For those of you that don't know, I am a voracious reader. I almost always have a book in my hand and with all the kids' activities, I have a lot of down time on my hands. I go through approximately 3 books a week, sometimes more. It has gotten to the point that I can't always remember the books that I have read by the cover, so I was trying to find some way to keep track of it. I thought about blogging about each book or simply making an Excel spreadsheet, but I really did not like either of those options.
A few weeks ago I was in Panera and noticed a sign that said "Free books." I check a lot of books out from the library, because it is so convenient to my house, but I frequently forget to return them on time and end up with fines. So I jumped at the chance for books with no return time-frame. It turns out these books are tracked (at the discretion of the reader) on a website called BookCrossing. I logged on and registered my book that I has "caught".
It turns out that this was the perfect way for me to create a catalogue of the books that I have read. I really like several features that the website has developed:
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It allows me to review the books that I have read. The reader makes journal entries about the books. These can be anything about where you found it, where you released it, or what you thought about the book. It also has a 10-star rating system.
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It allows me to choose the option of distribution. The thought behind BookCrossing is for people to share books that are languishing on their bookshelves. So when I "catch" a book, I go on and register it through the BCID number listed and make a small note. I then choose the "to be read" option and wait to review it until I have finished. But it also has a "Permanent Collection" option that I really like, because I can keep track of books that I have read, but that I don't intend to pass along.
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It allows me to see that others are enjoying (or at least reading) books that I have donated. I read a lot and not all of the books are worth keeping. I used to pass them along to the local library. If they are in really good shape, I still do. However, some of the books I pick up from the thrift shop and are not usable for the library (a lot of have been discarded from the same library). I would often re-donate them back to the thrift shop, but now I can pass them along when I go to Panera and let others benefit with free books.
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It also has a list of "BookCrossing Zones" which are registered places that have free books. This is a worldwide program and you can find books all over. There is a BookCrossing Zone locator that makes it easy for you to find one near you. You can also choose to just tell people in the "Release Notes" where you have dropped the book.
I really recommend that you go check it out if you like to read. It has definitely saved me a lot of money and provides me with a great way to track what I read. The website is: http://www.BookCrossing.com . If you register, please put that I referred you. My screenname is lorimadrid.
Ok, so I apologize for not posting any content for so long, but there has been so little worth blogging lately in the sea of mediocrity that the media spurts forth. I have also been really busy with life lately and blogging seemed like a luxury that I did not have the time to spare. That being said, I will get on with the post.
So I saw 300 in the theater and it was awesome. This is a movie that appeals to both men and women. When I first saw the trailer, I did not want to see it at all because of the stylized effects. But they turned out to be very effective in telling the story. If I understand correctly (and feel free to correct me), the movie was adapted from a comic book version of the actual historical account of the battle at Thermopylae. The movie definitely has the comic book feel to it, even more so than Sin City, which I also enjoyed. So here are the basic reasons that I feel this movie is amazing:
1. The cinematography is amazing and there are literally times when I felt like they executed the comic book storyboard effect perfectly. Some scenes just seemed to jump off the screen. The movie was graphic in its portrayal of violence, but it was not gory and blood-spurting. Again, it echoed a comic book execution where the violence was shown, but it was so much more effective to let the action speak for itself instead of the blood to tell you that the act was ruthless.
2. I enjoy docudramas that are well executed. So many of these today try to take a historic event and then artificially weave in a love story or add some other element that will broaden its demographic. Being that we watch a lot of the History Channel, Discovery, National Geographic, I have no problem watching documentaries and most of those are well done, because they have a limited time to tell the story. This really makes them focus on the high points. With a major release film, more time is allowed and the story ends up suffering. But here, you have the elements of a love story, but it is not the focus. You definitely feel that Leonidas loves and respects his wife through one love scene and the little things that he does. This film is the model for a docudrama to follow.
3. The eye candy is AMAZING! The fact is (I saw this on the History Channel version) that the Spartans would have been wearing breastplates to protect themselves. Trust me, it was so much more effective to leave it off. The Spartans strived for perfection in everything, especially physically. These 300 are prime examples of the perfect male physique. Just another aspect of the fight scenes that makes this movie all the more enjoyable.
4. The fight scenes are executed perfectly. I normally do not like what Chris and I call "the John Wu effect", i.e. slowing down the bullets, etc. to dramatize the scene and let you see some dramatic effect that the hero executes to avoid death. However, 300 executes this effect perfectly. The director alternately speeds up and slows down the action to accentuate the action beautifully. This is not a simple "hack and slash"; the effect shows how well trained these soldiers were in their art. You don't tire of the fight scenes.
5. The end rocks. It plays through and you are thinking "NO!!!" and then it plays through Leonidas' thinking and it is like "AWESOME!"
6. The queen is a hero in her own right. She fought the battle on the homefront, while her husband fought the fight on the battlefront. One scene with her (you will know it when you see it) had me clapping and cheering audibly in the theater.
Overall, this is the best movie that I have seen in a long time. I bought it on HD DVD and we watched it the first night. It was just as good at home (although I did determine that we needed surround sound).
Grade: A+++
Note: There are spoilers ahead in the memorable lines.
The movie also had some awesome lines. Here are a few of my favorites:
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Leonidas: "There's no reason we can't be civil."
Captain: [stabs a dying Persian] "Right Sire."
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Leonidas: "You there Efialtes... may you live forever!" (This was the greatest insult that could be given by a Spartan for true honor was only achieved by dying in battle.)
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Theron: "It is the law, my lord. The Spartan army must not go to war."
Leonidas: "And nor shall we. I've said no such order. I'm here, just taking a stroll, stretching my legs...Those are my 300 personal bodyguards."
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Theron: [before raping Queen Gorgo] This will not be over quickly. You will not enjoy this. I am not your King.
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Theron: My whore Queen...
Queen Gorgo: [stabs Theron] This will not be over quickly! You will not enjoy this! I am not your Queen!
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[Dilios is putting a patch over his eye]
Leonidas: Dilios, I trust that "scratch" hasn't made you useless.
Dilios: Hardly, my lord, it's just an eye. The gods saw fit to grace me with a spare.
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Xerxes: Consider the fate of your women.
Leonidas: Clearly you don't know our women! I might as well have marched them up here judging by what I've seen.