Soundtracks

I became super busy this week between studying for an epic math test and my broken ankle (which I thought was just a sprain) I have not viewed too much media this week. I have found that I am so much more productive without it (who knew right?!?!). I was able to study for hours and days for my test. I also found more time to nurse my ankle! Although I still listened to my movie soundtracks while I studies to drown out any extra noise in my apartment. I love movies soundtracks. For a long time soundtracks would be all I listened to. When I was in middle school I was exposed to things I did not like and felt very uncomfortable with. The music was not wholesome and often had disturbing messages and lyrics and I just wanted no part of it so I went to soundtracks. I have quite the collection and still listen to them often. I have found that listening to them calms me and allows me to focus. When I listen for just recreational purposes I often imagine what is happening at the movie at that time. I have gotten emotional during movies but it isn't usually because of the great story and plot and performance of the actors but because of the music. For example, While I was watching Lord of the Rings the Return of the King there is a part towards the beginning when they are trying to light the beacons to call for aid. The movie just pans across "Middle Earth" showing everyone light the beacons.  This isn't really a pinnacle part of the movie and nothing is really happening but the music gets me every time. My mom does the same thing. Needless to say... I'm a nerd... and an emotional wimp.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIhnYFRu4ao

PSYCH IS BACK!!!!!

PSYCH... IS... BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was so stoked for Wednesday Feb 27th because I knew my favorite show was back!!! YES!!!!!! I was looking forward to it the entire day. I kept looking online at the tv guides to see what time exactly it was going to start (because Utah is stupid with its show times)! But I was so excited, if you did not already know!

(SPOILERS!!) This episode picked up where they left of last season (9 months ago... which is way too long to wait!!) on the beach where Henry (Shawn's dad) got shot. This episode is all about Shawn trying to find his dad's shooter and the events going on around it.

The Good:
1) New opening sequences
I love the opening sequences, I love the song and I like seeing the new pictures and looking forward to those new episodes!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMYuE0IZQ34

2) It finally answered the question of Henry: is he gonna die or will he live?
I always thought he was going to survive because how can you have Psych without the odd, contentious, respectful, funny relationship of Shawn and Henry?

3) Shawn's love for his father
You always knew Shawn did love and care about his dad but they do fight and argue most of the time. It was good to see how much he truly does love and care for him. He was so angry and upset, he kind of went off the deep end, definite psychological and emotional issues he was experiencing. But I did like seeing the lengths he would go to for his dad. This was the first time you heard Shawn say "I love you" to his dad. He is sitting by his dad's side in the hospital talking to him and he says "I just don't think its time for you to go" and "I love you.............r french toast!"
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10200386434759017&set=vb.6193822146&type=2&theater

4) Despite the seriousness of this episode it was still really funny!
It was its typical Psych self. I was laughing throughout the episode. I particularly loved what Shawn did to the Blueberry and then the poor Cranberry. :)

5) Juliet
She was worried about Shawn the entire episode and was always there for Shawn and to quote Shawn near the end of the episode "I have the best girlfriend in the world!" Yes, yes Shawn you do!!! :)

6) Chief Vick
I have always loved Chief Vick but she was particularly awesome in this episode and what she and Shawn did "not" discuss!

7) Lassie
Lassie was awesome in this episode as well. I loved his weapons envy and how he acts like a kid in a toy story when it comes to episode. Who knew he had a favorite type of mine... but of course it isn't surprising if you know Lassie. Also he helped Shawn, showing that despite how much Shawn irks him and frustrates him he does like and care for him like they are friends.

The Bad:
1) Relief too soon?!?!
I was hoping that the question of Henry's fate would have been more up in the air the whole episode and not reveal that he was going to live until the end but they wrapped that up pretty quick, definitely within the first 10 minutes or so. I just thought it would have been better and Shawn's behavior would have made more sense if it wasn't so certain that Henry was going to be fine.

Loved it!!!! Such a great episode, definitely worth the hype! Can't wait until next week!! My show is BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

Best Castle Yet!!!

Castle's most recent episode (contains SPOILERS!!!!) had Castle's daughter Alexis kidnapped and Castle is trying to get her back. He leaves and goes to Paris (where Alexis is being held) to get her back himself with old contacts. This was my favorite episode yet, even topping the one where Castle and Becket finally get together, which is saying a lot!!! It was a combination of Taken and Bourne! It was awesome! There were some great epic moments, that just made me so excited!

I predicted that it was Alexis that was the target of the kidnapping not the other girl, but I wasn't sure why. I kept wondering why they would take her, and then when they said when they found out who she was they had to do something. I kept wondering who they thought she was. I had the epiphany of Castle's father a little bit before the show revealed it itself. I loved them finally bringing Castle's father into it and how involved he actually was in Castle's life. I got all teary eyed about the story of how Castle's dad gave him Casino Royale at the library and it made him want to be a writer! And how much he really cares for him, his mother and Alexis!

This episode reminded me so much of how much I love Castle which I was considering because it was making me wonder, but this one was awesome!!!

I think I will watch this one over and over again!!!

Social Media

I was introduced to something interesting today. In church we discussed how we each have a phone, mostly even a smart phone. Also most people have one of the following sometimes even more: facebook, instagram, twitter, and countless others! Now it is not a bad thing to have access to each of these media forms but here is a question that was raised to us: How often do you check these types of media? I thought this was an interesting question. 

It was also mentioned the contrast between the knowledge of the work (like what we get from the internet or social media) and the knowledge of God. How much weight does the knowledge of the world have in our lives? Does it overpower the knowledge of God? Which does your life revolve around? 

Ask yourself these questions. Make sure you distinguish between the knowledge of God and the knowledge of the world and make sure you follow and do the will of the Lord actively search ponder and pray for His guidance. 

Bourne Movie Marathon

I decided to have a Bourne movie marathon for the long weekend and may I say I was not disappointed!

I have always loved the Bourne movies, such a great series. I enjoy the car chase scenes that occur in every movie, they are just so fast paced and amazing. I also enjoy how Bourne constantly plots and schemes, he is always one step ahead of the people coming after him.

Also, he does some pretty amazing things how he watches the people coming after him and they do not even realize it and his fights using inanimate objects: in the Identity he uses a pen to overpower his assailant, then in Supremacy a rolled up magazine and then in Ultimatum a hand towel. I also love the end song!! It is my and my mom's favorite part!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Au-v2RS0mJQ

Bourne Identity is a good beginner movie to get you involved with the characters and the story and it kick started the series. I like this one because it is an interesting concept and intriguing movie making me anticipate the sequels.

Bourne Supremacy in my opinion has the best car chase scene and I love it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwiuLIKTTZY
Also Bourne's sneaking is incredible
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3znSbbu9IU

Bourne Ultimatum is my favorite Bourne film!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRLNdcmRcFY
It is such a great end and I love that, when movies have boring bland endings it really upsets me but this one ends quite fantastically!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXp79rAS5JQ

Bourne Legacy is an interesting and fun addition to the Bourne series. I actually really liked this new guy, Aaron Cross. He was fun to watch and he also was a great schemer and planner and did really well with the action sequences. I did not really like the whole drug part of the plot but it is still entertaining. Also I really miss Matt Damon, Jason Bourne. I keep hoping that this is an in-between movie setting up for the next where it will combing Aaron Cross and Jason Bourne. I would love to see those two together kicking trash, these guys coming after Jason and Aaron would not stand a chance if the two joined forces. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4McdaMBK1Tk

Warm Bodies

Alright, so Valentines' Day is a great day to spend with your significant other, celebrate each other and your relationship, but to those who do not have someone its kind of a blah day, nothing much to look forward to, unless you make plans, like I just did. Me and a few friends decided to go watch a movie.  We did not choose a cheesy, love, romantic, chick flicky movie but a more I guess romantic comedy with some cheese...?, I'm not quite sure how to classify this movie. Warm Bodies.

For those who do not know, Warm Bodies is a zombie movie (synopsis on Yahoo!). It is set after this zombie epidemic, it is not certain how exactly it started and it revolves around this zombie who is kind of weird when compared to the rest of the zombies. All he really wants to do is connect with people and remember things, like his name, he thinks it started with an R so he just goes by R. R meets a girl named Julie an feels something for her and decides to save her from the zombies. She sees that he is different and they form a relationship as they struggle to survive. She sparks something in him and makes him grow more human and also touches the other zombies.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07s-cNFffDM

I am not a zombie movie type girl, it really does not do it for me. The only zombie type movie I have actually seen and enjoyed was I am Legend, but I actually really enjoyed this movie. I call it a mix between I am Legend and Twilight, but so much better! I was pleasantly surprised by this movie and how good and funny it was.

The Good

1) It was so funny!
R narrates at parts throughout the movie and it is so funny. I wish he narrated more because it is so clever and witty. There are so many good lines in this movie that made me die laughing. Also R has a best friend, who is a zombie, and he is pretty funny as well.

2) The story
I actually did enjoy the love story in this movie. R is just a sweet adorable guy and the girl is pretty awesome as well. R has several precious moments that for a girl makes me go "aww...."

3) R
Would you believe that I fell for a stupid zombie...yeah, well I did. His character is just awesome and he is so sweet and cute. I am glad that every girl I know who has seen it loves this zombie too. One of my friends asked me if it was okay that she fell in love with a zombie? Yeah, he was precious.

The Bad

1) Swearing
There was some swearing in this movie. It all happened during one certain chunk of the movie. The worse of it those was the one "f" word that occurred.

2) It is a zombie movie
It was hard to watch these zombies going and attacking people to eat and survive. This gore and violence was difficult for me to watch, especially the typical eating of brains that zombies do, but luckily the attacking and violence was only during the first little bit of the movie and was alright to push through. And the brain eating did not last too long either.

My Favorite Book

(WARNING!!! If you have not read the books or watched any of the movies you shouldn't read this because I will spoil many things for you, but if you do not care (first how dare you, go experience it for yourself, or 2 then read on...)

I was asked what my favorite book as a child and as of now. It has not changed since i was nine years old, its Harry Potter, now and probably forever. Harry Potter was the first chapter books I read and it is what made me love reading. I can remember my mom and sister reading it to me before I started reading it myself because my fifth grade teacher told me I had to read the book before I saw the movie. In elementary school you were always suppose to bring a reading book with you for whenever they had reading time or you finished something before it was time, I remember bringing the Sorcerer's Stone, and eagerly reading it and the day the first movie came into theater, the day I was going to see it with my family, I remember running into my classroom up to my teacher and waving the Chamber of Secrets in his face saying I could go see the movie!

I love these books so much when the Half-Blood Prince came out I was at Wal-Mart at midnight with my mom ready to get it and start reading it. I was also in line at Wal-Mart for the Deathly Hallows reading it right away. This was the weekend before I was suppose to go to my fifth year of girls camp and I told my mom I am not going until I finished luckily I did and I didn't have to miss girls camp, but I was not the only one, I cannot tell you how many girls brought it with them and spent every free moment they had reading.

These books just slip you away to their world. You are no longer in the world of reality but in the world of magic, mystery, and adventure. Every turn is something new and exciting. While reading, eating and sleeping were such a burden, I can sleep when I'm finished was always my attitude, but that always seemed to fail because I would then start the next book. I have often said how I wish certain aspects of Harry Potter were real, namely two: the time-turner and aparation. The time-turner so I can have a few extra hours of sleep, and more time to just do some things. Aparation so I wouldn't have to use so much gas to get to work everyday, also so I didn't have to walk in the snow to class. Oh and a flying broom would be pretty fun!! Man quidditch.

These books are not just books to me but have taught me so much and is always very inspiring. I love the characters: Harry, Ron, Hermione, Fred, George, Ginny, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Lupin, Tonks, Sirius, Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, Hagrid, Neville, and countless others. I feel so close to these cahracters that I cannot help but be apart of everything. I feel their excitement and success, joy, happiness, nervousness, anguish, fear, anger, love, sorrow, and despair. I weep (every freaking time!!!) one of my beloved friends has died and for those who linger on mourning and missing those dear ones we love.

These books have so many messages that bring chills down my spine and really make me consider things. I love all of the lessons of being self-less, love, friendship, loyalty, sacrifice, being courageous even in the face of danger, standing up for what it right even when it is hard, and hope.

Dumbledore has so many speeches that I love that really hit home for me as do many of my beloved friends: Sirius, and Neville
The first is in the Prisoner of Azkaban: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zz9M-_yGrI0
I think it is important that yes, things may be hard and seem very dark with no end in sight but there is hope, just remember to look and search for the light!

the Goblet of Fire: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52Wvn4SzYWc

My favorite line, "soon we must all face the choice between what is right and what is easy." What is easy isn't always right and what is right isn't alway easy. I think of President Monson when I hear this, "You cannot be right by doing wrong; you can never be wrong by doing right." Do what is right, stand up for what is right, even in the dark times. Also, "remember... you are not alone," hopefully we do all have friends and family that love us and are always there for us, but we always, always have the Spirit with us, and the Lord can always be there for us, if we are worthy and ask. http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2009/04/none-were-with-him?lang=eng

The Half-Blood Prince: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aGaHZaLeM4
If anyone remembers the songs of the sorting hat it sings at the beginning of each year. Well this was left out of the movies but there was one song in particular that was great: saying how we should put aside our differences because the only way we will defeat darkness, defeat evil, is if we are united, joined together. "That greatest weapon is you," When it comes to this world it is still true. The adversary is real and knows exactly what to do to try and get us but if we are strong and work together united we can defeat him and the worldly things he puts in our way to obstruct our path.

the Order of the Phoenix: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxDLoeDTXl0
I love this part of the movie so much. First of all, Sirius is one of my favorite characters. It shows the true father son relationship Harry and Sirius have. It also shows, to me, the true struggle Harry is having,  trying so hard to be good and do the right thing but is brought down by the bad and hard things. I think each of us at some time has felt like Harry, where we are afraid and struggle but want to do the right thing, to overcome the challenge placed at our feet.

This always reminded me of a story my father told me when I was a freshman here at BYU and I was struggling:   
It seems in an old Indian legend that a grandfather told each of his grandchildren just before they were to become “adults” that within each of them there are two wolves struggling and fighting each other.  One was sent by the “Great Spirit” to encourage and build them up.  He would build them up and encourage them to great things and always pointed out that no matter what they were faced with he would help them use their skills to get through it.  The other wolf was mean and vicious and always pointed out their mistakes and where they had failed.  He would constantly remind them of those failures and whisper to them that because they had failed once, according to him, they would fail again and continue to do so.  This battle would rage in the souls of each Indian all of his or her life.  This story particularly amazed and frightened one of the old Indian’s grandchildren.  With great fear and concern he asked his grandfather, “Which wolf wins the battle?”  To this the old Indian replied, “THE ONE YOU FEED!”
I love this story and it reminds me that no matter what comes our way we can choose the way to act, "the part we choose to act on, that is who we really are!"

Of all the Harry Potter books, the last one is my favorite (although I do love them all), there are so many parts in the last one that I love. It mainly has to do with Snape and Harry's sacrifice. Also, in the end, Voldemort doesn't really have a reason to fight, nothing worth fighting for, or living, for. It is proven when Harry comes back, the look on Voldemort's face and how everyone ends up leaving him  except the very corrupt and evil few. That is my favorite part, how Harry and all those who follow him have a reason to fight, something to live for, that no matter what it will not be in vain, good will win!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8C_3OA8eso

These books are so inspiring, such a great story of good vs evil, it is also incredibly funny! Fred and George are quite the mischievous lads, and there are quite a few sarcastic moments. These books have it all, you will laugh, you will cry and you will gladly do it over and over again. I have learned so much from these wonderful books and it has been such a fun ride that I will go on again and again! "The ones we love will never truly leave us" our loved ones will always be with us and we will see them again and some stories just stay with you forever!

(I can talk Harry Potter forever... I'll probably post something about it again at some point in the future)