So with the release of Mockingjay Part 1, I decided to do a post all about Peeta as he is the best thing in The Hunger Games series. He is such a sweet boy as he truly loves Katniss and does everything he can to help her. In fact, Katniss never changes in the books, but with each chapter we see a better and stronger and more amazing Peeta that I wish I could have in real life.
Let me just say that it would be no real struggle for me to be Peeta’s girlfriend.
Yep. I mean in The Hunger Games, you Katniss is extremely suspicious, so its not until Catching Fire that you really know learn how wonderful Peeta is.
And how much he would risk for her.
And that is why Mockingjay Part 1 & 2 will be so hard as he is hijacked and turned into this horrible person. But as they say, you never know what you got ’till its gone.
So stay strong everyone. It will be hard to watch but we will make it through.
But just be sure to fortify yourself.
And just think of the wonderful Peeta that will be back.
“My name is Salmon, like the fish. First name: Susie. I was 14 years old, when I was murdered, on December 6, 1973. I was here for a moment. And then I was gone.”
So when this film came out in 2009, I really wanted to see but couldn’t find anyone to come with. Nobody seemed interested, and those that were had already seen it. I decided that I would wait to watch it until after I had read the book it was based on.
So that happened much later than I thought it would. At first everyone wanted to read it so it was hard to get a copy, and then I got busy reading other things.
Anyways, so last month I went to a library book sale and discovered The Lovely Bones on sale for 50¢. Never being one to turn down a deal I bought it and immediately read it. It was different than I thought it would be as we learn the identity of the murder immediately. It was still a suspenseful book and interesting as we see how Susie Salmon’s disappearance affects her and the rest of her family. The other really interesting thing about this book is it really shows the changes that have come along since the ’70s regarding how police work and the forensics that we have. Not to mention criminal profiling.
So, back to the film. While the book is more of a suspense/horror/drama; but the film is mostly a drama with veins of suspense. The film was pretty good although they had to make a lot of changes. Mostly it had to do with cutting as the book is really long and spans about 10 years. The film only covers about a year-18 months. But the film was pretty good otherwise, and I recommend it.
So as mentioned earlier, Susie Salmon is a fourteen year old girl who gets murdered. At first she is presumed missing, and the police begin to investigate. The film details how her disappearance and lack of closure affect her family-father, mother, sister, brother, and grandma; along with friends and the community.
So this is what made the film great.
Ready?
1. The Artistry/Cinematography
The film is mostly in wide angle shots and they are set up beautifully. As the film is told in flashbacks or from the viewpoint of the spirit of Susie; it works really well. Not only are the regular shots extremely beautiful; but the scenes of heaven/limbo are extremely amazing and artistic. You really get the feeling that you are in a a place created by a child’s mind (as it is supposed to be what Susie wants).
2. Susie
Susie is played by Saoirse Ronan and does a really great job at being a fourteen year old kid. She really makes you believe it as she is shy when a boy likes her, sassy and trying to “rebel” against parents, showing she is moving toward becoming more adult, while at the same time still being very much a kid. You really feel for her as she wants to move on to heaven and a better life, but doesn’t want to leave her family or the boy she cared for.
3. Mark Wahlberg as Jack Salmon
Mark Wahlberg plays Jack Salmon the father who we adore and wouldn’t mind having. Jack is a caring father that has a really close bond to his children, often being the one they go to as their mother (Rachel Weisz) resents the life she lives. He has an incredibly close bond with Susie, not only because she is the oldest, but they have a lot in common. In fact, she is the only one who enjoys the model ship building he does. When he loses her, he falls apart trying to discover who the murderer is. He also works overtime trying to be there for his other kids. He never gives up, as he can’t just have his daughter disappear. Even when his wife leaves, he continues trying to care for his family and preserve his daughter’s memory. He faces the issue and problems straight on, while his wife runs away. When his wife comes back, he welcomes her back with open arms as he never stopped loving her. He is an amazing father, and you really feel for him and everything he goes through. What makes this performance even more amazing was that Wahlberg only joined the crew a day before filming actually started, knowing next to nothing about the story.
4. Stanley Tucci as Mr. Harvey
Stanley Tucci deserved his oscar nomination and should have won for his performance.I mean anyone who could go from this
to this:
definitely deserves an Oscar.
Every time we see him chills run up and down my spine, he is soooooooooo creepy.
So I couldn’t find a quote that was all about being okay and having moved on. All the ones I could find this weekl were sad so I pulled one from a previous song, Gone Forever, by Three Days Grace. Yep, this is another song in the “Getting Over a Heartbreak List”:
19) Red Rubber Ball by The Cyrkle
I really like this song, although the opening chords always make me think of the theme song from Friends. It was written in 1966 and made #2 in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. It was written by Paul Simon and Bruce Woodley. Simon offered it to The Cyrkle and the rest is history.
It has been covered by numerous bands, such as; Simon and Garfunkel, Neil Diamond, Eggchair, The Diodes, Streetlight Manifesto, Cilla Black, Del Shannon, and Mel Torme. But I think The Cyrkles are the best.
So the song is about a guy who’s heart was broken. As he looks back at everything, he is doing great. He is moving on with his life, focusing on himself, and doing so much better without that person in his life.It’s like a combination of But It’s Alright and Move Along.
I should have known you’d bid me farewell There’s a lesson to be learned from this and I learned it very well Now, I know you’re not the only starfish in the sea If I never hear your name again, it’s all the same to me
And I think it’s gonna be alright Yeah, the worst is over now The mornin’ sun is shinin’ like a red rubber ball
You never care for secrets I confide For you, I’m just an ornament, somethin’ for your pride Always runnin’, never carin’, that’s the life you live Stolen minutes of your time were all you had to give
And I think it’s gonna be alright Yeah, the worst is over now The mornin’ sun is shinin’ like a red rubber ball
The story’s in the past with nothin’ to recall I’ve got my life to live and I don’t need you at all The roller-coaster ride we took is nearly at an end I bought my ticket with my tears, that’s all I’m gonna spend And I think it’s gonna be alright Yeah, the worst is over now The mornin’ sun is shinin’ like a red rubber ball
Oh, I think it’s gonna be alright Yeah, the worst is over now The mornin’ sun is shinin’ like a red rubber ball
After all:
To start the “Getting Over a Heartbreak Series” from the beginning, go to If It Means a Lot to You
So here we are another step in the “Getting Over a Heartbreak” series. As you recall from Gone Forever, Put Me Out, and But It’s Alright; we still are in that angry at my ex phase. So here we are with:
16) Since U Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson.
Now I have always liked Kelly Clarkson, although I have never really thought of myself as being a major fan. I remember when Kelly Clarkson won American Idol (yep back when the show was good and the winners actually went on to do something). I even watched her silly film From Justin to Kelly, starring her and the runner up. However, I am a huge fan of this song! I absolutely loved it!
So the song was written by Max Martin and Lukasz “Dr. Luke” Gottwald who actually wrote it for Pink. She turned it down and it was then offered to Clarkson, in which she added more guitar and drums to counteract the light pop sound. It was number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The music video is great, as after her boyfriend cheated on her and dumped her she ripped his place apart. Now I’m not one for vandalism, but finding out someone cheated on you will make anyone go crazy and pull this or a Daisy from Mystic Pizza.
It’s just a great song that truly captures how one feels after being betrayed by someone they loved and how angry they feel.
But just like The End by Silverstein just be careful how you react, its fine to sing about it, but if you actually participate in that kind of destruction just be prepared for the consequences.
So on to the lyrics and video!!!
Here’s the thing we started out friends
It was cool but it was all pretend
Yeah yeah
Since U Been Gone
You dedicated you took the time
Wasn’t long till I called you mine
Yeah Yeah
Since U Been Gone
And all you’d ever hear me say
Is how I pictured me with you
That’s all you’d ever hear me say
But Since U Been Gone
I can breathe for the first time
I’m so moving on
Yeah, yeah
Thanks to you
Now I get
What I want
Since U Been Gone
How can I put it? You put me on
I even fell for that stupid love song
Yeah, yeah
Since U Been Gone
How come I’d never hear you say
I just wanna be with you
I guess you never felt that way
But Since U Been Gone
I can breathe for the first time
I’m so moving on
Yeah, yeah
Thanks to you
Now I get (I get) what I want
Since U Been Gone
You had your chance you blew it
Out of sight, out of mind
Shut your mouth I just can’t take it
Again and again and again and again
Since U Been Gone
I can breathe for the first time
I’m so moving on
Yeah, yeah
Thanks to you (thanks to you)
Now I get, I get what I want
I can breathe for the first time
I’m so moving on
Yeah, yeah
Thanks to you (thanks to you)
Now I get (I get)
You should know (you should know)
That I get, I get what I want
Since U Been Gone
Since U Been Gone
Since U Been Gone
So the music video is super amazing!!!
So this song became super popular that A Day to Remember did a cover and copied the music video scene by scene. It’s pretty cool.
I have to say that I really enjoy the Kelly Clarkson version, that’s why I included it, but I like the A Day to Remember a little bit better. I like how it has more of a rock than pop sound and I like the screamo as I think it really expresses the anger in the song. But however it is sung the song is still great.
And it teaches you an important thing:
Because never forget:
And:
But at the same time don’t get too caught up in anger and bitterness. After all:
To start the “Getting Over a Heartbreak Series” from the beginning, go to If It Means A Lot to You