Saturday, December 23, 2006

Winter Break Update


It's the most fulfilling feeling to be able to just completely relax and be able to do anything you want with no pressing things to do. Thus, how I did I choose to spend all yesterday? At the movies of course! I went to see both Blood Diamond and Casino Royale. Since both movies were rather long, I went to see Blood Diamond at 10:00 am! It pays to be an early bird because the ticket was only $5. After the movie, I proceeded to sneak into Casino Royale.


Blood Diamond starred Leonardo DiCaprio, Dijmon Hounsou, and Jennifer Connelly. The plot revolves a priceless pink diamond and the triangular relationship between a smuggler, a farmer, and a journalist in Sierre Leon. The screen play is fairly well written, with well developed but somewhat predictable characters. The film touches on some greater themes, especially the use of conflict diamonds. The only criticism of the movie I have is that DiCaprio tried but failed to master a South African English accent. Everytime he opened his mouth to say his name "Archer", it felt like he had a cotton ball in his mouth. I stifled my urge to laugh at that. Also, the prop used as the pink diamond was so fake. I swear it looked like a piece of quartz. Since the movie was at 10am, I was the only one in the theater. An elderly lady came in later, but it was pretty much a private showing. I loved it!


Perhaps there was a overflow of imagery into my brain after the first movie, but I did not enjoy Casino Royale as much as I thought I would. I had expected the movie to end when the bad guy died, but it dragged on and on with Bond and the Bond girl. It felt to me that the directors were trying to be too creative by throwing in a plot twist. I wonder if that's how it happened in the book. I do own the Bond books, so I think I will read about it and find out. Still, it was one of the better Bond movies with a lot more exciting hand to hand combat. I felt the previous Bond portrayed by Pierce Brosnan relied too much on cool gadgets and not enough combat skills.


By the time I got done with both movies, it was already 3:45 pm. I had to go pick up some family portraits. After getting the portraits, I proceeded to wander around Southdale Mall. Finally, I wound up in Costco after the mall, where my parents and I picked out two GIANT paintings. Each canvas cost over $100 and are now being proudly displayed on our loft and above the stair case in our home. I must say the paintings are quite lovely!


I'm definitely savoring a perfect day of no homework, exams, stupid incomprehensible professors.


P.S I'm on a flight to Las Vegas tomorrow morning. Yay! Can't wait!

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