2013 Favorite Films, Scenes and Performances

http://letterboxd.com/khoa/year/2013/

Favorite Films

1. Before Midnight
2. 12 Years a Slave
3. Blue is the Warmest Color
4. The World’s End
5. The Wolf of Wall Street
6. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
7. This is the End
8. Frozen
9. Frances Ha    
10. Dans la Maison aka In the House

Favorite Scenes

1. Spring Breakers:  James Franco’s character Alien sings a rendition Britney Spears’ “Everytime” on piano, complete with the girls dancing around him in pink ski masks.  Beautiful, if only the rest of the movie was this good, or good in general.
2. 12 Years a Slave:  The auction scene. 
3. Before Midnight:  The walk to the hotel.
4. This is the End:  Michael Cera’s party scenes.
5. The Wolf of Wall Street:  The quaaludes scene with Leonardo DiCaprio and Jonah Hill.
6. Frozen:  Do you want to build a snowman?!
7. The Great Gatsby:  Gatsby’s introduction scene.
8. You’re Next:  Deadly string.
9. Crystal Fairy:  Gaby Hoffman’s campfire story.
10. The Hunger Games:  Catching Fire:  Cinna’s fate right before Katniss is raised to the platform.

Favorite Performances (Male, Supporting Male, Female, Supporting Female)

• Male:  Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave
• Male:  Leonardo DiCaprio in The Wolf of Wall Street
• Supporting Male:  James Franco in Spring Breakers
• Supporting Male:  Michael Fassbender in 12 Years a Slave
• Female:  Adele Exarchopoulus in Blue is the Warmest Color
• Female:  Greta Gerwig in Frances Ha
• Supporting Female:  Lupita Nyong’o in 12 Years a Slave
• Supporting Female:  Jena Malone in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
• Non-human:  Cat in Inside Llewyn Davis.  Meow.

It Was a Good Year For…

Strong female characters. 

• Katniss and Johanna kicking butt in Catching Fire. 
• Anna and Elsa driving the action in Frozen.
• Adele and Emma’s relationship in Blue is the Warmest Color.

Partying with Leonardo DiCaprio.

• The Wolf of Wall Street
• The Great Gatsby

Breaking Bad Season 5 Episode 16: "Felina"

And we're here.  The final episode in what's probably the best final season of any tv show.  "Felina" had a lot of expectations to live up to, as Breaking Bad is one of those tv shows where the fate of the characters frames everything that happened before it.  Was it a good finale?  Did it do the series justice?

I would say yes.  While not the best episode this season (that goes to Ozymandias), the conclusion was as satisfying as one could hope for.  The final episode gave us everything we wanted to see.  Walt gets revenge on the Nazis? Check.  Jesse gets revenge on Todd? Check.  Walt finds something to do with his money while bossing around Gray Matter? Check.  Most importantly, Walt finally admitted to Skyler and Jesse what they've been waiting to hear all series long.  

For Skyler, her final confrontation with Walt was the moment where he stopped using his family as an excuse for his actions.  Walt finally admits what had suspected all long.  "I did it for me, I liked it. I was good at it. I was alive."  His relationship with her cannot be salvaged, as is the case with his relationship with his son.  The only thing he can offer her now is whereabouts of Hank and Gomies' bodies.  

For Jesse, his final confrontation with Walt was closure for the manipulative relationship they've carried.  When Walt asks Jesse to kill him, Jesse wants to hear Walt say that he's basically asking for a favor.  Throughout the whole series, Walt has always manipulated Jesse into doing something under the pretense that it was the best course of action for him.  Walt finally admits it, asking Jesse to kill him.  Jesse rejects his request, with his last words to him being "Do it yourself". 

The only reason I did not give this episode a perfect score was that everything almost felt too predictable.  Everything happens with an efficiency that kept reminding me that this was the last episode, and that all things have to be resolved.  The mood of the episode was quiet, which is probably appropriate.  Walt was a dying man with a suicide mission.  Ultimately, the episode was a successful, if maybe too efficient, goodbye for the characters and plot lines of an amazing series.  What will I watch now?

Observations:

- The title "Felina" has three different meanings:

  1.  [Fe] [Li] [Na] corresponds to Iron, Lithium and Sodium.  Blood, Meth and Tears.

  2.  "Felina" is also an anagram for "Finale".

  3.  In the song "El Paso" by Marty Robbins, a cowboy falls in love with a Mexican dancer named  "Felina".  He ends up killing one of her pursuers and flees town.  When he comes back to get her, he is killed by the rival's posse and dies in her arms.  

- Got horror movie vibes in the beginning with Walt at Elliot and Gretchen's.

- Walt admiring the house that should've been his.

- $9,727,000 that Walt left to be filtered to his family.  

- Elliot gesturing Gretchen to shake on it; awkward.

- Skinny Pete and Badger! Two best hitmen west of the Mississippi.

- "Whole thing felt kind of shady, like, morality wise."- Skinny Pete.

- Flirting 101 with Todd: "Hey I like your...shirt."

- Lydia's Stevia! I knew it.

- Walt's scenes with Holly and Flynn were pretty heartbreaking.

- Todd got the worst death, deservedly.

- Uncle Jack got the coolest looking death.

- Todd's ringtone for Lydia muhahaha.

- Jesse driving away while screaming was a callback to his go kart racing scene.  I'm glad he's alive and free.

A Quick Note:

This season has been a wild ride.  Thanks to everyone who read my reviews, it was something I looked forward to every Sunday night.  Talking to all you guys about Breaking Bad made an awesome show even more enjoyable. 

Breaking Bad Season 5 Episode 15: "Granite State"

Breaking Bad just keeps on getting darker.  After last week's Ozymandias,  Granite State is a reprieve from all the action and excitement, but the tragedy deepens.

This episode is a portrait of the two main characters at their saddest.  And Todd, at his craziest and creepiest.  Walt's delusion of being able to help his family was finally torn down this episode.  After that tragic phone call with Walt Jr., Walt realized that his family no longer wanted his help.  His son hates him and blames him for all of the destruction he's caused.  He's think he has lost everything when he calls and gives himself up to the DEA.  When he catches Elliot and Gretchen on tv, he risks losing his pride and name, the only thing that he has left.  He leaves, we can assume that this is where the two flash forwards earlier this year continued from.

Things just keep getting worse for Jesse.  The episode teases us with the possibility that Jesse might escape, only to take it away and then hurt him even more.  Seeing Andrea get shot was tough.  Seeing Jesse's reaction was even tougher.  He is living a personal hell.  By the end of the episode, it can be insinuated that Jesse has been Todd's prisoner for months.  I hope he sees some kind of hope and/or chance at happiness next episode, but its hard to see any kind of positive outcome for him after all of this is over.  If he happens to escape, he will be forever damaged.

One more episode.

Observations:

- Saul and Walt as bunk mates could be the premise for a sitcom style tv show.

- Walt and Jesse both start off the episode living underground.

- Jesse goes into MacGuyver mode.

- Saul thinks Cinnabon is profitable. I'm glad he's free of Walt.

- Skyler could be on the next season of Orange is the New Black.

- Meth Damon aka Todd is extra creepy under a mask.  And when trying to flirt with Lydia.

- "We're going to have to take a break".

- 92% is like music to Lydia's ears.

- 2 copies of Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium!

- The snow landscape feels weird on Breaking Bad, opposed to the desert.

- Did that Ben and Jerry's scene remind anyone of Silence of the Lambs?

- Who's going to look after Brock?

- Music at the end was kickass.

- I'm not ready for this show to end.  

Breaking Bad Season 5 Episode 14: "Ozymandias"

"My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:

Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!"

Nothing beside remains. Round the decay

Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare

The lone and level sands stretch far away.

- Shelley

The title of this episode, "Ozymandias", refers to a famous poem about a fallen king and his collapsed empire.  Once great and mighty, the king's empire is now a "collossal wreck, boundless and bare".  This episode was Walt's reckoning.  He loses everything in horrific detail.  Beaten down and powerless, we also see him at his nastiest.  

For all of the main characters, this episode was a nightmare come true.  The first tragedy is Hank, who coldly gets executed even after Walt tries to bargain for his life with money.  What Walt doesn't realize is how powerless he is.  The second tragedy is Jesse, who Walt coldly points out to Uncle Jack is still alive and hiding.  Debatedly worse than death, Jesse is given up for torture and told by Walt the secret that he watched his girlfriend die.  Jesse's fate at the end of this episode may have been the worst of all.  The third tragedy is his family, who refuses his plan to run away and rejects him.  He gets into a vicious knife fight with Skyler and Walt Jr., and then runs off with Holly.  The fourth tragedy is Marie, who at the end of the show learns that Hank has died.  

In the opening of the episode, we flashbacked to a different Walt.  On the phone with Skyler, we could assume that this was the first of many lies to her in the series.  It was pretty harrowing to see how much things have changed since episode 1.  The end of the episode would also involve a phone call with Skyler.  He calls her, and in his nastiest voice, blames her for everything and tells her that Hank is dead because Hank crossed him.  My theory on the ending phone call is that he knew that the cops would be listening in and said everything he could to make it believeable that Skyler was his victim and not his accomplice.  Walt was doing his best to protect Skyler and his family after realizing how much damage he had done.  I was unsure of this at first, but after he returned Holly it became pretty clear.  

This is the darkest episode of Breaking Bad and probably of any tv show I've ever seen.  Horrific, bleak, depressing and at the same time, amazing.  The best episode of the series, but I'm not sure if I want to watch it again.  So much pain.  

Observations:

- Symbolism:  Walt's money pit was replaced with the dead bodies of Hank and Gomie.

- "Sorry for your loss"- Meth Damon aka Todd.  

- The most surprising act of mercy this episode came from Uncle Jack, who left Walt with a barrel of money.

- Walt telling Jesse about Jane's death was nasty and evil.  "I could've stopped it but I didnt".  To Jesse, it was basically a confirmation that Walt never cared about him.

- Walt Jr. finally learned the truth and sided against his dad.  He's strong moraled like his uncle.  He also acted bravely in the knife fight by putting himself in front of Skyler to stop the fight.  

- That knife fight was scary, I thought somehow Walt Jr. or Holly would end up getting cut or killed.

- See Marie, that's how you steal a baby.

- It was pretty tough to see Holly wanting her mom, even for Walt.  This might've been the turning point.

- The disappearer guy was used! 

- Predictions about what happens next anyone?  Does Walt have a change of heart and try to save Jesse with the machine gun in the flash forward?

- RIP Hank.  He knew he was going to die.  "Youre the smartest guy I know".  Heartbreaking.

Breaking Bad Season 5 Episode 13: "To'hajiilee"

The best episode of the season so far.  If I didn't know that there was still three episodes left, at one point I would've thought that this was the series finale.

For Hank and Jesse, this was their almost victory episode.  If Breaking Bad were to end with Walt getting caught, this is probably what it would've looked like.  Hank, after his long search, was finally vindicated.  We got to see Hank completely trap Walt and arrest him.  For a moment, he was triumphant.  He even went through the motions of victory.  He put Walt in handcuffs, got congratulated by his partner, and then called Marie to tell her he got him.  If it only wasn't for Todd and his uncles...

For Jesse, this episode was also a moment of victory against Walt.  At the beginning of the episode, Jesse and Walt were matching wits and trying to kill each other.  For the first time, Jesse finally outsmarted Walt.  While Walt's biggest play was going to Andrea to try to lure him out, he failed.  Why?  He didn't have the knowledge that Jesse was working with Hank.  Just like Walt knew Jesse's weak spot was Andrea/Brock, Jesse knew Walt's weak spot was his money.  They both executed their plans and Jesse came out on top.

If anything, the victories of Hank and Jesse this episode makes me worried for them.  There's three episodes left and their stories seems to have been completed.  Does this mean that they're now expendable?  Sadly, my prediction is yes.

Observations:

- "That dude who looked like Wolverine couldn't crack 70%".

- Lydia is a big fan of blue (she's wearing a blue blazer).

- The coffee was a metaphor for the meth, Todd cant get it just right.

- Kid's lunch consist of PB and J, string cheese and yogurt squeezer (Go-Gurt?).

- Walt thinks Fruit Loops is "good stuff".

- Saul told Walt Jr. that getting punched in the face is an occupational hazard for a lawyer.

- When Hank told Marie he loved her, I knew something was going down.

- Hank took that picture "by the barbecue grill. You know, where we used to cook out with the family."

- I thought Hank and Gomie were going to die right away.

Breaking Bad Season 5 Episode 12: "Rabid Dog"

Not as impressive as the last three episodes, but still a good one.  Definitely an episode that moves the chess pieces into place and sets up the motivations of the characters.  My only issue is that I'm not sure where I like things are going, but that's more of a preference issue than a critique of the show.

It seemed like every character this episode was unlikable.  I found myself being annoyed or irritated at all the main players. Skyler seems to have gone completely evil and tries to convince Walt to kill Jesse.  Hank tries to use Jesse to get to Walt, calling him a "junkie murderer" and setting him up for potential death.  Jesse cooperates with the DEA and without hesitation confesses everything on tape.  For the first time in a long time, Walt was the most sympathetic character on the show again.  Even though both Saul and Skyler suggested Jesse be killed, he refuses the easy solution and genuinely tries to reach out to him and talk to him.  If only it wasnt that threatening looking guy wasn't waiting there awkwardly for his daughter.  

Now it looks like it will be Jesse and Hank versus Walt and Todd. Although it makes sense, it feels kind of wrong to me to see Jesse working with Hank.  It's like seeing Robin working with the Joker.  This will be interesting...

Observations:

- Walt's gas malfunction story was pretty bad.  Even Walt Jr. could smell the lies.

- "We've come this far.  What's one more?"- Evil Skyler.

- Saul's metaphor this episode was "Old Yeller".  Means the same thing as "Belize".

- Funniest part of the episode was when Walt thought Badger's name was "Beaver".  

- Speaking of Badger, "For all three hours all he talked about was something called Babylon 5".  

- Jesse takes his coffee black.

- I wonder what Jesse's plan is.

Breaking Bad Season 5 Episode 11: "Confessions"

The tension that these last three episodes have carried is an amazing feat.  Every moment is nerve wrecking, as the show finds a way to make every scene feel as if everything is on the line.  This recent episode somehow found a way to build on the tension and then gives us an ending that makes us disbelieve what we are seeing.

This episode was all about Walt, the master manipulator.  The first thing he does this episode is use his cancer as a mechanic to get Walt Jr. to stay in his house.  Next, he sends Hank and Marie a confession video that accuses Hank of being the mastermind behind his criminal life.  Finally, he meets up with Jesse and tries to convince him that starting a new identity will be the best thing for him.  The difference in the Jesse situation is that Jesse knows how manipulative Walt can be.  He calls him out on it.  Walt turns it up a dial and hugs him, the ultimate bluff.  When Jesse puts everything together about what happened to Brock, every moment where Walt could have been genuine with him turns sour.

This is definitely the end of Breaking Bad.  Jesse will never trust Walt again and there's nothing that can be done at this point to fix their relationship.  At the beginning of this series, I thought that Walt and Jesse were somehow going to benefit from each other and help each other through their struggles. This has not been the case.  Walt has manipulated Jesse to the point of mental breakdown.  All of the lies Walt has fed him has led to the last scene of this episode.  I hope Jesse lives, but its hard to see how now...

Observations:
- The intro never came into play during this episode. Todd's uncle is gonna play a big role soon, he seems like a nasty dude.
- It's funny and also somewhat creepy to see how polite and earnest Todd can be.
- Seriously, who picked that restaurant?  "How about that guacamole? We make it right here at the table!"
- Walt's money sponsoring Hank's rehabilitation came back into play to bite Hank in the ass.
- Will that guy who makes people disappear ever be used?  I'm guessing no.
- Jesse is fond of Alaska.
- "But seriously, Hello Kitty?"
- Speaking of Jesse, a part of me wanted to see him go and find a better life somewhere.
- Is Walt Jr. in the house at the end?

Breaking Bad Season 5 Episode 10: "Buried"

All gloves are off in the most quietly tense episode yet.  

We start off right where we left off, with Walt leaving Hank's garage.  The last shot between the two of them is a telling one.  It's framed exactly like the buildup to a western shootout, except for reaching for the gun, Hank is reaching for his garage door remote.  This is the start of Walt and Hank's game, their intellectual chess match.  Hank doesn't have enough evidence to convict Walt and Walt knows this.  Naturally, they both make their first move and try to call Skyler.  

Hank wins and reaches Skyler first.  Skyler shows up at the diner afraid and confused.  The shot of Hank sitting at a coffee table is a scary one as Skyler is unsure of what he knows and what he wants.   Hank is too naive and believes that she will automatically give her husband up right without hesitation, scaring her away with his eagerness to obtain her testimony.  After Marie is sent in and ends up smacking Skyler as well as trying to take away her baby, Skyler is clear on what side she's on.  So is Marie, she wants to get Walt.

This was a successful episode in the way it sets up the allegiances of the characters and well as making us question who we're rooting for.  A season ago, when Skyler walked suicidally into her pool, she definitely would have sided with Hank.  Now that Walt has quit the meth game, she wants to support him and suggests "Maybe our best move is to stay quiet".  As viewers, the first half of the episode has us rooting for Walt and Skyler not to incriminate themselves and get away with hiding their money. Then it has us question this, as it is hard not to feel sorry for Hank when he talks about how his career will be over when he turns in Walt.  

The most exciting and smart thing about the episode is how it sets up Jesse.  Right now, he seems like an emotional blank canvas.  What will he say?  How will he factor into Walt and Hank's game?  I cant wait until next week.

Observations:

- So much garage door action! Hank opens it to let Walt out, closes it while he's stares at him, then awkwardly opens it again while he's on the phone muhaha.

- Is Marie meant to be this irritating?  I think so.  I mean they had a scene where she literally tried to steal Skyler's baby away from her.

- Saul's henchman lying on the money was a nice moment of comedy.  It's this week's "Star Trek Pie Eating Contest".  #scroogemcducking

- Walt threatened to send Saul "to Belize".  You could see him shudder at the thought of it.

- I would not trust my memory to remember those GPS coordinates.

- Lydia and Todd! I had a feeling that would happen once that other gang told her they accepted mediocrity.

- Lydia participates in a mass killing and then has to close her eyes because she doesn't wanna see the bodies.  She's so quirky...

Breaking Bad Season 5 Episode 9: "Blood Money"

Finally, the beginning of the end of Breaking Bad is here.  The first episode of "The Final 8" makes its mark by telling us it's going to be a wild ride all the way the series finale.  Things happened in this episode that I did not think would happen until at least a couple of episodes in.  One of the qualities I always appreciated about the show is that it doesn't waste any time getting to certain plot developments.  Events transgress naturally and without the need to slow down.

The whole series has been leading up to Hank figuring out about Walt.  The end of "last season" ended with Hank stunned by his revelation that Walt might be Heisenberg.  From there, it only took one episode for Hank to confirm it and for Walt to figure out he knows.  In many other tv shows, a plot development like this would have dragged on for at least a couple of episodes (*cough Lost cough*).  But this is Breaking Bad and we only have 7 episodes to go.  The garage door closes and Hank punches Walt, something we've been waiting to see since we first started watching the show.

Before those tense last 10 minutes, the premiere episode succeeded in painting a bleak picture of life after "getting out" for Walt and Jesse.  Walt wants nothing to do with the business and now concerns himself with selling air fresheners.  Also, his cancer is back.  Jesse is morally suffering and has no idea what to do with himself, or his money.  Walter tries to talk to him and coldly lies to him about Mike.

What happens after this episode, I am unsure of.  Walt and Hank have entered an endgame with each other where both characters have everything to lose.  I don't know where this is headed, but am pretty damn excited to see what happens next.

Observations:
- Another flash forward scene.  This time, it becomes apparent that Walt's identity will somehow be revealed to the world (evidenced by the Heisenberg graffiti).  I'm not sure If I like how much information the show is giving us with these glimpses, almost seems like too much.
- Walt saying hello to his neighbor in the opening and again in the present story was a nice touch though.
- Walt's professional demeanor with Lydia at the car wash reminded me of the way Gus used to act at his restaurant.
- Speaking of Lydia, I found it funny she took her rental for a car wash.
- We get an awesome conversation about a Star Trek pie eating contest between Skinny Pete and Badger.  I could watch a show about these guys getting high and talking.
- It was hard for me to watch Jesse give away all that "blood money".  He's in self-destruct mode again.
- I doubt this will be the last we see of Lydia.
- Saul kept all those people waiting because he was getting a massage.
- "If you don't know who I am, maybe your best option is to tread lightly"- Walt threatening Hank.

My Baking Bread Hype Post

Breaking Bad returns this Sunday, airing the final 8 episodes of the series.  In terms of film/tv, this is my most anticipated event of the year.  How the series will end has been on my mind since the first half of Season 5 ended almost a year ago (Season 5, episode 8 aired 9/12/2012).  It's been a long wait, but knowing that these will be the last 8 episodes of the series ever makes it somewhat bittersweet.

Let's take a look back at my favorite episodes of each of the last 5 Seasons.

Season 1, Episode 6: "Crazy Handful of Nothing"

The episode where Walt shaves his head, confronts Tuco and throws the crystalline nugget to the floor, resulting in Tuco's admiration and business cooperation.  Walt would make a lot more crazy moves throughout the series, but this one stands out as the moment where Walt first solves one of his problems by doing something so bold and so dangerous, it just might work.

Season 2, Episode 12: "Phoenix"

When Jane dies.  A tragic episode, that shows Jesse and Jane having the opportunity for a better life, and then deciding to use their newly acquired money to get high.  Addiction was never more fatal in the series.  Many people see this as the turning point for Walt, as he accidentally flips Jane, then watches her die instead of saving her.

Season 3, Episode 7: "One Minute"

Hank's finest moment and maybe the show's best action sequence.  The showdown between the twins and Hank is the most tense I've felt watching the show, as I thought that the showrunners were actually willing to kill Hank off.

Season 4, Episode 13: "Face Off"

Season 4 was my favorite season of Breaking Bad and had some of the best episodes of the series.  I could've easily chosen "Crawl Space" or "Hermanos", but I chose the season finale mostly because it was the end of Gus, one of the best and compelling villains in any television show/movie/book.

Season 5.1, Episode 5: "Say My Name"

An episode that stays in my memory for how sad and maddening it was.  Mike gets found out by the DEA, has to abandon his granddaughter and then while escaping, gets shot by Walt for no other reason than the fact that he insulted him.  Walt's lowest low.

The last 5 seasons have been a crazy ride, its time to savor and enjoy the last stretch of it.

Season 5.2 Trailer:  http://youtu.be/T3dpghfRBHE

Random thoughts about Season 5.2:
- I hope Jesse doesn't die. Between Walt, Jesse and Hank, I'm pretty confident in my prediction that only one of them survives.
- I wonder how Hank will confront Walt.
- Hoping for more breakfast scenes with Walt Jr., those were always funny to me.
- Will Walt's cancer make a return?
- I've been waiting forever for a flashback scene of Walt and Jesse when they were in school.
- Although I don't see how they can fit into the plot, hopefully more Skinny Pete and Badger, Jesse's friends always entertained me.
- More "yo"'s and "bitch"s from Jesse please.

Man of Steel

Man of Steel delivers everything a Superman movie should.  If anything, it tries to do too much, but more on that later.  The movie works like an apology for Superman Returns, where the main complaint was that nothing really interesting challenged Superman and he didnt even throw a punch.  In Man of Steel, both of those problems are fixed in impressive ways.  General Zod and his team are a menacing threat to a "still finding his way" Superman.  The fight scenes, especially the first big one, are probably the best Superman fight scenes to hit the screen.  You feel the speed and impact of each punch in flashy and stylized camera movements.  Director Zack Snyder (300, Watchmen) gets the action and the spectacle right.

The structure of the film feels a lot like Batman Begins, you could almost feel producer Christopher Nolan's guiding hand on the project.  Like Batman, Superman is shown first as a traveleving wanderer, lost in the world and trying to find his way.  During his journey, the movie jumps back and forth between present time and key events in his childhood.  The tone is also similiar to Batman Begins.  Superman is morally confused and super serious.  I kind of missed the playfulness and joyful wonder of the old Superman movies, but I can see why they went with what they did.  We get a serious science fiction movie out of Man of Steel, about the potential identity crisis someone would have if they landed on Earth and didn't know why.

If I had a criticism about the movie, it would be that it tried to do too much.  There are developments in the film that happen pretty quickly and abruptly, leaving us to question some of the logic of the characters or the situation.  For instance, Lois Lane becomes an important character in about two or three scenes.   The film is overambitious, covering a lot of territory and feeling rushed in certain scenes, then feeling slower in others.  I appreciated that they tried to fit everything in they could, a fault that I can't really blame the movie for too much.  

Overall, a big, bold and technically impressive Superman film.  

Game of Thrones Season 3 Episode 10: "Mhysa"

So how does Game of Thrones follow up last week's episode? Apparently with a busy and somewhat entertaining wrap up episode.  As for season finales go, this is probably the most underwhelming of the three.  Can't fault the show runners though, this season of Game of Thrones only covers the first half of the third book in the series and ends somewhere in the middle of "A Storm of Swords".  This episode also had the burden of going on after last week's "Red Wedding", which was probably the most shocking moment of the show to date.  Naturally, this episode felt a little slower and uneventful, as it dealt mostly with the aftermath of last week's gamechanging deaths.

One of the responsilibilites of a Game of Thrones season finale is that we check in with all of the characters before the 9 month haitus.  Although the episode worked like efficient clockwork in the way we caught up with everyone, there was some pretty amazing scenes with particular characters.  Starting off, I was happy with the initial council meeting, which was basically Tyrion and Tywin putting Joffrey in his place and sending him to his room like a little boy.  Then we see how differently the two Stark sisters deal with the news of the loss of their brother and mother.  Sansa sits near a window and cries in her room.  Arya (in my favorite sequence of the night) plays pretend lost little girl and then proceeds to kill a Lannister bannerman by repeatedly stabbing him in the neck.  

It was also nice to see some of the characters meeting and reuniting with each other after spending the whole season apart.   Even though I do not like Cersei at all, I still felt happy for her and Jaime when he showed up like a dirty creeper out of nowhere in her bedroom.  I don't think we've seen them together since season 1 and almost forgot they where a couple/siblings.  Jon Snow writhing in pain and smiling to see Sam was also another nice moment.  In the offseason, I'd like to imagine that the characters are spending a lot of time with each other exchanging stories of their adventures.

Overall, a good episode that has the burden of wrapping  up this half season.  It does its job as a season finale by resolving certain storylines as well as setting up new ones.

Observations:

- That half Robb/half wolf thing was stuff nightmares are made of.  Poor Arya, you could even tell the Hound thought that was too much.

- Speaking of the Hound, it was pretty funny to see him start eating food in the background after Arya killed that Lannister soldier.

- Arya uses her coin to summon Jaqen :D

- I like Theon's sister. Her quest to rescue her little brother looks like it'll be pretty exciting.  

- Hopefully Theon wont have to spend another season just repeatedly getting tortured. Seriously, thats all his storyline was this season.

- A lot of Davos this episode, but he had some good scenes.  "Do you know how to swim?" "No." "Don't fall out." Haha.

- I was happy to see Brienne again and with Jamie at King's Landing.  I wonder if she knows about Catelyn yet and whats to become of her.  

- Daenerys popped up out of nowhere at the end to look cool and epic for the last scene.

So that does it for Season 3 folks!  It's been a wild ride.  Thanks to everyone who's been keeping up, it warms my heart to know people are reading these :D  

Game of Thrones Season 3 Episode 9: "The Rains of Castamere"

The best episode of the season and maybe the show's best episode yet.  As I'm writing this, I'm getting emotionally exhausted thinking about what happened.  I haven't fully processed my thoughts yet.  I feel like I was gut punched in a way only Game of Thrones could do.  I had a feeling something bad was about to happen, but not at this level.  

They're all dead.  Two of the major players of the series, Catelyn and Robb, dead.  Talisa and her unborn child, dead.   Talisa repeatedly getting stabbed in the stomach was horrific in a way most horror movies never even come close too.  For me, that was the most brutal killing I've seen in a tv show or movie in a long time.   Catelyn slitting the the throat of Frey's wife and then screaming as she spews blood from her own throat getting cut, is something that'll be etched into my memory for probably as long as tv show goes on.

And everything seemed to be going so well.  Poor Arya was about to reunite with her family only to have them die when she was literally at their doorstep.  That sense of fear she talked about with to the Hound was confirmed.  Good foreshadowing by the showrunners.  There were even moments of joy and comedy at the wedding ceremony.  Turns out the Frey girl to be married is actually pretty, you could see Edmure's face lighten up.  Things were going too right...  

So some other stuff happened this episode right?  Pretty significant things actually, but are ultimately overshadowed by that ending.  Jon Snow kills some of the wildlings and rides off on a horse, leaving Ygritte behind looking like she had a broken heart.  Bran and his group get surrounded by wildlings, then goes full Jedi and helps Jon win his battle.  Jorah, Daario and Grey Worm sack and win a city for Daenerys.

Overall, a masterful episode of TV I will never forget.  I'm still in shock.

Observations:

-“A man can’t make love to property”, you could almost see Daenerys swoon.

“Someday, I’m going to put a sword through your eye and out the back of your skull”, badass Arya line of the day.

- Speaking of Arya, I'm kind of glad the Hound knocked her out.  She's going to be in a dark place now.

- Hodor is afraid of lightning, it appears. Hodor, Hodor, Hodor.

- Grey Worm fights with efficiency and badassery.

- The Lannisters have won.  

- I usually watch episodes twice before I write my review.  I couldn't bring myself to watch this again so soon...

The Great Gatsby

A mixed bag.  First, the good.  This is probably the best looking movie I've seen in a while.  If you've seen any of Baz Luhrman's other movies (Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge), you'll have an idea of what to expect.  Everything looks good, amazingly good.  The party scenes are overloaded with glitz and glamour, the outdoor scenes resemble something from a fairy tale.  Lurhman also knows how to make his actors look good.  Its no surprise that the last time Leonardo DiCaprio and Baz Luhrman together (Romeo + Juliet in 1996), it launched DiCaprio's career and made him an international heart throb.  The music accompanies the hyper stylized direction of the film with lush scores and energetic samples of its diverse soundtrack throughout the whole movie.  If I could only rate this movie on how it looks and how it sounds, I'd probably give it a 10/10.

But then there's the plot and the character relationships.  I'm not going to criticize F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel, because that novel is a masterpiece.  Unfortunately, the plot doesn't translate as well on screen.  The first half was okay, the second half seemed to drag for me.  The movie's resolution isn't as good as it's setup.  The motivations of the characters seem hinted at but not thoroughly explored.

Overall, probably worth seeing just for the visuals and the music.

7.5/10

Game of Thrones Season 3 Episode 8: "Second Sons"

A good episode, which seemed light on drama but heavy on entertainment.  I'm a little worried because there's only two episodes left this season and things dont seem to be moving fast enough for anything substantial to happen the remainder of Season 3, but I'm probably wrong.  With that said, I enjoyed this episode because the main focus was on three main characters that I like spending time with: Tyrion, Stannis and Daenerys.

At King's Landing, we get out first wedding of many planned weddings with Tyrion and Sansa. Everyone involved in the affair seemed miserable and looked like they were contemplating their doomed arrangements.  The only one seeming to have a good time is Joffrey, until Tyrion awesomely tells him off and blames it on the alcohol.  In the end, Tyrion demonstrates he's a decent husband to Sansa by telling her she never has to "consume their marriage" unless she wants to.

Meanwhile, we get some nice scenes of Stannis and Davos having a heart to heart about Melisandre.  Stannis explains to him that he's seen things Melisandre has done that he can not deny, of which Davos has no answer for.  Gendry gets brought into the mix and Melisandre cruelly tricks him into thinking that he's going to have sex with her, only to have him take off his clothes so she could unleash some leeches on him. Daenerys meets with the "Second Sons" and things go very well for her, she somehow gets one of their leaders to turn on the others and pledge his allegiance to her.

Overall, the episode went by super quick and left me wanting more, which is usually a good sign.  Bad news is that there won't be a new episode next week and we're gonna have to wait two weeks until Episode 9.  Good news is that Episode 9's of Season 1 and 2 were the best episodes of their seasons.  Season 1 Episode 9 was Baelor (aka Ned Stark dies), Season 2 Episode 9 was Blackwater, which I consider to be the best GoT episode so far.  See you guys in two weeks!

Observations:

-Arya and the Hound are the new odd couple.  I look forward to her reunion with Catelyn and Robb if that's going to happen.
-The first "Second Son" guy who talks to Daenerys had the demeanor of a douchebag meathead.
-Davos teaching himself to read was somewhat adorable.
-"If you ever call me sister again I"ll have you strangled in your sleep".  Cersei don't play.
-Does Joffrey suddenly have a thing for Sansa again or what?
-Why didn't Sansa bend down for Tyrion to cloak her instead of waiting until he asked her, seemed like an obvious thing to do after Joffrey took away his chair.
-You would think everyone in the Knight's Watch would know how to start a fire.
-Did Sam leave that dagger behind? It seemed so cool and useful.

Game of Thrones Season 3 Episode 7: "The Bear and the Maiden Fair"

A talky midseason episode that has its ups and downs.  It felt busy, with some character's arcs' more interesting than others.  The best was definitely saved for last.

New relationships seemed to be the focus of this episode.  We start off with Robb Stark and his newlywed bride Talisa in a session lovemaking/war planning.  It's been a while since we've seen an intimate scene with these two characters, and we're reminded of why Robb ultimately chose marrying Talisa over doing what's best for the war.  He seems ecstatic when Talisa tells him that she is preggers, which is not surprising if all she does is lay around naked and distract him.  The ultimate metaphor for their marriage and the war.  Meanwhile, Tyrion and Sansa separately discuss their anxieties about getting married, and Joffrey summons Tywin in frustration of not being involved in his plans.

All the way in the North, Jon Snow and Ygritte ponder their relationship and what they're currently doing.  Jon gives Ygritte a history lesson, in which he tries to convince her that they will ultimately fail in their planned attack.  She responds by reiterating her love to him and then they proceed to kiss.  Ahh young love.

And finally, Jaime and Brienne.  In one of the most rousing and exciting sequences of the season, Jaime realizes Brienne is in trouble and rushes back to save her. From a bear pit!  He even jumps into the pit, unarmed, and wedges himself in front of her.  Their odd relationship is finally proven to each other like it was the end of some buddy comedy.  His character's finest moment so far in the series, and biggest indication that his journey with Brienne has changed him.

Overall, an uneven but forward moving episode with an exciting ending.

Observations:

-Weird to see the Wildlings not surrounded by snow.
-Ygritte points out that Jon Snow is a prettyboy.
-Even Margaery knows Tyrion is the best Lannister.
-Joffrey complains about climbing stairs to Tywin.
-Daenerys, "Breaker of Chains and Mother of Dragons"
-Shae is kinda annoying.
-Gendry learns he's Robert Baratheon's son, epic music plays.
-Arya is a badass, the only true god she believes in is "Death".
-The Theon torture show continues, disturbingly.
-Ygritte needs a dictionary to learn new words.
-"All girls see more blood than boys."
-Jon Snow and Ygritte basically said "Yolo!" and did it on that hill.

Mad Men Season 6 Episode 6: "For Immediate Release"

My favorite episodes of Mad Men involve Don Draper and the firm being in crisis.  The show is at its finest when all the chips are down and then suddenly, Don gets a quick and sudden stroke of genius that changes everything in its path.   This is an episode that starts off seemingly like any other episode, and then during a pivotal scene, Ted sits down for a drink with Don.  By the end of their conversation, we know that everything at SCDP has changed.

The episode starts off with Bert and Pete discussing their stock value if they go public.  Unfortunately Don is not aware of Bert’s motivations and gets pulled into a dinner with Herb, the representative at Jaguar. Don tells Herb off, something that’s been boiling in Don and with us ever since Herb got his way with Joan last season.  Meanwhile, Pete runs into his father in law at a whorehouse and assumes everything is okay because Ken explains to him that they’ll both be harmed if the truth is revealed.  Everything isn’t ok, Trudy’s father care more about his daughter than harming his own self image.  SCDP ends up losing Vicks and Jaguar when they need them the most.  That’s when Roger and Don basically come in and save the day.

The last time business at SCDP was this exciting was in the Season Three finale “Shut the Door, Have a Seat”, which is universally regarded as one of the show’s best episodes.  If you don’t remember, this was the episode where Sterling Cooper was on the verge of being sold to the English, so Don convinced Lane to fire him and all the important members of the firm and thus, Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce was born.   Now the firm is changing again, but this time merging with Ted and Peggy’s ad firm.  There are changes in store for almost all of the characters from this.  Much like its main character, Mad Men is a show that takes risks and just like with Don, those risks usually pay off.  

Observations:
-Was Pete hitting on Joan and trying to get her drunk?  Pete couldn’t handle that.
-Roger shows us why he’s a good businessman; it’s good to see him successful again.
-Megan got kinky this episode, at the suggestion of her mother.
-“I love puppies.”- Don
-“If I could deal with him, you could deal with him. And what now? I went through all of that for nothing.”  I liked Joan telling Don off.  Its pretty much true, Don does whatever he wants without thinking about the firm.
-I knew it, Peggy and Ted have a thing for each other.
-How weird must have it been to be Peggy, getting called into her boss’s office and seeing Don there.
-Bonus:  Here’s a gif of Pete stumbling on the stairs.  http://oyster.ignimgs.com/wordpress/stg.ign.com/2013/05/oQnzqR3.gif

Game of Thrones Season 3 Episode 6: "The Climb"

Contrary to what the title of the episode may have you believe, this isn't the Game of Thrones episode where Miley Cyrus guest stars and sings an awe inspiring ballad about womanhood (thank goodness, although Sam gets a song).  Instead, "The Climb" refers to Jon Snow and Ygritte's trek to get to the top of the wall, which is easily the best and most exciting part of this episode.  What else happens in "The Climb"?  Not much, I'm afraid.

The episode starts with a scene of Sam and his "new family" enjoying a cozy fire and talking about their plans.  There will be a lot of scenes like this in the next hour, with characters conversing to each other about what they're about to do.  In between them, we get some exciting scenes of Jon Snow and Ygritte climbing the wall that almost feel like a Discovery Channel survival special.  Meanwhile, Robb convinces his cousin to blindly marry a Frey daughter to make amends for his wrongdoing.  Gendry sadly gets taken away by Melisandre.  Tyrion and Cersei discuss the ramifications of Tywin's plans for their new marriages.  Theon gets mercilessly tortured, again.  

Overall, the episode was somewhat of a disappointment in that it felt like there were no substantial developments, although there were some.  The last shot is beautiful and epic, with Ygritte finally seeing whats on the other side of the wall and sharing a lengthy kiss with Jon.  It comes off as an award for viewers who ultimately had to sit through a slow moving episode.  

- The scene where they skinned the rabbit was pretty disturbing to me, and I don't usually get bothered by any of the violence that happens on the show.

- "He wasn't good to me the way you're good to me.  He didnt do that thing you did with your tongue".  Oh Ygritte...

- "Face. Tits. Balls. I hit them right where I wanted to." A lot of good lines this episode.

- Random thought: Arya and Katniss would be good friends, I think.  

- How ugly are these Frey daughters?

- Poor Jaime, can't even eat a steak properly.

- Loras is the most desirable bachelor in all 7 kingdoms? Muhaha.

- Apparently "The Climb" also refers to Littlefinger's theory on chaos.

- So Joffrey hasn't done anything evil or disturbing lately.  Oh wait... 

Mad Men Season 6 Episode 5: "The Flood"

A sad and somber episode, which is appropriate given the historical material that the show is trying to tackle.  I sometimes forget that Mad Men is a show set in history, but then an event like the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. finds itself intersecting with the Mad Men plotline, and I’m reminded that this is a show woven into America’s history.  This was an interesting episode, in which it dealt with the reactions of the characters to the assassination and how it molded each of their personal dramas. 

For Don, the news of the assassination made him reevaluate his relationship with his children, as he was unsure on how to approach the topic with them, primarily Bobby.  I think for the first time in Mad Men history, Bobby gets an actual story arc as a character.  Their scene at the movie theatre was the most important scene in the episode, with Bobby communicating to the janitor that he feels his loss and sympathizes with him.  The scene is followed by a drunken Don, explaining at first horrifically that he sometimes feels like he is faking love for his children, only to have it be proven real and true.   

For many of the other characters, news of the assassination found its way changing their personal lives.  Pete actually wasn’t a despicable and annoying character this episode, reacting to the news as a tragic event and reaching out to Trudy to see if she was ok.  Their exchange was caring but distanced, it seemed as Trudy was almost about to give in to Pete’s offer to come over but had to remind herself not to at the end.  He followed that by almost getting into an office fistfight with Harry, who viewed the news through a business standpoint and feared that it may affect the airing of his television commercials.  Burt’s attempt to make the two apologize to each other was one of the only comedic parts of the episode. 

Overall, a solid and quietly compelling episode about national tragedy and how individuals may connect and cope with it.

Observations:

- The first real characteristic we learn about Bobby is that he is not a fan of mismatched wallpaper. 

- Don seemed overly interested in where Sylvia and Arnold were going, to the point it was even joked about.  Not smooth Don, not smooth.

- SCDP’s only two nominees at the awards, Peggy and Megan, no longer work there.

- That girl Ginsberg was setup with was way out of his league.  She also talked like Peggy.

- Joan and Don comforting Dawn was uncomfortable, seemingly making her feel more like an outsider despite them trying to be compassionate towards her. 

- That sideways hug Joan gives Dawn was hilariously awkward.

- I like the fact that Don and Bobby enjoyed Planet of the Apes and seemed blown away by the ending.

- “Everybody likes to go to the movies when they’re sad”.  Well said, Bobby.

Game of Thrones Season 3 Episode 5: "Kissed By Fire"

Hard to believe but we’re already halfway into Season 3.  Things are definitely heating up (literally, there’s fire everywhere this episode), with important developments all around.  This episode focuses on the relationships of the characters more than usual, which I enjoyed and thought was needed.

As the episode starts off, we get right into action with the Hound’s battle against the Lord of Light soldier.  Arya has kept her bloodlust for the Hound and all those involved in her father’s execution, still reciting their names every night.  Next, Ygritte finally makes a man out of Jon Snow.  They somehow manage to find a romantic waterfall to do it near and have pillow talk after.  I’m glad Jon and Ygritte finally get this moment, even though Ygritte had to make all the moves.

Meanwhile, Robb’s army is facing hard times.  His execution of the “traitor” reminded me of Ned’s execution of the deserter in Season 1.  Stannis comes back to check on his home life, revealing he has a somewhat crazy wife and a scarred but cute daughter.  Jaime and Brienne take a bath together and Jaime tells a harrowing story about how he got his nickname.  This is Jaime at his most vulnerable; his story is tragic and adds another dimension to his character.  At King’s Landing, there’s a matchmaking power struggle going on.  Tywin delivers two bombshells when he proposes that Tyrion wed Sansa (whaaat) and that Cersei marry Loras (whaaat).  The episode ends with Stannis’s daughter singing over the end credits.

This episode, in many ways, felt like a soap opera, but a good one.  Although there wasn’t as much action as the previous two episodes, there was a lot of development with the personal lives of the characters.  Overall, I found it to be a refreshingly emotional and character driven episode. 

Observations:

- Booty booty booty rocking everywhere in this episode (Ygritte, Jaime, Brienne, Loras’s lover).

- Ygritte and Jon’s foreplay involves her “stealing his sword”.

- “I don’t know, I just wanted to kiss you there is all.”

- Jorah seems to still be in love with Danerys. 

- Danerys is trying to run a democracy within her army.

- Sansa is smitten with Loras, she falls too easily.  Remember when she had undying love for Joffrey?

- Littlefinger’s advances on Sansa were pretty creepy and had a creepy uncle vibe.  “Call me Peter”.

- Tywin is not a good matchmaker.  Or is he….

Mad Men Season 6 Episode 4: "To Have and To Hold"

It’s a busy day at Sterling Cooper Draper Price.  Mad Men gets to business in an eventful episode that brings the excitement of the show back to the office.

We finally check in on Joan, who seems to be doing the same secretarial duties she's had the last couple of seasons even though she's been technically made a partner.  The dark circumstances of her partnership gets brought up in a cringe worthy scene where Harry disrupts a partners meeting to unfire his secretary and demand a promotion.  Joan may have made it to the top, but how she got there will always haunt her. Her promotion also has effects on Harry and Kenny feeling underappreciated, which makes sense.  His line "I'm sorry my accomplishments happened in broad daylight and I can't be given the same rewards" was pretty harsh.

More office drama unfolds with Dawn, who gets her own storyline in a subplot that highlight's the office's pettiness.  It's refreshing to get a different perspective on SCDP, even if it's through the lens of secretary drama.  I did not like Harry's assistant though.  In the only non-office story, Megan gets a love scene, which is great for her career, but angers Don.  His scene in bed with Sylvia at the end mirrored Megan’s sex scene in her soap opera.  I don't know if this was meant as a commentary on the hypocrisy of his character or if we were meant to interpret it as Don acting out what he saw intentionally in real life, maybe both.

Finally, we get the eventual showdown between SCDP and Peggy’s new firm.  Don listening in on Peggy's presentation was my favorite scene of the episode.  It showed a mentor checking on his protege as well as a rival eavesdropping on his competition.  Don continues his streak of trying to sell ads without actually showing the product (he also did this in the season premiere with the Hawaiian hotel chain).  He fails, losing both the potential Heinz Ketchup account as well as losing their long time Heinz Baked Beans account, to Ken’s dismay and anger.

Overall, an enjoyable episode that gives us some more time with Joan, Harry, Ken and Dawn, the side characters that keep the office running and who I would like to see more of.  It’s nice to see what’s going on at SCDP while Don ponders life and cheats on his wife. 

Observations:

- Secret Ad Agent Stan was pretty funny, I enjoyed the spy music playing while he went to his secret office, as well as him and Don sharing a joint.

- Harry's secretary's excuse for being gone is that she was in the ladies restroom.

- Poor Dawn, she got caught in drama at the office when she was clearly trying to lay low.

- “How are things, Don?”- Newcomer Bobby to Don, followed by Don’s eyeroll.

- Another good line: “You know how important I am to this company Burt.  Burt, you were me.”  Burt’s response: “I was different than you Mr. Crane, in every way.”

- From a business standpoint, Peggy’s pitch was better than Don’s.

- I guess Peggy and Stan aren’t going to be phone buddies anymore =[