Getting a job.
Making more friends.
Learning to be more engaging (helps with making friends.)
Working out more often (could help make more friends, but I'm more concerned with my health.)
Cool socks. Seriously, I love socks. Especially ones that have argyle patterns.
Unfortunately, I have increased mediocrity in:
Keeping up with the Kardashians. I never really did, but who cares? I'm still not.
Coffee... I have been settling for Starbucks lately. What is wrong with me? (Don't label me, I love my coffee.)
Cooking my dinner. (Big & Little's, its so delicious.)
Watching House of Cards. (I need to catch up on that.)
If you think you have an understanding of what my blog is all about, then I am here to tell you that you are wrong. How can someone know what a blog is about when it's author does not even know?
I've changed my font to Helvetica in case you noticed. Also, I'm subtly being told that "Helvetica" is misspelled, when it is offered as a font in the menu above my writing pane. Why would you offer the font as an option and then passive-agreessively claim that it is spelled incorrectly? I'm spelling it correctly and I'm surprised "Blogger" has the gall to tell me otherwise. Makes sense to you? No? I agree, or, as Gen Y's say… samesies.
That's also misspelled.
What's happening right now is very similar to what happens with me on most Sunday mornings. I serve on the audio team for a small church in Chicago called Destination Church. When the worship band is finished rehearsing, it is my job to test the microphone on the front stage. In order to properly test the microphone, I am required to talk. So, when this begins, I typically talk about anything really. I will talk about the Cubs, sandwiches, what I did over the weekend, and maybe who I think will win the college football playoff.
I've also begun to enjoy things that have originality, such as antiques or other classic items. Sometimes, I find myself searching for images of old Camaros or Mustangs. I've also had a sudden desire to invest in a record player. Additionally, don't you miss the days when music was delivered to your ears from a Discman? No? Well, not samesies. Those bring me nostalgia, and that's my opinion.
Briefly, I want to go back to the record player. My brother owns a record player, and it may not sound quite like the high quality speakers, monitors, and headphones that we are used to in this age, but there is nothing that sounds quite like it. The sound that comes from a record player has character that simply cannot be duplicated, which places it in a league of its own and makes it immune to any modern day competition. You just can't replicate it.
In case you hadn't noticed, what I do to test the stage microphone at my church is exactly what I do with my blog. If you have made it this far, bless your heart.
Let's move away from the rambling, as I actually have a topic I want to discuss. Recently, a movie promoted by Sony pictures, The Interview, was recently cancelled by Sony and will not be showing in theaters in the United States. It has been in production for quite some time, and was ready to be released in theaters. If you have not heard of the movie, I will give you a quick breakdown of its plot. I did originally intend for this blog to be about movie reviews...
The Interview stars Seth Rogen and James Franco as a producer and actor on a TV show, respectively. They are trying to find more purpose in their show when they find out that Kim-Jong un, the leader of North Korea, wishes to be interviewed. Now if you do happen to live in a cave, Kim-Jong un is actually the leader of North Korea... in real life. Anyways, Rogen and Franco's characters are all of a sudden visited by central intelligence and nominated to take on a mission to assassinate the North Korean leader.
This is a movie about assassinating a real human being.
Upon seeing the trailer for this movie, I was shocked that anyone would dare make a movie like this. How on earth does a movie studio have the guts to create a film based on killing a leader of a country? It almost sounds like you would need written permission to embark on an operation like this. However, I have a funny, gut feeling that Jong-un, or Kim, or however you say it, would not give said "permission" for a movie where he is the antagonist.
In light of The Interview, I can't seem to shake the fact that we, as a society, have created films that are blurring the lines between what is acceptable and what is not. Movies are becoming more intense, more violent, and more sexual. The shock and awe factor is becoming the norm and movie makers' are relying on this as the main factor to drive ticket sales. I personally do not enjoy films that rely on shock and awe to gain appeal, as I consider it amateur and lacking the attributes that makes a film great.
As a result of films becoming more intense, more violent, and more sexual, the benchmark is continually rising for what we, as film goers, can handle and expect. Take Terminator (1984), for example. Terminator was extremely dark and violent for its time, and I have heard claims, from some who saw it in theaters, that it pushed the envelope for violence in movies and was more terrifying than any film during that time. However, Terminator just simply is not as scary today as it was 30 years ago, due to our desensitized tastes.
From the way I see it, the movie selection these days is similar to the Billboard Top 20 list of popular songs. I currently do not have the Internet, so feel free to fact check me on that and if it is actually the “Top 20” or maybe “Top 10.” Don’t worry, I am not ashamed. However, popular music today is mostly loud, obnoxious, dub step, and filled with a lot of oomsah oomsah.
The Interview, as funny as it looks, is a film that is an embodiment of what movies are becoming. People are adapting and growing theatrical anti-bodies that are yielding them unaffected and unfazed by films that are not more intense, more violent, and more sexual than their predecessors. We have now gotten to the point that, in order to please the public and make a funny movie, some thought it would be OK to make a movie about assassinating a real person.
To put it simply, films have become less like record players and more like oomsah oomsah.
Now, I have been known to have an opinion that bounces around a little before settling down. I will admit, I have shared with friends that I thought it was hilarious that they made a movie about Kim Jong-un. I personally disagree with kind of leadership that is in North Korea and am appalled by the human rights issues that are currently arise there. I thought it was funny that Sony was making a movie about taking out Kim Jong-un and hoped that it would send a message to North Korea that it is not right to treat people the way they do. The idea of two hilarious actors in Rogen and Franco being the main characters in a film like this sounded hilarious.
However, I have begun to believe that a movie like The Interview should not have been created in the first place. Seth Rogen and James Franco together look absolutely hilarious, but the topic of the movie is too controversial and encourages more movies to come to push the intensity envelope even further. To make matters more controversial, The Interview was pegged to be released on Christmas Day.
I wish there would be a stretch of films that do not push the intensity envelope, but the quality envelope. There is nothing that gives me more excitement than a movie that is of true quality (when it comes to movies.) I wish there were was an increase in well-thought plots, character development, twists, and realism. I'm tired of pointless explosions, F-bombs, sex scenes, and blood/gore. Its dumb, stupid, and unimpressive, because anyone can do it. When a movie maker relies on these aspects to fuel their movie, what truly makes them skilled in their craft?
In the end, I still think The Interview looks funny. But there are some tweaks that could have been done to make the movie less controversial, yet still retain its full level of hilarity. That is a conversation, or a blog post, for another day. Unfortunately, since the movie is already finished and set to be released, it is a little too late. Not releasing the movie is an act of taking away free speech, which is unconstitutional. Now, Sony Pictures has found itself in a bit of a mess to say the least.
Here are my final thoughts that I want to add. Films were created to be a form of art and a source of entertainment. They were meant to take someone on a journey that they normally would not face in their lifetime, and to experience a story about a character who is involved in turmoil, happiness, sadness, anger, fear, romance, beauty, and so much more. Films, when at their very best, have the ability to bring realism and touch the hearts of those who dare go on this journey. Whether it's as cosmic as an exploration through space that transcends the boundaries that we are used to, or as simple as a love story that may be comfortingly, deeply true to life, the experience is meant to be an enjoyment and a pleasure. No matter what emotion is brought out in us.
At the end of the day, I believe we have to admit it. There is nothing quite like a record player.
