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Monday, September 28, 2009

My Apartment pt. 2

Here are some more photos of my apartment.

Here is a photo from my living room (and yes...that is Wife Swap on the television).

Here is a picture of the fridge (and yes, those pub magnets are mine). Actually, all those magnets are mine.

Here is another photos of the living room (including the most comfortable futon in the entire world). On the far left is a zombie survival poster (a must in any household).

Here is the view in the living room (I couldn't really fit the whole thing in one picture). It is third favorite view in the apartment.

Sunday, September 27, 2009

My Apartment pt. 1

I thought that I would post pictures of my Apartment to show you.


This is kind of a weird photo to start with, but I LOVE this shower curtain. It was the very first shower curtain that I ever bought.


Here is a photo of my insanely messy desk. It was a lot cleaner last year (when I actually used it). This year, I mostly use it as shelves and for storage.

This is a collage on the wall directly next to my bed. Some of the small pictures are actually postcards from my mom. There are also a couple of doctor who drawings that I did and a couple sheets of lyrics from my favorite song.

Here is my ridiculously messy closet. It sort of speaks for itself.

These are all photos from outside my bedroom window. They are my favorite views in the apartment. I am always so happy when it is finally warm enough for the boats to be out. Sometimes there are dozens of them out there.


Underneath is a photo of the view right next to my bed. I also like this picture, because you can see my pillow. It is from the very first set of sheets that I ever bought. It is also my favorite.

Friday, September 25, 2009

Food Friday! pt. 6 Squash, Zucchini and Eggplant Pasta


This week's Food Friday is Squash, Zucchini and Eggplant Pasta.

Ingredients

1 yellow squash
1 zucchini
1 eggplant
1 box spaghetti noodles
1 onion
dash of salt, red pepper, cayenne pepper, and Italian seasoning
extra virgin olive oil

Directions

Start to boil the water for the spaghetti noodles. Prepare them using the given directions. When that is done, drain and rinse in cold water. Set aside.

Add the olive oil to a wok or large skillet on medium heat. Add all the seasoning. Chop the zucchini into 1/2 inch slices. Do the same with the squash. Some of the rounds will have to be cut in half as well (depending on size of squash). Chop the eggplant. Add them all to the heated oil. Toss and allow to stay until they are fully coated and fully cooked. Add the chopped onion halfway through cooking.

Toss the vegetable, and oil mixture in with the spaghetti noodles.

Hope that you enjoy!

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Trailer Tuesday! pt. 42


Blind Date Trailer

From Paris with Love Trailer

Van Diemen's Land Trailer

Trailer Tuesday! pt. 41

Le Donk & Scor-Zay-Zee Trailer

Valhalla Rising Trailer

The Private Lives of Pippa Lee Trailer

Everybody's Fine Trailer

Trailer Tuesday! pt. 40

I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell Trailer

31 North 62 East Trailer

The Maid Trailer

Crude Trailer

Harry Brown Trailer

Valentine's Day Trailer

Dorian Gray Trailer

Monday, September 21, 2009

First Photos From "Get Him to the Greek"





This week's Music Monday is My Eyes by Neil Patrick Harris and Felicia Day.

My Eyes MP3

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Trailer Tuesday! pt. 40


Antichrist Trailer

Solomon Kane Trailer

Paranormal Activity Trailer

Trailer Tuesday! pt. 39

Up in the Air Trailer

Takers Trailer

Peter and Vandy Trailer

White on Rice Trailer

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Friday, September 11, 2009

Chicago International Film Festival

Twenty more films have been announced for the 45th Chicago International Film Festival. Here are some of the ones that I definitely want to see.

Against the Current is directed by Peter Callahan. Paul, still wracked with grief five years after his wife's death, has a goal: to swim the entire length of the Hudson River in a month. His friends Jess and Liz come along on the adventure, but they are dismayed when Paul reveals the true purpose behind his trip. by turns wry and sorrowful, this unconventional indie-drama-meets-road-trip-movie stars Joseph Fiennes, Justin Kirk, Elizabeth Reaser, Michelle Trachtenberg, and Mary Tyler More.

An Education is directed by Lone Scherfig. In post-war, pre-Beatles London suburbs, a bright schoolgirl (Carey Mulligan) is torn between studying for a place at Oxford and the more exciting alternative offered to her by a charismatic older man (Peter Sarsgaard)...Alfred Molina, Dominic Cooper, Olivia Williams, Sally Hawkins, and Emma Thompson also star.

Love and Savagery is directed by John N. Smith. Asleepy town along Ireland's magnificent rocky western coast plays host to a lyrical tale of forbidden love between Michael and Cathleen, a passionate geologist/poet from Newfoundland and the lovely, gentle waitress at the local pub. Undeterred by the many enemies he amasses for wooing Cathleen, Michael forces her to question the path she's chosen, and decide whether her love for a man can be stronger than her love for God.

No Hard Feelings is directed by Yves Hanchar. It's 1955, and troublemaker Laurent finds himself at a Belgian boarding school, where a teacher there recognized his intelligence and encourages him to write. As Laurent's talent develops, he adopts his inspiring teacher as a father figure, while at the same time wondering about his real father, who disappeared during the war. As Laurent investigates the past, he is forded to confront his present.

Made in Hungaria is directed by Gergely Fonyo. It's rock'n'roll verses communism in this rollicking musical comedy. Pompadoured teen Miki and his parents return to opressive 1960s Hungary after four years in the States. Miki's stash of contraband Jack Daniels and 45s by Buddy Holly and Jerry Lee Lewis makes him a hit with local kids starved for American pop culture, but it'll be harder to win over his ex-flame Vera...and especially the local comrades.

The Revenant is directed by Kerry Prior. A zombie buddy comedy with political overtones? After being killed in combat, U.S. soldier Bart Gregory inexplicably rises from his grave, a walking, talking rotting corpse (or revenant), but otherwise himself. With the help of his friend Joey, he discovers he can not only keep from decomposing without killing the innocent but also clean up the mean streets of Los Angeles, all while cruising through the night in a 1979 Camaro.

The Girl on the Train is directed by Andre Techine. Jeanne is a beautiful, freewheeling 22-year-old with a penchant for telling little white lies and avoiding a real job. When her flash-in-the-pan relationship with the audacious and vaguely mysterious Franck goes sour in a big way, the heartbroken girl spins a story there's no coming back fromm Emillie Dequenne (Rosetta) and Catherine Deneuve highlight the excellent ensemble cast in this sexy, complex drama about deception and its repercussions.

Women in Trouble is directed by Sebastian Gutierrez. A pregnant porn star, a couple of call girls, a scorned psychiatrist, ,a teenage goth, a flight attendant with a crush on a famous passenger...the troubles of this cluster of LA women couldn't be more different, but on one crazy day feminine compassion will alter all of their lives. Devilish humor, razor-sharp scripting, and a knockout ensemble of talented actresses (inclucing Carla Gugino, Connie Britton, and Marley Shelton) turn Trouble into pure Pleasure.

Food Friday! pt. 7 Falafels


Falafels
This week's Food Friday recipe if for falafels (not really from scratch). They are a really good alternative to Gyros for vegetarians that like Greek food. They are also really easy to make. You can get falafel mix and just about any store. Many recipes will come with different ways to make them (including frying). I tend to like to broil them as a healthier alternative. Once you mix them up, roll them into balls. Brush them with just a little bit of vegetable oil. Once I put them on a baking sheet, I like to flatten them out just a little. This makes it easier to flip them in the middle of cooking and also makes it easier to eat them in pitas.

I usually broil them for 3-5 minutes on each side (it depends how you like them).

While they are broiling, I cut about half of a cucumber and half of an onion into chunks. I mix them together along with a little salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, and chili powder. I let is sit for a few minutes, to give the flavors a chance to blend.

Sometimes I turn the cucumber and onion chunks into a sauce. I prepare them the same way as before, but them I add a little sour cream, lemon juice, and dill. It just depends on whether the campus market has sour cream when I go.

Next, I slice some pita bread and fill them with two falafels and the cucumber mixture.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Dream Cast Thursday! Hitchcock Edition


This week's Dream Cast Thursday is coming a day early. Some of you may know that it was recently announced that a remake of the Birds is being made starring George Clooney and Naomi Watts. I was so excited to hear this, that I thought that I would do a special Alfred Hitchcock edition this week. Rebecca has already been remade many times. Dial M for Murder (A Perfect Murder) and Rear Window (Disturbia) have all already been remade, so I thought that I would focus on three other films.


North by Northwest came out in 1959. It stars Cary Grant as Roger O. Thornhill, Eva Marie Saint as Eve Kendall, and James Mason as Philip Vandamm. I would recast Patrick Wilson (Thornhill), Emily Blunt (Kendall), and Jason Isaacs (Vandamm).


Vertigo came out in 1958. It stars James Stewart at John "Scottie" Ferguson, Kim Novak as Judy Barton and Madeleine Elster, Tom Helmore as Gavin Elster, and Barbara Bel Geddes as Midge Wood. I would recast Liev Schrieber (Ferguson), Peta Wilson (Barton/Elster), Vincent Perez (Elster), and Selma Blair (Wood).


To Catch a Thief came out in 1955. It stars Cary Grant as John Robie and Grace Kelly as Frances Stevens. I would recast Clive Owen (Robie) and Kate Winslet (Stevens).

So what do you all think? Who would you recast in these films? Are there any other Hitchcock films that youall would like to recast? What do you think about the Birds remake?

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Trailer Tuesday! pt. 38







Untitled Trailer

Boondock Saints 2: All Saints Day Trailer

Brief Interviews with Hideous Men Trailer

Trailer Tuesday! pt. 37

Leslie, My Name is Evil Trailer

Trucker Trailer

Dark Room Theater Trailer

Trailer Tuesday! pt. 36

Pretty Ugly People Trailer

Lying Trailer

Adventures of Power Trailer

How to Seduce Difficult Women Trailer

Monday, September 7, 2009

Pretty, Baby, Machine

Petty, Baby, Machine, explores a pocket in time during the long, hot summer of 1933 and provides the backdrop for a story that easily could have been. Prohibition is in full swing and Capone is king. Joseph Kennedy is building his empire, and John Dillinger is in jail. Three of the worlds most infamous gangsters, Pretty Boy Floyd, Baby Face Nelson and Machine Gun Kelly, each have a weak spot, someone -apparently Capone- has found each gangster's Achilles. The trio make an uneasy pact to put their common foe in the dirt. But the difference between what Pretty, Baby, Machine are led to believe and the truth is wide...

So far, only several casting decisions have been posted. Jason Statham will play Pretty Boy Floyd, Mickey Rourke will play Baby Face Nelson, Ian McShane will play Machine Gun Kelly, and Gary Oldman will play John Dillinger.

Saturday, September 5, 2009

Harry Potter Exhibit!

My parents and sister came to Chicago to visit me today. We went to a Harry Potter exhibit. Sadly, we could not take photos inside the actual exhibit, but I was able to take some photos outside of the exhibit. It was so amazing to see all of the actual props from the film. There were so many details (especially in the costumes). I was so amazed to see a copy of an O.W.L with actual questions.

One of the really cool things was seeing all of the costumes. I am fairly certain that I am taller than Gary Oldman. It was also really cool seeing some of the old costumes. The ones from the first film were so tiny! They were all so little back then! They even had Oliver Wood (Sean Biggerstaff)'s quidditch uniform. I saw Ralph Fiennes costume from the graveyard. He is bizarrely tall compared to the rest of the cast. It was so cool.

Hagrid's hut was also really cool. The entire hut had been put back together. We all got to sit in his chair. My feet just barely hung off. My dad's feet didn't touch the ground!

My favorite room was probably the great hall. I actually got to touch the doors to the great hall! When I went inside, there were so many candles suspended from the ceiling. While we were waiting, a woman brought out the sorting hat and sorted a few people. I actually got to touch the sorting hat! Ruth and I also got to take some pictures with the flying car. I snuck a touch. It seemed so little in real life! I got to see the Goblet of fire, the sorcerer's stone, Tom Riddle's Diary, Rita Skeeter's quill, Hary and Ron's beds, the front of the Hogwart's Express, and so much more. Ruth threw around a quaffle. It was so much fun! I really hope that some of the real props go to the theme park that opens.

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Chicago International Film Festival

The Chicago International Film Festival happens every year in October. So far, only seventeen of the films have been announced. More will be announced later this month. I thought that I would say a little bit about the films that I am planning on seeing.

The first film is called Antichrist. It is written and directed by Lars von Trier and stars Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg. It is a dark, erotic love story from the controversial writer/director of Dogville, Dancer in the Dark and Breaking Waves. A grieving couple retreats to an isolated cabin in the woods to repair their broken hearts an troubled marriage. But nature takes its course and things go from bad to worse...

Vincere is written and directed by Marco Bellocchio and stars Giovanna Mezzogiorno and Filippo Timi. The closely guarded story of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini's secret lover and son is revealed in fittingly operatic proportiona in this electrifying tour de force.

A Frozen Flower is directed by Ha Yu and stars Jin-mo Ju and Ji-hyo Song. This bold and provocative tale of the forbidden love between a 13th-century Korean king and his male guard is laced with lust, betrayal, and epic battles.

Hipsters is written and directed by Valery Todorovsky. Moscow, 1955. soviet uniformity is the order of the day, but incurring the wrath of all the grim-faced comrades in Russia isn't enough to stop a group of young "hipsters" from donning outrageous threads, puffing up their pompadours, pushing up their cleavage, throwing back martinis, and shakin' their hips. Could this romantic, infectiously fun musical be this year's Slumdog Millionaire?