Skip to main content

Posts

The Dark Knight Rises: Nolan's Biggest and Worst Movie to Date

S POILERS are the most exciting: There are two big ones. Miranda Tate a.k.a. Talia al Ghul , not  Bane , is the child of " The Mercenary ".  I knew there had to have been an inside man, but it wasn't apparent to me that it would be her. The Dark Knight Rises. (I've been wondering what the title was referring to for months!) Four possible meanings of how the title was derived: Bruce Wayne literally rises from the bowels of a middle eastern prison/pit. Bruce Wayne finally overcomes his fears and lets go of the pain of his past. Officer John Blake figuratively rises to assume the role as the new batman. (Personally, I thought his anger was going to lead him to become the Riddler, but Robin is too inherently good.) Officer Blake  literally rises  in the Batcave as the final scene of the film. FILM REVIEW I felt indifferent walking out of the theater. (It's my own fault. It is practically impossible for me to not compare  Knigh...

Totoro: The God of Death

This article is too good not to re-post.  I'm afraid that the OP's server might go down and I'll not be able access it  in the future  when I want it.  Without further delay, I present to you,  Brian Ashcraft's Totoro Isn’t All Cute. For Some, He’s the God of Death. My Neighbor Totoro  is a family favorite. Kids and adults alike love the story of two sisters in the idyllic Japanese countryside with magical creatures. But for some viewers, there's darkness seething underneath. Totoro is no cuddly critter. He's the God of Death. The reading of Totoro as the God of Death expounds on the movie's climax—a climax that has always struck me as odd for various reasons. Here is the theory, courtesy of website  cherrypistoru's  (via website  fellowof ) The rumor says that Totoro is the God of Death, so the persons that can see Totoro are actually close to death, or already dead. What that means for the story is that when Mei goes missing a...

Is Batman Truly is the Hero that Gotham City Deserves?

The Silent Guardian, The Watchful Protector In anticipation for  the release of  The Dark Knight Rises  Thursday at midnight,  I anxiously rewatched Batman Begins  and  The Dark Knight  this weekend.   The Dark Knight  is, indeed, an outstanding movie. I reflected on what made it outstanding for me and so disturbing for others, and what made Hell Boy a B- movie for me and a great flick to others. And I realized, it was the *human* factor.  (Incidentally, this is why  Dexter and Breaking Bad  are so popular—the heros and the villains are equally fallible. We like that.) Let's take a closer look at the characters.  The Joker, however, is beyond good and evil; he is a madman, which makes him all the more scary.  You can’t reason with a lunatic, so-to-speak. Harvey, with whom the hope of Gotham rests, falls tragically. Batman is questionable at best.  Yet, Bruce Wayne recognizes the fallibility inn...

Let's Lambast the Mormons' Financials

Click to enlarge I feel very strong about the following statement, "Whatever."  Just because something is sacred for me, doesn't mean I will deny someone else their voice. Just because an article distorts the truth  about the financial dealings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and is borderline slanderous doesn't mean that it shouldn't exist.  On the contrary, this serves as an opportunity for me to share the real story. The illustration  above  is a parody of a famous LDS painting by C. Christensen   depicting John the Baptist conferring the priesthood of Aaron (Moses' Brother) upon Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. This is an important moment for me because it marks the return of Heavenly Father's priesthood power and authority to act in His name since the death of the original 12 apostles. The only other Church that even claims this priesthood authority from God by the laying on of hands by one with authority is the Catholic Churc...

Provo with the Whiteheads 2012

3 funniest moments from that afternoon: The best was when we were all cruising around BYU campus in an extra-long golf cart. Tanner asked Tyler, our BYU tour guide, "Can I drive?" "No." "But I'm totally awesome at MarioKart!!" Tanner confidently explained. We continued along in silence. Little Annie and I were buddies while walking through the Hinckley Center. She was wearing a skirt too big for her waist. And apparently her underpants were also a few sizes to big because as we passed an elevator full of people exiting, her drawers dropped to the floor giving everyone a show; she was oblivious to the social consequences of her situation.  (The teens in the elevator got the biggest kick out of it.) Waving at the BYU students with Sienna while cruising around in the "stretch limo" to see who would wave back.  She was sooooo nervous!

I Now Understand Why the Church Disallows Masks

This 5 cent, plastic mask thing is freaky! When I put it on, I become completely anonymous.  When I approach people, even my closest friends and family, they look at me with fearful eyes and take up a defensive posture.  The power frightens me.  So the mask rests on my thumb tack on my wall, waiting for the day the world needs me — to become a superhero. Potential superhero names: The Vato of Virtue Mr. Buttersworth JD The Conservative Gangster Immigracionator (or just Migra-nator)

GIFs of the Month (July 8, 2012)

Really?  Really?? This image bothers me on so many levels. Whiteman running --> Blackman walking Business Asian — They start young Leaving work on Fridays GIF from my favorite YouTube video of all time! QWOP Cosplay — For nerds only Ghost-ride that Big Wheel, Son!  “I don't want whatever I want. Nobody does. Not really. What kind of fun would it be if I just got everything I ever wanted just like that, and it didn't mean anything? What then?” ― Neil Gaiman, Coraline