The Raven

I love reading, to be blunt. I love books in general and Edgar Allan Poe has always been one of my favorite writers of the 19th century that has inspired many of my own writings. So when I saw the trailer for The Raven (which is an excellent poem, by the way), excitement swelled up in me like a balloon and I couldn't wait for the opportunity to go and see it. I was curious to see how they would portray such a well-known and rather mysterious author who wrote some of the most convoluted and lugubrious stories of our time, as well as how his last few days would play out on screen. So I walked into the movie theatre, a mixture of fascination and anxiety keeping me ready to see how the greatest works of the great Edgar Allan Poe would be brought to life. 

I thought the movie was an excellent collage of Poe's most recognized works (The Cask of Amontillado, The Pit and the Pendulum, The Mask of the Red Death, for example). The story line was brilliantly written and very intriguing from beginning to end. Only about an hour and forty minutes, it was not too short nor too long; just the right amount of time to show a very gripping drama and horror story unfold on screen. I was on the edge of my seat from the very first second the movie began and did not relax my tense posture until the lights in the theatre came back on. The suspense keeps you engaged and it is impossible to not be hanging onto every word and new twist and turn in the movie.

John Cusack was amazing as the famous Edgar Allan Poe. I was very impressed by the character of Poe that he created-a very conceited and haughty author who enjoyed flaunting his work and helplessly smitten with his love interest, Emily Hamilton. Cusack took on a very complex role and nailed it flawlessly. You see many dimensions of Poe-a stubborn and arrogant writer, romantic and gentle when with Emily, passionate and determined when a quill and parchment is before him. Poe is definitely not a one-dimensional character, but a very interesting and diverse man torn apart by this madman as he searches for his kidnapped love. Cusack was simply amazing.

Detective Fields (Luke Eaves) also performed excellently as the man behind the hunt for the copycat killer. He commanded the screen with such a presence of authority and control. He and Cusack complimented each other well and shared the screen together in great unison. You see many sides to him, as well, which provides a very interesting character.

Alice Eve (Emily Hamilton), Poe's love interest, plays a very important role although her screen time is very minimum. You can really sense the love between Emily and Edgar, and their on-screen chemistry was very believable. Her shining moments were obviously some of the most intense in the movie, when she is trapped in the coffin. I'm very chlosterphobic, and so I cringed the whole time I watched Emily writhe and suffocate in that cramped space. Eh. Bottom line, you didn't question her love for Edgar or her agony as she awaited her fate buried in the wooden box. Great job.

The supporting cast (Brendan Gleeson-Captain Hamilton, Oliver Jackson Cohen-John Cantrell, Sam Hazeldine-Ivan, etc) all did very well and added to the suspense.

The movie surprised me in many ways. I didn't expect the humor that was presented in the movie. I didn't think I would be laughing at all the entire time, yet I found myself on more than one occasion bent over in my seat unable to breathe. You would think that such a dark movie would not have any humor in it, but the very flamboyant and sarcastic Poe certainly provided some comic relief and gave a small break in the tension. Like the random pet raccoon was my favorite part. I tip my hat to the brain who thought of that. The action did not fail to please. The mystery element was flawless; just a classic horror film that keeps the senses engaged and eyes glued to the screen the whole time.
The blood and gore was definitely very graphic, I must say. The mutilated bodies and the torture scenes were depicted in full detail and they did not hold back on how gruesome they could make it. I covered my eyes on many parts. So if you're one of those easily-queasy people who have the urge to vomit at the very sight of bodily fluids, you might want to wait awhile after you eat to prevent your last meal from making a reappearance. Or just don't watch....or listen.

I didn't see many things I didn't like about The Raven expect a few minor things. The effects were a little cheesy and poor, but not too bad that it was absolutely terrible. Some things were a little hard to understand and their dialogue was complex and old-fashioned, so if are not familiar with intricate English it might be a little hard for one to keep up with what they're talking about. The gore was a little unneeded in some places, but if you don't like it you can always turn away.

Overall, The Raven is an excellent film that accurately depicts the true facts of Edgar Allan Poe and his stories. Obviously the killings and plot were mostly fictional, but  many aspects of the film were true. It has a mixture that any person could enjoy; romance, mystery, action, horror all nicely rolled together into one. I would recommend this film to anyone who enjoys a variety of aspects.



A

The Hunger Games

So, we've gone from wizards, to madly in love vampires, to now having kids go into an arena and fight to the death on live television. What a transition! Well, The Hunger Games was a very intense book series and I thoroughly enjoyed them. Now that is is a movie, it only seemed fit that I make a trip down to the theatre and see how well it could be portrayed on the big screen. Since practically everybody in the world knows what The Hunger Games is about due to its soaring popularity, I'll just get straight to the point and do some reviewing.

First off, nobody can deny the allure of this film and book series. What exactly draws people in to this very frightening concept of a country that forces our children to kill one another? It's that unnerving quality of life or death and how people would deal under these circumstances. It really allows the reader, or movie goer, to imagine themselves in a scenario such as this. Watching the film, you can't help but wonder how you would act if you were tribute, what you would do, and would you even possess the ability to ruthlessly murder another innocent person. Fear stirs within you, and you can't help but be dragged into the enticing magnetism of The Hunger Games. It's one of the best book series I have had the priveledge of reading, and as people flood into the theatres decked out in fan gear and decorative posters, many are wondering did this film do the book justice.

I hate to say it, but I slightly was disappointed by the movie. I know they cannot follow the book 100% and have every single detail on screen; that's logically impossible. However, the changes and tweaks that were made didn't exactly necesarrily enhance the theme or the characters. Even for somebody who read the book, I found myself a little confused at times about where they were going with this, how they were explaining it, etc. There were many parts of the film that I found myself a little picky about, but I'll just discuss a few of the ones that made me itch.

One of the things that seemed very unexplained was Katniss and Peeta's relationship. In the film, it wasn't clarified that Katniss was only prentending to be in love to gain sympathy from the audience, and how Peeta was actually in love. It appeared that Katniss was just a hopeless romantic, which clearly was not an accurate portrayl of her character. Plus, I didn't feel any emotional connection between them. I wanted to see the relationship blossom as it did in the book, but since it's a movie and you can't have a six hour film, I guess it had to be a little rushed. It just seemed to me very unanswered about how they each really felt; were they pretending or were they really in love? As the book worms, such as I, know that Katniss was faking it but Peeta was not, this concept was not entirely answered. This was really my biggest complaint, because it depicted our two "star-crossed lovers" in a way that was contrary to the book.

Also, the connection between Katniss and Peeta before the Games was also very vague and unclear. I felt as if it should have been a bigger deal than what it was in the film; about how Peeta's act of kindness and compassion kept Katniss from losing all hope and succumbing to death after her father's untimely death. Of course you have the small snipets of that particular moment, but it did not specify the significance or how this affected both of them. There just seemed to be alot of loose ends in the film that were not resolved.

Following that, I felt that character development was a weak spot in the film. Effie Trinket, the spoiled announcer of the reapings and pompous helper for Katniss and Peeta, did not exactly have a formal introduction. They never really explained who she was and what she was doing. Haymitch, their drunk and dreadful mentor, was also slightly overlooked and whose purpose in the film was not elucidated. Those are just a few examples, but some of the characters simply were not covered thoroughly.

What I did admire was the commentary from the Capitol hosts and the Gamemaker headquarters, giving a different angle as to how the actual Games are constructed. I thought that was very neat and showed just how corrupted the whole setup is. The scenes between Seneca Crane and President Snow were also a nice touch to give the audience insight as to how the two men in control operate the Games. I was a little skeptical about how the film would squeeze in other aspects, rather than just focus on the Games the whole time. But those added views were very beneficial, and did help clear up some of the confusion.

The acting, however, was quite phenomenal. Jennifer Lawrence as the independent and brave Katniss Everdeen was a perfect selection; she made you feel like you were right in the arena with you. You felt physical anguish when she was in pain, hatred for the Capitol for their sick and twisted choice of entertainment, sorrow when she was there in Rue's final moments of life. They could not have found a better "girl on fire."
Josh Hutcherson did not fall short as Peeta Mellark. He was very convincing as the troubled boy, determined not to be used by the Capitol, and determined to protect Katniss in any way. I can't wait to see him take on a much more challenging role in Catching Fire. I have to admit, I wanted some reference in the film to be made to "The Boy with the Bread," since that pratically was his official title in the book.
Though he did not possess much screen time, Liam Hemsworth as the loyal Gale Hawthorne defintely showed potential in the few moments he had. Gale was not a major character in the first book, but in the second film I hope we can see alot more of him.
The other minor roles : Stanley Tucci (Caesar Flickerman), Wes Bentley (Seneca Crane), Elizabeth Banks (Effie Trinket), Willow Shields (Prim), Lenny Kravitz (Cinna), Donald Sutherland (Presidenot Snow), Woody Harrelson (Haymitch) and the main tributes all performed great, as well.
Bottom line, all the acting was simply terrific.

Overall, I feel like there were several dents and cracks in the film that could have been touched up. However, the intensity of watching 24 young teenagers becoming enclosed in an arena and being forced to kill one another in a gory blood bath, kept the audience in rapt attention. You were on the edge of your seat, eyes glued to the screen, and certainitly was not lacking in intruige and action. If you're a fan of heart pounding scenarios such as this, The Hunger Games would appeal to you. If you have read the book and haven't seen the movie yet, I'll leave it up to you to decide whether or not you feel the film has done the book justice or not. The movie is defintely different from the book, but we have to keep in mind there's a time limit, and things here and there are going to be altered in some way. As a whole, the movie guarantees alot of action, intense battle scenes, and leaves all of us biting our nails in anticapation for Catching Fire.

GRADE: B

And may the odds be ever in your favor.

Ok, I had to say that at least once. That is the coolest slogan ever! Too bad it refers to either your death or your life.

The Workout Regimine

Ok, it's no secret that I am a complete health nut and exercise fanatic. As seen in the picture above, I love to run 5K's (haven't made it to the marathon....yet), eat all those veggies, fruits, and whole grains, and now currently am in the process of powerlifting. So, a few people have asked me why I dedicate most of my time to physical fitness. My honest response makes most people scratch their head. Truly the reason is that I geniuenly enjoy working out. It drives me nuts if I can't get up each day and not mix in some cardio, run, or go to powerlifitng practice. I look forward to getting faster, stronger and ultimately healthier through each workout. So when I have answered that first question, the next question that usually follows is what I do to stay in shape. Several people have requested me to jot down a few exercises that I do daily. So, now I have finally gotten around to doing that. I typed down a few resistance & cardio moves that I usually incooperate into my workouts so....here you go!
Burn those calories! Build muscle! And be a workout warrior.....that was cheesy, yes I know. I copied this from my Microsoft Word Document, so that is why at times the words are scattered, so I apologive.

Workout Plan

Each of these workouts are designed to build lean muscle through resistance training and a cardio to promote cardiovascular endurance. Obviously, these might be a little challenging in the beginning, so it is important to remember that you must pace yourself, take breaks, and do your best. You will also see many exercises appear in more than one workout.

OBJECTIVE: Complete this 5 workout cycle for 5 days a week, for 2 months.  Before beginning these workouts, go to the stretch page and before you do a particular workout, see which stretches apply to that workout. Use them as a warm-up.

Cardio: Cardiovascular exercises are vital to keep your heart and lungs healthy and thriving.

Arms: This workout will focus on developing the deltoids, triceps, biceps, shoulders, chest, and back.

Core/Abs: Get that coveted 6-pack and strong abdominal area with this workout! A strong core is important to maintain good posture and this also helps support the other workouts.

 Chest & Back: These few exercises will ignite your back and chest muscles, two of the most important muscle groups in the body.

Legs: This will concentrate on your thighs, quadriceps, hamstrings, and calves to result in awesome legs!

The reason I exercise is for the quality of life I enjoy. Kenneth H. Cooper

Cardio

Get ready to sweat, incinerate calories, and have your heart beat so fast that your whole body burns and begs for mercy! Remember, you are aiming for 2-3 cycles, so pace yourself, and take breaks. Don’t take too long of breaks because your body will get cold and your heart rate will go down. If the workout progresses and becomes harder, don’t stop; KEEP GOING. GET THE WORK DONE. You have the whole day to sit and relax. Good luck! (By adding weights to some of these, you get a better workout while burning more calories and toning at the same time.)

50 Jumping Jacks

20 Seal Jacks

20 Mary Katherine’s

15 Squats

Exercise should be regarded as tribute to the heart. Gene Tunney

10 Jump Squats

30 Steam Engines

10 Burpees

15 Squat Swings with Weights

15 Suitcase Exchanges per Leg

30 High Knees

15 Power cleans

1 Minute Squat Run

15 In and Outs

10 Shuffles

15 Jump Overs

10 Rockets

10 Plyometric Jump Tucks

20 Mountain Climbers

15 Lunges per leg

Run 5-10 minutes

REPEAT 2-3 TIMES

Arms      

Now you are adding ammunition to your guns! By strengthening your arms, you will develop lean, sculpted muscle that looks amazing and will make you stronger!

Materials: Hand Weights (5’s-20’s) and/or resistance bands, chair, and push-up bar is optional.

15 Bicep Curls

15 Upright Rows

15 Outside Bicep Curls

15 Shoulder Presses

15 Rows

15 Inside Bicep Curls per Arm

15 Front Shoulder Raises

15 Shoulder Flies

10 push-ups

25 Tricep Dips

“Unless You Puke, Faint or Die, Keep Going!” -Jillian Michaels

20 Second Plank Hold

15 Chair Push-ups

15 Tricep Kickbacks

20 Push-outs

15 Scarecrows

10 Second Straight Arm Hold Per Arm

15Lying down Alternating Tricep Extensions

15 Lying Down Bench Presses

15 Swimmer Presses

15 Gunslingers Per Arm

REPEAT 2-3 TIMES

Core/Abs

Want a 6 pack? Well, do this workout and in no time those unwanted “muffin tops” will disappear and lean abdominal muscles will take its place! Core is also a vital part of your body that is critical to work on. Your core helps support your entire body, create balance and stability, and build good posture.

Materials: A mat or soft surface to lie on, and weights are optional but encouraged. An asterisk is on the ones where weights can be added for maximum resistance (5LBS-15 LBS).

“It's all about lifestyle change.” -Bob Harper

25 Sit-Ups *

25 Crunches

25 Reverse Crunches

25 V-Up Roll-ups *

25 Mason Twists with weight *

25 Oblique V-Ups

25 Straight leg Crunches

25 Scissors

25 Bicycles

25 Ins and Outs *

15 Cherry Bombs

15 Pick-Ups per Side*

15 Cross Pulls per Side*

15 Standing Oblique’s*

15 Halos *

15 Woodchoppers per Side

Bonus Round: Makenzie’s Specialty: 15X or more

20 Venus Flytraps with weight*

15 Figure Eights

1 minute plank hold with front reaches

1 minute Banana Rolls

REPEAT 2-3 TIMES

Legs

The legs are the biggest muscle group in your body, so not only are you working on developing stronger legs, but it also is a cardio workout. So you are burning calories while targeting a major muscle group of your body. TIP: Since this is a huge muscle area, take mini-breaks, pace yourself, and do your best.

Materials: Weights (10s-20s), and a chair.

20 Squats

15 Lunges per Leg

20 Calf Raises

15 Squats to Calf Raise

15 Plyometric Jump Tucks

15 Skaters per Leg

1 Minute Wall Sits

15 chair Lunges per Leg

20 Second Squat Hold

                                                                                              10 Rockets                      

20 Suitcase Exchanges per Leg

“Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you.” -Proverbs 4:25

15 Second Squat Hold per Leg

5 Rockets

10 Second Squat Hold with Weight Raised Overhead

20 Butt Burners per Leg

20 Jump Squats

REPEAT 2-3 TIMES

Chest & Back

Your chest &  back are another big muscle group in your body, so it is important to devote some time to developing this vital section of your body. However, the chest & back are one of the most difficult areas in your body to target, so it is essential to have QUALITY over QUANTITY. Take your time with these exercises and really concentrate on activating your muscles.

Materials: A mat or soft surface and weights.

Lack of activity destroys the good condition of every human being, while movement and methodical physical exercise save it and preserve it. ~Plato

15 Straight Leg Deadlifts

15 Back Presses

15 Superman’s

15 Bow to Boats

15 Standard Push-ups

15 Cable Pull-Downs

“I can do all thin”

15 Dumbbell Rows

15 T-Bar Rows

15 Floor Flies

15 Seated Back Flies

15 Seated Cable Pulls

15 Deadlifts

REPEAT 3-5 TIMES

STRETCHING

You may think it pointless; you may refer to it as silly and impractical…but on your off days and virtually every day, YOU MUST STRETCH. Stretching prevents injury and helps you to become flexible and agile. Before you start a workout, you must stretch in order to warm up and prepare your body. It also gives your muscles a well-deserved break; STRETCHING IS A VITAL PART OF FITNESS. The more exercise and stress your body endures, it calls for an adequate amount of recovery.

Upper Body

10 Head Rolls per side

Bicep Stretch

Tricep/Shoulder Stretch

Topas Chest Stretch

Arm and Shoulder Circles

Core/Back

Leaning Side Stretc

Front Abdominal Stretch

Chest & Back Stretch

Cat Stretch

Sitting Spinal Stretch Per Side

Lower Body

One-Leg Hamstring Stretch per leg

Straight Leg Hamstring Stretch

Bending Hamstring Stretch

Lying down Hamstring Stretch per leg

Quad Stretch

Lying Down Kenpo Quad Stretch

Calf Stretch

Squatting Inner Thigh Stretch

Glute Stretch