A Good Year for Cinema

If you are at all interested in movies, film, cinema, or any other synonyms of the sort you may think of, you've come to the right blog post.  And you should be interested in them, because you are in the Humanities Scholars.  So there.  I've compiled a brief list of must-sees for myself, and decided to share it with you, because what good would my list be if it wasn't shared?  So, without further ado, I present to you, THE LIST:

Life of Pi - Released November 21, 2012
This tale of Piscine "Pi" Patel and his adventures on a lifeboat with a tiger has become a classic in its own right.  I recommend reading the book first, because it is resplendent in its detail, deep in its meaning, and simply an interesting read.  I have not seen the film yet, but I am told it is as wonderful as its novel.  It is a witty and profound meditation on life and spirituality, and I expect it to sweep me off my feet.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Released December 14, 2012
Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit who is not usually inclined to seek adventure, finds himself on an epic trek across Middle Earth with a band of dwarves to defeat a malevolent dragon.  I also recommend reading the book first, as I have just finished it myself, and it is as charming and wonderful as I imagined it would be.  Just as the Lord of the Rings films it is the prequel to, it will be released in three movies, and in the same grand proportions.  This tale proves that being a hero doesn't mean being big and tough, but small and wise.

Les Miserables - Released December 25, 2012
Even if you aren't a musical-lover, you should see this movie.  If you like, read Victor Hugo's novel first, although it is quite long.  It transcends its genre, and is one of the most well-loved musicals of all time.  Also, this movie isn't made like other musicals that have been translated onto the big screen; the actors sing live, and the full orchestra is added in later, so the emotion is real and in the moment, not canned and pre-recorded.  It is the story of many people spanning many years, beginning in 1815 and culminating in the 1832 June Rebellion in France. It is a story of love, hate, hope, destitution, freedom, and the fight to be better. 

Warm Bodies - Released February 1, 2013
As trusty old IMDb puts it, this flick is about "a zombie [who] becomes involved with the girlfriend of one of his victims, [and] their romance sets in motion a sequence of events that might transform the entire lifeless world."  While most likely not as profound as some of the other movies on this list, it is sure to be both funny, quirky, and thought-provoking.  Apparently, it is also based on a recently published novel that is widely loved.  Also, ZOMBIES.  Need I say more?

The Great Gatsby - Released May 10, 2013
The decadence and excess of the Jazz age is captured within Jay Gatsby, contrasted with detached, cynical neighbor Nick Carraway.  If you've read the book in high school and liked it, you will definitely appreciate this film.  If you read it and didn't like it, see the movie anyway - you may come to like it.  I mean, really, it's got Leonardo DiCaprio, people...

Star Trek Into Darkness - Released May 17, 2013
Since all my other movie suggestions have been based on novels, here's one for you that isn't.  Everyone knows about Star Trek, at least a little.  It promises to be an action-packed ride for everyone, even if you've never seen an episode of Star Trek (like me).  Also, it has Benedict Cumberbatch in it, if that isn't enough to make you go see it all on its own.

Click on the title of each film to see it's trailer, and if you don't get excited about even one of these, please consult a doctor or licensed psychiatrist immediately.  Also, if you have a suggestion of your own, leave a comment about it!  Get pumped people!  This year and next is going to be a great year at the movies!

Buckeye Book Community Speaker

On October 2, I attended the Buckeye Book Community Speaker lecture with David Lacks. Lacks is the brother of the famous Henrietta Lacks featured in the book The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. Having read the book during the summer it was extremely satisfying to see a character from the book in person, and it was great getting to hear speak as well. Mr. Lacks discussed the issues surrounding the book such as, race, ethics, and morals.

Gallery Hop

Last Saturday, I went with a big group of people to my first Gallery Hop! It was quite an adventure, to say the least. We caught the #2 bus down to the Short North, which was, well, hopping. Just walking down the street was difficult, due to the large volume of passerby. We wandered down the bustling street, past restaurants, galleries, and street musicians, trying to find a good place to eat. Our group eventually split, and we went our separate ways to find food. My group settled on the Happy Greek, and had to wait a half hour to be seated. That was fine with us, because we got to visit more galleries. The art and wares in all of them were all spectacular. There were beautiful works of art, sometimes worth thousands, and hand-crafted goods for sale. We had our fill, and headed back to the Happy Greek. The atmosphere in the restaurant was quaint and lively, and the decor was very Mediterranean. Not to mention the food was delicious - I tried calamari, which was surprisingly great! All in all, the night was a success; I had good friends, good food, and great art.

The Land of the Rising Sun and Thai Food

This past Wednesday, as my quiz for Japanese was hastily approaching, several of my classmates and I decided to hold a study session with the plans to cram - unfortunately, less studying and more procrastinating in the form of artwork on the chalkboard occurred. But you can't say we weren't cultural - afterwards, we were invited to a Thai dinner party one of the dorms on South campus was throwing. We arrived rather late, but there were still plenty of noodles and rice to go around (and my food expertise is rather limited, but I would have assumed they were serving Chinese, not Thai - especially based on the fortune cookie I cracked open at the end of the meal). I had a great opportunity to meet some new South campus friends and enjoy a great meal, and I'm thrilled to have expanded my horizons beyond North campus.

Mentor Week

 During mentor week my roommates and I went to Woody's with our mentors. It was nice to be able to sit down and enjoy a meal with them. While we were there we discussed our transition to The Ohio State University, and talked about what we were nervous for. They gave us helpful advice and made us feel even more welcome on campus.

Humanities Woods Trip

 One of the first sundays that we were here, all the humanities scholars were required to go to the outdoors outing for bonding experience. While we were there I got to meet more amazing people that were involved humanities, besides just my roommates.  This outing really made me feel as if I were a part of the humanities experience, it was a fun day.

We'll Just Call This Wed. the 28th

Wednesday, November 28, was a very eventful day for my friends and I. First of all, we sat in line for nearly 3 hours to get free Maroon Five tickets, which we did, then we had to rush off to the Humanities Film Festival. The festival was awesome, especially Ben and Jenna's opening video, it was hilarious, and we all have to admit that Ben has got some moves. All of the videos were cool, and clearly showed the effort of the students. At the end of the evening, awards were given away. Groups won for best humanities content, most original, laugh out loud, and best in show.  Not to brag or anything, but my group won best in show, and I could not have been happier/prouder. After the film festival, some of us rushed to the Union for the Winter Wonderland event where they had hot cocoa and other beverages, pastries, entertainment, pictures with an inflatable Frosty the Snowman, build your own stuffed animal, cookie decorating, and many other events for free. However, the thing that my group was most excited about was the horse drawn carriage rides, which took us up and down 12th. Overall, it was a very eventful day, packed with friends and fun. I couldn't have asked for a better Wednesday.