1. New in Town I watch an absurd amount of romantic comedies, and there isn’t anything that really sets “New in Town” apart from the rest. But there were a few sweet, candid moments with Harry Connick Jr that made me laugh. 2.5/5
2. Taken This movie makes scared to travel alone. Definitely an original plot, but a little gory. The only major setback was a very cheesy/weak script. 2.5/5

Chicago
My family is going on vacation in July, so we’ve actually been shopping a lot this week. We replaced my mom’s old digital camera with a Sony T900 because my mother really wanted the touch screen. Personally I think the camera is overpriced for it’s okay picture quality, but the rest of my family loves it.

I’m still looking for luggage, so sometime soon we’ll be going downtown to find something for me.

Recently
I’ve become addicted to Facebook, which is why this entry is four days late!

Chicago
For a week that is only twenty days from Summer, the weather has been terrible. It barely rained but the weather each morning was consecutively glum. And oddly, the sun would sometimes appear in the evening, right before it set. The weather had totally affected my mood this week.

Mini Movie Reviews

1. He’s Just Not That Into You Ridiculously depressing for a romantic comedy. Although there were a few redeeming lines from Justin Long. 3/5
2. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button While worth its three hours, the movie didn’t really pick up until the middle — when Brad Pitt finally looked like a man in his twenties, and when Daisy/Benjamin wasn’t creepy). 4.5/5
3. Star Trek This movie has fried my brain. I can’t talk about anything that’s not Kirk or Spock related anymore; all conversations eventually lead to Star Trek. I think the cast was absolutely perfect for this reboot. 5/5
4. Two Weeks Notice I don’t think I can enjoy Music & Lyrics, or any Hugh Grant romantic comedy anymore after seeing this movie. 2.5/5

Recently
I’ve enlisted in Star Fleet! Actually I just bought Frosted Flakes (they sold out of the Frosted Mini Wheats) for the Star Trek badge that comes with. It lights up Federation yellow, symbolizing Star Fleet Command.

The Quiet World by Jeffrey McDaniel

In an effort to get people to look
into each other’s eyes more,
and also to appease the mutes,
the government has decided
to allot each person exactly one hundred
and sixty-seven words, per day.

When the phone rings, I put it to my ear
without saying hello. In the restaurant
I point at chicken noodle soup.
I am adjusting well to the new way.

Late at night, I call my long distance lover,
proudly say I only used fifty-nine today.
I saved the rest for you.

When she doesn’t respond,
I know she’s used up all her words,
so I slowly whisper I love you
thirty-two and a third times.
After that, we just sit on the line
and listen to each other breathe.

My favorite part in this poem is the line thirty-two and a third times. I don’t know why, but the heart of the math nerd in me flutters when I read it.

The Bustle in a House by Emily Dickinson

The bustle in a house
The morning after death
Is solemnest of industries
Enacted upon earth, –

The sweeping up the heart,
And putting love away
We shall not want to use again
Until eternity.

I love this poem because I had just recently lost my grandma when I read it, and this poem struck a chord with my mother.

Since Feeling is First by e e cummings

since feeling is first
who pays any attention
to the syntax of things
will never wholly kiss you;

wholly to be a fool
while Spring is in the world

my blood approves,
and kisses are a better fate
than wisdom
lady i swear by all the flowers. Don’t cry
- the best gesture of my brain is less than
your eyelids’ flutter which says

we are for each other: then
laugh, leaning back in my arms
for life’s not a paragraph

and death i think is no parenthesis

Besides “i carry your heart with me” and “i like my body when it is with your,” this is my favorite poem by e e cummings. I really like the comparison between life/death to punctuation at the end.

So, what are your favorite poems and poets?

You have probably seen him in at least one of these movies:
The X-Men Series. He plays the best character (in my opinion) in the X-Men series. I mean, they made a prequel just for Wolverine. How can you have missed all three movies and not seen all the promotion for X-Men Origins: Wolverine?

Wolverine promo.

The Prestige. Everybody loves movies that are filled with mystery, suspense, and Hugh Jackman as a questionable character. This movie was seen even more then The Illusionist.

Holy wow The Prestige was a good movie.

Australia. This movie is epic and the trailer even makes it look epic. Although there is no singing (except a small bit by Nicole Kidman) which is slightly disappointing.

Van Helsing. Hugh Jackman plays a character that hunts monsters, and Kate Beckinsale’s accent is slightly ridiculous. What’s not to like about this movie?

I really like his gun thingy.

Kate & Leopold. This movie contains many lulzy quotes from Hugh Jackman.

Fresh creamery butter. Is there anything more comforting? I say there is. And perhaps you’ll agree when you sample fat-free Farmer’s Bounty with the genuine essence of creamery butter in every bite. With every mouthful of Farmer’s Bounty you shall receive butter’s luxurious comfort in your mouth without adding to the luxury of your waistline.

— One of the many lines spoken in an English accent by Hugh Jackman.

Swordfish. Hugh Jackman has a very geeky montage, an earring (only one), and a make out scene with Halle Berry. Plus, John Travolta has a strange haircut.

Sorry, I couldn't find any good stills of this movie, so I give you some Kidman/Jackman love.

Scoop. Woody Allen, Scarlett Johansson, and Hugh Jackman make up such a great comedy/mystery combination.

This is truly a laugh-out-loud movie.

If you’ve never seen any of his movies (which is impossible), just remember that he has really built/large arms. And for those who have seen Hugh Jackman movies, what are your favorites?

All movie stills and promos provided by IMDB