are amazing, and the entire film is simply epic. There's romance, there's fighting, there's drama, it's all here, guys. If I could say anything bad about this film, I would. But quite simply, it is cinematic perfection.