phantassmagoria

This is one of the best trailers I have seen in a long time!!!

I am going to get a lot of flack for saying this: I despise The Great Gatsby and I love Baz Luhrmann’s movies. Indeed, the real reason why I am excited for the upcoming The Great Gatsby movie is not because I am a fan of the novel but because I am a fan of Baz Luhrmann’s work, most notably Moulin Rouge and Romeo + Juliet.

Why do I not like The Great Gatsby? To be fair, it’s been a long time since I read it, so maybe I should re-read it again. Still, I remember hating most of the characters. I had no interest in reading about selfish, vapid characters that get themselves into stupid, dire circumstances. Daisy is a bitch and you just feel sorry for Jay Gatsby all the way through. I suppose that is part of the theme of the book: the recklessness and emptiness of the wealthy.

Anyways, Baz Luhrmann’s films are one of those you either love or hate. His works are loud, colorful, and fast that some may find irritating and dizzying while others may find exciting and unique. He seems to really like to do modern interpretations on age-old stories, so if you are expecting a completely loyal adaptation you may be disappointed, but if you appreciate a refreshing adaptation that still remains true to the heart of the story then you’ll love his stuff. He especially tends to use unexpected contemporary music for plots that takes place in the past, so don’t be surprised by his use of Jay-Z and Kanye West in The Great Gatsby trailer since he used The Cardigans in Romeo + Juliet or The Police in Moulin Rouge. His other filmmaking trademarks include fast-pace editing, strong theatrical style, and really zesty music. Personally, I love his modern spins on classic stories.

Dear Journal,

I cannot believe it! I talked to the dean of chair, Dr. Horner, and he allowed me to get into the last class I need to take before I officially graduate! I was so relieved, and he was so awesome that I shook his hand! I am almost there! I made it!

Fall Quarter 2012 will officially be my last quarter at Cal Poly Pomona. I only need to take one more class, but I want to milk out my last quarter there by taking two other classes that I always wanted to take for fun. To be honest, I am not ready to leave Cal Poly after this Spring quarter, so I am glad that I am still coming back for the Fall Quarter because I know by that time I will be ready to leave.

Even though I am relieved to be graduating, I will still really miss attending Cal Poly. I am a little sad to finish a major part of my education career, and I am super scared for what’s in store for me next.

- Theresa

Dear Journal,

I went to Sun God festival at UCSD this weekend. It was really fun because the whole campus was drunk to the max. More importantly, I had a pretty intoxicated and intense bonding moment with my friends. I tell them things that I have never even told my best friends before.

As for school, it’s been tough these past few weeks because not only do I have so much to do but I had some problems concerning my graduation. I’ll certainly be walking during the ceremony over the summer, but I still have one class left to take in the fall that is full. I am pretty nervous about tomorrow because I have an appointment with the department chair to see how I can get into the last class I need and the probability of this seems dim.

Oh yeah, I told my English teacher that I really liked his class and it felt really nice to tell him so. I think teachers rarely receive the recognition they deserve. All we do is read several short stories, discuss its meaning, and write essays about analyzing it. I really love trying to read between the lines of fiction and writing about it; symbolisms, metaphors, underlying meanings, theme, style, or interpretations. 

If I were to be honest to myself, sometimes I still wonder if I should have been some sort of English or Film major. I  have no talent whatsoever at creating stories, yet I love analyzing literature and films but, seriously, what kind of job offers that kind of work?

Anyways, it’s time to stop thinking about that for now and graduate.

Sincerely,
Theresa

Sunset Blvd is, without a doubt, my favorite classic film I have seen yet. Some classics may seem dated by now, but Sunset Blvd is one of the older movies that will always be fresh and exciting. It’s a film noir that’s dark and a tad sinister. This movie is for sure in my top twenty favorite movies of all time.

Billy Wilder is definitely one of my favorite film directors ever. He is mostly known for his film noirs and romantic comedies, which are two very different genres he does well. More importantly, he is a strong writer so his plots and dialogue remain sharp no matter what genre he does.

Close runner ups: Vertigo and Chinatown. I like the classics with a bit of mystery and notch of disturbing.

Honorable mentions: 12 Angry Men, All About Eve, The Red Shoes, other Alfred Hitchock movies, other Billy Wilder movies.

Mad Man is created by Matt Weiner, who also wrote for The Sopranos (I have never seen that show).

I have huge respect for Matt Weiner’s philosophy that drives his writing for Mad Men: people don’t change.

All books and movies are about people changing and their huge epiphanies. How often are stories about people never changing and never having epiphanies?  

Seriously, think about it. How often do people REALLY CHANGE?

Sure many people change peripherally but their core usually still remains the same. Alright so maybe at times people change fundamentally but more often people don’t.

The idea of it may seem to be too boring or to be too extremely depressing to watch; yet, it’s refreshing and realistic to finally watch characters who are not constantly having epiphanies right and left or who don’t always choose the right path at the end of the day.

I finally found a television show that truly captures the complexities of characters. There are times that I hate them and there are times that I love them but I never have consistent feelings for any of these characters. Why? Well, they are so flawed that they have done many horrible things I strongly disapprove of but I can still really understand that they are just being human. Furthermore, these flawed characters are the ones pulling the plot along rather than the other way around when the plot pulls the characters along. After all, the many decisions that people make effects them later on in life. All of this truly portrays the complexities of people.

Weiner’s philosophy that people don’t change and the complexities of the characters are probably the reasons why the progression of Mad Men is so subtle (meaning slow to others). Any changes and consequences that occur to these characters usually happen over a lengthy time period. Most of the time, any changes at all happens slowly and not like a pound of bricks suddenly dropping on you: that’s how real life normally works too.

The dialogue is also very sharp, smart, and witty. Seriously, sometimes the characters whips out words and cuts you before you know it.

Oh and I cannot forget the fabulous early to mid 60’s clothing everyone is lacquered in and the lush furniture surrounding them. Also, there is the constant smoking and the drinking at every corner. They drank at work, at home, or while going out. They are always handing each other drinks or reaching out for them. It is not fiction that people smoked and drank that often then.

This show isn’t for everyone and it isn’t in my top three or anything like that but I love its approach to storytelling.

AM I RIGHT? FABULOUS.

I want to live like I was in the 1960’s. I love their lifestyle: smoke, drink, and gorgeous clothes.