Caelkriss's Xanga

Wow, Xanga...

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:21:41 GMT

Okay, so it's been some time since I've been on here. And now I'm going to tell you all that I am not really coming back. That's right. I've constructed a website for myself (www.timkou.com) and I have a new blog up through Wordpress. So, if anyone really really really wants to keep up with what I'm doing, you can find me here:

www.blog.timkou.com

Thanks. Hope you'll drop by.

Film Review: Amazing Grace

Fri, 23 Feb 2007 03:51:03 GMT

"Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see."

There aren't many that don't know the song. But few people know the circumstances that made it famous.

Amazing Grace tells the story of the fiery political activist, William Wilberforce, who's convictions spurred him to lead a movement that abolished the slave trade in 18th century England. John Newton's lyrics serve as a backdrop to the amazing story of faith and compassion.

The characters in Amazing Grace are excellently crafted, and bring life to the screen in the hands of the cast. Ioan Gruffudd brings passion and compassion to the character of William Wilberforce without laying on the cheese. He is able to stand up and provide ample screen presence even in the presence of costars such as Albert Finney, Michael Gambon, Rufus Sewell and Ciarin Hinds. Romola Garai, a relative new-comer, also makes a fabulous addition to the cast, matching Gruffudd's gusto.

The writing actually surprised me. Since it was a heavily Christian-themed film, I expected to get the usual load of saccharin-infused syrup. However, Stephen Frears, an Academy Award nominee and Critic's Circle Award winner for Best British Screenwriter for Dirty Pretty Things, delivered a compelling script full of political intrigue. It was impressive that he kept a very objective stance with such a subjective subject, keeping far away from the "black vs white" issue and focusing more on the principle of slavery.

The direction was wonderful. Although, Michael Apted, best known for his direction of The World is Not Enough, Enigma, and the HBO miniseries Rome, probably didn't have to work too hard to get a good performance out of his cast.

David Arnold's score was well done. I don't see it as Oscar material, but it was a wholly functional score that added to the scene without drawing too much attention to itself. Subtle, but very sufficient.

I rate the film 4.5 out of 5. I definitely recommend seeing this as a family in the theater.

Rated PG for thematic material involving slavery, some mild language, and a scene involving to men running barefooted in the grass.

Release: February 23rd, 2007

Film Review: The Nativity Story

Thu, 30 Nov 2006 19:53:04 GMT

Christmas is nearly here, and soon the lights of the season will be put up in celebration of the most festive holiday of the year.

But what is the meaning of the season? Writer Mike Rich and director Catherine Hardwicke try to remind the world of the purpose of Christmas in The Nativity Story.

The film follows Mary and Joseph through the moments before the birth of Christ. We see the characters as they were before their betrothal and the fateful visit from the angel Gabriel. Mary, played by Keisha Castle-Hughes (Whale Rider), is portrayed as an innocent girl who catches the eye of a young carpenter, Joseph, played by Oscar Isaac (Guerrilla). She shows no immediate attraction to him, and when told that she is to be his wife, she isn't all too happy. However, though the course of the film, their relationship grows stronger with the child she carries at the center.

The film is very touching in some parts. But aside from the liberties taken for drama's sake, there were several things that I found distracting, and at times annoying. One of the major things was that Mary lacked any sort of emotion through most of the film making her seem shallow and aloof. In moments when I thought she should be beaming with excitement or happy to the point of tears, she remained expressionless. The character, though meant to be portrayed as holy and meek, came across as bland and uninteresting.

Overall, the characters weren’t very exciting. Joseph was definitely the best out of them. He seemed to have a very deep personality, and I liked his character a lot. The other characters were unique, but didn’t come across very strong. I see it as a flaw in directing. With the same script, the film could have been much more powerful, but everything turned out rather monotone.

The effects were pretty well done. The cityscapes of Jerusalem are most impressive. I enjoyed seeing the shots of the Temple sitting on the top of the hill. I did have some minor issues with the color palette. I don’t know if it was because it was a prescreening, but everything was very cold. The blue and green tones were accentuated, taking out all of the warmth of the oranges and reds. When the angel Gabriel appears, the light that he emits is bright, but in an almost cruel way.

I liked the score. There was some great use of traditional chant hymns such as O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, Of the Father’s Love Begotten, and some other well loved carols. Mychael Danna did an excellent job of working those into the film, and using them as motifs throughout the score. The main theme itself seemed appropriate as well. However, like the characters and the overall feel of the film, the score lacked impact. There was nothing there that had my heart pounding, or brought tears to my eyes. I’ve listened to Danna’s music since I was eleven, and he’s capable of delivering a much more moving score.

Overall, I would say that most of the flaws are a result of weak directing. At times it felt fragmented and incohesive as a story. I felt like I was watching a moving picture book rather than a movie. The film should have had much more impact than it did. As it is, it feels more of a sentimental story for those who know and love it. But as an evangelical tool that shows the world a glimpse of wondrous news, I believe it falls far short of its potential power.

I rate the film 3 out of 5. It’s the Christmas story told as a classic legend, leaving out some major theological and historical points, but keeping the message clear: that Christ is the only begotten Son of God. I would say that it’s worth seeing it once.

Rated PG for some briefly violent sequences and long drawn-out traveling scenes.

Release: December 2006

Stormfall

Tue, 03 Oct 2006 19:41:39 GMT

I had just finished some studies in the library. It had started raining in the middle of standard deviations and k-bars, and I could hear the telltail pattering on the windows. I stopped to chat with Jill when a group of men walked into the cafe. Drenched. They made such a ruccous as they awaited Jill's service at the counter. It was then that I decided it was time to brave the weather and return home.

As I stepped outside, I realized how serious the weather situation was. Rain fell in sheets beating the cold concrete with firm resolve as dime-sized hail scattered across the ground. An umbrella would have been a worthless defense. If it weren't for the lights, I might not have been able to see the buildings across Alumni Circle.

I zipped up my jacket, pulled my backpack tight around my back, and comitted myself to the storm. I was immediately soaked from head to foot. As I ran, I felt the wieght of my jacket slowing me down. Lightning flashed across the darkened sky, illuminating the ominous sight for a split second. Trees towered over me like dark, menacing shadows reaching up to catch a taste of light. A fear of being struck by lightning came over me. The sky lit up again, and I hurried my steps toward my goal, thankful for my boots as water and rain sloshed around my ankles.

When I arrived at the house, and pushed the door open to dryness. I was met by five sets of eyes. Matt, Ryan, Liza, Katie and Stephanie just looked at me as water trickled from the fringes of my jacket forming a puddle on the harwood floor. Droplets of water formed little beads at the ends of my sloppy hair as others raced in streams down my face.

I smiled, and said, "Hi!"

We sat for a time, chatting about creepy experiences and sipping tea and cider. The power went dead at 9pm, leaving the house dark and noisy with screams and giggles (guess who). Flashlights were brought out, and more stories were told. I played guitar (my five chords), and the girls laughed a lot. At one time, the girls tried to leave, but didn't make it past the flooding street before they turned around and ran back inside. Rain continued to pour mercilessly.

Finally, the rain let up, and we escorted the girls back to their dorm buildings. Four a couple hours, we struck deep conversations about fear and faith in the lounge of Dinkmeyer.

The power didn't come back on until 11am today, so my classes were cancelled until 5pm. Just my luck. I have a class at 5pm. Statistics. Great. I'm sure I'll have loads of fun. For now, I'll finish my ranting, and prepare for class.

Weekend Ramblings...

Mon, 25 Sep 2006 20:28:11 GMT

The weekend really started with the end of my evening class on Thursday. At 5pm I had a statistics exam which, so far, I feel really great about. We’ll see if my gut feeling about this test is just as inaccurate as for any other test tomorrow. Anyway, my Friday morning class was really easy stuff, so it went really fast. After that, the long but fun filled weekend started.

First, I was able to hook up with one of my very best friends for an awesome lunch. Contact with close friends is rare since I left Harper, so it was a welcome joy.

After lunch, four trains, and farewells, I boarded a bus for choir retreat. I had no idea what to expect on the retreat, and since I was one of the many “noobs,” I boarded with some unease, though I was determined to have a good time. It’s really all about what you make of the situation. If I refused to have a good time, I could have easily made it miserable for myself, and every person that I came in contact with. But then, I would be the enemy of the entire choir, and they would have stolen my flashlight and left me in the woods. But when it comes to choir, no matter how nervous I feel, or even how sick I feel, I enter with a fierce determination to enjoy myself.

Thankfully, I wasn’t feeling sick. Just a little nervous. But all nervousness was abolished during the course of the trip. I still feel like a “junior” member, which is a really odd feeling because I’ve always been a leader in some capacity in my other choirs, but I don’t feel like I don’t belong there. After being paired up with a cool sister, and being a part of the fire team that lit the camp fire, and making a fool of myself along with everyone else during those crazy teamwork games, I feel like part of the family.

Retreat was basically one night. We got to the camp in the early evening, and got back early afternoon the next day. I got about four hours of sleep. So, as you can imagine, I got back a crashed on my bed.

Saturday evening, I met up with a couple members of Elmhurst College American Marketing Association (an organization of which I am Co-Director of Professional Development) at a sports bar and chatted about stuff concerning AMA and conferences and all that fun stuff. :D

I spent Saturday night, and all of Sunday with my family and friends before coming back to the house at around 1:30am Sunday night/Monday. I washed up, and stuff, and chatted with my roommate for a bit.

At around 2:30am, I heard some scratching and clunking noises coming from outside. I immediately knew that we had a nocturnal visitor, and informed Ryan that there was a coon in our garbage. I grabbed my wooden sword and flashlight, and we both went to check it out, snickering all the way. When we got to the back of the house, we didn’t see anything at first, but could still hear the noises coming from the cans. He was deep in the garbage can, and probably couldn’t even hear us.

I circled around to the steps, and Ryan turned on the flashlight. Out popped a masked face with two glowing eyes. He was actually kinda cute. He gave us a look, and I almost expected him to say “What?! Can’t you see I’m busy here?” He just sat there looking at us for about ten seconds while Ryan and I were cracking up. He obviously didn’t see what was so funny.

I poked him with my sword and asked what he thought he was doing. I think it was then that he realized he was in our garbage, and quickly jumped out and scurried as fast as he could to the nearest car. As fast as he could was really, really slow. He was probably the fattest raccoon I’ve seen, and he moved like Bob (some of you know who that is).

After he disappeared into the night, Ryan and I went back inside laughing like idiots, and went to bed. All in all, I had a great weekend.

Bigger, Brighter...

Fri, 25 Aug 2006 04:37:19 GMT

I move in tomorrow. I've heard some people speak of the anxiety that they experience when moving away to college. Away. Away from home. Away from the usual friends. Off to find new friends along the road to glory, fame, or success. But in my case, there's no anxiety. No butterflies well up in my belly as I think of the next step I take into my life. Instead, I feel ... plain. I feel like I'm going into another natural stage in life, one that begs no second thought. Will I feel different when I get to that stage? Perhaps.

But home isn't far away for me. I know of people leaving for far away places like New Jersey. Even some places in Illinois are far from home. For me, it's like I'm leaving for a camping trip in the backyard. There's a level of excitement, and a number of unkowns, but fear is not among the emotions I harbor. In a way, I've been too busy to think of a new experience at a new college, living with people I've never met before, or even living apart from people I've seen every day of my life. It all seems like a fantasy now. An alterreality that may or may not come true. But in only a few hours, that reality will be upon me, and I have no idea how I will react.

There are things that I will miss though. Things I already miss. Aside from home and family, Mama's cooking, discussions of business, theological, or family matters, and my big screen tv, I'll miss the usual group of friends. At Harper, I was with people I had known for years before college. There were relationships that had already been established, and all we had to do was water them a little each day for them to grow into a truely close friendships. I will miss those times of walking through halls or to wherever, and conversation with purpose and thought. I'll miss those faces. Those smiles, and laughs. But every weekend, I'll have a slim opportunity to see them again.

I'll miss my computer too.

Well, don't feel sorry for me. I have some friends at Elmhurst, and I intend to make new ones. I'll also be working at the Dick's Sporting Goods at Lombard. But that's another story for a different blog.

Opening Shop

Tue, 08 Aug 2006 05:18:57 GMT

Dick's Sporting Goods in Arlington Heights officially opened today. While it wasn't a grand opening, we still got about three times more business than what we have expected. The floor was bustling with browsing customers and overly eager sales associates. But I dare say that every customer was helped, and most needs were met.

I arrived at work at noon today. Even though I've already worked there for several weeks, it felt like a completely different experience. In a way it was. It was like walking into the store with a different job than I had last week. I got to work right away, helping customers with questions about guns, air-rifles, airsoft (soft air), and various lodge products.

While I could spend an entire blog complaining about a certain someone, I won't. I've had no problems doing my job, and I have so much fun doing it, I'm not going to allow a single person ruin my perception of my work. the managers are awesome, and smart, and I'm confident that they'll be able to handle any problems that come their way.

I believe I sold the biggest ticket item in the store today. Unless there was a treadmill sale that I'm not aware of, I'm pretty sure I did. I sold a $500 canoe along with PFDs and ores. :D Pretty cool.

Haven't made any gun sales yet, but I don't think it'll be long before we do. If anyone wants to buy a gun, just drop by, be sure to be over 18 years old, and have your FOID card with you.

Film Review: Superman Returns

Fri, 21 Jul 2006 20:57:18 GMT

The Superman franchise has been through some rough patches. But with Brian Singer at the helm, Superman Returns shows fans, old and new, hope of revival to the film arena.

While the film is a "comic book" film, Brian Singer wasn't afraid to put a sufficient amount of drama and character development into it. As it is, and I think this is a great thing, it's more of a sci-fi drama than a superhero action flick.

One other major thing to notice about the film is it's symbolic value. Many comics hold symbolic value, but few films made from comics represent these values as potently as this one did.

You'd have to be dense not to notice the parallels between Superman and Christ. In several sequences these parallels are deliberately accentuated in voice-overs and dialogue. It's not a new idea that was dreamt up for the film, but the symbolism stays true to the very early messages of the Superman comics.

While this may sound cheesy, or blasphemous, or whatever, it's important to note that the entire point of comics, throughout comic book history, was to instill some sort of doctrine or ethical code into their readers. This film follows that philosophy closely.

In the film, Superman is referred to as a light to the world and a savior. When he comes back to earth, he is met with rejection from the person he was closest to, Lois Lane, who has won the Pulitzer Prize for her anti-savior article. The story is as much, or more, an inward struggle as it is a physical battle against the evil Lex.

The characters were as wonderfully detailed as the proverbial "S" on Superman's chest. Brian Singer manages to get to the heart of each character within minutes of introducing them on the screen.

The cast was excellent. Brandon Routh plays a dignified, yet sensitive man of steel, and hit's Clark Kent's whimsical clumsiness on the mark. Kate Bosworth was pure platinum compared to the ole raspy Lois. My favorite addition to the cast is Kevin Spacey. His Lex is just the coolest villain, mixing sophistication with a twisted sort of wit and plenty of heartlessness, teamed with his motley crew of convicts, and a brainless "girlfriend."

The effects were done really well. While some of the flying shots were perhaps a bit colorful, the lighting was always believable, and Superman always looked like a real person; the up-side of using mostly practical photography.

Alas, I did miss John Williams' score. John Ottman pays proper tribute to the character's original anthem, but the parts where he had to create his own material didn't match up. Normally, I would not compare the composer to anyone else, but John's music played right next to John's (during the credits) left far less of an impact than the latter's. His quotes of Williams' themes were quite lacking. Comparisons aside, Ottman's score fit the film decently when he wasn't orchestrating variations of the old themes. As with other Ottman score's however, his own themes have good first impressions, but are easily forgotten. Enjoy it while it's there, but take it or leave it once it's past.

I rate the film 4.5 out of 5. It's excellently put together, and I enjoyed every minute. It's clean, fun, and carries a message. While it's great for avid Superman fans and comic movie lovers, or symbolism geeks, the film may not appeal to every audience. If you're looking for non-stop action, and cheesy one-line dialogue, look somewhere else.

Rated PG-13 for some intense action violence, and an alien that loves his underwear.

Released: 2006

Film Review: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest

Thu, 20 Jul 2006 02:34:09 GMT

The second installment in the Pirates trilogy follows the familiar characters of the first film in this action-packed adventure film. The beloved Johnny Depp is back as the tipsy Captain Jack Sparrow of the Black Pearl with all his quirks and charms. As in the first film, he has agenda that is something of a confusing secret to the rest of the characters.

Of course, what's a new movie without new characters? Davy Jones and his crew are a group of frightening mutated CG characters that are quite amazingly animated. Every expression, and twitch under the eye was captured brilliantly, creating an strikingly believable spectacle. Who ever thought a guy with an octopus for a head could be so cool?

As a film, this one worked excellently. It was able to carry itself without having to ride on the coattails of the first film. However, ability and execution sometimes differ. Some of the jokes and wisecracks paid unnecessary homage to Black Pearl. By the end of the film, some of the jokes from the first Pirates had been a tad overused, taking away from the impact of the line. But this was balanced of with the many new humorous scenarios. The cliff hanger ending was a bit unsettling, but there's a great mysterious surprise to it.

The acting in the film was as expected. With this type of genre, the actors don't usually get a chance to show true flare. But the cast worked well together. Of course, being a sequel, the actors would have no excuse if they look awkward.

The design of the film was excellent. Jones' crew was made of carefully designed characters, each with their unique personality and look. The sets and landscapes were amazing. I was constantly wowed by the sweeps of primitive islands with bright blue shores. The cinematography topped the first film, but didn't stray from the adventure/pirate feel. The effects were amazing. Besides Jones' crew, some of the most amazing sequences were the Kraken attacks.

The score was worlds better than the first one, no question. Musically speaking, it held more sophistication and character. Orchestrally speaking... well, the first score wasn't even a real orchestra, so we can't really speak of it orchestrally. This one, though it bore the signature Media Ventures string, brass and drum samples, at least featured actual musical instruments as well. Hans Zimmer, who probably did much of the work on Pearl anyway, took the power and punch of the original themes, and wrote variations on them, lending to the score actual emotion instead of raw power. The new themes were great. The heart-pounding Kraken theme and the sometimes delicate Davy Jones brought new character to the series. And I finally got to hear Jack's fiddle theme in full orchestration!

I give the film 4 out of 5. It's a fun adventure with some great humorous moments. Jack's entrance is hilarious. If you're remotely a fan of pirates, adventure, sword fighting, or weird guys with barnacles growing out the sides of their faces, this film's for you.

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of adventure violence, including frightening images of guys with barnacles growing out the side of their faces.

Released: 2006

Working...

Thu, 20 Jul 2006 01:29:00 GMT

Well, I just found a new job! I've been working at Dick's Sporting Goods for the past couple days, and it's been really cool. I didn't just walk in and start selling stuff, 'cause here's the cool thing: it's not open yet. Yep, I'm working putting up shelves, opening up boxes, putting new merchandise in the proper place... all that jazz. It's really cool to see the entire process from the starting stages from setting up racks and displays to the (yet to come) grand opening. Both Matt and I got to be a part of this experience, and it's been really great so far.

The management is awesome. Not only are they highly motivated, they're a ton of fun to work with. They're not afraid to crack jokes about having a paintball fight after everything's set up or playing pictionary during conference meetings on the dry marker board. Awesome group of people.

Anyway...