Tag Archives: Media Consumption

MCM 12: Summary (At least so far)

It was pretty nice to let out my feelings about all these stories that I enjoyed (most of the time). I think I empathize very strongly with just about anything which is why I often find myself clinging on to this stuff. I really enjoy stories, but sometimes I find it hard to focus or move on or not cling to the sad and happy stuff. Especially when I read, I almost feel like I’m in a daze, half absorbed into the imagined world when I read something. Though I’ve found this happens more often with tv now that there’s Netflix and I can marathon seasons of a show.

Anyways I have lots of feelings.

I hope you enjoyed my ramblings. I wrote them all in a single night, so I’m not sure if there will be more in the future or not, as I didn’t really form a habit or anything.

Though I can guarantee there will be more inelegantly explained  drawn out text posts about my feelings and stuff that’s sticking on my brain making me feel happy or dazed or anxious. That’s what perpetual thoughts is really all about after all 😉

Thanks for following along guys <3

MCM 11: Dear Lemon Lima

I watched this movie with my mom and we both couldn’t help but notice it had a lot of similarities to Moonrise Kingdom (which I found dark enough to be upsetting, although I could see the merit of it) in aspects such as pacing, colour, music and even themes. I wasn’t sure what to think of it at first but I was surprised to find I actually quite liked it.

I think my enjoyment was largely due to the portrayal of Philip. When I was about 12 I’m pretty sure I viewed boys almost exactly the way Philip actually was: like they would treat me differently (better) when it was just me then when we were in groups (where I was often ignored). Or in other words, they were often willing to treat me poorly on behalf of their image. And I definitely had lots of experiences with boys that support this belief (I don’t think I even really shook this feeling until university). Maybe that’s the reason I enjoyed watching Vanessa realize Phillip wasn’t worth her time.

You go girl.

MCM 10: Boyproof

I pulled this one off my shelf after I finished my plane books and had been reminded how much I truly love to read. Some books are like old friends and I enjoy rereading as much as I enjoy re-watching some of my favourite movies. It’s comforting to know what’s going to happen, and yet good books often have layers of meanings that are revealed upon rereading, the same way cartoons often contain adult jokes that you don’t notice until you end up re-watching them one day when babysitting.

This book isn’t precisely like that because it is a fairly short and simple story, but I loved it the first time I read it and I still enjoy it. I believe it was one of many books given to me throughout my life by my dear aunt and uncle, Joan and Charlie, who also gave me my first Harry Potter book (they have good taste and I’ve loved nearly everything I’ve gotten from them).

I think more stories of unconventional, imperfect but loveable girls can only make the world a better place.

MCM 9: Parental Guidance

This was just a funny family movie I watched with my mom when she was sick. However, it turned out to be much better than either of us expected. The balance of zany family, progressive parenting methods, technology illiteracy, genuinely funny jokes and heartwarming bonding moments was just right.

So I recommend this one for something genuinely light and funny, to watch with your family or by yourself, regardless of age.

MCM 8: Darkest Mercy (Wicked Lovely 4)

I got this hardcover for some steal like $6 as a backup read for the plane home. However it had been so long since I read the rest of the wicked lovely series I was a bit lost through probably the first half of the novel. That said I liked this ending (unlike some, looking at your Divergent *glare*). I preserve that this is my favourite paranormal romance series. It reminds me of the old faery tales I read when I was young where faeries were tricky and magical but dangerous (and allergic to iron.)

P.S. I prefer the spelling fairy to faery but I used the latter anyways in ode to the series.

MCM 7: Gossip Girl

Gossip Girl gets a mention because it’s probably the worst thing I’ve watched on Netflix ever. (Unless the iSteve ‘documentary’ was on there in which case that was – but I didn’t finish that so it doesn’t really count).

However, I’m pretty far into it now, and I must say, no matter my low opinion I really want Blair and Chuck to end up together. They are definitely the most interesting part of the show.

I think in real life girls like Serena aren’t well liked but I don’t know if that’s because of their bad luck, or the way media encourages female animosity, or because they make the same mistakes over and over without learning and that wears on even the most patient friends and lovers. Maybe girls like her don’t really exist anyways.

P.S. I cheated and checked who gossip girl was like 6 episodes in and now I notice all the places it lines up and doesn’t and that’s probably the second best part of watching after antagonizing over Blair/Chuck.

P.S.S. I think what makes this show bad is that pretty much all the characters are unlikeable, often on a lot of levels.

MCM 6: Eleanor and Park

Warning: This one is rambly and I didn’t feel like reading it over so I didn’t. Message me if you want clarification on this since I can’t really speak to its coherence.

I enjoyed reading this book on the airplane very much. I think my favourite thing was the way the characters describe each other. I read somewhere (I think in reference to Game of Thrones) that books are the last refuge of the unattractive love interest. However, I think something even more interesting is going on in this, and some of the other novels I enjoyed (Anna and the French Kiss, Divergent). Characters are loved, and in indeed fall in love with each other not in spite of their looks, but rather because of their individuality and the beauty that lies within that. I think describing individual beauty in all its complexity and simplicity is important and often over looked. I can’t even think of that many books that do this. Yet, I can’t think of any clearer demonstration of the huge diversity of beauty in the world. It’s true that love interests are almost always considered beautiful in the eyes of their loves, but the way that beauty is described varies greatly. For example, in Twilight, Bella is described as beautiful in a very conventional way, although she doesn’t believe herself to be. Which is the polar opposite of how Eleanor and Park describe each other. They don’t dismiss each other’s perceived flaws, but rather see the beauty in the unique parts of each other. I think that’s truly lovely and I wish I saw it happening everywhere in media and life.

MCM 5: Downton Abbey

I probably wouldn’t have watched this show if not for my parents. However, we were looking for something none of us had seen that had good reviews to watch over Christmas and this turned out to be it. I’ve spent several of the episodes organizing my computer and playing iPhone games but I enjoy the show none the less. It is sort of sad and weighty seeing the highlights (more often sad than not) of lives going by so quickly in a time that is not that distant and yet almost entirely unrecognizable from our own. Similar to the feeling I got walking around one of these grand old houses on a school trip one time. However, the characters are complex and interesting, and I enjoy their imperfections. Even those characters who you love to hate have redeeming qualities, whether wit, or patience or honour.

I probably like Anna best, though I am also, of course, taken with any handsome young gentleman that get screen time.

And I must admit Mary has grown on me throughout it all. (Then again so has Granny so maybe that doesn’t mean much).

MCM 4: Divergent, Insurgent, Allegiant

I read these because I saw the trailer for divergent and I wanted to check out the movie, but not before reading the book (since the book is usually better anyways). I wasn’t disappointed. I think it’s an interesting world and I liked the characters. I was proud of myself for reading something that was upsetting and addressed death so much without becoming anxious or panicked. It felt like I had some control over what I could enjoy instead of being too fragile to watch or read anything that might be upsetting. However, I finished Allegiant two days ago and I still feel pretty heart broken. The last time I think I cried so hard during reading a book was my first time through TFIOS. I don’t know how they will make that last novel into a movie it’s so heartbreaking. I did find an interview with the author where she discussed her rational for the heartbreaking-est bit but I still tried to find fan fiction that ended it differently, to put my poor heart at ease (I normally don’t read fan fiction so this was stretching for me, I actually also did this with Life Unexpected).

My feelings are all jumbled up inside my throat still.

I really did enjoy divergent though, even if the other two were a bit upsetting.

I wouldn’t have written that ending though. I still don’t want to believe it.