Mona Lisa Smile

There are movies that entertain you, movies that make you laugh, movies that make you cry, movies that make you remember some memories, movies that you don't like... and there are some other movies that can change your perspective on certain things and can get to your soul, and those are the type of movies I like to write about.

This was a Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts weekend, so I watched "Love Actually", "Notting Hill", and "Mona Lisa Smile". All good movies, I sort of cried with the three of them, but the only one that really got me was the one I've just finished, "Mona Lisa Smile". I don't know if it can make it to my favorite movies, but it definitely makes it to one of the best movies I've ever seen, which is a completely different thing, I mean, the movie Crossroads, starring Britney Spears, is one of my favorite movies, but one of the worst Hollywood movies ever. The thing is, this movie really, really caught me.

If you haven't watched it, it takes place back in the 50's, the decade where stereotypes were created: men were meant to go to work every morning, and women were meant to take care of the house. A decade where the country was in fear of an atomic bomb being dropped by the Soviets. A decade of discrimination and racism. And sadly, a decade that was far away from revolution and change, two things that finally came in the 60's and later.

"Mona Lisa Smile" is about a woman, Katherine Watson, who gets a job at one of the best universities for women to teach "Art History" (something that I would like to do in some other life). She gets to teach to all of these girls who are brain washed by society, and are waiting for the first rich man to come and propose to them. Katherine comes with her feminist ideals and helps them to look at life with different eyes, letting them know how much they are worth it, encouraging them to be better, to pursue their dreams, to believe in themselves, to stop depending on a man, and to be independent. The movie is basically about how hard it is for them to understand this new perspective that Mrs. Watson is trying to show them. It is an amazing message that I wish women could have had back in the 50's.

"I thought I was headed to a place that would turn out tomorrow's leaders, not their wives!" - Katherine Watson 

But the idea of being independent is not shown only through the ideas of marriage and society. What I love the most about the movie was the respect that Katherine Watson has for her own self. At the end of the movie, the board of education of the school decides to call her back for the next school year, but they do not give her the freedom to give her message to her students, and the only way they are going to let her teach again in that school is by controlling her classes. Even though teaching in that school is her dream, she declines the offer, because she stays true to herself, to her beliefs, and to her biggest goal, which is to make a change. She gives up her dream for that simple goal, and she quits.

That reminded me of myself. I realized that right now, I am quitting my dream. I am on the right track that could lead me to everything I've ever wanted, but something tells me that there is something wrong with it. You know, someday I would like to get to the top, doesn't matter what I end up doing in college, whatever I decide, I want to be the best at it. Being in the USA means that I could go to a really good university, improve my English skills, improve my talent is certain things, meet the right people that could help me, and do the right things that could lead me to where I want to go. But there is something missing: freedom and happiness. I figured that I want nothing if I don't have the freedom to do whatever I want with it, and if I am not able to enjoy my way to the top, so I decided to quit my dream of being in the States, go back to the place where I know I'm going to have a good time, and take another way. At the end, my goal is the same one: be good at whatever I decide to do. I am just taking another road. It can be shorter or it can be longer, but I am taking the road that is not going to just take me where I want to go, but it is also going to make me happy, because happiness is not a destination, it is journey. Mrs Watson ended up going to Europe, not teaching where she wanted to teach, but at the end of the day, she did make a change anyway.

"Dear Betty, I came to Wellesley because I wanted to make a difference. But to change for others is to lie to yourself. My teacher, Katherine Watson, lived by her own definition and would not compromise that, not even for Wellesley. I dedicate this, my last editorial, to an extraordinary woman, who lived by example and compelled us all to see the world through new eyes. By the time you read this, she'll be sailing to Europe, where I know she'll find new walls to break down, and new ideas to replace them with. I've heard her called a quitter for leaving and aimless wanderer. But not all who wander are aimless, especially those who seek truth beyond tradition, beyond definition, beyond the image. I'll never forget you" - Betty Warren

If you are wondering, the name of the movie "Mona Lisa Smile" is referred to looking happiness and smiling even when you are not happy at all. One of the characters, Betty, refers to this painting when she is talking to her mom about her husband, trying to let her know that just because she seems happy, deep inside, she's not, just like the Mona Lisa, who is smiling, but how do we know if she is really happy? How do we know she is not hiding any kind of sadness behind that smile?

Betty: Look at this, mother. She's smiling. Is she happy?
Mrs. Warren:The important thing is not to tell anyone.
Betty:She looks happy, so what does it matter? 

So that's it. This movie made me cry, smile, and learn a little bit more about myself and my decisions. And of course, it showed me once again, that women can do it all, the sky is the limit, and that education and experience can lead you wherever you want to go.

Midnight In Paris

"I can never decide whether Paris is more beautiful by day or by night. No, you can't, you couldn't pick one. I mean I can give you a checkmate argument for each side. You know, I sometimes think, how is anyone ever gonna come up with a book, or a painting, or a symphony, or a sculpture that can compete with a great city. You can't. Because you look around and every street, every boulevard, is its own special art form and when you think that in the cold, violent, meaningless universe that Paris exists, these lights, I mean come on, there's nothing happening on Jupiter or Neptune, but from way out in space you can see these lights, the cafes, people drinking and singing. For all we know, Paris is the hottest spot in the universe"

What an amazing movie. It is about this guy, Gil (Owen Wilson), who discovers the magic of Paris after midnight. The movie revolves about him going back to the 20's and meeting inspirational people such as Hemingway and Fitzgerald and Picasso, but I think that the main focus of the story is the beauty of Paris. I can't describe how it makes you feel towards this city, I just fell in love with it. This is why I am not going to talk about the story line, but about the pearl of the world, which without a doubt, is the french capital.

There are a lot of beautiful cities in the world... I've been to some of them like NYC, LA, Madrid, Buenos Aires, Athens, etc, and then there are some other cities that are in my list of places to go before I die, like Rome, London, Berlin, Milan, Venice, and of course, Paris. For some reason, I feel an attraction to this place. Every time I see pictures, or videos, or movies about it I feel a strong connection, and I NEED to go there. Maybe everybody feels that way, just because it Paris and it is supposed to be beautiful and adorable and magic, but I can't stop dreaming about taking a flight there all by myself, stay at a cheap french apartment, wear a nice french dress, and just walk, like Gil does in this movie. Discover every single corner of this beautiful city; learn to draw just by looking at the beautiful details of every single bridge, building, house, and statue; take professional pictures of the Eiffel Tower; have a creme brulee at a small french cafe; listen to the beauty and grace of the french accent; stare at the amazing paintings of the Musée du Louvre for hours; write about each single thing I see and learn to come up with a book about french romance... and million of other things. Basically, I just want to literally WALK AROUND PARIS for hours, which is why it didn't take me long to feel interested about this movie, because I understand the passion of this character towards this city.

The good thing about myself, is that when I want something, I end up doing it, no matter how hard it is. I dreamed about Los Angeles and Hollywood, and life gave the chance to go. I dreamed about moving to the states, and I did it. And each place gave me something that I'll keep for the rest of my life. Like I am a big puzzle and each city of my places to go before I die is a new piece that completes my puzzle. And I think that Paris is next. I know it is not going to be soon because I have to be old enough to do all of the things that I want to do, and I might have to go though college first, but all I know is that someday I'll make it there, and I will discover a whole new part of myself that I didn't know I had. I want to go there and grow as an artist, just like I grew in New Jersey as a person. I wanna fall in love with the art of Paris, with its architecture, culture, history, details, music, food, language, everything.

The thing with the movie is as far as I know, Paris is not just magical at midnight... it is magical all day long. And I hope I will be able to see that for myself sometime in my life.

500 Days Of Summer

I had the chance to watch "500 Days Of Summer" million of times, but for some reason I never wanted to. I don't know why, it just looked like a weird movie.

Tonight, just like every Friday night, I was lying on my bed trying to figure out what to do with my night, in terms of which movie to watch or if I should eat M&M's or drink a coffee. Then I blogged about Morgan and how everything turned out to be exactly what I did not want to happen. And right after that, somehow, I decided to watch "500 Days Of Summer" and I have no words to explain how much I loved it.

Tom Hansen is the first male character that is a some kind of replica of myself. A Forever Alone, fate-believer, and obsessive romantic guy who just falls for this girl, Summer, too, tooooo hard. The problem is she doesn't believe in love, she doesn't want anything serious, and he respects that for a period of time. He is the perfect "buddy" for a while. They have fun, they laugh, and they are happy. Then he obviously gets sick of that, but still, she never really considers his feelings. Suddenly she starts acting differently, like she is not happy anymore with that sort of relationship they have. Then she breaks up with him and his life just breaks down. A few months later they see each other again at a wedding, and she acts like she still likes him and she invites him to a party. He goes, expecting to reconnect with her and get a second chance, but he instead, he finds out she is engaged. Yes, this is where the viewer hates Summer. What happened with her rejection to love and relationships and commitment? Why did she keep him waiting for her for so long if she was never going to make it serious, and then get married with some random guy she met? And then when he asks all of these things to her, she said something that of course, made me understand the whole movie: "One morning I woke up and I just knew it... what I was never sure of with you". She was not in love with him. The thing is, that doesn't mean it is the end, it is just the beginning. She found her match, one day, sitting at a park reading a book. And at the end of the movie, the viewer understands he finds his match too.

I've learned that "you can't ascribe great cosmic significance to a simple earthly event". Yeah, it didn't happen with Morgan. Either with Jason, Jake, Cody, Sam, or the guy I met in Puerto Rico. And that kinda sucks, cuz it hurt a little bit. But I gotta look around, because I know that I am gonna find someone way better than all of them, who is not going to make me cry as much as these guys did. And that without Summer, Tom would have never met Autumn.

I've also learned that when you are in a relationship, you need consistency, you just need to know that one day they are not going to wake up and feel differently. No matter in which stage of the relationship you are, you just need to let the other person know that you'll be there. It might not last forever, but as long as you want to be with that person, whether as his girlfriend, friend, wife, or sex buddy, you need to let them know that you are not gonna leave. This is something Summer obviously doesn't do, and if you watched the movie, you might have realized that I quoted something Tom said to her.

I do disagree with something though: the idea of fate. The end of the movie says that there is no such a thing as fate. Well, I believe that depends. I'm a strong believer of fate, I would actually say it is my religion. And like Summer said, it was fate that she met that guy when she was reading the book at the park. And it was probably fate that Tom met Summer, fell in love with her, got heart broken, got encouraged to follow his career to be an architect, did not get accepted at any of the jobs he applied for, and finally went to that last interview where he met Autumn. Look at all of the things that had to happen for him to get to his final destination. Coincidence? It could be... but to be honest I'd rather believe I'm with someone because we are meant to be together, because the cosmos and God and nature did everything right in order for us to meet, rather than believe that I'm with someone for no reason at all. I mean, I want to believe that all of those times that I liked a guy and it did not work out was for a reason, that it was all part of a plan. I don't like the idea of knowing I cried for about 7 damn guys JUST BECAUSE. And what really matters is what we believe, because we will never find out who is the winner of the eternal battle between Fate and Coincidence, so whatever.

So anyway, I kinda just told the whole movie, but I do encourage you to watch it if you are the kind of person who is like me or Tom Hansen. Because sometimes we fall too hard for people, and it doesn't work, and we feel like it is the end of the world. But we need to learn that it is OK, life goes on, and if it didn't happen with that one person we thought we needed, it is because life is about to bring someone way better.

Dear John Kissing Scene

Watching Dear John

No Strings Attached (For the first few months)

Last night I watched "No Strings Attached". I was not very exciting about watching it, because for some reason, this year there were like 4 movies about having a sex buddy and trying not to fall in love with him or her, and then of course, falling in love with him or her, and complicating everything, and then getting married and living happily ever after. So predictable. But I had nothing better to do, so I watched it and I ended up loving it.

 First of all, Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher make a great couple.

Second, I love the fact that they kept seeing each other without really trying, how fate kept bringing them together. First when they were kids, then at a party when they were in college, then in downtown LA at a random market, and then when he needed someone. Even though it is just a movie, it gives me hope that whatever is meant to be, will work out perfectly. 

Third, I love it how it all starts. They are just having fun, being friends, with no expectations at all. She is there to defend him, and he is there to just be with her.

Fourth, at the beginning they manage to have an amazing relationship: they are not dating, but they are there for each other, and they are just friends.

Fifth, even if they are not dating, he is the most amazing guy ever. I mean, when she has her period, he is there for her, even if he knows they are not going to have sex or anything, and he makes her soup and a period playlist. That's a MAN dude. That's what I call the perfect boyfriend.

Sixth, everything is so natural. They don't give a damn about looking good with each other and stuff. They say whatever they wanna say. They do whatever they wanna do.

Seventh, the viewer can relate to their characters and their emotions. I felt completely connected with both of them. I understood why she didn't want anything serious because I am like her; the kind of person who doesn't like romantic stuff and who is not good at communications. I also understood why he wanted to make a step forward, because he really liked her. And then I could feel the pain when she told him she missed him and he didn't say anything, and when she saw him with someone else. Believe me, I've been in that position, crying listening to Bleeding Love by Leona Lewis and eating like a pig, feeling like the world sucks without the guy I like.

And last but not least, at the end, after all they have been through, they know each other and they know they love each other because they cannot be without each other. EACH OTHER is all they need. And that's how it supposed to be. People usually make it all corny and cheesy at the beginning, and that can overwhelm the other person. You gotta go step by step. I love it how romantic it gets AT THE END, because after feeling his pain when she dumped him, and her pain when she saw him with someone else, the viewer can really feel the love between them, and that they are just meant for each other.

So yeah, this movie made me realize of what I'm looking for in a relationship and in guys. I mean, it showed me what I really want, and it helped me explain it and put it into words. Those 8 things represent the perfect relationship for me. Which is why I hate it when a stranger randomly tells me "You are hot, I wanna get to know you". Ok, WHOW. Wanna get to know me?! What the hell, say Hi to me first and then we'll see if I wanna get to know YOU. And that's something that happened to me with 3 guys in only one month. For some reason, I'm starting to take it not as an insult, but as some kind of disrespectful gesture from a guy. They think that a girl loves it when they tell her that she is pretty. But what about saying "Hi" first? We are in 2011, you don't have to tell a stranger that she is pretty, you can just like a few of her profile pictures and she'll get your point. I don't need a guy who thinks I'm hot, I just need a friendly guy who wants to talk to me because I look like a nice person. I feel like every time a guy starts a conversation by telling me I'm hot, they just care about how I look. And besides, I hate those kind of relationship. I hate it when it is obvious that the guy likes you. It is so predictable, and that's what I hate the most. Ashton Kutcher's character never tols Natalie Portman that she is hot, IT JUST HAPPENED NATURALLY.

So yeah, I'm gonna stick to this movie, and wait until a boy like that one comes to my life.

Period Playlist

Last night I watched "No Strings Attached" (Amazing movie by the way), and Adam (Kutcher) gives to her "sex buddy" a playlist for her period. Ok, first of all, if a guy makes a playlist for your period, marry him, because that's what I call a real MAN. Second of all, I realized that it is an amazing idea to have a few songs that include terms like: Red, Waterfall, Blood, Pain, Bad Mood, Sensitive, and stuff that can relate to those 5 days where girls usually want to kill everybody and hate the world. So I want to share with all of you those 20 songs, because I know that most of my readers are girls, teenagers, and get their period every month.

• Even Flow - Pearl Jam
• The Tide Is High - Blondie
• Red Red Wine - UB40
• Sunday Bloody Sunday - U2
• I've Got The World On A String - Frank Sinatra
• Muddy Water - Johnny Rivers
• Bleeding Love - Leona Lewis 
• Here Comes The Flood - Peter Gabriel
• Red Rain - Peter Gabriel
• Waterfalls - TLC
• Red Red Rose - The Weepies
• Red Tide - Neko Case
• Why Does It Always Rain On Me? - Travis
• I Love Your Period - Dan Baird
• Just A Girl - No Doubt
• Here Comes The Rain Again - Eurythmics
• Everybody Hurts - REM
• Stormy Pinkness - They Might Be Giants
• Time To Flow - D-Nice
• Blood Is Thicker Than Water - Wyclef Jean

NEW TITANIC TRAILER IN 3D

Letter To Young Film Maker

"The problem with time, I've learned... eventually time always runs out. I have no idea where you are out there in the world John, but I understand that I lost the right to know these things long ago. No matter how many years go by, I know one thing to know as true as it ever was. I see you soon then"

Main Title: Finding Nemo

"I'm not calling him. If he wants to see him, he'll call" - He's Just Not That Into You

Go The Distance - Hercules

I have often dreamed
of a far-off place
Where a hero's welcome
would be waiting for me
Where the crowds will cheer
when they see my face
And the voice keep saying
this is where I meant to be

I'll be there someday,
I can go the distance
I will find my way
if I can be strong
I know every mild
Will be worth my while
When I go the distance,
I'll be right where I'm in now

I may go undone road
to embrace my faith
Though that road may wonder,
it will lead me to you
And the thousand years
would be worth the wait
It might take a lifetime
but somehow I see it through

And I won't look back,
I can go the distance
And I stay untacked,
no, I won't accept defeat
Is it all too slow?
But I won't lose hope
'till I go the distance
And my journey is fullfilled, oh yeah

But to look beyond the glory
is the hardest part
My hero strand in magic,
kinda sparks, oh...

Like a shooting star,
I will go the distance
I will search the world,
I will face its haunts
I don't care how far,
I can go the distance
'Till I find my hero's welcome
waiting in your arms

I will search a world,
I will face its haunts
'Till I find my hero's welcome
waiting in your arms

Hymn To The Sea - James Horner

A master piece by James Horner. The soundtrack of Titanic is probably one of the best soundtracks ever.

He genuinely doesn't give a shit

Alex: Connor's never gonna call you

Gigi: oh really? how do you know?

Alex: because I'm a guy, and that's just how we do it

Gigi: he said it was nice meeting me

Alex: I don't care if he said you were his favorite female since his mommy. The week went by ok Gigi? And he didn't call you

Gigi: but maybe he did call and I didn't get the message, or maybe he lost my number, or he is out of town, or got hit by a car, or his grandma died

Alex: or maybe he just didn't call because he has no interest in seeing you again

"If you jump, I jump right?"

This is the best scene in history of Hollywood. I mean, it portrays the way they have to let each other go, and how Rose gives everything up in the moment where she jumps back to the ship that was sinking. She is risking her life just to be with him. And that music while they run to see each other again... their faces, their expressions, the adrenaline... everything makes this scene, the most perfect scene ever.