Saturday, March 22, 2008

Two Movies and a Book

This week I've decided that I can't take any more excellent, yet violent and disturbing, movies. Don't get me wrong, I loved both movies I'm about to talk about. I just need a little less gravity and grittiness for a while. I don't really want any cotton candy movies either, just good movies with a different feel and tone.

On Monday R and I watched The Departed. It's a nearly perfect movie with amazing performances by all, most of all Leonardo DiCaprio, and Mark Wahlberg is hilarious. But still, it was a pretty raw movie, and I thought "that was worth it, but I need a break". Then Friday night rolled around and I really wanted to see There Will Be Blood. Daniel Day-Lewis was purported to be amazing, and I now confirm that he truly was. I could not rip my eyes off the screen. But again, pretty disturbing stuff. It's based off an Upton Sinclair novel called "Oil!", and as R and I talked afterwards he said that the point was probably to show the ultimate capitalist. I agree. It's pretty horrible. I've been thinking of it all day. Yikes. Anyways, see either of these movies if you 1) are breaking the R-rated movie rule and, 2) want to have the crap scared out of you.

As for my book, I did in fact finish Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling, and it was great. Please read it. I'm even going to say: if you are Mormon, I think you have an obligation to know you history. Argue if you will, but I have said it. You don't have to read it now, just sometime. Think about it. If you aren't Mormon, but are so very curious about Joseph Smith, please read this history! Richard Lyman Bushman wrote it as a historian but also as a practicing Mormon, so take that for what it's worth. I am now reading Richard Lyman Bushman's diary from the publication of Rough Stone Rolling, which is also illuminating. So.

Alas, I must go and drive to ASU. I'm in my friends S's masters project to be performed in October. A-dancing I shall go. Please come see it in October. It's already well on it's way to be worth experiencing. I shall blog more on it as the date approaches.

P.S. Calling all women: I also just read a book called "Taking Charge of Your Fertility", and would recommend it to everyone. It's all about knowing your body and feeling like you know what's going on. It is for those both sexually active and not, trying to get pregnant and not, and
young and old. Please check it out. If you have a easily grossed-out husband, use caution with what you share from the book! I found this out the hard way, and am still getting teased on a daily basis whenever a talk to a female. (Are you talking about your cycles? etc. :))

P.P.S. Pardon the poor grammar and haphazard thoughts!

8 comments:

Jord said...

I would most definitely love to come and see your show. And get an autograph afterwards too.

Nicole said...

I'm glad to see you've 1) blogged again, and 2) started dancing again! I toyed with idea of finding a dance class to take back in the fall, but failed to actually begin searching. Maybe next fall. In the meantime I'll enjoy my aerobics classes while pretending to create art on a well lit and beautifully designed stage!

Nicole said...

By the way, I started reading the Joseph Smith book last fall, got about 200 pages in and then.....Do you have any tips on getting through it? Not an easy read!!

Travis Butterfield said...

Hey, that's cool you finished Rough Stone Rolling. I really need to pick that book up again. I got distracted, but I also agree that it is really important for members to know what is in there. It's fascinating.

Travis Butterfield said...

Thanks to your example, I have started reading Rough Stone Rolling again. It's really, really awesome. Just thought I'd mention that. I'm almost 300 pages in now.

HW said...

I'm happy to forgive poor grammar and haphazard thoughts, but find it harder to forgive the lack of posting. How in the world are you?! I miss reading about your life.

Kristen said...

Kendahl...I am seriously missing our late evening walks around the Woodchase. Please come back.

k said...

sniff! i want to walk around the Woodchase! And thanks to all of you for reading my blog even when I abandon it in the face of no home internet access. I am stealing some wireless currently :)