Newish Car Purchase

Last Friday I made the first significant purchase of my life: A newish car.  To be more precise, I bought a 2010 White Subaru Forester.  This is pretty much what it looks like:

Although I didn't want to spend the money at this given time, I am happy with the purchase.  My old car was up there in miles, and the repairs were piling up, so I figured it was time to part ways, and I received a very fair value on my trade in.  For those of you youngins who have never bought a car, it is quite stressful.  Unless of course you're a multi-millionaire and buying a $22,000 car is no big deal, but to those of us who don't live in the very upper tier of society it's not an easy undertaking.  I took my time to think about the deal and weighed my options until I finally came to the best decision and warranty package.  It's still crazy to me that I now have a car payment, but I guess that's just part of growing up.  Not to worry, I've recently acquired a number of jobs so I should have a steady flow of cash coming in.

Maybe I should try not to make this post all about me by giving some people out there some general car buying advice.  My first piece of advice is to go out and buy consumer reports on new or used cars (depending on what you're buying).  See what your desired whip is ranked before you move any further because you want to make sure you're buying a safe and reliable car.  After you figure out what you want (And yes you should figure out what you want and not wait for a dealer to tell you what you want) start doing your research online and see where you can find the car or truck you want for the best price.  Once you've found the location it's time to go shopping.

The next step comes either at the dealership or with your salesman if you're doing a private purchase (If that's what you're into then you should probably stop reading here because I can't really offer advice on that).  Before you even talk to anyone you have to know two things if you're trading in: 1. How much you want for your car & 2. How much you want to pay a month for your new car.  You can find out what you want for your car by going to a site like Kelly Blue Book (kbb.com) and then you may want to take off a couple thousand knowing that the dealer won't give you the true blue book value since they need to make a profit on your car.  There are lots of websites that have monthly payment calculators when you enter in the car's price, your trade in value, what you're putting down, and the interest rate for your loan.  Interest rates from banks can also be found either in newspapers or online, so if you do everything ahead of time you should have a good idea on a ballpark figure of what you'll be paying per month. So once you know what you can afford, you can start to see if the car you want is in your price range.

Possibly one of the most important pieces of advice I can give to someone who is new to purchasing cars is to always remain calm around the dealers.  Sure it's exciting to get a new car, especially if you're finally making money and if you've been driving around a hunk of junk for a few years.  Still, you don't want to appear desperate, and you don't want to rush through the process without giving close thought and attention to every detail of the car and your car payments.  Plus, the more time you take, the more time the dealer has to sweeten the deal, which they most likely will attempt if you leave number.  I know my salesperson added a couple hundred bucks to my trade just because I asked if he could do any better when he offered me the initial figure.  You always want to be in control, and the best way to do that is to have your financial limits set and decided on before you purchase the car.  Otherwise you could fall into a trap of payments that are too high or a car that you don't want.

Vehicles and homes are the two most popular large purchases that we can make, and in order to get a good deal it's important to do your research, know the true value of your product, take your time and make a sound decision, and not rush through the process.  Otherwise you could be stuck with a large payment for a product that you don't really want, and that's the nightmare that I hope you all will avoid.

Some Educational TV Too

Looking back at all of my recent TV watching I wonder how my brain hasn't turned into a gray, mushy mass.   I actually get headaches now from watching too much TV, and recently I've gotten a lot of them.  The one way I've been able to justify my TV watching has been to incorporate some educational shows into my wide selection.  It's a good time for it too.  Football season is over, and there are no sports playoffs, so I don't have to watch Sportscenter ever day.  Plus, with all of the specials about the late Joe Paterno, forever one of my heroes, I try not too watch too much ESPN because it's just sad.  Anyway, I just thought that I'd share a couple of shows that I've recently got into.

Pawn Stars on the History Channel airs new shows at 10:30 pm on Monday nights.  The history Channel also shows reruns of Pawn Stars on a pretty regular basis.  This show gives an inside look on a successful pawn shop in Las Vegas.  What sets this pawn shop apart from others is that the owner, Rick Harrison, loves historical and military memorabilia, so a lot of people bring some very unique things into the shop.  Most pawn shops feature things like jewelery, weapons, and electronics, while Rick's shop has some of the most unique, historical artifacts that aren't already in museums.  People have brought him things like missile guidance systems, weapons from the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, along with some interesting vehicles and gaming machines.  The amazing part about the show is how much knowledge the pawn brokers have about all of the items that come in.  Rick and his son Corey are huge history buffs, and often surprise customers with all of their knowledge.  The show also has some degree of humor with the cooky "Old Man" Richard Harrison, Rick's Dad, and Chumlee, who for all intensive purposes serves as the village idiot.  I highly recommend this show for it's educational and entertainment value, and I especially recommend it over other pawn shop shows such as Hardcore Pawn and Cajun Pawn Stars.  This show isn't all about the drama but more about showing how these guys use their superior knowledge and negotiating tactics to acquire great items for the price that they want.  Here's a clip to give you a warm up.  Oh, and seasons 1-3 are available on Netflix for instant viewing. 

Another show that has recently hooked me (pun intended) is River Monsters on Animal Planet.  This show follows biologist Jeremy Wade as he travels around the world, searching for fresh water monsters.  These huge fish usually attract Jeremy based on their reputation for killing and sometimes eating people.  Some of the fish that he catches are so big that it scares you to think that they could live in fresh water rivers and lakes.  It's also amazing how this guy is able to catch fish that are sometimes double his weight with just a rod.  Sure it's an industrial strength rod with very strong line, but it's still amazing to watch him battle it out with fish such as Sturgeon and Bull sharks.   The show entertains me because Jeremy shows his talents as an investigator long before he shows his skills as a fisherman.  Often times he ventures to remote areas where the locals revere these river monsters as mythical creatures, and Jeremy is forced to investigate and use science to see what he's actually looking for before he goes on to fish them.  I recommend this show to anyone who already watches animal planet, or to anyone who thinks that fishing for huge fish could be entertaining.  Here's a clip for you, and this show also has three seasons available for instant viewing on Netflix. 

So Much Sofia

You know you have too much time on your hands when you watch two Sofia Coppola movies in one day.  That or you just love movies, and coincidentally the two movies that you choose to watch were directed by Sophia Coppola.  Or all of the above, which applies to me.  Today I watched both Lost in Translation and Somewhere.  I didn't even realize that both films were directed by Sofia until I saw the ending credits.  I then proceeded to imdb her to see what other movies she directed.  It turns out that I've seen most of her films (The ones she directed anyway), and I didn't really love any of them.  Somehow I wonder if Coppola's objective isn't to make you absolutely love her movies but instead to make you think about if you loved her movies over and over again.  For instance, I think back to Marie Antoinette and The Virgin Suicides, and I wonder why I didn't love those movies.  Maybe it's because all of her movies are so sad.  They all end in death, heartbreak, or ambiguity.  How can you love ambiguity?

Anyway, I'm probably one of the last movie lovers alive to have finally watched Lost in Translation so I'll skip that review.  Bill Murray rocks as usual and Scarlett Johansson is once again an underdeveloped yet lovable character purely because she's Scarlett Johansson (Don't call her ScarJo because she apparently hates it).  If you haven't seen it and like movies that are artsy and different then go for it.  It wasn't my favorite but I'm still thinking about it so that must be a good sign.

So I watched Somewhere starring Stephen Dorff, and I'm still thinking about it.  I don't want to judge Dorff, but he wasn't exactly challenged with this role.  He plays a big time Hollywood actor who lives in the Chateau Marmont and has his pick of all the hotties and models in his vicinity.  Now I'm not saying that Mr. Dorff is a womanizer or lives this type of life, but if he doesn't I'm sure he's been around the life long enough to give him plenty of perspective on the role.  He does play a father, and I don't know if he has kids, and so that aspect of the role could have been a stretch.   I liked how the movie was shot and the focus on certain scenes.  The character development wasn't too complex and the plot was somewhat cliche and cheesy.  Again, I'm sure there is some type of higher meaning that I'm not grasping here, but SPOILER ALERT big shot Hollywood actor leaves the life when he finally makes enough time for his daughter?  Cheesey yes, but now that I think about it, it's kind of nice to see someone step up to the plate.  For me, it certainly would be tough to walk away from an endless sea of beautiful women who would gladly climb into bed with me at any given time.  I guess I agree with the moral there.  Still on the fence about this one, obviously.  If you like Sofia's previous films go for it.  And if not, it probably won't be a complete waste of your time.  I mean seriously, you're sitting down watching a movie.  If you had something more important to do then it doesn't matter what movie you're watching because unless you're a paid movie critic, watching the movie probably isn't making you any money.  That sounds materialistic of me, like life is only about making money.  Well we need it to survive right folks? That's why I currently have three jobs not including launching a career as a writer and possibly life coach.  Go ahead and check out Somewhere, and you may be pleasantly surprised.  

Writer's block today.  I'll try harder tomorrow.

My Key to Success

Wouldn't it be nice if some things in life were easy? For instance, why does exercising have to be so damn hard? I just finished my P90X chest and back workout, and I am so sore right now.  A shot of adrenaline or a heavy dose of caffeine straight into my blood stream would be nice.  Although the soreness and time necessary for working out suck, the worst part has to be the fact that there are no instant results with exercising (unless you use PEDs).  I often wonder how people stick with their workouts, and I think I've finally figured it out.  For those people like me, who don't actually enjoy working out, they must tell themselves that it's something that they have to do.  At least that's what I've started to tell myself.  If you don't leave yourself and option of quitting or giving up then you just end up working out by default.  For instance, I've gotten to that point with work and school.  I only missed couple of grad school classes, and I never called out of my last job or student teaching.  When you don't even make calling out an option than it just becomes part of the daily routine.

Hopefully I'll continue to apply this strategy to other aspects of my life such as my career-related goals.   An example is my desire to have my writing published.  If I don't even give myself the option of quitting on that dream, it will have to happen, or I will have tried my hardest to achieve my goal.  Same thing with Life Coaching (Yes I'm currently considering adding Life Coaching to the career carousel known as my life).  The option to put it off or give up must be eliminated and only then will I succeed.  Somehow I feel like this isn't really a secret to success as many of you reading this post have probably already implored my new found strategy.  Nonetheless, I'm just happy to continue to find ways to improve myself and my life.  Success is tough, and I think I've figured out that the first step is eliminating failure as an option.  I'll leave you with a few inspirational images that I think sum up what I'm getting at.

And this one just makes me laugh.

Black Swan

I've had Black Swan on my Netflix Queue for a while now, and when I came home last night I just happened to be on HBO.  Being that my life is pretty boring right now, and my only real responsibilities involve searching for work, I devoted a little over two hours to watching the movie.  This movie received excellent reviews, and Natalie Portman's performance even earned her an Oscar.  Darren Aronofsky, the film's director, is renowned in the film industry for his unique and gripping films such as Pi, Requiem for a Dream, and The Wrestler.  I wasn't a fan of Pi or Requiem, but I thought The Wrestler was excellent.  There's no doubt that Aronofsky has much skill as a director, and I'll likely check out more of his movies in the future even though I did not favor some of his past works.

Back to the film of focus, Black Swan had excellent character development, setting, and scene writing.  The fascinating aspect of this film is the fact that nearly every character in the film can represent the antagonist, and Aronofsky leaves it up to you to choose who the real bad guy or girl is.  The main character also goes through an intense inner struggle filled with paranoid delusions and nightmares.  These delusions make it difficult for you to know what's real and what's an illusion, and Aronofsky does a great job at actually making some of the crazy delusions into a reality.  I was highly entertained throughout the film which combined a number of different emotions with a well planned dramatic plot.  The sexuality of the characters also added to the complex lives of the members of one elite New York Ballet company (at least it seemed like New York).  I don't always agree with the critics, but in the case I believe that the film was worth all of the hype.  If you enjoy artsy dramas with plenty of emotions and betrayal, or if you enjoy movies where you have to struggle and think about what's really happening, I highly recommend this movie.  Also, if you have a serious crush on Mila Kunis or Natalie Portman (Girls and guys) you must watch the one love scene.  It is wonderful.  Go see Black Swan if you haven't yet, and you won't be disappointed. 

The Son of Neptune

Ok people I'm changing it up.  All of my TV and movie reviews probably make me look like the most illiterate English teacher out there.  Well I'm far from it.  I may be picky about what I choose to read, but I still love reading.  I recently finished the latest book by Rick Riordan titled The Sun of Neptune.  Riordan wrote the Percy Jackson series, which you may have heard of based on the movie, The Lightning Thief, which came out last year (or was it last year?).  Although the movie disappointed many, these books are entertaining yet educational.  Riordan is in the process of writing two more series in addition to the Percy Jackson series.  The first of these series, The Heroes of Olympus, is in essence a sequel to Percy Jackson and the Olympians.  These series feature stories about Ancient Greek and Roman mythology, and how both the Greek and Roman gods play an active part in modern society.  I love these books because they are action packed, well written, and also provide the reader with real facts about Greek and Roman mythology.  For that reason they are an excellent read for independent and young adult readers (The age group that they are written for.  Forgive me but I find these books far more entertaining than the classics).  These books are perfect for young adults because they are fun reads that can also educate young people about ancient cultures and their gods.  If you're like me and you enjoy action-packed and fun young adult series such as Harry Potter and The Chronicles of Narnia, you should definitely go and pick up one of Riordan's books.  I recommend starting from the beginning with The Lightning Thief and see where it takes you. 

I'll attempt to regain my focus and write specifically about The Son of Neptune.  I loved this book because of the creative new characters, descriptions, and villains that Riordan provided for the reader.  I truly feel that Riordan's writing improves with every new book that he releases (At least with Percy Jackson & The Heroes of Olympus).  It's the same storyline, someone trying to take over the world whether it's Giants, Titans, old Earth Gods and Goddesses where the fate of the world lies in the hands of the demigods, yet every book continues to entertain me.  I think it's obvious that I love these books, and sadly I don't personally know anybody else who's read them.  If you love young adult, sci-fy, and/or fantasy novels go ahead and start reading Riordan's books.  But please, start with Percy Jackson and The Olympians.  The Kane Chronicles are good, but not as good as the Percy Jackson books, so start with those.  Now go read!

A Couple of Indie-ish Movies

I don't know if you can quite consider these two recent movies indies-I don't want to offend anyone-but often times I find any movie that wasn't widely released across the nation an indie film.  I'll first begin with a movie that I really enjoyed, The Art of Getting By featuring Freddie Highmore and Emma Roberts.  These two have an excellent on screen chemistry, displaying an awkward yet cute teen romance.  Both characters grow throughout the film as they overcome obstacles that anyone can relate to.  I loved this movie because of how realistic it could be.  The music, scenery, and cinematography were all well done, and all of the characters played their roles well.  This surprising drama features two very talented young actors who both took on challenging roles that illustrated deeper ideas and themes.  If you haven't figured it out yet I really liked this movie, so much so that I watched it twice in one day.  I wholeheartedly recommend The Art of Getting By.

By now you may be thinking that I only review movies that I like.  Maybe I've just seen a lot of good movies lately, that is until last night.  I recently ordered a movie called Skateland from Netflix.  This movie appeared entertaining based on the trailer, but in reality it disappointed me.  This movie was very plain with nothing special about it.  There was no hook at the beginning, very minor character development, and a slow and boring plot.  As I watched it I kept on wondering when it would pick up but it never did; at least after 40 minutes it still didn't pick up which is when I turned it off.  Does that mean I can't give a complete review? Maybe but if a movie is so bad that I don't care to see how it ends it's probably not worth your time.  Everything in this movie seemed cliche and underdeveloped.  I hate to say this, but this movie almost focused on the insignificant parts of life that wouldn't be worth filming.  For instance, movies entertain us because they either focus on the best or most exciting part of our real lives, or because they focus on a fictitious element that we find highly entertaining.   This one focused on neither, and in result it flopped.  Don't waste your time on Skateland.  I'll attach a trailer only to see if one of you can tell me why I wanted to see this movie in the first place. 

Party Down

I know I'm a little late on this one, but the Starz original series Party Down absolutely rocks.  This show provides an inside look at the catering business, and more specifically a catering business in or around Los Angeles.  Most of the employees are aspiring or washed up actors or comedians, with one cynical writer to round out the bunch.  I love how in Party Down each character has a role that stays consistent throughout both seasons, yet each episode still entertains.  It's like they do the same thing every episode just at a different event, but it's wildly entertaining.  Anyone who's worked in food service while waiting for their big break (doesn't have to be in show business, it could just be a better career opportunity) would likely appreciate this show who features some hilarious people like Jane Lynch (Glee), Martin Starr (Knocked Up), Lizzy Caplan (Mean Girls), an Adam Scott (Step Brothers).  Both seasons of this series are available for instant streaming on Netflix, and the episodes are only half an hour long.  Both seasons have 10 episodes so you could go through both seasons in a little under 10 hours, but trust me you don't want to rush through this show.  I hear there is also a movie in development set to come out in 2013.  If you have some free time coming up of if you are snowed in when the annual big snow storm finally comes definitely check out Party Down.  You won't be disappointed.

Spoiler Alert: New Show Reviews.

Three new shows premiered on Showtime tonight and they were all at least mildly entertaining.  If you didn't read the title I'll spell it out in bold: IF YOU DID NOT WATCH EITHER CALIFORNICATION, SHAMELESS, OR HOUSE OF LIES, STOP READING NOW.  Ok, with that out of the way I'll move in chronological order or appearance.  Shameless began at 9 pm and took off just where it left off.  Fiona dealt with her stress in the way she always does: sex.  It amazes me how her poor living situation doesn't stop her from experiencing the finer things life has to offer.  Frank is still a train wreck who can't stay away from trouble, hence ridiculously entertaining.  I enjoyed Lip's new entrepreneurial ventures, and I'm happy to see him and Karen spending time together again.  The other characters complemented the show well (I say this because I don't want to give everything away), and overall I'm pleased with the new season of Shameless.  If you don't watch this show already start now.  You'll be highly entertained and it airs at 9 pm so even you early birds can watch it before bed on a Sunday night.

Next up, the new show House of Lies.  This show entertained me with a nice dose of sex and corporate combat.  Don Cheadle dazzles as a management consultant who Wall Street brings in to protect their image following the mortgage crisis that led to the recession.  Cheadle shows confidence and plays a solid corporate big wig.  I don't really know what to expect from this show, but the pilot provided plenty of laughs, interesting points, and possible directions for the show to go.  It's a different look at someone involved in the high end of corporate America, and provides a glimpse into his personal and professional life.  If you're intrigued watch this show.  I enjoyed it, but I can also see how it's not for everyone.  My advice: ignore the corporate jargon and just laugh when appropriate. 

*Note that this is not the official trailer for the show but more of a synopsis of the plot.  I find this clip more informative, while the trailer is mostly a rundown of the first episode.  If you're intrigued after this, watch the show.  If you need more convincing go ahead and youtube the trailer, but take my word for it that this show is entertaining. 

And then there's my love above all loves, Californication.   Hank starts it off in typical Hank Moody fashion:  telling the truth to a woman and getting crucified for it.  It's amazing how he always tells the truth and never wants to hurt anybody, yet he always ends up screwed over in the end (bigtime at the end of this episode).  It's interesting that they began this season three years after the past season and much has changed.  The most notable-for me at least-is the situation between Hank and Karen which seems more distant than ever.  I'm concerned because Hank's consistent attempts to win Karen's affections are the driving force of the show.  With that driving force gone I'm not confident that she show will possess the same spark that has captivated me since I started watching in the summer of 2008.  That being said, it still Hank Moody, and I will always expect great things from him.  I pray that he won't disappoint me in what seems to be the final season of Californication.  Enjoy this smorgasbord of promising Sunday night television that Showtime has provided.

*I only included a trailer for House of Lies because I previously included trailers for Shameless and Californication.  Refer to the previous posts if you're intrigued and want a taste of these shows.* 

New Year New Seasons of Shows!

I have this gift, where with enough convincing I can get anyone into a show that I love (And I'm so modest about it).  This January three shows that I love have will begin their new seasons.  This is my preview, and my gift to you if you do not already watch these shows and are currently seeking new forms of entertainment via premium cable channels.  Let me begin with one of my new found favorites, the Showtime original series Shameless.  This show follows the difficult life of a Gallagher family.  The Gallaghers struggle to make end's meat due to the absence of their mother and their father constantly squandering any money that they earn on alcohol or other unfortunate endeavors.  With no mother present the oldest sister, Fiona (Emmy Rossum), assumes the role of the matriarch.  Four out of the six Gallagher children must work to support the household, and as you can imagine things get pretty crazy with no stable parents in the picture.  Fiona also has an interesting way of coping with her stressful life which doesn't always set the best example for her younger siblings.  Tune in this Sunday for the premiere of Season 2.  It's not available on instant Netflix yet but you may be able to get all of the episodes on demand through your cable provider.  Anyway, here's a trailer for the second season.

Showtime continues it's brilliance with my favorite show and character on television, Californication.  If you haven't seen this show you must make it your top priority.  David Duchovny is an absolute genius with his character of Hank Moody, the self-loathing alcoholic and sex addict.  He's always honest and always tries to do what's best for others and it always end up getting him screwed over in the end (Sounds kind of like someone I know...minus the alcoholic and sex addict).  This show is available for instant streaming on Netflix and the pilot episode is the best pilot I have ever seen for any show.  It hooked me and I'm sure it will hook you.  I don't want to give away to much but just know that Hank is always trying to win back the love of his life.  I'm excited for this season and you should be too. Oh and by the way this is the only teaser I can find.  A lot of the clips are from past seasons; still start watching this show if you have the time and don't currently watch it.  You won't regret it.

So last show that I will shamelessly promote is Spartacus: Vengeance.  This series began with the late Andy Whitfield playing Spartacus, a Thratian slave who rose to glory through victories in the arena and eventually took his freedom by force.  The second season Gods of the Arena acted as a prequal to the original Blood and Sand due to Whitfield's illness, non-Hodgkins lymphoma (which tragically killed the actor in 2011).  Both seasons featured plenty of blood, guts, gore, and sex.  If you have any interest in the gladiatorial games, Roman society, or any of the aforementioned content then I highly recommend this show.  It provides a great dose of action and sex, and surprisingly came from Starz which usually doesn't go heavy on the sexual content.  This show is available instantly on Netflix and on demand through your cable provider.  Although I enjoyed the previous two seasons I'm skeptical about Vengeance.  Whitfield did a great job and it will be difficult for the new Spartacus to compare.  I'll tune in but I'm not as excited about this show as I am about the previous two seasons.

Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

Tom Cruise is kind of nuts, but in addition to his delusional beliefs he's a damn good actor.  Well, actually I don't know if he's a great actor or a great movie star, but either way he can still carry a blockbuster like he best of them.  I went to see his latest film, Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol due to the rave reviews and recommendations.  These reviews held true, as the movie featured a great cast, storyline, and non-stop action.  The effects, stunts, and gadgets were excellent, plus the cast proved more badass than corny (A common flop for spy movies).  I can confidently say that this was probably the best Mission Impossible movie.  I own them all and really like them all-especially 2 thanks to Thandie Newton, wonderful Scottish accents, and Ducatis- but the special effects, execution and suspense in this movie trumped the previous three which is always so difficult when producing the next movie in a series.  If you like non-stop action spy movies like James Bond, The Bourne movies, and any previous Mission Impossible movies then I highly recommend Ghost Protocol.  

 

The Devil's Double

I ordered The Devil's Double on Netflix a few weeks ago and I failed to write my review.  I highly recommend this movie to anyone who's interested  in the insanity of the late Hussein family of Iraq.  The world always had some idea about the sadistic practices of Saddam and his two sons Uday and Qusay, and this movie gave a fascinating glimpse of Uday, who many have regarded as one of the worth psychopaths in recent memory.  Uday was ruthless in every way, killing and maiming whoever he wished, while also taking whatever he wanted.  I believe that a psychopath is one of the most difficult things to play for a sane person, and in this movie Dominic Cooper did an excellent job.  In addition to playing the psychotic Uday, Cooper also plays Latif- the man Uday chose as his body double.  It amazes me how Cooper acted as two polar opposite characters in the same film.  I did not know much about Dominic Cooper before this film, only seeing him in movies like Mama Mia and a minor role in Captain America: The First Avenger (Which by the way was kind of a letdown).  Based on his performance in The devil's Double, I think that Cooper has the potential and ability to be one of the elite actors in Hollywood.  I expected great things from this movie and Cooper truly delivered a masterful performance.  If you have any interest or desire to see movies about tyrannical dictators, psychopaths, or an inside look at the Hussein family, I highly recommend this movie.

Back to the Old Job Search

Job searching may be one of the most annoying things in the world.  Filling out that same tedious application while you also have to provide a resume that already has all of that information filled out.  How many trees are killed a year because of these ridiculous formalities I ask? Too many that's for sure.  Oh well, hopefully I'll find something to my liking.  Let me just take this chance to plug craig's list.  Not only has craig's list provided me with some supplemental income through selling my unwanted stuff, but it also allows me to search for jobs across a variety of different areas.  Eventhough I should probably be searching for a job in one specific area...but let's not talk about that.  I am too fickle my friends.  If only I had stuck with my two most significant passions: writing and helping others.  Oh well, I'll figure it out like I always do.  If I'm being ambiguous it's on purpose.  How am I ever going to function in a marriage? I'm so fickle it's becoming destructive.  Too many decisions to make right now.  I can't even make a New Year's resolution.  My fickle nature makes me feel closer to Mikael Blomkvist from Dragon Tattoo because like him I'm all over the place.  Plus we love to drink coffee and women simply cannot resist us.  This seems like a good spot for me to Transition into my Dragon tattoo review.

I will preface this by saying that I had to wait until a good friend of mine had to watch this movie before I gave anything away with my review.  She is essentially my Berger, for those of you who understand the series.  She finally agrees with me now that she's seen the movie.  Second disclaimer: IF YOU HAVE NOT YET SEEN THE MOVIE STOP READING HERE.  I DON'T WANT TO RUIN THE FILM FOR YOU.  As I expected the movie was amazing.  Mara and Craig were spot on and did an excellent job portraying the characters that Larsson wrote with such detail.  Craig made up for Nyqvist's lack of coolness and sex appeal, besting the Swede in that regard.  I respect Nyqvist's talent as an actor, and I understand his casting in the Swedish film, yet his portrayal of Mikael Blomkvist fell short in my eyes.  Craig was spot on in every way, so in regards to Blomkvist Craig emerged victorious.

And now onto the Rooney vs. Noomi debate.  This is very difficult because they both did an excellent job.  Both actresses did Lisbeth justice, but in the end I have to give the edge to Rooney.  I think Rooney showed the wide range of emotions that Lisbeth possessed while Noomi mostly just showed her anger.  I'm sure that the writing and directing played a large part but I liked how the new movie focused on the fact that Lisbeth fell in love with Blomkvist and then had her heart broken when she saw him with Berger.  I don't know if Rooney could have done a better job; her portrayal was perfect.  She underwent significant lifestyle changes and undertook so many challenges for this one film.  For a young actress to do everything that she did was simply remarkable. 

I'll now go through the more minor characters.  I loved the casting of Robin Wright for Berger.  She's an older actress who's still gorgeous, and that's what I expected when I read the books.  She had way more sex appeal than the Swedish Berger (Lena Endre) and did a nice job in her minor, yet important role.  I didn't mind Palmgren and Aramansky, as their appearance and role isn't too significant to the overall plot.  Leaving them out of most of the movie was ok by me.  All of the Vanger castings were well done, and Stellen Skarsgard played a great villain.  I'd say the only casting I really didn't agree with was Yorick van Wageningen who played Bjurman.  He did a great job playing a sadistic character, but I expected a more refined looking character.  In the books Bjurman was a sadist and a pervert, but his outward appearance wouldn't make you think so.  Yorick's Bjurman looked creepy from the start.  I may be biased, but when it came to the casting his was the only one that I questioned.

And now for the story, setting, and all of the other good stuff.  I loved that they included small characters with important roles in the story that were mostly left out of the Swedish movies.  For instance, Inspector Morrell and Blomkvist's daughter were integral to solving the Vanger case and they were rarely if at all featured in the Swedish version.  Some things were left out or cut short like Blomkvist's jail time and the relationship between Aramansky.  I didn't mind this, but I wish they would have at least mentioned Blomkvist's book and how it's publishing returned Blomkvist's journalistic credibility.  In regards to the setting, I thought that the setting was perfectly crafted for the more contemporary movie.  The Island and estate were just as I imagined them, and the great house was far more astounding in the newer movie.  I could go on singing my praises for the American-made Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, but I think I've made my point-I absolutely loved this movie and thought it eclipsed the Swedish version in nearly every possible way.  My one criticism is that the movie could be hard to follow for people who had not read the books.  The film moves fast because it has a lot of ground to cover, and if you don't know the story ahead of time you could struggle in staying with the plot.  Not a problem, because I think anyone who hasn't read the books should read them.  Go now, finish the first book so you can still catch the movie while it's in theaters.  I finally got an extra ticket from regal rewards points, and I may use it to go see this movie again.