The Film "Drive"

          This isn't going to be much of a movie review, but I would just like to let everyone know about a certain movie that I am still thinking about, even a week later. That movie is "Drive", starring Ryan Gosling and Carey Mulligan. No spoilers, btw.
   
          The thing that proved this movie will be forever sealed as one of my favorites would have to be the music. The score and selection they used for "Drive" was precisely perfect. It was almost Tarantino-esque in the sense that it shouldn't belong, but fits like a glove. It brings back memories of playing GTA Vice City and that joyful radio is playing as you are running over the bodies of your victims. A bittersweet reality or a sugarcoated fantasy? Regardless, it worked!
   
          I also was very fond of the romance that occurred, mainly because of its lack thereof. The intense scenes of Mulligan and Gosling just looking at each other, both knowing that there is potentially some chemistry between the two, but they just don't want to admit it. The actions intentionally being slowed down to create a very long lasting romantic effect. It only increased the rate of my heart because most of the time they were already in danger. I'll always remember that elevator scene...
   
          The biggest surprise was the amount of violence "Drive" showed. I really enjoy the brutality in a film... if it actually shows the action. Usually, the action is cut immediately before someone either gets shot, punched, or killed. This leaves me irritated. Au contraire. They showed before, during, and after someone getting slaughtered. Left the audience going "oooo" and "aaaaa" but it left me going "moooore"
   
          In my opinion, "Drive" should have received a few more nods at this year's Academy Awards, but at least they got one for Sound Editing. This will propel Gosling even further on the list of Hollywood stars, and it is well deserved. Below is a trailer for the movie, which doesn't serve it justice, but gives you a good idea on what it's all about!

   

The "Weight" Burden

     This comes as no surprise to many, but I am a large boy. Large in the sense that I have a few unnecessary pounds. Pretty much my entire life (since the age of, let's say, 2) I have always had the constant reminder from my parents to watch what I eat. Every waking moment, and that occasional dream, I always have to think in the terms of calories and carbs. "Is this good, is this bad?" It is kind of disheartening, but now a habit that I have come accustomed to.
   

     The other day I realized, "I have never enjoyed a meal". Now, this can be interpreted in many ways. Believe me, I always enjoy pretty much every morsel of food that enters into my mouth (except corn), but it comes at a cost. I have never enjoyed a meal because in the back of my mind, I have the devil telling me that "another bite can mean another pound!"I would, one day, like to eat a meal and not have to worry about the after effects. Just savor the moment, live in the present.

     Recently, I promised my Facebook friends that I would go on the difficult task of losing 80lbs starting this New Year's. Let me tell you, it is hard. The motivation doesn't want to take form. I have lost 9lbs, but I have already plateaued and haven't forced myself to go back to the gym in over a week. I really don't want to give up this time. I MUST do this. I HAVE to do this. I'm becoming an embarrassment.

 
From the words of The Little Engine that Could, "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can"...

Photography

     So I consider myself a very amateur photographer. Photography would be something that I love; a hobby. There is just something about capturing that moment, for a split second in time, and keeping it forever. Having a physical/digital version of what you just experienced is kind of amazing, at least to me.
     Currently, I have a crappy Sony a330 that has treated me extremely well that past 2 years. I have taken it with me to parties, traveling, dinner, etc. It has been through a lot, and the wear and tear has pretty much forced me to retire it. I am looking at some Canons right now. I expect to trade out and purchase a new camera in the coming months, especially if I am able to head on over to France for the Cannes Film Festival for study abroad.
      In the meantime, I will show some photos that I took that I like.
These are unedited, non photoshopped, photos. Click on them to enlarge!

À Paris

Happy Birthday, Megan!

Go Dawgs!

Kristen is Stuck

À Paris, encore

Chichen Itza

Tucan Sam

The Typical Mundane Post

     Click - click - click. The sounds of my keyboard chirping away as I write my first blog post. I have noticed that when people write blogs, they generally have picked a direction to take them in. There are many topics that can be discussed, because I'm interested in various things, but first, I will introduce myself. That is what this first post is about.

     I come from the great state of Georgia. I have lived here all my life and I have a loving family that I care for, and who cares for me. In my experiences, I realized that this is something not to take granted for. I am very grateful, and for the friends around me. I don't know where i'd be if I didn't have any of them.

     Currently, I attend the University of Georgia in the classic city of Athens. I am starting my second semester as a third-year, majoring in Mass Media Arts. I am taking numerous production and new media classes as well as minoring in French and Portuguese. Don't bother asking what I want to do with all this, because life is a mystery and I don't want to disappoint myself when I can't achieve these goals. I hope to be comfortable wherever I go, never having to worry about not paying bills or being alone.

     While at UGA, I am participating in the Redcoat Marching Band, which I find to be a lot of fun. I played trombone throughout middle and high school and recently returned to the horn after a two year hiatus in college. What I can honestly say is, they are a great bunch of kids. Never a dull moment.

     Also at UGA, I am a brother of the Phi Kappa Theta fraternity. My current chair positions are VP of Risk Management, and Philanthropy. I am trying to take both of these jobs seriously, and I don't want to fail my brethren. I adore these guys. I hope they are only as reciprocal...

     Over the course of this blog, everyone will learn about me. I still haven't decided whether to post every day or week, but I will be somewhat frequent. I will express my opinions and thoughts on many issues, especially since this is the last year for humanity. I don't really know how to end this post, so I will leave it here.

End.