The Dark Knight Rises (spoiler warning)

I realize that while I wrote a blog about Batman Begins I've never gone into detail about why I adore The Dark Knight. That said, I'm blogging about The Dark Knight Rises first- if I ever write about it they will then be in ascending order according to my opinion.
It isn't that I didn't like the movie, there was a lot I did but there was also many things I didn't. Remember that I am a Batman fan in the sense that I've seen this whole franchise, the 1960s tv show, the 1990s movies a long time ago. This (along with what I've learned from fanatics) is basically where I've gotten most knowledge. Further, I'm manly concerned with how it fits in the Christopher Nolan franchise and my taste in movies in general.

Dislikes:
1- I feel like the whole Bane plotline wasn't Batman. It was interesting but it seemed like Nolan wanted to make a movie about someone trying to destroy a town, getting help from the unhappy majority. It was a great cautionary tale about if Occupy Wall Street went crazy but Batman was just tacked on to put it in this film. The previous film(s?) did have side action but it never seemed like Bruce Wayne/Batman wasn't essential.
2. It was too loud. Not to sound 90 but i couldn't hear half the dialog. In previous movies the action gets loud but you can hear every word of dialog. Between Anne Hathaway's dainty voice, the swells of music, and Tom Hardy's mask/ weird voice some stuff was inaudible.
3.The absence of the Joker. Along with the reasons I've previously stated, having seen the film it is completely ridiculous. They empty the jail so if The Joker was incarcerated, as apparently every bad guy has been thanks to the Dent Law, why wasn't he released? Just have someone say, "Free everyone but..." They could even say that he left Gothem before luckily, I don't really care but make an illusion because it takes you out of the film.
4. The Dent Law wasn't explained, unless I missed it in a swell of music. They basically say it to explain how Gothem is a peaceful place but not what it entailed. I mean what is it a line? Maybe two?
5. Catwoman is a villain. I get helping Batman to defeat Bane and insure everyone doesn't blow up but don't make them end up as a couple. This made the whole Bruce and Salina thing seem like a twisted romantic comedy tacked on because woman wouldn't want to go with no Ledger.
6. Alfred was bearly in it. This actually made sense in the movie I just don't like that Michael Caine was wasted.

Things I liked:
1: Secret Identity of Joseph Gordon Levitt character. This one is actually kind of both liked and didn't. I love that the whole time you see a character with a secret identity but every clue pointed to him being the Joker however Nolan said he'd never use Robin in his films.
2.Batman dies but Bruce doesn't! I mean everyone thought he'd die to end the franchise and Christian Bale always said he'd never play Batman again. Loophole and actually explained, well done Nolan, you trickster.
3. I did enjoy the Bane movie's plot again it just wasn't good in this movie.
4. The acting continued to be well done which can be rare in Comic Book movies.
5. I like that it was shot in New York City which is good for New York, even though as a New Yorker I will tell you they didn't camouflage it well at all.
6. The truth about Dent is reveled which I like because I hated what he did to poor commissioner Gordon.

Never talk crap about an English teacher

Oh yes!

"Discovering Dad" aka delving into Terry Gilliam's personal archive

If you've been paying attention, you know that I am a Terry Gilliam fan. Sure I watch a ton of movies and while I can find pleasure in fluff from time to time, Gilliam movies move me. I enjoy his work with senses you don't normally need to enter a cinema. My crush on his mind is as serious than the one I have on his handsome model son! You can imagine my excitement, therefore at discovering Holly Gilliam's blog: "Discovering Dad" aka delving into Terry Gilliam's personal archive:


Holly, who appeared as Jack Lindts triplet daughters in her father's 1985 Brazil, explained her desire to share Terry with the world in her first post: The beginning... http://hollydgilliam.blogspot.com/2012/07/the-beginning.html

 
Being surrounded by such creative genius must have been awesome and the fact that Ms. Gilliam wants to share an inside look with the world is so sweet and such a treasure, that it shouldn't be overlooked. So please support the blog and follow on twitter @hollydubois for such gems as original artwork from the Python opening and God only knows what else.

Pray for the Victims of the Movie Massacre

Due to Insanity that is America I will not be writing about The Dark Knight Rising at this time.

I'm breaking up with bread

Okay that is a bit extreme but we are definitely seeing other people. After increased stomach issues led my doctor to run the celiac disease blood test, and and one conversation with the doctor later- I have a confirmed glutten sensitivity/ intolerance. It's not celiac disease and will most likely never be great(let's hope ) but it does mean that there will probably be less marathon heartburn episodes and week long gass pains(sexy I know.) It does also mean that I now have to balance out my glutten intake, if I don't want stomach issues then I need to say to myself "no sandwiched for lunch because you are having pizza for dinner." Self restriction isn't the big problem with this but rather thinking ahead about anything. The good news is the drop in bread and products with wheat is apparently not going to be that hard. The week between my physical and the blood results coming in I had gone very light on the glutten. The really good news, during the same week (napoleon birthday cake being a regular addition) I loss 3 pounds!!! I might have finally found my diet breakthrough. Wish me luck

No Joker Rising?

This week Christopher Nolan's Batman franchise returns to the big screen for the first time in four years. Though there has been speculations about plot (it was going to take place 20 years after the last, or maybe four) and anticipation about the new villains Catwoman (Anne Hathaway) and Bane (Tom Hardy) it seems the number one topic of conversation was the Joker- who was portrayed by Heath Ledger in a 2009 Oscar winning role. First was "will Ledger be replaced as the Joker?" Which seemed to die down when everyone from the franchise said that Heath was irreplaceable. However, everyone knows that between unused archive footage and "movie magic" it would still be possible to use Ledger (and perhaps a double) as the Joker so speculation became "will the Joker return?" or "how will they explain where the Joker went?"

After talking around the subject for a while and acting coy, Nolan has stated that it would be triviaizing the loss of Ledger to so much as mention the demented clown prince by name. For the record I firmly believe he is lying; as they say in his film The Prestige, "a magician never reveals his trick." I feel like he's trying to conceal the surprise Sixth Sense style. I have my ideas of how the Joker should will return which I won't reveal until it's happened or not. That said, if he is telling the truth and the Joker actually doesn't get so much as a name drop, Nolan is an idiot.

Allegedly, every other villain from the series is mentioned. By not saying only one person you are actually drawing attention to the Ledger tragedy not brushing by it. If he didn't want attention brought to losing Heath, Nolan should have told the cast and crew not to bring him up because when Batman himself, Christian Bale is "opening up about the loss of his friend for the first time" just as he promotes his last film makes me feel like he's trying to get attention. Also, from the inside perspective, if I lived in Other city, I would want to know if that guy was on the loose.
I guess only time will tell if Nolan did right or not.

Happy Birthday to me!

My 26th birthday festivities started, at all times, while I was getting my blood drawn during a physical because at the same time that i was going through needle-phobia Gigi and Lauren (and Thomas) were getting me a birthday treat. That afternoon, after nap time, I found out that G had chosen a yellow cake, yellow buttercream frosted uptake with colored sprinkles.

2 days later on my actual birthday the gifts started at

Even better than material things, however is fun times and I had plenty of fun going to the beach and then going out to dinner with my family. Oh and dessert! Dessert was amazing. My mother was sweet enough to specially order a napoleon cake with whip cream fronting (my favorite kind of cake) and also picked up chocolate covered strawberries.

Just to make me feel really special there was about 30 Facebook well wishes, sever tweets and this blog:http://sittinginnyc.blogspot.com/2012/07/happy-birthday-elisa.html?m=1 I feel very loved

Let Freedom Ring

Happy Birthday to my Mommy

Xoxoxoxo

Anderson Cooper came out of the closet, if indeed you think he was actually in

I am shocked that he said it, but I can't imagine this is very shocking to anyone really. I have loved Anderson for years, did my senior thesis on his family, and am really happy for him that he has found happiness in his personal life. The following is an email published on this blog:

Andrew, as you know, the issue you raise is one that I've thought about for years. Even though my job puts me in the public eye, I have tried to maintain some level of privacy in my life. Part of that has been for purely personal reasons. I think most people want some privacy for themselves and the people they are close to.
But I've also wanted to retain some privacy for professional reasons. Since I started as a reporter in war zones 20 years ago, I've often found myself in some very dangerous places. For my safety and the safety of those I work with, I try to blend in as much as possible, and prefer to stick to my job of telling other people’s stories, and not my own. I have found that sometimes the less an interview subject knows about me, the better I can safely and effectively do my job as a journalist.
I've always believed that who a reporter votes for, what religion they are, who they love, should not be something they have to discuss publicly. As long as a journalist shows fairness and honesty in his or her work, their private life shouldn't matter. I’ve stuck to those principles for my entire professional career, even when I’ve been directly asked “the gay question,” which happens occasionally. I did not address my sexual orientation in the memoir I wrote several years ago because it was a book focused on war, disasters, loss and survival. I didn't set out to write about other aspects of my life.
Recently, however, I’ve begun to consider whether the unintended outcomes of maintaining my privacy outweigh personal and professional principle. It’s become clear to me that by remaining silent on certain aspects of my personal life for so long, I have given some the mistaken impression that I am trying to hide something - something that makes me uncomfortable, ashamed or even afraid. This is distressing because it is simply not true.
I’ve also been reminded recently that while as a society we are moving toward greater inclusion and equality for all people, the tide of history only advances when people make themselves fully visible. There continue to be far too many incidences of bullying of young people, as well as discrimination and violence against people of all ages, based on their sexual orientation, and I believe there is value in making clear where I stand.
The fact is, I'm gay, always have been, always will be, and I couldn’t be any more happy, comfortable with myself, and proud.
I have always been very open and honest about this part of my life with my friends, my family, and my colleagues. In a perfect world, I don't think it's anyone else's business, but I do think there is value in standing up and being counted. I’m not an activist, but I am a human being and I don't give that up by being a journalist.
Since my early days as a reporter, I have worked hard to accurately and fairly portray gay and lesbian people in the media - and to fairly and accurately portray those who for whatever reason disapprove of them. It is not part of my job to push an agenda, but rather to be relentlessly honest in everything I see, say and do. I’ve never wanted to be any kind of reporter other than a good one, and I do not desire to promote any cause other than the truth.
Being a journalist, traveling to remote places, trying to understand people from all walks of life, telling their stories, has been the greatest joy of my professional career, and I hope to continue doing it for a long time to come. But while I feel very blessed to have had so many opportunities as a journalist, I am also blessed far beyond having a great career.
I love, and I am loved.
In my opinion, the ability to love another person is one of God’s greatest gifts, and I thank God every day for enabling me to give and share love with the people in my life. I appreciate your asking me to weigh in on this, and I would be happy for you to share my thoughts with your readers. I still consider myself a reserved person and I hope this doesn’t mean an end to a small amount of personal space. But I do think visibility is important, more important than preserving my reporter’s shield of privacy.

And Some pure indulgence on my part:

Cooper and me August 2007