Christopher Nolan has established himself as one of Hollywood's premier directors. With several movies that have captured audiences, Nolan has proven he can tell complicated stories and keep the audience on the edge throughout an entire film.
Nolan's Dark Knight Rises proved he was able to create another fantastic film that can keep the audience on the edge in what is his third and final installment in the Batman franchise. Nolan became the second director to make three films based on the same superhero and completed what is a legendary trilogy.
Even if you have never seen the first two films, Dark Knight Rises can easily stand alone. The script does an incredible job at explaining key plot points from previous films and helps guide the story along. Those who haven't seen the previous two films in the trilogy will still be able to pick up the pieces and follow along.
Similar to the previous two films in the franchise, Nolan's cast is what makes the characters believable and the emotions come to life on screen. Christian Bale performs well as the Batman and Bruce Wayne while Gary Oldman picks up where he left off as Commissioner Gordon. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is a great addition to the cast as Blake, a young Gotham city police officer and Marion Cottillard plays a believable and mysterious Miranda Tate, a businesswoman who tries to align business interests with Bruce Wayne's money.
The film's main villain, Bane, is brought to life by Tom Hardy, who was in Nolan's film Inception. Even though it is difficult to hear Bane's lines at times due to the mask he wears, Hardy brings a villain that was a sideshow act in Joel Schumaker's Batman and Robin to life as a terrorist and power hungry foe. Hardy, who gained 30 pounds for the role, looks frightening and is believable in the fight scenes with Batman.
One of the most pleasant surprises of the film is Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle. Even though the alter ego of Kyle's character, Catwoman, is never mentioned in the film, Hathaway almost steals the show. Nolan took criticism for picking Hathaway for the role but proves again he made the right choice. Hathaway adds evil to the character but also other dimensions as well. Hathaway and Bale have great chemistry on screen and makes several of the key scenes emotional.
Nolan was able to tell the story without blood and guts and while the film does have a lot of violent parts to it, it is there to help move the story. The audience never feels that the it is all action and no plot because the action scenes help tell key areas of the story. The script takes ideas from popular Batman storylines such as Knightfall, No Man's Land, and The Dark Knight Returns and all ideas fit well into the script.
Grade: A-
Monday, July 23, 2012
Monday, July 16, 2012
The Key To Finding An Escape Is To Have A Hobby You Are Passionate About
Getting though the work week can be rough and no matter what business or field you are in, there are long weeks. Starting on Monday and getting to Friday can feel very long and many of us always look forward to the drive home on Friday night to begin the weekend festivities.
Having a long week is not always easy to deal with and some may feel that sitting around the entire weekend can serve as an escape. This may be true in some cases but budgeting time for a hobby can give you something to look forward to. Hobbies provide us with an escape and enjoyment in our spare time.
On a personal level, a hobby of mine that serves as my escape is photography. I don't always get a chance to take pictures during the week so when I have time on the weekends, taking the camera out to get some shots is always a fun time. It gives me something to look forward to, some place to go and an opportunity to do something I love.
One of my favorite times to shoot pictures is in the fall during high school football season. Having been apart of high school football with local TV and radio crews growing up, being able to be on the sidelines with my camera is an escape for me. I always look forward to the end of the week because I know I will usually have a game to photograph and I can't wait to get on the sidelines. I enjoy being in the fresh air, watching the game and enjoying one of my favorite hobbies all at the same time.
I'll admit that I have had my share of bad weather games and have stood out in colder weather. Sometimes I am asked why I volunteer my time to do such a thing and the answer is simple:
"I love what I do and want to go out and photograph."
I have been cold standing out on the sidelines during the games and have even shot pictures with snow on the ground but I usually leave the game with a smile on my face. The smile doesn't always come because of a win on the field; it comes from knowing I had an opportunity to do something fun.
Photography is a passion of mine that is clearly one of my favorite escapes so I have one question for you:
"What is something you like to do in your spare time?"
Having a long week is not always easy to deal with and some may feel that sitting around the entire weekend can serve as an escape. This may be true in some cases but budgeting time for a hobby can give you something to look forward to. Hobbies provide us with an escape and enjoyment in our spare time.
On a personal level, a hobby of mine that serves as my escape is photography. I don't always get a chance to take pictures during the week so when I have time on the weekends, taking the camera out to get some shots is always a fun time. It gives me something to look forward to, some place to go and an opportunity to do something I love.
One of my favorite times to shoot pictures is in the fall during high school football season. Having been apart of high school football with local TV and radio crews growing up, being able to be on the sidelines with my camera is an escape for me. I always look forward to the end of the week because I know I will usually have a game to photograph and I can't wait to get on the sidelines. I enjoy being in the fresh air, watching the game and enjoying one of my favorite hobbies all at the same time.
I'll admit that I have had my share of bad weather games and have stood out in colder weather. Sometimes I am asked why I volunteer my time to do such a thing and the answer is simple:
"I love what I do and want to go out and photograph."
I have been cold standing out on the sidelines during the games and have even shot pictures with snow on the ground but I usually leave the game with a smile on my face. The smile doesn't always come because of a win on the field; it comes from knowing I had an opportunity to do something fun.
Photography is a passion of mine that is clearly one of my favorite escapes so I have one question for you:
"What is something you like to do in your spare time?"
Sunday, July 8, 2012
The Amazing Spiderman Review
Ten years ago, Sam Raimi put the Spider-man movie franchise on the map and paved the way for superhero movies with his release of "Spider-man" starring Tobey McGuire as the web-slinging hero. Anticipation was high for the film and reviews for the film were positive. Fans kept asking for more and two other films were made.
Raimi is no longer attached to the Spiderman franchise and new director Marc Webb did an entire reboot for "The Amazing Spider-man." With the reboot came a new cast, new storyline and and a start from scratch. Instead of Tobey McGuire and Kirsten Dunst, two who made the original three movies a success, Webb went with Andrew Garfield to play Peter Parker/Spider-man and Emma Stone to play love interest Gwen Stacey.
Unlike the original "Spider-man" that came out in 2002, Garfield's portrayal of Peter Parker is less nerdy than McGuire's adaptation. It is still easy to tell that Parker is smart but Garfield does not make the character nerdy. Garfield also adds humor to the role and is believable when delivering the lines.
The set-up for the plot is done well but it moves slow in the beginning. It feels like it does take a while before we see the web-slinging superhero in full costume and the movie picks up the tempo after that point. The beginning could have cut to the chase a little quicker.
The cast was well picked and there is a lot of chemistry between the characters. Stone and Garfield are both believable with their respective characters and the on-screen romance is easy to follow. Rhys Ifans, who plays Dr. Curt Connors who turns into The Lizard, is believable as a scientist despite previous roles where he played characters who were drunk, unmotivated or acted silly. Ifans adds evil to the character when needed and can bring Connors's care of both Peter Parker and Gwen Stacey to life on screen.
Garfield and Martin Sheen, who plays the beloved Uncle Ben, mesh well but the only cast member that didn't seem to fit was Sally Field as Aunt May. It was hard to see if much of a relationship existed between Aunt May and Peter Parker on screen and Field's portrayal makes the character seem whiny. For avid readers of the comics, this is a bit of a surprise due to the fact a lot of the stories are driven by Parker's relationship with his aunt.
The characters are well picked and it is easy for the audience to feel the emotion of the characters. This helps the plot move into the important parts of the film and keeps the audience engaged as they reach the key fight scenes in the movie.
Grade: B
Raimi is no longer attached to the Spiderman franchise and new director Marc Webb did an entire reboot for "The Amazing Spider-man." With the reboot came a new cast, new storyline and and a start from scratch. Instead of Tobey McGuire and Kirsten Dunst, two who made the original three movies a success, Webb went with Andrew Garfield to play Peter Parker/Spider-man and Emma Stone to play love interest Gwen Stacey.
Unlike the original "Spider-man" that came out in 2002, Garfield's portrayal of Peter Parker is less nerdy than McGuire's adaptation. It is still easy to tell that Parker is smart but Garfield does not make the character nerdy. Garfield also adds humor to the role and is believable when delivering the lines.
The set-up for the plot is done well but it moves slow in the beginning. It feels like it does take a while before we see the web-slinging superhero in full costume and the movie picks up the tempo after that point. The beginning could have cut to the chase a little quicker.
The cast was well picked and there is a lot of chemistry between the characters. Stone and Garfield are both believable with their respective characters and the on-screen romance is easy to follow. Rhys Ifans, who plays Dr. Curt Connors who turns into The Lizard, is believable as a scientist despite previous roles where he played characters who were drunk, unmotivated or acted silly. Ifans adds evil to the character when needed and can bring Connors's care of both Peter Parker and Gwen Stacey to life on screen.
Garfield and Martin Sheen, who plays the beloved Uncle Ben, mesh well but the only cast member that didn't seem to fit was Sally Field as Aunt May. It was hard to see if much of a relationship existed between Aunt May and Peter Parker on screen and Field's portrayal makes the character seem whiny. For avid readers of the comics, this is a bit of a surprise due to the fact a lot of the stories are driven by Parker's relationship with his aunt.
The characters are well picked and it is easy for the audience to feel the emotion of the characters. This helps the plot move into the important parts of the film and keeps the audience engaged as they reach the key fight scenes in the movie.
Grade: B
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Combining a Passion With Community Involvement....Priceless!
Time can be limited and finding opportunities to give back to the community can be tough to schedule. With multiple responsibilities to take care of, taking time to get involved with the community can be difficult.
Community involvement helps develop relationships with other members within your town, village or city and can also be a networking tool. Finding a way to get involved that fits your schedule can be a challenge but isn't impossible.
Photography has been a passion of mine since college and when I moved back to my hometown of Solon four years ago, I was looking for opportunities to take pictures. I went around to local parts and areas I had not seen for a long time so I can continue my hobby. Having the hobby gave me something to look forward to but I was able to take it a step further when I used to get involved with my community.
Being a football fan for a long time and following the Solon Comets since childhood, I started taking my camera to games to take pictures from the sideline. After posting them on Facebook, the students and parents started to look forward to a new batch of pictures each week. It wasn't too long that I started getting multiple tag requests on pictures and parents mentioning that they liked my work.
As I was able to go to more and more games, I became even more passionate about sports photography and couldn't wait to walk in the stadium each week. It was fulfilling for me to follow a team I had watched for many years on the sideline and have the opportunity to share my work on Facebook. I was not only getting involved in the community but I was able to combine this involvement with one of my favorite passions in life.
Taking time to get involved in the community is fulfilling and combining it with a hobby can amplify the experience!
Community involvement helps develop relationships with other members within your town, village or city and can also be a networking tool. Finding a way to get involved that fits your schedule can be a challenge but isn't impossible.
Photography has been a passion of mine since college and when I moved back to my hometown of Solon four years ago, I was looking for opportunities to take pictures. I went around to local parts and areas I had not seen for a long time so I can continue my hobby. Having the hobby gave me something to look forward to but I was able to take it a step further when I used to get involved with my community.
Being a football fan for a long time and following the Solon Comets since childhood, I started taking my camera to games to take pictures from the sideline. After posting them on Facebook, the students and parents started to look forward to a new batch of pictures each week. It wasn't too long that I started getting multiple tag requests on pictures and parents mentioning that they liked my work.
As I was able to go to more and more games, I became even more passionate about sports photography and couldn't wait to walk in the stadium each week. It was fulfilling for me to follow a team I had watched for many years on the sideline and have the opportunity to share my work on Facebook. I was not only getting involved in the community but I was able to combine this involvement with one of my favorite passions in life.
Taking time to get involved in the community is fulfilling and combining it with a hobby can amplify the experience!
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Finding a Home for a Dog
A friend of mine wanted to pass along the following message in regards to a dog who needs a home:
He's probably over 100 pounds, 6 years old, black/white with blue eyes, and not neutered. The medic who is trying to get him a home says he is SO SO SO sweet! Why does Dakota need a home? He does have one right now. The man who owns him does not want him, so lets the dog wander around Columbus. My fiance's brother is a medic at the station where Dakota runs. He cares for the dog while he is on shift, but can't take him back to his apartment. They all say how sweet this dog is!
I have never met him. I don't know how he would handler another dog. He may LOVE other dogs, he may hate them. I would assume he needs a home as an only or first dog. He is a Husky, which means he needs LOTS of exercise. A fenced in yard is perfect, but honestly, anything is better than where he is now.
I also know of 2 small dogs (Cocker Spaniel mix and a King Charles Cavalier mix) who need homes. All three (2 small dogs and Dakota) are FREE TO A GOOD HOME!!!! I can help find cheap spay/neuter clinics and vaccine clinics. I can also help hook people up with training classes to help the tranisition.
If you know of anyone looking for a dog....feel free to pass along my email (aJILLity26@gmail.com) and/or my cell phone number (614-256-7099). Poodles are my thing, but you never know what comes into rescue!!
He's probably over 100 pounds, 6 years old, black/white with blue eyes, and not neutered. The medic who is trying to get him a home says he is SO SO SO sweet! Why does Dakota need a home? He does have one right now. The man who owns him does not want him, so lets the dog wander around Columbus. My fiance's brother is a medic at the station where Dakota runs. He cares for the dog while he is on shift, but can't take him back to his apartment. They all say how sweet this dog is!
I have never met him. I don't know how he would handler another dog. He may LOVE other dogs, he may hate them. I would assume he needs a home as an only or first dog. He is a Husky, which means he needs LOTS of exercise. A fenced in yard is perfect, but honestly, anything is better than where he is now.
I also know of 2 small dogs (Cocker Spaniel mix and a King Charles Cavalier mix) who need homes. All three (2 small dogs and Dakota) are FREE TO A GOOD HOME!!!! I can help find cheap spay/neuter clinics and vaccine clinics. I can also help hook people up with training classes to help the tranisition.
If you know of anyone looking for a dog....feel free to pass along my email (aJILLity26@gmail.com) and/or my cell phone number (614-256-7099). Poodles are my thing, but you never know what comes into rescue!!
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Making the Most Out of Living on Campus During the Summer
Opportunities may present itself during your college years to stay on campus during the summer. Internships, jobs and other opportunities may make it enticing for you to stay on campus when classes are not in session during the summer months. Staying on campus during the summer with no other students around may not sound exciting at first but it can be a whole other experience as well.
Below are some tips for getting the most out of spending a summer on your college campus:
1) Take Time to Get to Know the People Living in the Dorm, Apartment Complex or Residence - While a lot of your friends may be at home during the summer, taking time to meet the people who will be around in the summer will help greatly! Take the time to know these people and if it works out, take time to hang out as well. These will be the people that will be around in the summer so take the time to make some friends and find time to hang out!
2) Enjoy Summer Activities in the College Town or City Nearby - While living in Westerville, Ohio (near Columbus) during my four years at Otterbein, I didn't realize how much the town and the city of Columbus had to offer during the summer months until I spent that season down there. There was always the First Friday Festivals in Westerville, Red, White and Boom in downtown Columbus, arts festivals and Columbus Clippers baseball games. Taking the time to experience the summertime activities down there was an incredible experience and made for some awesome memories.
3) Plan Movie Outings - Anticipated movies always come out during the summer and if possible, get a big group together to go see one. I can't guarantee that all of the movies will be good but taking the time to go with a big group of people staying on campus during the summer will be fun. It will provide a chance to socialize with other people and if the movie is bad, it could spark some interesting conversations on the ride home.
4) Enjoy the Quietness of the Campus and Traditions in Warm Weather - At Otterbein, one of the favorite traditions students participate in is a late night doughnut run to Schneider's, which is a nearby bakery in Uptown Westerville. Going on a doughnut run at 1am in the morning during the school year was fun but going in the summer was even better! There was nothing like walking on a warm summer night in shorts and a t-shirt to grab doughnuts in the middle of the night. Seeing the clear sky, some stars and enjoying the warmer weather made the experience one to remember.
Below are some tips for getting the most out of spending a summer on your college campus:
1) Take Time to Get to Know the People Living in the Dorm, Apartment Complex or Residence - While a lot of your friends may be at home during the summer, taking time to meet the people who will be around in the summer will help greatly! Take the time to know these people and if it works out, take time to hang out as well. These will be the people that will be around in the summer so take the time to make some friends and find time to hang out!
2) Enjoy Summer Activities in the College Town or City Nearby - While living in Westerville, Ohio (near Columbus) during my four years at Otterbein, I didn't realize how much the town and the city of Columbus had to offer during the summer months until I spent that season down there. There was always the First Friday Festivals in Westerville, Red, White and Boom in downtown Columbus, arts festivals and Columbus Clippers baseball games. Taking the time to experience the summertime activities down there was an incredible experience and made for some awesome memories.
3) Plan Movie Outings - Anticipated movies always come out during the summer and if possible, get a big group together to go see one. I can't guarantee that all of the movies will be good but taking the time to go with a big group of people staying on campus during the summer will be fun. It will provide a chance to socialize with other people and if the movie is bad, it could spark some interesting conversations on the ride home.
4) Enjoy the Quietness of the Campus and Traditions in Warm Weather - At Otterbein, one of the favorite traditions students participate in is a late night doughnut run to Schneider's, which is a nearby bakery in Uptown Westerville. Going on a doughnut run at 1am in the morning during the school year was fun but going in the summer was even better! There was nothing like walking on a warm summer night in shorts and a t-shirt to grab doughnuts in the middle of the night. Seeing the clear sky, some stars and enjoying the warmer weather made the experience one to remember.
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