First, since it is the last day of 2008, I've decided (like everyone else who owns a blog) to do a recap of all things important in 2008.
1.) I did my first musical in THREE years. I would consider this pretty high up there, considering I used to do a musical almost every year. Tommy was fun, even though I didn't have a major part in it. But we rocked out, and it was such a blessing to have been apart of.
2.) Geo and I celebrated our 2 year anniversary. Officially my longest relationship ever, and I realized at that moment that we were in it for the long haul. No going back.
3.) I finally moved out of my parent's house, and moved in with George in our first apartment together. Huge milestone for me, because I've always been very dependent. And now I felt like I really was on my own. Scary but amazing at the same time.
4.) I celebrated my 23rd birthday in style. A huge, rockin', party created especially for yours truly by the love of my life and my best friend. Can't ask for anything more than that.
5.) I makeup designed my first show: The Marriage of Figaro. A cast of about 30. And I had to design each and everyone of their faces. I had help, of course, but it was still quite overwhelming.
6.) I got straight As for the first time at a 4 year institution.
There have been other things that have made me really happy. Like the fact that my mother and I don't fight as much as we used to when I was living with her. I'm a firm believer of the saying "Absence makes the heart grow fonder..." I think that was the case with us. We just have a very loving, very patient relationship now. Also, I've truly learned the value of money. Now that everything Geo and I pay for comes from our own pockets, it really hits home how fast money comes and goes in this world. So every little thing we have, we have much more of an appreciation for. And lastly, I learned in the past year, who my true friends are. It's hard to find really great friends, who are there for you no matter what the situation, and it's a blessing when you find them. I made a lot of friends this year (1 great one, who is now one of my best friends) and I feel like I've lost a couple as well. Who knows? Perhaps it's for the better. Everything happens for a reason right? 2008 was a great year, but I have a feeling 2009 will be even better!
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Now for something entirely different...
Because I'm the kind of person who has to see the film immediately right after finishing the book, I succumbed to the temptation and saw Twilight. I came into it with a blank opinion, even though I had heard from many people, fans of the novel, that the film was absolutely terrible. But I still wanted to give it a fair shot. I have to say, I didn't hate it-but I didn't love it either.
Pros: The acting was passable. The chemistry between Edward and Bella was smokin' hot, and I was relieved to see that. You can't have the movie be a success if the main characters didn't have that undeniable tension and heat between them. The art direction of the film was so beautiful-it made me want to live in Forks. That's saying a lot, since I'm a city girl at heart. And I absolutely loved the score/music from the film-I can't wait to burn a copy of the soundtrack from my sister.
Cons: The acting was passable. I expected a little more from certain people. I thought the villain, wasn't nearly as scary enough to really do it for me. And I thought the writer made a lot of the dialogue for the actors completely mundane. They left out important information from the book, and the sequence of events was all wrong. I'm a stickler about that kind of stuff. And also the special effects were a bit off.
Lastly, casting was an issue. Not too much of an issue, but enough to make me wonder what it would be like with a different cast. Especially with a series (like Harry Potter) it needs to be right, or else the whole franchise fails.
Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson): I thought he was perfect as Edward. When I first even heard of the twilight books, I thought Henry Cavill would get it for sure. I always thought Cavill was the better actor, between the two of them, and it seemed like they always fought for the same role. And since Pattinson got the role Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter, I thought Cavill was a shoe in. But all it took was one screen test, and a death in Harry Potter to secure himself the role. It's really great that he got it because he was dead (forgive the pun) on as Edward.
Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart): This was tough, because I didn't think much of her when she first came out. I saw her in that one horror flick that barely made any money, and couldn't believe she got this role so fast. But I was pleasantly surprised with her. She is beautiful-there's no doubt about that, but she also has this edge or bite, that is needed for Bella. As I was reading the book though, Evan Rachel Wood immediately popped into my head. She's beautiful, she's pale, and she's proved herself as an actress enough to take on such a popular series. Honorable mention goes to Emma Watson. But let's face it-she has Harry Potter. You can't win 'em all!
Carlisle and Esme Cullen (Peter Facinelli and Elizabeth Reaser): I though these two were pretty dead on. But if I had it my way, I'd probably cast someone a little older, like Christian Bale as Dr. Cullen, and someone a little bubblier for Esme like Zooey Deschanel. But overall-I didn't really have a problem with them.
Alice Cullen (Ashley Greene): I thought she played Alice too fairy-like. I know she's supposed to be flighty and kind of in her own little world, but she is also really smart-and I didn't get that from Greene. I would have loved to see Emmy Rossum or Shannyn Sossamon in the role. They're a little more exprerienced, and I feel would really capture Alice's charm.
Rosalie Hale (Nikki Reed): I had the biggest problem with the casting of Rosalie. If you need someone platinum blonde and pale, choose someone close to it, at least. Nikki Reed has dark brown hair, and as dark as I am in real life. She was a good enough actor, but I would've wanted to see Blake Lively or Rachel McAdams in the role. Both of them could be saucier than Reed and are as hot if not hotter to play Rosalie.Anyway, those are just some of my thoughts on the subject. I get really intense when it comes to movie reviewing. I always think, maybe I should've been a movie critic. I don't know. Hey, at least it's another job possibility if the whole acting thing doesn't work out. :)
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL! Be happy, be safe, and have fun!
Love, L
