Quote Challenge

Favorite Quote:
"And this I believe: that the free, exploring mind of the individual human being is the most valuable thing in the world. And this I would fight for: the freedom of the mind to take any direction it wishes, undirected. And this I would fight against: any religion or government that limits or destroys the individual. This is who I am, and what I am about."- John Steinbeck

A Quote About Love
"And remember the truth that once was spoken: to love another person is to see the face of God."- Victor Hugo

"We accept the love we think we deserve."- Steven Chbosky

"I don't ask you to love me always like this, but I ask you to remember: somewhere inside me, there'll always be the person I am tonight." F. Scott Fitzgerald

"I am nothing special. Just a common man with common thoughts, and I've led a common life. There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten. But in one respect, I have succeeded as gloriously as anyone who has ever lived: I've loved another with all my heart and soul; and to me, this has always been enough."- Nicholas Sparks

"How gorgeous a thought, that I am right here beside you, and always will be!"- Tyler Knott Gregson

A Quote About Friendship
"Sometimes being a friend means mastering the art of time. There is a time for silence. A time to let go and allow people to hurl themselves into their own destiny. And a time to prepare to pick up the pieces when it is all over."- Gloria Naylor

"Friendship is born in that moment when one person says to another, 'What? You too? I thought I was the only one.'"- C.S. Lewis

A Quote About Family/Home"Show me a family of readers, and I will show you the people who move the world."- Napoleon Bonaparte

"Peace and rest at length have come, all the day's long toil is past! And each heart is whispering, 'Home. Home at last."- Thomas Hood

"Wherever you are is my home."- Charlotte Bronte

A Quote About the Future
"May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you're wonderful, and don't forget to make some art- write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself."- Neil Gaimon

A Quote About Life
"It's the oldest story in the world. One day, you're 17 and planning for someday, and then quietly, without you ever really noticing, someday is today, and that someday is yesterday and this is your life."- Nathan Scott

"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" -Mary Oliver

"I hope you live a life you're proud of. If you find you're not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again."- F. Scott Fitzgerald

"Don't ask for guarantees. And don't look to be saved in any one thing, person, machine, or library. Do your own bit of saving, and if you drown, at least die knowing you were headed for shore."- Ray Bradbury

An Inspirational Quote
"You mustn't be afraid to dream a little bigger, darling."- Tom Hardy, Inception

A Quote from an Actor/Actress
"Pour yourself a drink, put on some lipstick, and pull yourself together."- Elizabeth Taylor

"It is an impressively arrogant move to conclude that because you don't like something, it is empirically not good. I don't like Chinese food, but I don't write articles trying to prove it doesn't exist."- Tina Fey

A Quote About Drinking
"Clearly, the truth I am sinking is not in the drink, but in me."- Marcel Proust

"Ho ho ho, to the bottle I go! To heal my heart and drown my woe. Rain may fall and wind may blow, and many miles be still I to go. But under a tall tree will I lie, and let the clouds go sailing by."- J.R.R. Tolkien

A Quote from a Solo Artist
"Part of me suspects I'm a loser. The other part thinks I'm God Almighty."- John Lennon

A Quote from a Band Member"And I am a writer of fictions. I am the heart that you call home. And I've written pages upon pages trying to rid you from my bones."- The Decemberists


A Quote About Fashion/Style
"My God, let us be elegant or die."- Louisa May Alcott


A Quote from a Book
"Sometimes, immersed in books, there would come to him the awareness of all he did not know, of all that he had not read, and the serenity for which he labored was shattered as he realized the little time he had in life to read so much, to learn what he had to know."- John Williams, Stoner

"Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean it is not real?"- Albus Dumbledore, The Harry Potter Series

"There must be something in books, something we can't image, to make a woman stay in a burning house. There must be something there. You don't stay for nothing."- Ray Bradbury

A Quote from Your Favorite Author"If we listened to our intellect, we'd never have a love affair. We'd never have a friendship. We'd never go in business becuase we'd be cynical. 'It's gonna go wrong.' Or 'She's going to hurt me.' Or 'I've had a couple of bad love affairs, so therefore..' Well, that's nonsense. You're going to miss life. You've got to jump off the cliff and build your wings on the way down."- Ray Bradbury

"How much of my brain is willfully my own? How much is not a rubber stamp of what I have read and heard and lived? Sure, I make sort of synthesis of what I come across, but is that all that differentiates me froma nother person?"- Sylvia Plath

"I wish you to know that you have been the last dream of my soul."- Charles Dickens

"I believe that there is one story in the world, and only one. Humans are caught- in their lives, in their thoguhts, in their hungers and ambitions, in their avarice and cruelty, and in their kindness and generosity too- in a net of good and evil. There is no other story. A man, after he has brushed off the dust and chips of his life, will have left only the hard, clean question: was it good or was it evil? Have I done well- or ill?"- John Steinbeck

"And the day came when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom."- Anais Nin

A Quote from a Movie
"I know who you are. I love you. I love everything about you that hurts."- Clive Owen, Closer

"That ain't no Etch-a Sketch. This is one doodle that can't be undid, homeskillet."- Juno

A Quote from a TV Show
"You're a woman with a brain and reasonable ability. Stop whining and find something to do."- Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey

Quote your Favorite Lyrics
"Love, it will not betray you, dismay or enslave you. It will set you free."- Mumford and Sons

Quote from a Headstrong Female
"I am no bird, and no net ensnares me. I am a free human being with an independent will, which I now exert to leave you."- Charlotte Bronte

"Now that I have money and power and I don't need you, you go to hell!"- Scarlett O'Hara

A Quote You Would Write on Your Bedroom Wall
"I feel so intensely the delights of shutting oneself up in a little world of one's own, with pictures and music and everything beautiful."- Virginia Woolf

A Quote you Would Want Inscribed on Your Wedding Ring
"I want you to know that you have been the last dream of my soul."- Charles Dickens

"You are my world, and I am yours, and together, we shall move the universe."- Anonymous

A Quote that Reminds You of Someone
"I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of anything than a book! When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library."- Jane Austen.

Your Favorite Disney Quote
"The very things that hold you down are going to lift you up."- Dumbo
"If you don't think, then you shouldn't talk."- Alice in Wonderland

"No matter how your heart is grieving, if you keep on believing the dream that you wish will come true!"- Cinderella

"Simba, you have forgotten me. You have forgotten who you are, and so forgotten me. Look inside yourself, Simba. You are more than what you have become."- The Lion King

A Quote that Makes You Smile
"If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales."- Albert Einstein


A Quote that Reminds You of Sadness
"What fine weather today! Can't choose whether to drink tea or hang myself."- Anton Chekhov

"I hope no one who reads this book has ever been quite as miserable as Susan and Lucy were that night; but if you have been- if you have been up all night and cried til you have no more tears left in you- you will know that there comes a sort of quietness. You feel as if nothing is ever going to happen again."- C.S.Lewis

"Should I outlive this anguish- and men do- I shall have only good to say of you."- Edna St. Vincent Millay

"Sometimes I can hear my bones straining under the weight of all the lives I am not living."- Jonathan Safron Foer

A Quote that Describes You
"She had a lively, playful disposition which delighted in anything ridiculous."- Jane Austen

"I must be a mermaid. I have no fear of depths, and a great fear of shallow living."- Anais Nin

"I want to think again of dangerous and noble things. I want to be light and frolicsome. I want to be improbable and beautiful and afraid of nothing, as if I had wings!"- Mary Oliver

"I'm going to read what I want and listen to what I want and I'm going to look at paintings and watch French films, and I'm going to talk to people who know lots about lots."- Carey Mulligan

"Give a man a mask, and he will tell you the truth."- Oscar Wilde

"I am a series of small victories and large defeats, and I am as amazed as any other that I have gotten from there to here."- Charles Bukowski

"It is a most distressing affliction to have a sentimental heart and a skeptical mind."- Nagulb Mahfouz

"Everything interests me, but nothing holds me."- Fernando Pessoa

The First Quote You Saw Today
"You can bury what you like, but if it's still alive when you bury it, don't hope for a quiet life."- Jeanette Winterson

Whatever Quote You Like
"We are all mortal until the first kiss and the second glass of wine."- Eduardo Galeano

My Favorite Disney Princesses List

Note: for clarity purposes, I'm only mentioning the official, designated Disney Princesses from the Disney Princess Collection: Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Pocahontas, Mulan, Tiana, and Rapunzel.

 

 

 

10) Pocahontas

For the first time in the history of ever, Aurora is not my number 10 princess. I rewatched Pocahontas for the first time in a long while when it became available on Netflix Instant-Watch, and realized that the issues I have with the movie have little to do with the offensive and unbelievably inaccurate ‘historical’ liberties. That would be enough, but even if the movie were more accurate, Pocahontas would still likely be low on my list. Even though I appreciate that she is the first (and thus far, only) princess to be introduced to a ‘true love’ figure and yet decide that there are more important things in life than a boyfriend, and I appreciate that her design is lovely and her amazing flag-like hair whips in the wind like the friggin’ Jolly Roger, she is still boring as all get out. There is no trace of her namesake ‘little mischief’ in her personality (except for frolicking with Nakoma in one scene for 4 minutes of the movie,) and her bland development makes it hard to overlook her notable personality flaws. I can’t name a single definable trait that Pocahontas has- I suppose I’m meant to infer that she’s ‘noble, courageous, and compassionate,’ but it’s difficult to give those traits much weight when she spends so much of the movie just being sort of listless and vacant. Despite being the star of her own movie and having some admirable qualities as far as princesses go, Pocahontas is the one princess that I just can’t feel any sort of enthusiasm about.

 

 

9) Aurora  

For many, many years, Aurora has been prominently in last place. There isn’t much I can say that hasn’t already been said to death- she’s only in the movie for a few minutes, and in the minutes that she is onscreen, she pretty much plays pretend in the forest, sings, gets hit on by a handsome creeper, runs away, falls asleep, and then wakes up and dances with said handsome creeper. Lots of people have said that they like her as a ‘stereotypical’ fairytale princess, one who is beautiful and delicate and more of a plot point than an actual person, and for years I didn’t see the appeal. I still really don’t. But when you stand her up against Pocahontas, who has an entire movie to become an interesting character and never does, Aurora does fairly well with the limited time allotted to her. She is a beautiful princess and her voice is my favorite of all the princesses, and after taking a break from Fanpop and from constantly surrounding myself with Disney stuff 24/7, I can sort of see the appeal of a character who exists to move the plot along and be pretty in the process. She doesn’t do much, she doesn’t have much, but she is lovely and she’s not bad, considering. She’ll never be one of my favorites, but she does well enough to not be at the immediate bottom (anymore!)

 

8) Rapunzel
   While Punz is crazy popular with people younger than myself, I personally don’t see much of the appeal. She is a lot of fun, and I like that she is crafty, artistic and intelligent- I appreciate Disney giving her interests and hobbies, somewhat of a rarity in Disney females, and I certainly can understand how relatable she is to many women and girls. However, she just isn’t that impressive to me as a character. The ‘naïve’ princesses have never been my favorite- I prefer savvier, more independent types. While Punz’s naivete is certainly understandable, given her circumstances, as a cynical 20-something, Punz’s spasatic teenager personality isn’t appealing to me. I don’t think much of her one way or another- no passionate feelings of dislike or like. Punz fans, as I know you are many, keep on enjoying her. She’s just not my cup of tea.

7) Snow White
What I feel for Snow White is not so much love as respect. The original creation, Snow White represents not only the glorious beginning of the Disney that I know and love, but the dawning of a new era of art. One of the reasons that I admire sweet, simpering Snow White more than someone like Pocahontas, even though Pocahontas’ traits are ‘strong’ by today’ standards, is that Snow White is consistent from frame to frame. She has a defined personality- bubbly, sweet, optimistic, nurturing, and more than a little bossy. She’s kind of the veritable mother-type: loving but stern, sweet-spirited, but tough and sturdy in her way. The way that she bounces back from everything is admirable, and her ability to not lose hope in the worst of circumstances makes her a rosy, cheerful person that you can’t help but root for. By today’s standards, she’s a total Damsel in Distress- the very first lines she says (well, sings) in the movie are about finding a boyfriend, and by God, she sticks to that goal through the entire movie. Fortunately for her, her patience pays off in the end and she is literally swept off her feet and carried to a castle in the sky. She’s not very complicated, but she is enjoyable and consistent, and that explains why she is still the Fairest of Them All, all these years later.

 

6) Tiana

Tiana has shifted up and down on my list for a few years, but usually between spaces 5-7. I love her because I connect with her and because I think she is a character that adds something truly unique to the Princess lineup. While opinions vary on her backstory-a modern woman in New Orleans who becomes a princess- there is no doubt that Tiana herself offers quite a lot as a character. Intelligent, hard-working, dependable, and highly independent, Tiana represents the modern woman. She doesn’t come from privilege, she is literally attempting to build something from nothing, and she is working diligently for her American Dream. I love Tiana for her drive, not just her dreams- dreaminess has never been a quality I admire in people, fictional or otherwise, and I find Tiana’s realistic, no-nonsense approach quite refreshing. The only thing that I dislike about Tiana is her complete willingness to throw aside the dream she’s worked for, sacrificed for, and prayed for since she was a small child to be with a guy she’s known for a few days. It seemed so contrary to her character, and struck me as Disney’s reluctance to build a female character that was too independent or too far away from the princess trope. It seemed cowardly, and while I guess the sentiment behind it is a nice one, it seemed that Tiana’s bold character would have been better served if she stood her ground, and then still got the prince in the end. Otherwise, she’s an amazing character, and one of my all time favorites.

 

5) Mulan

The older I get, the more I like Mulan. Watching the movie recently, I realized much I like her quirks and eccentricities, and I appreciate that her family accepts her for who she is. They know she’s creative and ‘odd’ and they love her for it- it is only outside the family home that Mulan is susceptible to judgment and societal standards. Clever, resourceful, devoted, and crafy, Mulan finds herself taking an unorthodox approach to life, something I admire greatly, and ends up saving her father and her family’s honor in the process. I have a great admiration for intelligence, and Mulan is, in my opinion, the most intelligent of the princesses. Her quick thinking saves the day on many occasions, and I appreciate Disney creating a female character who is, in Mulan’s own words, ‘a girl who’s got a brain, who always speaks her mind!’ My favorite scene of Mulan is when she defeats Shan Yu on the roof using her fan- a symbol of femininity and beauty, a symbol that she was uncomfortable with at the beginning of the movie, that she uses to her advantage as a weapon and a way to assert herself and become her true self. Quirky, unique, strong, and generally great, Mulan is by far one of my favorite Disney characters, and one of my favorite characters, period.

 

4) Ariel

At the beginning of my Fanpop days, Ariel was steadfastly in the number 1 spot. Aside from her obvious advantage of being a mermaid, I’ve always liked and related to her feelings of being unhappy in her privileged (but unfulfilling) life, and appreciated her curious, playful and spirited nature. The older I get, though, the less I relate to her, and the more my love for her is more nostalgic than personal. She is definitely a polarizing figure: on the one hand, she is spirited, determined, and groundbreaking, as far as princesses go, in that her main goal is to be human, not to find a guy and get married. On the other hand, she is selfish, impulsive, and pretty much willing to throw her whole family under the bus for a pipe dream and a guy she’s never met. So I totally understand her supporters AND her detractors. For me personally, I like that she is such a realistic person. Most teenagers are impulsive and moony and get lovelorn easily. Most of them don’t think about the consequences of their actions, and just like Ariel, most of them don’t mean any harm. She’s a great character, despite her polarizing nature, and while she’s no longer in my top 3 favorites, she’ll always hold a special place in my heart.

 

 

3) Jasmine

My love for Jasmine has been a little late-coming. As far as her personality is concerned, Jasmine is really amazing to me. Sharp, headstrong, and taking nobody’s bullshit, Jasmine stands alone among the princesses as the one who is willing to give anybody and everybody a piece of her mind. My favorite scene is when she catapults over the rooftop and throws the pole at Aladdin while smugly quipping, “I’m a fast learner.” She has a haughty, no-nonsense way about her that I appreciate, but I admire that she’s painted as a great person, not a bitch, throughout the movie. Aladdin loves her, and rightfully so. He doesn’t just admire her beauty- the very first thing he mentions that he loves about her is her intelligence. “She’s smart, and fun!” It is Genie that mentions her beauty, not Aladdin. I also like that when Jasmine realizes that Aladdin has been lying, she doesn’t wilt and forgive him instantly. She throws it in his face and demands an explanation. I know a lot of people dislike that she kept taking Aladdin back after he continued to lie to her, and I see their point- but I do think that in some instances, such as the one Aladdin was in, it’s understandable why he didn’t want to tell her the truth. We know that Jasmine would have loved him anyway. Aladdin didn’t know that. (I don’t count the sequels into this equation, where he lies to her about complete crap that wasn’t worth it.) I think her pros vastly outweigh her cons, and I think Jasmine is truly unique among the princesses.

 

2) Cinderella

Unlike my appreciation for Ariel, my love for Cinderella has just gotten stronger and stronger. There is an elegance, poise, and sophistication in Cinderella that is hard to rival. She reminds me often of Audrey Hepburn- unassuming, beautiful but unaware of it, courageous in a subtle way, and optimistic in a way that is often tinged with sadness. She is hopeful about her situation, but not blindingly so like Snow White. She trusts that it will all be alright, but that doesn’t mean that she’s being naïve about it. While it is unlikely that any real survivor of domestic abuse/captivity would be that put-together and graceful-admid-turmoil, Cinderella represents the ideal. She is what I would like to be, and what I admire. Yes, she’s kind of outdated in her values, and yes, she pretty much does none of her own ‘saving’ and is kind of passive in her own life, but for some reason, I find it more tolerable with her. I suppose it’s because of her ethereal level of quiet strength. My love for this classic, beautiful character grows every year, and there is definitely a reason that she is still one of the most popular Disney characters ever.

 

1) Belle
I don’t know what to say about Belle that hasn’t already been said by every other brunette bookworm in the world, but damn, I’ll try. When I was younger I identified with her being labeled ‘weird,’ but now that’s not it. Belle and I share bibliophile tendencies, but that’s not really it either. I can’t really say what it is about Belle that has cemented her status as my favorite princess for so long, but whatever it is, Belle does it very well. Brainy but subtle, elegant but intelligent, passionate but not cheesy or wishy-washy, Belle is the grand embodiment of everything I aspire to be in my own life. She isn’t perfect- I don’t care for the fact that she looks down on her ‘provincial’ (read: privileged) life and longs for a nondescript, irritatingly vague ‘more,’ but I relate to it. I understand what it’s like to want something badly, to feel its absence, but to not know what it is that you’re missing so badly. I appreciate that she’s too smart to see through the attractive-but-thin veneer of Gaston, and I like that once she is in the Beast’s good graces, she is pleasant, friendly, and a good companion. There are just so many reasons that I find Belle so wonderful, and she will always be my favorite.

 

 

 

To My Future Son

To my son,

I do not know you yet. I do not know if you will ever exist. But secretly, I hope you will one day. Even in the midst of not wanting children in college, I always thought it would be fun to have my own son, and now that I am happily married and I'm getting myself ready to start my own family someday, I hope that one day I will be blessed with you. Right now, I want to name you either Miles, Simon, Landon, or Oliver. (Miles is my favorite.) Your future father doesn't care for those names, except for Miles. He thinks Landon sounds like 'landon a plane.' But that's ok, we'll leave him out of the equation for now. For now, my dear son, it's just you and me.

Just recently, two teenage boys were found guilty of committing a horrible crime- they raped and violated a fellow pupil, a teenage girl, and they are now heading to juvenile prison for the foreseeable future. They will be labeled as sex offenders for the rest of their lives. In prison, their fathers clasped them and cried with them and insisted that their sons were not bad kids, and that they couldn't possibly be rapists. But they are- and there is extraordinary evidence to prove it. These boys were once some parent's pride and joy, and they are someone's most beloved treasure. How did they come so far?

My boy, there is much I want for you in your life. I want you to be intelligent, ambitious, handy with tools like your father, an avid reader like me. I want you to have friends and be part of things and to have a wonderful, successful life. But most importantly, I want you to be kind. I want you to be humble, and to know the difference between getting your way because she didn't say no, and getting your way because she enthusiastically said yes. Or he, if that is your preference- it makes no difference to me.

As your mother, I will be your primary female role model. It will be your father's job to teach you how to treat a woman, and it will be my job to show you how a woman treats a man, and what a woman of quality looks like and sounds like. It will be our job to teach you to respect boundaries, to be respectful, and to tell you no (and hold to it) when it is necessary. I sincerely believe that much of the blame for these boys' crimes falls on their parents. There's no doubt that they were overindulgent, possibly even neglectful, of making sure that their beloved boys didn't victimize someone because they could.

It is my job to teach you to be courageous when it is not easy. There were boys (and girls) present who could have stepped in to save the girl when she couldn't save herself. But they didn't, because they didn't understand what they were witnessing, and because they were too afraid to be made fun of or teased. Deep down, they knew what they were witnessing was wrong, just as the boys knew what they were doing was wrong. But they didn't stop them. My son, I want you to grow up to be a hero for those who cannot help themselves, rather than a bully. As a white male, you will endowed with certain privileges right from birth, and it is your job to use that influence for the good and safety of otehrs, not for putting others down.

Being a parent is a heavy responsibility, which is why I haven't begun that journey already. I'm not quite mature enough to handle it. But I will be one day, and I intend to take it seriously. I do not want you to grow up and victimize someone else, or even to feel that you have the right to. You are to be kind, compassionate, and understanding, and it will be my job to teach you those things. And I will, my boy. I will. I love you, and look forward to being your mother.

Love,

(Future) Mama

The Steubenville Rape Case- Musings

 

Like much of the country, I've followed the Steubenville, Ohio rape case with something horror and shame, but also, something like fascination. The whole plot sounds like something right out of a Lifetime movie, where high school is portrayed as a booze-soaked, indulgent time in which football players are smalltown heroes, and parties hosted by permissive (and neglectful) parents are standard fare. I'm not too many years out of high school, and I never attended one party where parents were willingly giving away alcohol (under the halfhearted 'I'd rather them do it in the house' platitude), nor did I ever witness someone being abused while under the influence. However, I do know it happened. I grew up in a small, mostly poor town remarkably like Steubenville, and I heard things that were similar to the Steubenville rape case. I think that Steubenville, unfortunately for the town, has now become a stage for which a horrifying portrayal of modern teenagers, and the whole world has taken their seats to weigh in on the drama.

 

 

 

Not much is known about the victim, except that she is 16 years old and was extraordinarily drunk during the event. She had no memory of it. In fact, the perpetrators (Trent Mays and Ma'Lik Richmond) were friends of hers, and it is quite likely that they'd gotten drunk together many times before. We don't know her name- we know her merely as the thin girl in shorts who was photographed and Instagrammed being carried by Trent and Ma'Lik (one holding her by the wrists and the other by the ankles, while she dangled helplessly between them) like a casualty of war being carried off the battlefield. A bystander took the photo, and casually labeled it "Sloppy." There was no secret that this was a huge joke to everyone involved. No one stopped them. No one called the police. No one attempted to help the teenage girl, who was so clearly in need of help. To everyone around, not just the boys themselves, this was a joke akin to writing the word 'penis' on someone's face while he's asleep. In fact, they were arrogant enough to brag about what they did- not just to each other and to the world via social media, but to the victim. When she awoke the next morning, she had no memory at all of her attack. It was Trent and Ma'Lik themselves who told her about it- they sent her pictures and videos they'd made of themselves raping her with their fingers, and joking about paying others to pee on her. They were bragging. It was a joke. And they had no clue what a catastrophic error they'd made.

 

 

 

I don't say all this about the rapists to excuse them. There is no excuse. At their age, they are quite old enough to know the difference between right and wrong, and they were unforgivably wrong. This girl will never live down this catastrophe. She will get therapy and be able to move on, hopefully, and have a successful life. But the internet doesn't forget. In 30 years, my children will be able to search for details on the Steubenville rape case and the same image I just googled will pop right up, along with the video and all the articles the internet has to offer. She will be remembered forever, and the tragedy of that night will haunt her for the rest of her life.

 

Much has been made over CNN's coverage of the rape case- many of the anchors describe Trent and Ma'Lik as 'clean cut, generally good kids' with 'promising futures,' rather than as arrogant rapists who felt entitled to do what they wanted with a girl who couldn't help herself. They are being painted as victims in this case too, for a crime they perpetuated themselves and with full knowledge of what they were doing. They are being called 'children,' and even Ma'Lik's father took the stand and admitted that he was deeply sorry, and that he felt that Ma'Lik's crime was his own fault, for not being a good father who was active in his son's life. They are being portrayed as victims of circumstance, not criminals.

 

I think it comes to Steubenville having to come to terms with the consequences of its own sins. This small, football-crazed town is a poor one, with little industry except the football team. They have cultivated a level of arrogance with their star football players, and have treated their star players as if they are above the law. The parenting is permissive and neglectful, the academics lacking, and the discipline irrelevent. These boys were pampered princes who didn't think they would ever have to face consequences for their actions- or really, that they had any consequences to face. They probably thought of 'rape' as something a stranger does when he jumps out of an alley and forcibly attacks a woman on the street. That they would be charged with rape for what they did was probably inconceivable. Now, they will go to juvenile prison, and be labeled sex offenders for the rest of their lives. Their lives are over, and the life of the victim has been irreputably damaged. But it goes beyond the boys and the girl. This is a whole town that has been turned on its head, and is now being judged for the sins they've committed.

 

I can't imagine what today will be like for students at Steubenville High School. Those who were at the party may face charges as accomplices to their crime. Those who weren't there probably have 100 questions to ask, and the teachers and students will likely have to find a way to deal with the problem. Overall, rape is not a personal problem, it is a cultural problem, and as Steubenville has shown us, culture begins (and ends) at home.

 

 

 

My Favorite Musical Films: Top 20- Part 1

20) Cabaret (1972)While most non- musical lovers have the idea in their minds that musicals are campy, frivolous affairs (and some are,) that’s not always true. Take Cabaret, for example. It is a musical about World War II Germany, and man, does it tackle some taboo topics. Directed by Bob Fosse in 1972 (a particularly gritty time for movies) ‘Cabaret’ is the story of bawdy bohemian dancer Sally Bowles (Liza Minnelli) and her exploits in a German cabaret theater during the rise of the Third Reich. Fraught with frank commentary about genocide, homosexuality, abortion, and social consciousness, Cabaret is a musical with purpose and grit, as well as (of course) some spectacular performances. Liza Minnelli is particularly effective as Sally Bowles, the self-involved, highly sexual anarchist who believes that when the going gets tough, the tough get going.

Best Musical Moment: During a particularly dark moment that emphasizes the horror of the Nazi Regime, a handsome young blonde boy sings directly to the camera, proclaiming what a bright future he has and how ‘tomorrow belongs to him.’ As he sings, the camera slowly pans away from him revealing a Nazi uniform and swastika on his arm.

 

19) The King and I (1956)
The fifties were a particularly good time for musicals. It was a more innocent time overall, and singing and dancing were accepted as all around good-entertainment at the time. Because of this, some of the best musicals of all time were created then, and ‘The King and I’ was one of them. Directed by Walter Lang and starring Deborah Kerr and the incomparable Yul Brynner, the story follows English schoolteacher Anna Leonowens, who travels to Siam to teach King Mongkut’s many children. King Mongkut (Yul Brynner, at his most awesome,) is an authoritative man who is used to getting his way, particularly from women, and he and forward-thinking Anna immediately butt heads. It is a beautifully written, tenderly intricate story that swells with commentary on globalization, as well as a sharp wit. It wouldn’t have been made today due to its vaguely Mighty Whitey trope, but it is a marvelous film with a tremendous amount of heart, cleverness, and memorable music.

Best Musical Moment: During the song “Shall We Dance?” the King and Anna, who have become hardheaded sparring partners, dance in the ‘Western way,’ and it becomes a romantic (if tense) battle of wits between two people who may or may not be perfect for each other.

 

18) Hairspray (2007)
This film was the bane of my roommate’s existence in college. J Bright, colorful, and so gaudily done that it may have been created by a bunch of drag queens (there IS one in the movie!), ‘Hairspray’ is the most joyful experience you’ll ever have in a cinema or a theater. While it does have an underlying story about racism and idealism in the 1960s, it’s mostly about enjoying life- dancing, singing, playing, being yourself, and generally enjoying yourself, no matter what your weight or appearance. The cast is interesting to say the least- from Christopher Walken as Wilburn Turnblad, the owner of a joke shop to Allison Janney as Prudy Pingleton, the God-fearing zealot, this is a spectacularly talented cast of Triple Threats. Is it bright and silly? Yes. Is it vaguely hipster-ironic in its perkiness? Without a doubt. Is it an absolute delight? Why, of course.

Best Musical Moment: During a particularly juking-and-jiving number written just for the movie (“Ladies Choice”) tubby-but-awesome Tracy Turnblad literally breaks down the racial divide in the studio and leads the whole group in a spectacularly choreographed dance routine that brings the beginning of ‘peace and love’ into the 1960s.

 

 

17) Les Miserables (2012)The newest major musical motion picture is by far not the least respected one on this list (that one is mentioned later,) but its place in musical history is yet to be seen. Based on the 1980’s mega musical by the same name, Les Miserables is the story of Jean Valjean, a convict in the French Revolution who has done his best to become an honest man, and the obsessive officer who is pursuing him. There are also lots of other characters and they have their own stories to tell, all of which tie into Valjean’s story for various reasons. It is an epic story of justice, redemption, forgiveness, and mercy, and many critics considered it spectacular. However, there were some notable flaws. For one, Russell Crowe, who plays Inspector Javert, cannot sing. Les Miserables, for all intents and purposes, an opera- there are only about 100 words of spoken dialogue. The rest is sung. Crowe gets a bronze medal for trying his best, but compared to the theatrical belting of Hugh Jackman (Valjean) or even the chirping warble of Cosette (Valjean’s adopted daughter, played by Amanda Seyfried,) Crowe drops the ball. For another, director Tom Hooper decided to have the actors sing live rather than to a prerecorded track. This is groundbreaking, and sometimes it paid off. Anne Hathway’s tragic, one-extended-shot portrayal of prostitute Fantine singing her broken heart out about ‘the dream she dreamed’ moved audiences to tears and won her an Academy Award. In some places, however, it doesn’t pay off so well- the actors are belting their hearts out right in your face, so you can see the veins in their necks and their backteeth. Many critics complained that it was like having get right in your face and try to sing you into buying a used car. It was flawed, no doubt. However, I still thought it a worthwhile film, and thought that it did justice to the musical and the story. It’s this low on the list because after just one viewing, I’m not sure how it’ll hold up, but it may be moving up or down when it comes to Blu-Ray soon.

Best Musical Moment: It’s hard to beat Anne Hathaway’s heartbreaking rendition of ‘I Dreamed a Dream.’ Though her character is fairly minor (she dies within the first 20 minutes of the film,) the anguished, desperate cry of a woman who has fallen as low as she can go, done in one extraordinary take, is pure cinema gold.

16) The Phantom of the Opera (2004)
Remember how I said that Les Miserables wasn’t by far considered a terrible musical, but one on this list is? Well, here it is: Joel Schumacher’s ‘The Phantom of the Opera.’ It is widely considered a failure of epic proportions. The titular phantom (Gerard Butler,) is an awful singer, grossly miscast as a tame-as-paper-towels antihero, the direction is campy and overwrought, and the remnants of a particularly classy stage musical are assembled haphazardly in a flashy spectacle. So, is it bad? Yes. Do I like it? Yes. Call it a guilty pleasure for a childhood favorite, but I have loved ‘Phantom’ for years, and devoured the soundtrack religiously all through high school. Despite Gerard Butler’s nasally droning, the romantic, sweeping feel of the play is intact, and then-newcomer Emmy Rossum’s angelic voice gave Christine Daae a sympathetic, heart-wrenching truthfulness. Though it fails as an overall work, it succeeds in passion and beauty, and sometimes, that’s really all you need to enjoy a film.

Best Musical Moment: Once Christine is able to break the Phantom’s haunting spell over her, she sets out to trap him… through song! The duet they sing together “Point of No Return” is a seductive, smoldering song that hardly veils the passion and sexual tension between an attractive older man and the beautiful young nymph he is wildly in love with. Hot damn.

 

 

15) The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
It lives! The musical that launched a thousand midnight showings is still one of the highest rated camp masterpieces of all time, and is still running in late-night theaters around the world. It tells the story of square, pathetic Brad and Janet, a Barbie-and-Ken duo haplessly lost in the woods when they come upon a haunted house. There, they encounter a flamboyant drag queen/mad scientist, Dr. Frank N. Furter, who sets out to corrupt the saintly young couple and open their minds to a world of ‘absolute pleasure.’ Starring Tim Curry in his starmaking role, as well as a disastrously off-pitch Susan Sarandon, this musical-come-science fiction spoof is just as goofy and hilarious as it sounds. Though considered a bomb upon its initial release, it has gained a cult following, and is considered one of the most unique, groundbreaking movies of all time.

Best Musical Moment: If you’ve never been in a midnight theater when Tim Curry throws off his Cruella deVille robe and reveals the sparkling corset-and-garters underneath during ‘Sweet Transvestite,’ you haven’t lived.

 

14) Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)
There are some films that you watch no matter how many times they’re on TV. This is that movie for me. It comes on every Christmas, Easter, summer, and spring, but I enjoy it every time. The perennial family musical, it tells the story of a magical (if eccentric) chocolate maker and the children he invites to his factory, including angelic-but-bland Charlie Bucket, who is just the type of good guy that children love. The movie is spectacularly made- accessible, heartfelt, and just as delicious as its favorite candy, “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” is one of the best children’s movies of all time. Much if this is owed to Gene Wilder, who plays Wonka as a man who never quite seems to be telling the truth, who constantly has a secret in his pocket and a sparkle in his eye.

Best Musical Moment: It may just be me, but for me, the defining musical moment isn’t Wonka’s bemused croon about imagination in the Chocolate room. It’s the opening song, “The Candy Man Can,” that sets the tone for the movie- happy, friendly, and as comfortably delightful as a warm cup of hot chocolate.

 



13) My Fair Lady (1964)
Though this wonderful film is often hailed as a romance classic, I don’t like it at all from that angle. Overall, it’s a story about a makeover, just as many movies are, but this one is particularly good at it. Elocution professor Dr. Henry Higgins makes a bet that he can transform an ill-spoken, uneducated flower girl named Eliza Doolittle into an eloquent society lady, and of course he does so. This is a relatable plotline that could be done just as easily today as in 19^th century England. The performances are wonderful, with elegant Audrey Hepburn playing Eliza has a scrappy but sensible woman set upon by life, and Rex Harrison, who portrays Dr. Higgins as somewhere between closeted-homosexual and Sheldon Cooper insensitive. The problem comes from the implied romance. Come on, when the best thing your partner can say about you is that he’s “gotten accustomed to your face,” you’re definitely not going to encounter a lifestyle of romance and passion. However, the sophistication of the film overall, as well as its witty writing and acting, make My Fair Lady a magnificent addition to cinema, and at the time cemented Audrey Hepburn’s place as a style icon.

Best Musical Moment: Where does it rain? On the plain, of course. And where is that blasted plain? In Spain! In Spain! It’s a silly musical number, but watching Hepburn, Harrison, and Wilfrid Hyde-White as Colonel Pickering frolick around the living room singing about the Rain on the Plain in Spain is an absolute delight.

12) Mary Poppins (1964)
At the 1964 Academy Awards, Audrey Hepburn didn’t take the stage. Much to the surprise of everyone, she wasn’t even nominated for her work in “My Fair Lady.” The person who accepted the Best Actress award that year was a complete newcomer who had until then done strictly stage work- Julie Andrews, who won for her role as ‘practically perfect in every way’ British nanny extraordinaire, Mary Poppins. Like Mary herself, the Disney film is ‘practically perfect.’ Heralded by Walt Disney himself, Mary Poppins swept audiences and children off their feet and into a veritable ‘jolly holiday’, and the movie is still heralded as one of the best ever made. It proved to be Julie Andrews’ starmaking role- she had a long and illustrious film career in musicals throughout the sixties, many of which proved to be longstanding classics. Funny, charming, and extremely well-done and acted, Mary Poppins is a classic Disney film that will be cherished for years to come.

Best Musical Number: It’s difficult to pick, but my favorite is “A Spoonful of Sugar,” in which Mary leads the children on a room-cleaning spree in the most magical way possible. How many of you snapped at your toys as children, hoping they’d stand up and put themselves away?

11) The Sound of Music (1965)
Just one year after her win for Mary Poppins, Julie Andrews starred in another bona fide smash- again playing a nanny, but this time, a spoonful of sugar isn’t all that’s needed to make life more bearable. Simultaneously light as air and stern as steel, The Sound of Music is the story of a young nun named Maria who becomes the governess of a group of wealthy children. Their father, Captain Von Trapp, is stern and militaristic, and runs the house like a Navy ship. Of course, Maria’s pluck and charm win him over in the end, and she marries him and is set to live happily ever after. Unfortunately, this is not Disney movie- the Nazis have been leaning on Captain Von Trapp to serve in their military, and the Captain- proud and patriotic- refuses to stoop to their demands. In the tense and frightening climax, they make their escape. For a movie that begins as lightly as it does, it ends on a very cautious note: the family is being forced from their home, and there’s a sense that their little world is about to fall apart completely. Fortunately, there is a happy ending- they have each other, and the love of family is more powerful than anything a terrorist regime can throw at you.

Best Musical Moment: It’s impossible to pick just one, but the one that always moves me to tears is the final ‘Edelweiss,’ when Captain Von Trapp is warily eying the audience as he sings to the crowd. The Von Trapp Family Singers have made their debut at a local talent show, and as Captain Von Trapp softly sings a salute to his beloved homeland, he sees the Nazis in the audience, waiting to seize him the second he walks off the stage. The usually stoic man begins to weep, and as his voice fails, his Austrian comrades pick up for him, and begin to sing along, as a swelling moment of pride ripples through the room. Cue tears.

 

 

 

 

10 Movies Available on Netflix Instant-Watch (That Are Actually Worth Watching)

Oh, Netflix. You are such a mixed bag of blessings and stupidities. In some ways, you are an absolute delight- with full seasons of great TV shows available anytime, binge-watchers like myself have instant access to some of the most amazing series' available right now, as well as old favorites from yesteryear. However, you do come with a price- your offerings as far as movies tend to range from great movies that are on cable every day to straight-to-DVD sequels that never saw the light of day.

However, even in the mixed blessing that is Netflix, there are some movies available that are damn good, and well worth a viewing. Here are 5 of my personal recommendations.

Sabrina (1954)
Starring: Audrey Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart, and William Holden

 

Long before there was Bella Swan and her two inspid, moony suitiors, there was Sabrina Fairchild, the awkward, gawky (well, as gawky as Audrey Hepburn can be) daughter of a chauffer. She has been raised alongside the wealthy family that her father works for, and has been infatuated with the youngest son, dashing, devil-may-care David, for years. He doesn't notice her, of course, until she goes away to Paris to school and becomes an elegant lady. A light, graceful romantic comedy, 'Sabrina' boasts megawatt star power which is rarely found today- Humphrey Bogart at his sullen-but-sweet Bogey-est, William Holden in a gleeful role he was born to play, and of course, Audrey Hepburn, whose incadescence, playfulness and sophistication are never more evident. It is an exceptionally well-made film that is truly funny and touching, and while the plot is a bit trite almost 60 years after its initial release, but it is so supremely done and so timelessly endearing that it still stands far above anything made by Julia Roberts, Meg Ryan, or Kate Hudson today. Even if romantic comedies aren't your thing, 'Sabrina' is worth a look.

 

Life is Beautiful (1997)
Starring: Roberto Benigni, Nicoletta Braschi, Giorgio Cantarini

Oh, the tears that have been shed over this film. 'Life is Beautiful,' a fable about the Holocaust (yes, really) that is equal parts devestating and uplifting, is an Italian film about a Jewish man named Guido whose dedication and love for his family endures through everything, even the concentration camps. Until the German occupation, Guido's life was perfect- he married the love of his life and they had a son together, to whom he is utterly devoted. When the Germans haul them away to the camps, Guido is able to keep is young son alive (and unafraid) by pretending the whole thing is a game, and the Germans are the opposing team. Devestating in its raw humanity, but awe-inspiring in its fairytale-like view on the human spirit, 'Life is Beautiful' is a film unlike any other ever made about the Holocaust, and it proves that no matter how dark times can be, and no matter how terrifying the enemcy can be, the love between a family can never be beaten.

 

True Grit (2010)
Starring: Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Josh Brolin, and Hailee Steinfield

 

Possibly my favorite movie directed by the famous Coen Brothers, 'True Grit' is not so much a remake as a re-imagining. Jeff Bridges plays the lead role of Rooster Cogburn, the same role originated by John Wayne years ago, and the plot is the same. However, this is no spagitti western. True Grit is a movie without category- an adventure film without much shooting, a character study that is more farcical than in-depth, and a revenge flick where the bad guy gets what's coming to him, but no one learns anything along the way. The quirky directing and intentionally fancy old English dialogue (hilarious coming from uneducated Western mouths) leads to various humorous exchanges. The true strength is the acting- the all star cast is lead by newcomer Hailee Steinfield, who plays a girl out for vengeance with no hint of irony and a dead-set stare that makes crusty old Rooster know she's not kidding. Funny, well made, and an overall unique film experience, "True Grit" is the rare remake that is more memorable than the original.

 

 

Young Adult (2011)
Starring: Charlize Theron, Patton Oswalt

Everybody graduates from high school, but truth be told, most people don't get over it. This is particualrly true of Mavis Gary, who was the perenniel Mean Girl/Prom Queen years ago, but hasn't been able to carry that success into her adult life. Now, she's a semi- successful writer of young adult books who guzzles Diet Coke, beer, and junk food in her disgusting, slobby apartment, until she receives an email from an old boyfriend. He and his wife have just had a baby! Mavis sees this as an opportunity to win him back, and packs up her shabby belongings and heads back home to her small town, where she reconnects with a man she used to bully who is now disabled due to a hate crime. (Never mind that he was beaten on the assumption of being gay, even though he is not gay.) The movie was penned by Diablo Cody, writer of Juno, and while it doesn't live up to its saucy-but-relatable predecessor, 'Young Adult' does feature sharp writing and a dryly funny take on the notion of a Character Arc. In most movies, the main character starts out one way, has a realization, and then changes to become better. Mavis does no such thing, just as people in real life don't. Mavis is unpleasant, smarmy, shallow, and mean-spirited, just as she was in high school. And people still hang around her, just like they did in high school. Ultimately, the film's strength comes from Charlize Theron's wonderful performance as Mavis herself, making us root for her even as we know that she's an awful bitch. 'Young Adult' is smarter than the average comedy, and is well worth being seen at least once.

 

Hotel Rwanda (2004)
Starring: Don Cheadle

 

There are some movies that should be seen, even if it will not be a fun experience. Such is the case with Hotel Rwanda, a fictional tale based on the true story of Paul Rusesabagina, a man who opened the hotel he owned as a refuge during 1994 Rwandan genocide. At this time in history, over one million people were murdered over a three month timespan, and the rest of the world scarcely noticed. 'Hotel Rwanda' is by turns frightening, saddening, and disturbing, particularly when it focuses on the truth of the horrible murders that are happening under the world's nose. It is a movie with something to say, and it says it well- Don Cheadle's performance is breathtaking, and by the end of the movie, we are forced to reflect- when this happens again, as it happens all over the world, what will we do? How will we react? What will be our stance when the line is drawn in the sand, and we are forced to choose between life and safety?